Krakow, Poland – May 2022 – The 22nd edition of Orawa for the Children of Africa was held on 28 May, at the initiative of the Salesian Młodzi Światu Missionary Volunteer Movement (SWM) in Krakow, in the Salesian Province of Krakow (PLS), and in collaboration with the municipalities of Jabłonka and Lipnica Wielka. It was linked, as always, to a charitable purpose. The volunteers, accompanied by Salesian priests, went to the 12 parishes in Orawa and, during the Masses, offered their testimonies, asking for support for street children in Sierra Leone, and precisely for the girls who were involved in prostitution, and also for homeless boys. All of them have found a safe home with the Salesians, which brings a new life for them. And this year's initiative aims to support their education and also the construction of a chapel at the Don Bosco Fambul work in Sierra Leone. A special guest of this edition was Fr Siergiej Ghoman, SDB, who works in Sierra Leone.

Photo: SWM Archive

San José, Costa Rica – June 2024 - As part of the Don Bosco Global Youth Film Festival promotional activities, the Don Bosco Salesian Education Centre - CEDES Don Bosco has organised a series of training sessions so that students are encouraged to participate and have the necessary tools to make their videos. The training was offered by Julio Zúñiga, assistant of the Club House and graphic designer with extensive experience in multimedia production. Zúñiga provided audiovisual resources and taught techniques to create shots, manage light effects and focus on different planes, underlining the importance of maintaining the thematic context in the execution of the videos. Topics of retouching and editing photos and videos and film techniques were also discussed. In addition, there was the support of Michelle Marchena, environmental manager of CEDES Don Bosco, who spoke to the young people about actions to combat climate change. Their goal was to raise students' awareness of the festival's theme: “I have a dream! Young people and climate change ". The activity, organised by the Department of Social Communication, was very motivating for young people. In 2021, CEDES Don Bosco won an award at DBGYFF with student Nazareth Cascante, who also sent a motivational video to students to encourage them to participate.

Krakow, Poland – June 2024 – 30 years of activit have already passed for the "SL SALOS Kraków" - Local Salesian Sports Organisation in Krakow, in the Salesian Province of Krakow (PLS). On this occasion, on Saturday 8 June, an event was held on the ground of the football field located at 39 Tyniecka Street, but the celebration began with the Eucharist, to which all the presidents who have held this position throughout the history of "SL SALOS Kraków" were invited. The Mass was presided over by the current President, Fr Paweł Centnar, while the homily was given by Fr Andrzej Policht, who recalled, among other things, how this work was born. After Mass, outdoor celebrations began, with a cake for over 200 people and activities prepared for children and young people, such as inflatable and sports games. The event was attended by a large number of children and young people with their families.

Photo: Facebook PLS

Panama City, Panama - June 2024 – On 7 June, the Church celebrated the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and, in the Basilica of Don Bosco, these were days of fervour and devotion. The activities were carried out with a preparation triduum that began on 4  June during the evening masses, animated by the Sacred Heart of Jesus group. During the Eucharist of the feast, Fr Carlos Vilanova, SDB, stressed in his homily the immense love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, a love that requires compassion, mercy and total abandonment. He urged those present to open their hearts and let themselves be transformed by that unconditional love, recalling that the Sacred Heart of Jesus is an inexhaustible source of grace and strength for all believers. At the end of the Eucharist, the members of the group made their consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and received a special medal, in addition to the blessing, asking Jesus that their hearts be moulded in the image of his, full of love and service and to bring the word of Christ everywhere.

Lyon, France – May 2024 – The Jean Bosco centre on the Fourvière hill in Lyon celebrated the 20th anniversary of its creation on 31 May. About 80 people were present at the event – including local authorities, members of staff and the Salesian Family – led by the Superior of the Saint Francis de Sales Province of France-Southern Belgium (FRB), Fr Daniel Federspiel. In his introduction, Fr Jean Marie Petitclerc, President of the "La Navarre" Foundation, owner of the premises, stressed that "celebrating an anniversary means both remembering the past and looking to the future". This is how he recalled the history of this centre, a former Provincial House of Lyon, transformed, on the joint initiative of the Salesians, into a centre of ongoing formation in Salesian pedagogy and spirituality for lay members of the network. During the event, then, the innovations inherent to the future of the work were illustrated: from September it will change its intended use and the Salesian community will give way to lay management. In addition, courses for pre-university training in Law, Economics and Social Sciences will be offered at its facilities; and the students of the Salesian Notre Dame des Minimes work, also from Lyon, and other young people to whom the typical Salesian hospitality will be offered will be hosted.

Nakorn Srithammarat, Thailand – June 2024 - On 9 June, the Church of St Dominic the Wise in Nakorn Srithammarat, celebrated its fiftieth anniversary of faith community. The Eucharistic celebration was presided over by Bishop Joseph Prathan Sridarunsil, SDB, Bishop of the Diocese of Surat Thani. In 1972, Fr Peter Jelleci, SDB, was assigned to Ron Phibun and began the construction of the Church of St Dominic Savio on 16 January 1973; the laying of the foundation stone took place on 13 May 1973 and the blessing on 29 December 1973, officiated by the then Bishop Peter Carretto, SDB. Fr Jellici set up a modern catechetical classroom that attracted many people to study the catechism and be baptized. When the mission began to develop further, the Salesian Province sent another Salesian priest, Fr Renzo Rossignolo. On 29 April 1993, due to health problems, Fr Jellici was transferred to the Nazareth House in Banpong, Ratchaburi, and Fr Rossignolo was appointed parish priest of the Church of St Dominic Savio, a role he still holds today.