Porto Velho, Brazil – May 2024 – The Salesian community in Porto Velho, together with parishioners and devotees of Our Lady of Fatima, rejoiced on 31 May, the Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, with the Mass of Dedication and reopening of the church in the Fatima Parish and Shrine. It took six months of work to redo the church's floor, walls, large windows,  sound system, and air conditioning. The celebration was presided over by Archbishop Emeritus of Passo Fundo (RS), Archbishop Antonio Carlos Altieri, SDB, who together with the clergy and the numerous people carried out the entire sacred rite of dedication of the renewed church. Fr Sérgio Lúcio, Parish Priest and Rector, thanked the entire parish community and the devotees for their support, which made it possible to carry out the work, fully supported with the community's resources. Before the final blessing, the children studying catechism crowned the image of Our Lady.

Malta – May 2024 - The Salesian Vice-Province of Malta (MLT) met to celebrate the Provincial Chapter, a time of prayer, reflection and planning, from 27 to 31 May. Chapter members gave their contribution to the theme of the 29th General Chapter (GC29): "Passionate about Jesus Christ, dedicated to young people: Living  our Salesian vocation faithfully and prophetically." The days were also the concluding stretch of a journey of discernment for the MLT Vice-Province, a process that began in October 2023, which brought together Salesians, lay people and consecrated persons, gathered together to seize new opportunities and growth in the Vice-Province.

Caracas, Venezuela – June 2024 – On 1 June the theare at the Don Bosco school in Altamira hosted Coreobosco 2024, an event that brought together more than 400 people to celebrate the talent and hope of young Venezuelans. Organised by the Don Bosco oratory in Altamira and Ezicar, Coreobosco involved young people from the Salesian Youth Movement in Caracas, the Salesian Family and the María Auxiliadora and Madre Micaela Don Bosco Popular Technical Schools Under the motto "The dream that makes us dance", young people demonstrated their skills in dance and music. Fr Rafael Montenegro, Superior of the Salesian Province of Venezuela (VEN), the Delegates for the Youth Ministry of the Salesians and Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, and numerous members of the Salesian Family were present at the event. In a country that has been going through a deep crisis for 25 years, Coreobosco has been a time for giving joy and hope to young people. Through dance and music they expressed their dreams and their determination to continue fighting for a better future. "This event is an example of the talent and creativity of our young people" said Fr Montenegro. "They are the future of Venezuela and we are proud to support them in their journey." "Coreobosco is an opportunity for young people to show what they can do" said Allys Daniel, SDB, member of the Salesian oratories in Altamira. "We want to inspire other young people to follow their dreams and never give up."

Maynooth, Ireland – May 2024 – The Salesians in St Patrick's Province Ireland (IRL) celebrated, , the fiftieth anniversary of the Saint Francis de Sales community in Maynooth on the Feast of Mary Help of Christians. The conferral of the Ministry of Acolyte and Reader to five Salesians was also celebrated on the same day. Finally, 24 May also offered an opportunity for meeting among the members of the Salesian Family in Ireland, in particular among Salesians, FMA, Salesian Cooperators and Past Pupils.

Kigali, Rwanda – May 2024 - The 7th Provincial Chapter of the Salesian St Charles Lwanga Vice-Province of Africa Great Lakes (AGL) took  from 28 to 31 May at the Don Bosco Hospitality Centre in Kigali, in the Salesian work at Gatenga. Present at the meeting were 34 Chapter members from the three countries of the Vice-Province: Rwanda, Burundi and Uganda. The Chapter was opened by the Superior of the AGL Vice-Province, Fr Pierre-Célestin Ngoboka, and Fr Alphonse Owoudou, Councillor for the Africa-Madagascar Region, envoy of the Rector Major for the Extraordinary Visitation, presided over the Eucharist. Opening the Chapter, Fr Ngoboka invited Chapter members to communion and the spirit of discernment during the work. The Moderator of the Provincial Chapter, Fr Jean Bosco Ntirenganya, then presented the programme to be followed during the days and the working document containing a summary of the responses sent by the local communities. The delegates of the branches of the Salesian Family who presented the results of their activities of the last three years, as well as their dreams and projects, were also invited to the Provincial Chapter. Chapter members reflected on and explored the theme of the 29th General Chapter (GC29) and its three core areas and at the end of the various work phases, divided into groups, they approved the final document. They elected Fr Servilien Ufitamahoro, Economer of the AGL Vice-Province as Delegate to the GC29, and Fr Thomas Oloya, Rector of Salesian work in Bombo (Uganda), as his substitute. After four intense days of prayer, dialogue and reflection, Chapter members concluded the Provincial Chapter with the Eucharistic celebration presided over by Fr Ngoboka.

Rome, Italy – May 2024 – The 39th Formators Course organised by the Pontifical Salesian University (UPS) in Rome ended last Friday, with over 50 participants from five continents, including male religious, sisters, priests and consecrated lay people. The course has been appreciated for years and represents an important element in the formative map of the Salesian Congregation and the Church. From 19 February to 31 May, at the UPS, under the guidance of professors from various sectors, the future formators acquired theoretical and practical knowledge. The exchange of the different experiences by members enriched everyone, offering an important opportunity to broaden horizons and open up to the diversity of the Church in the world. For many participants, the course represented a kind of spiritual renewal, as they themselves witnessed at the end of the course. In addition to on-site activities, participants had the opportunity to take formation trips, such as to Assisi or Genzano in Rome, and to visit various monasteries to encounter the multifaceted beauty of the Church. Among the participants there was also a representation of Salesians from Chile, Syria, Congo, Madagascar, Sri Lanka, Italy and Poland. As all the Salesians stressed in unison, this course is to be recommended to everyone, especially to those who wish to take care of permanent formation, to become stronger in their vocation: "After all, we are all and at all times formators, and true formation begins first of all from themselves" they said.

Text: Paweł Figura, SDB, Andrea Lovisone, SDB
Photo: Carlos Eduardo Mendez, SDB