Turin, Italy - February 2017 - Taking up the invitation of the Rector Major, Fr Ángel Fernández Artime, who wants Valdocco and the Salesian sites to become increasingly a centre of spirituality and study of the roots of the Salesian charism, the Mother House organized three Retreats. Over a hundred Salesians from 30 provinces in the world responded.  These retreats are designed to recall the origin of the Salesian charism of the Founder, and to make it relevant in today's world. They are concentrated in three main locations: Colle Don Bosco, Chieri and Valdocco, significant places in Don Bosco’s formation and vocational discernment and his particular attention to young people. The first week of exercises took place from 12 to 18 February and was led by Fr Pascual Chávez in Italian. The second will be in English, scheduled for 12 to 18 March and will be led by Joe Boenzi, (professor UPS - Rome and the University of Berkeley); and finally, the last week of March, beginning 25 March, will be in Spanish and will be led by Fr Chávez.

Lima, Peru - February 2017 - On 26 February, in the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians, Fr Timothy Ploch, Councillor for the Inter-America Region, presided over the inauguration ceremony of Fr Manuel Cayo as the new Superior of the Salesian Province of St Rose in Peru.

Tainan, Taiwan - February 2017 - The Salesian parish of Mary Help of Christians held various activities in support of the Filipino migrant community, which in Tainan City numbers about 20,000. In addition to the Sunday liturgy and catechism they organized various rallies and meetings, services for the very poor, recreational and sporting activities, including Basketball, with a tournament that every year increases in the number of participating teams. This year there are 25 teams with 20 members each, for a total of 500 players.

Manaus, Brazil - February 2017 - A group of volunteers from the Dom Bosco Salesian School has had an experience of missionary voluntary service in Santa Isabel Rio Negro, a city with a strong indigenous presence. Coordinated by Ministry Director, Fr Marcelo Raimundo Maciel, SDB, the team, made up of two teachers, two employees and three volunteers from Bariloche (Argentina), ran a summer camp for two weeks and visited rural communities.

New Delhi, India - February 2017 - On 17 February, 54 representatives of large companies such as Accenture, Artemis, Siemens, Ernest and Young and Tata Group, which are active in initiatives of Corporate Social Responsibility took part in an event to forge or enhance partnerships with Salesians in initiatives for the benefit of young people. The event, entitled "Empowering young people to build the nation", was organized by Bosconet, a network with 11 Salesian Development Offices and 354 members of NGOs, acting under the Salesian patronage and reaching more than one million marginalized people with their services.

Rome, Italy - February 2017 - The World Council of the Salesian Cooperators (ASSCC) met from 22 to 26 February at the Generalate of the Salesians. The Council studied the theme of the Rector Major’s Strenna for 2017: "We are Family! Every home a school of life and love".  In this light, they outlined the situation in the various regions and shared the projects, good practices, animation, difficulties and problems, experiences and initiatives of solidarity throughout the Association.  There are about 30,000 Salesian Cooperators throughout the world, divided into local centres, provinces and regions.  In 2016 two new local centres were opened, in Libreville (Gabon) and Kaunas (Lithuania).