Spain – December 2024 – The solidarity event called "La Marató", promoted by the digital platform "3Cat" and now in its 33rd edition, this year focused on raising awareness of respiratory diseases, diseases that increasingly affect the population due to environmental and social factors. This year almost 6.5 million euro were raised for research on respiratory diseases and several Salesian houses in Catalonia were strongly involved in fundraising and awareness-raising activities. More than 3,000 solidarity activities have been carried out in 75% of Catalan municipalities and a live programme of more than 17 hours through all the channels of the "3Cat" digital platform, connected with witnesses, experts and initiatives from all over the territory. So far over thirty-three editions, thanks to the solidarity of many people, "La Marató" has raised more than 253 million euro and has financed 1,048 research projects, developed by 1,762 different teams, involving 10,900 researchers. All this makes the event one of the main sources of research in Catalonia.

La Plata, Argentina – December 2024 - After a few days of work by Fr Darío Perera, Superior of the Salesian Province of Argentina South (ARS) with the Provincial Council, a new meeting of the Provincial Council and several guests was held from 11 to 13 December, with the aim of reviewing the proposals for the pastoral areas in the light of the Fourth and Fifth Provincial Chapters. At the Ceferino Namuncurá Retreat House, in La Plata, the delegates or representatives of the pastoral areas presented the projects and actions that are being carried out in the Province. Starting from the methodology of spiritual dialogue, also used during the Provincial Chapters, the related documents were re-read, comparing them with the realities that challenge the ARS Province today. Then, in the plenary sessions, the topics for the formation of Rectors, educators, approaches for the management and animation of the Salesian houses in the Province and explanation of the faith were discussed. As the last work of the Provincial Council with the various guests, the meeting of the provincial teams with the Councillors was divided into three groups, with mixed teams; in this phase the concrete actions carried out in the various sectors were analysed, in order to facilitate the animation of the entire Province.

Cape Town, South Africa – December 2024 – The Salesian Institute in Cape Town, the first Salesian presence in South Africa, is probably the longest established Salesian house in the entire Africa-Madagascar Region. Already in 1917 Fr Louis Versiglia, now a Saint, stayed at this house during his trip from Italy to Macau. On the occasion of his Canonisation in 2000, a plaque was placed in front of the room where Louis Versiglia stayed. Now, on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the first Salesian missionary expedition, Fr Francois Dufour, Rector of the Salesian Institute in Cape Town, has committed himself to making the hall something more. In recent months, a Memorial Hall has been established which preserves photographs, books, images and objects referring to the first missionaries. This simple but significant Hall of Memory to Saint Louis Versiglia also seeks to be an inspiration for other Salesian houses, to remember all the missionaries and local Salesians who have died in South Africa, Lesotho and eSwatini and to prepare similar initiatives in other communities.