(Chicago, IL – July 3) – Young adults were invited from St. John Bosco-St. James Parish to attend an archdiocesan young adult Eucharistic Revival event on Friday, June 28, at St. Alphonsus Church in Chicago. This was part of the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage Revival effort that began in California on the Junipero Serra Route (one of four in the states) as it stopped in Chicago to make its way to Indianapolis, IN, for the Eucharistic Congress. The event at St. Alphonsus was a full night consisting of Mass, procession with Eucharistic adoration, a social, and pilgrim witness talks. At Mass, the homilist focused on the theme of staying with Jesus because Jesus desires to stay with us despite our shortcomings. This was pointed out in Peter’s three-fold denial of Jesus in the Passion, yet Jesus helped Peter to move from trepidation in denial to a three-fold pledge of commitment of love for Jesus by tending and feeding the flock. A witness talk made by a permanent pilgrim traveling the entire Junipero Serra route spoke about how her worldly life and behavior were altered once she attended a retreat. During the adoration session, she experienced a profound connection with Jesus which has remained with her.

By Fr. Jim Berning, SDB

Bootle, Great Britain – June 2024 - Salesian Aondoaseer Solomon Tivlumun made his Perpetual Profession on Sunday 30 June, at St. James church in Bootle,  befroe Fr Gerry Briody, SDB, Superior of the Salesians of the Province of Great Britain (GBR). The Mass was attended by various Salesians from the country, Daughters of Mary Help of Christians and local parishioners; and the service was also followed live by friends and family of the newly-professed connected from his home country, Nigeria.

Chennai, India – July 2024 – The Salesian Province of Chennai, India (INM) celebrated a significant moment on 3 July with a great celebration for the liturgical memory of Saint Thomas, patron saint of the Province. The celebration included the Provincial Feast day and the celebrations of the anniversaries of ordination and profession of nine Salesians. This solemn event took place with a Eucharistic celebration presided over by Archbishop AM Chinnappa, SDB, Archbishop emeritus of Mylapore, Madras, in the presence of two other bishops, Bishop Neethinathan and Bishop Jeromedhas. The ceremony was attended, in addition to the Salesians, also by lay people and members of the Salesian Family, making it a memorable and moving event. The gathering of the INM Province around the celebrated Salesians was a heartfelt expression of gratitude and joy.

By Ms. Julia St. Clair, Province Communications Director

(New Rochelle, NY – July 2) – Camp Echo Bay kicked off its 2024 season last week on Monday, June 24. One hundred and ninety-one children registered for the first week. They enjoyed an array of indoor and outdoor activities, including, but not limited to, arts and crafts, jumping in a bouncy carousel, and swimming. On Thursday morning June 27, 155 campers took part in outdoor and indoor activities as more children continued to arrive throughout the day. Camp leadership expects enrollment to increase to 200-300 campers in the coming weeks. “Being a part of this community has been a truly wonderful experience,” Program Director Matt Boggi remarked. Prior to his time working at Camp Echo Bay, Matt was a camper there himself since he was four years old. As with previous years, the camp has a dedicated theme for each week. Last week was Nickelodeon Week, and this week is Holiday Week. The themes for the remaining five weeks of Camp Echo Bay will be Superhero, Star Wars, Olympic, Disney, and Carnival. Camp Echo Bay will run this year through Friday, August 9.

São Marcos, Brazil – June 2024 - At the top of the hill of São Marcos, in the Salesian missionary presence that bears the name of the Holy Evangelist, the Superior of the Province of Campo Grande, Brazil (BCG), Fr Ricardo Carlos, presided over the Mass for the 130th anniversary of the arrival of the Salesians in Cuiabá. The Eucharist was concelebrated by the Rector of São Marcos, Fr Douglas Chrystiano Silva Souza, and by parochial vicar, Fr Beatus Volkmar Tola.  Salesian practical trainee Gabriel Coelho accompanied a group of students from the Philip Rinaldi school and some indigenous teachers to the celebration.

Gabutu, Papua New Guinea - June 2024 - Nearly two hundred young people from parishes, schools and institutions in Port Moresby and the Gulf Province, gathered at the Don Bosco Technical Secondary School to participate in the "Wantok Bosco" event on the theme "The Dream that makes you dream". The first day began with various game activities, followed by a talk by Fr Gregorio Bicomong, Superior of the Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands (PGS) Vice-Province, based on the Rector Major's Strenna 2024 and the theme of the meeting. Fr Bicomong emphasised the importance of having dreams and goals and achieving them through self-awareness and a strong relationship with God; then there was a time of prayer and the Salesian good night. On the second day, after various dance activities, there was a talk by Dr Anna Toti on 'Mental Health'. Afterwards, the participants performed team building exercises, learning the importance of teamwork and communication. Afterwards, in the spirit of Laudato Si', the young people carried out a community service programme by cleaning up the DBTS area and the Mary Help of Christians parish in Sabama. It concluded with a speech by the DBTS headmaster, Mr Martin Dai. The busy day ended with a vocational talk by Fr Shoji Mathew. The last day included Holy Mass presided over by Fr Moise Palaku followed by a concert by the DBTS boys.