Guayaquil, Ecuador - March 2017 - A meeting of the Salesian Brothers of the Province of Ecuador (ECU) was held from 10 to 12 March. During the meeting the participants got to know the work of the San Juan Bosco community, shared experiences with other Salesians, and visited the Salesian Polytechnic University. The Provincial of Ecuador, Fr Francisco Sánchez, animated the final day.
Rome, Italy - March 2017 - Fr Antonio Spadaro, Jesuit, Director of "La Civilta Cattolica," the oldest magazine in Italy (1850), has been appointed a member of the National Presidency of the Italian Federation of Past Pupils of Don Bosco. He is a Past Pupil and a Priest but not a Salesian. His appointment is an expression of the full and unanimous agreement of CISI (Conference of Salesian Provincials of Italy), presided over by Fr. Stefano Martoglio, Councillor for the Mediterranean Region. In its last meeting from 12 to 16 January, he expressed the wish and gave his approval. Antonio Spadaro was born in Messina on 6 July 1966. He studied at the San Luigi Salesian High School in Messina and for many years attended the oratory of St Dominic Savio in the same city. He was part of the Don Bosco Boys and was one of the founders of the Salesian Youth Movement. He did his philosophical and theological studies at the Theological Institute of St. Thomas which was affiliated to the Salesian Pontifical University. He graduated in Philosophy from the University of Messina (1988), and in 2000 obtained his doctorate in theology at the Gregorian Pontifical University.
Bellflower, United States - March 2017 - The annual retreat for members of the Salesian Volunteer program in the Western Province of the United States (SUO) was held from 3 to 5 March in the parish of St Dominic Savio in Bellflower. This year there are five young volunteers who are offering their services in various Salesian houses in the Province.
Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea - March 2017 - On 4 March, at the Don Bosco Technical School, about 60 young people attended the first session of a seminar on media education. It will continue with another 5 monthly meetings. The seminar was led by Fr Ambrose Pereira SDB, along with some of the teachers. In this session, they discussed the issue of images, photographs, posters, logos and the use of the camera.
Mumbai, India – 9 March 2017 - The awards ceremony of the seventh Green Schools campaign (2016 - 2017) took place in the auditorium of the Don Bosco International School in Matunga. This year’s theme was water (Water footprint, local waterways, water exploitation). About 50 schools from Mumbai participated in the campaign. The award for "Greenest School" went to Auxilium Convent High School in Lonavala.
Bukavu, R.D. Congo - March 2017 - On 12 March, for the first time in Bukavu, 16 people made their promise as members of the Association of Salesian Cooperators (ASC). Their promises were received by Fr Jean-Claude Ngoy, Provincial of Central Africa (AFC).