(ANS - Brussels) - From 3 to 7 April Don Bosco International (DBI) ran an intensive promotion of Salesian activities in Brussels, in various public, private and third sector venues.

(ANS – New York) – The 61st Commission on the Status of Women was held at UN Headquarters in New York, March 13-24, 2017 addressing the Priority theme: “Women’s economic empowerment in the changing world of work”. Research has shown that providing women with opportunities to improve their health, education, and well-being has a multiplier effect in a community as she creates a better life for her family and helps build a strong community. Investing in women is an investment in a community and in sustainable development.

(ANS - Rome) - "The Church of the first millennium was born of the blood of the martyrs (...) At the end of the second millennium, the Church has once again become a Church of martyrs" (John Paul II, Tertio Millennio Adveniente). To mark the 80th anniversary of the death of Sister Carmen Moreno Benítez and Sister Amparo Carbonell Muñoz, both of whom were martyred during the Spanish Civil War, the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians are organizing a conference on the FMA and Martyrdom, to be held tomorrow, Thursday, 30 March at 17:00, at the Madre Ersilia Canta House in Rome.

(ANS – Jakarta) – To encourage and accompany young people in Asia to live and promote a "culture of solidarity and encounter with the other, in the multicultural and multireligious societies of Asia" and increase the awareness of the contribution to give to the Church and society: this is the intent of the seventh Asia Youth Day, which in 2017 will be held in Yogyakarta in central Java, from July 30 to August 9, 2017. The theme chosen for the event which will bring over 3,000 young Catholics from 29 Asian countries to Indonesia is "Joyful Asian Youth! Living The Gospel In Multicultural Asia".

(ANS - Rome) - On the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome (25 March 1957), the founding moment of the European Union, a meeting of Heads of State and Government of the member countries is taking place in Rome. The members will be received by Pope Francis this afternoon, 24 March.

(ANS - Santiago) - On 21 March there was the opening ceremony of the academic year at the Silva Henríquez Catholic University (UCSH). It was attended by Cardinal Ricardo Ezzati, Archbishop of Santiago, and the Secretary for Social Services of the Ministry of Social Development, Juan Eduardo Faúndez Molina.

(ANS - Dublin) - The first meeting of the project "Young Europeans at risk: new Salesian responses" was held in Dublin and Maynooth from 8 to 10 March. It involves Salesian social institutions of six European countries: Germany, Belgium, Slovenia, Spain, Ireland and Poland. The aim of the project is to share the work of each of the institutions involved. All of them are specialized in various aspects of work with young people at risk.

(ANS – Rome) – From 13-15 March 2017 Don Bosco Network is hosting a set of Working Group meetings at the Salesianum in Rome. The representatives of various Salesian organizations: Via Don Bosco – Belgium, VIS – Italy, Missioni Don Bosco – Italy, SWM – Poland, Don Bosco Missions – Germany, Don Bosco Mondo – Germany, Jovenes y Desarollo – Spain, BoscoNet/PARA – India, Don Bosco International and Salesian Past Pupils, gathered to share experiences, materials and best practices and to plan effective cooperation in various fields of work and support for Salesian Mission worldwide.

(ANS - Río Negro) - Following a project presented by the National Deputy Maria Emilia Soria, the old school building of San Miguel was declared a National Heritage on 6 March. The school will celebrate this recognition by the National Congress in an event organized by the Blessed Ceferino Namuncurá Institute.