Ypacaraí, Paraguay - April 2017 - Children and young people from the Don Bosco College of Ypacaraí celebrated the beginning of the month of Mary Help of Christians on 24 April. The statue of Mary was taken in procession to the altar in the playground of the institute and there the students paid homage to Mary Help of Christians with prayers, balloons and flowers.
Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea - April 2017 - From 20 to 22 April, at the Salesian Technical School of Gabutu, young people from the parish of Mary Help of Christians at Sabama had a formation course called "Youth Encounter."
Meruri, Brazil - April 2017 - From 17 to 22 April, the Salesian community of Meruri in the Campo Grande Province (BCG), celebrated "Indigenous Week" with various cultural and folk activities. The event served to develop the sense of belonging and the values of their history, culture and tradition among young people.
Naples, Italy - April 2017 - On 24 and 25 April, the Salesian Movement of Don Bosco of Southern Italy met in Naples for its annual meeting involving about 2,000 people. On 24 April, about 600 young people from the Salesian Youth Movement (SYM) from southern Italy, Albania, Kosovo and Zurich went to the Sanità district, to the catacombs of San Gaudioso. They were welcomed by Fr Antonio Loffredo, parish priest of Santa Maria alla Sanità and driving force behind the San Gennaro Foundation and the Youth Cooperative "La Paranza", symbol of the recovery of the neighbourhood. Subsequently, the young people of the SYM went to the catacombs of San Gennaro to hear the testimony of Sr Randa Kortas, FMA, from Syria. Fruitfulness, martyrdom and hospitality were the three key words that marked the day. On 25 April, at the Provincial House of the Southern Italy Province, about 2,000 people met for the Salesian Movement Meeting, featuring joyful testimonies and Mass.
Santiago de Cuba, Cuba - April 2017 – From 12 to 16 April, in the Salesian parish of Mary Help of Christians, about 40 young people celebrated Easter. In addition to taking part in the Easter celebrations, the participants studied and reflected on various themes of Christian life and formation, shared experiences of family life and offered their services in helping children and the sick and elderly.
Caracas, Venezuela - April 2017 - The 109th anniversary of the Association of Mary Help of Christians (ADMA) in Sarría was celebrated at the National Shrine of Mary Help of Christians.