Johannesburg, South Africa – October 2024 - On 28 and 29 October, the Salesians of Don Bosco in the Southern Africa Vice-Province (AFM) comprising South Africa, Lesotho and eSwatini, gathered for their Annual Assembly at the Bosco Youth Centre (Walkerville, Johannesburg). Thirty participants among Salesian priests, brothers and young Salesians in practical formation gathered to celebrate their patron, Blessed Michael Rua (1837-1910), the first successor of Don Bosco, who sent the first Salesian missionaries to southern Africa in 1896. The rich program of the event included vibrant multicultural presentations from 18 different countries; the Golden Jubilee of priesthood celebrated by Fr Edmund O'Neill; the reception of new missionaries from other African Provinces; the profession of faith by the new rectors of the communities located in all three countries; and a particular event typical of South Africa called Braai. Two days of sharing and bonding focused on building the culture of accompaniment, a Salesian way of expressing the new synodal way of being Church. Three Salesians who attended the "Salesian Accompaniment School" involved the participants in the formation phase to spread the basic skills in personal spiritual accompaniment of Salesians and young people. Among the Salesians in the 3 AFM countries, small gifts were exchanged, the entire Assembly watched 15 short video-messages sent by the remaining 17 Salesians and novices who are now scattered in another 9 countries in Africa and other continents due to formation, specialisation studies or pastoral commitment.