Guwahati, India - May 2016 - The Don Bosco Institute organized the 8th National Conference for teachers on Education at its campus in Guwahati. It took place on 26 May with the motto: “authority through knowledge guided by expertise." The event was attended by dozens of educators, young students who performed in the cultural activities, the Salesian Provincial of Guwahati, Fr Thomas Vattathara, and the former Governor of the State of Meghalaya, Hon. Ranjit Shekhar Moshahary, who reminded those present that "education is for service”.
Dorog, Hungary - June 2016 - "Missionary of compassion, who lived mercy like Jesus, devoting his Salesian life to Cuba." These were the words spoken by the Cardinal Archbishop of Budapest and Primate of Hungary, Péter Erdo, in a solemn Eucharistic celebration on Saturday 4 June in the parish church of St Barbara in Dorog, referring to the Salesian Servant of God Jose Vandor (1909- 1979). On this occasion a large window of the church dedicated to Fr Vandor was blessed as a sign of the memory that the Christian and civil community of Dorog retains of its illustrious citizen, missionary in Cuba.
Rome, Italy - June 2016 - A formation course for seven new Salesian provincials is taking place at the Salesian Generalate from 5 to 18 June. It is being led by Fr Francesco Cereda, Vicar of the Rector Major. The speakers at the meeting will include the Rector Major, Fr Ángel Fernández Artime, members of the General Council, the teams of the Departments and the Salesians in charge of the various sectors.
Verviers, Belgium - June 2016 - A group of students and teachers of the Don Bosco School in Verviers embarked on a bike trip to Turin, the city of Don Bosco, to celebrate 100 years of the founding of the school. The trip was organized with support vehicles for the various stops and stages. The riders were divided into three teams made up of 5 students and 2 teachers each. They departed from Verviers on 11 April and arrived in Turin on 16 April after a journey of about 1000 Km.
Xuan Hiep, Vietnam - May 2016 - The academic year 2015-2016 of the Blessed Philip Rinaldi Theological Institute ended on 21 May with the Graduation Ceremony. The forty-five Theology students thanked Fr Joseph Nguyen Van Quang, Provincial of Vietnam, and the formation personnel and professors of Theology, for their support.
Rome, Italy - June 2016 - The volume of 300 pages by Fr Vittorio Pozzo entitled "The Salesians of Don Bosco in Lebanon. The first 25 years of Salesian presence in Lebanon from 1952 to 1977", was launched on 3 June at the Salesian Institute of the Sacred Heart in Rome. The book is published by LAS of Rome as part of the Salesian Historical Institute Series. The many people present, including civil and religious authorities, appreciated the invitation to the launch of the book. After an introduction by Fr Thomas Anchukandam, Director of the Salesian Historical Institute, the presentation was chaired by Fr Stanilslaw Zimniak, a member of the Institute. Speakers at the presentation were Lucy Ladikoff from the University of Genoa; Giorgio Rossi, former Professor of Modern History at the University of Roma Tre and LUMSA; and the poet and writer Giuseppe Goffredo.