Porto Velho, Brazil - January 2017 - The Salesian Youth of Porto Velho gathered in the parish of Our Lady of Fatima to pay homage to Don Bosco with a rosary in thanksgiving for all the teachings and precepts of the Father and Teacher of Youth. The rosary started at the end of the Eucharistic celebration presided over by Fr. Gilberto Cucas, and it brought together various members of the Salesian Family.
El Campello, Spain – 4 February 2017 - The parish priests and those in charge of the Shrines in the Salesian Province of María Auxiliadora (SMX) held their first meeting in El Campello. There were 35 participants, among them Fr Cristóbal López, SMX Provincial, Fr Francisco José Pérez, Delegate for Youth Ministry, and Fr Miguel Calavia, Coordinator of the parishes.
Colombia - January 2017 - On 31 January, on the occasion of the feast of Don Bosco, at the end of the Mass in the "El Sufragio" parish of Medellín, the Salesian Brother, Andrés Felipe Loaiza, Delegate for Social Communication of the Medellin Province launched the new version of the Salesian Bulletin of Colombia, renovated in format and content. On the same day in the Province of Bogotá, the director of the Salesian Bulletin, Fr Luis Bernardo Mur, presented the new version and the editorial policy. Carolina Triana introduced the national team of the Salesian Bulletin.
Uvira, D. R. Congo – 2 February 2017 - In preparation for the missionary expedition of 11 November 2017, young people of the Salesian Missionary Movement of the Democratic Republic of Congo, took part in a formation course led by Fr Albert Kabuge SDB, and Salesian Brother Deo Kalenda.
Siguiri, Guinea Conakry - January 2017 - On 29 January Fr José Elégbédé, Provincial of French-speaking West Africa, presided over the graduation of the second class of students of the Salesian Vocational Centre at Siguiri. The group of graduates was named "Fr Tom Promotion " to draw attention to Fr Tom Uzhunnalil, the Salesian missionary kidnapped in Yemen. In addition, in response to the call of the Rector Major, Fr Ángel Fernández Artime, a novena was also launched to pray for his release.
Porto Novo, Benin - January 2017 - On 28 January Bishop Aristide Gonsallo of Porto Novo, presided at the Eucharistic celebration for the 60th anniversary of the erection of the Salesian parish of Saint François-Xavier. The Mass was concelebrated by 40 priests and many of the faithful of the parish took part.