Shillong, India – September 2024 – On 19 and 20 September, the Salesian BoscoNet, in collaboration with Bosco Integrated Development Society (BIDS-INS), organised a comprehensive formation programme on the mobilisation of local resources. The event, held at the St. Joseph rural resources training centre in Umran, brought together 27 participants from five Salesian Provinces in India: Delhi (INN), Dimapur (IND), Guwahati (ing), Shillong (INS) and Calcutta (INC). The event provided the participants with essential skills and knowledge for effective fundraising in the current Indian landscape. The main topics were: current trends and approaches in the fundraising landscape in India by 2024; strategies for cultivating high-value donors and creating a robust database; social media utilisation techniques; guidelines for launching new fundraising programs and scaling up existing initiatives; effective donor loyalty strategies; training on developing effective institutional presentations; mastery of body language and objection management; practical exercises followed by constructive debates and reflections. The event, which began with a keynote speech by Fr Jeevan Lakra, INS Vice-Provincial , alternated interactive sessions and practical exercises and at the end of the course the participants received a certificate and expressed their satisfaction with what they had learned. With initiatives such as this BoscoNet continues to play a fundamental role in strengthening the capacity of non-profit organizations throughout India, promoting sustainable development.

Krakow, Poland – September 2024 – The first meeting of the school pastoral year of the Rectors of the communities and those responsible for Salesian presences in the Province of Poland-Cracovia (PLS) was held on 17 and 18 September at the Salesian Seminary in Krakow. The event was attended by a special guest, Fr Marek Kita, professor at the Faculty of Theology of the University of Silesia, who gave a conference on the theme "Living the same Church again and again. On the need for a deeper renewal of ecclesiology". In addition, the participants listened to the Provincial Delegates who presented the situation of the different Sectors: Fr Zygmunt Kostka on Salesian Formation and Family; Fr Franciszek Janyga, Fr Mirosław Kosiec and Fr Mateusz Papierz on Youth Ministry and Vocational Animation; Fr Marcin Wosiek on Missionary Animation; Fr Dariusz Bartocha on Social Communication; and Fr Piotr Pawelec on Economy. The participants also celebrated Mass together, presided over by Fr Marcin Kaznowski, Superior of the PLS Province, and there were moments of fraternity and conviviality.

Photo: Facebook PLS

Itacoatiara, Brazil – September 2024 – On 21 September, in the Cathedral of the Prelature of Itacoatiara, the Eucharist was celebrated for the beginning of the pastoral ministry of Bishop Edmilson Tadeu Canavarros dos Santos, SDB, as the fifth Bishop of the  Itacoatiara Prelature in the State of Amazonas. The faithful, priests, religious and ecclesiastical and civil authorities gathered to welcome the new pastor and express their joy and hope for this new phase of the local Church. Chaired by Cardinal Leonardo Ulrich Steiner, OFM, Archbishop of Manaus, and concelebrated by other bishops in the Amazon region, the celebration also involved various Salesians including: Fr Gabriel Romero, Councillor for the America South Cone Region; Fr Philipe Bauzière, Superior of the Manaus, Brazil Province (BMA); and Fr Erondi Reis Pereira, Provincial Economer of the Province of Campo Grande Brazil (BCG). In his homily, Bishop Edmilson Tadeu Canavarros dos Santos recalled with affection his missionary journey in the Amazon, from the beginning of his life in São Gabriel da Cachoeira until his call to serve as bishop. Emotionally moved, he expressed his joy in assuming the mission of pastor of the Itacoatiara Prelature and stressed the importance of the collaboration of all to build a living and active Church. Bishop Canavarros dos Santos comes from the Province of Campo Grande, Brazil and has been Auxiliary Bishop of Manaus for eight years. The celebration was also marked by the entry of members of different pastoral ministries, movements, organisations and parishes, who presented representative banners that symbolised their commitment and common work in evangelisation, a symbolic gesture that demonstrated the strength and dedication of the faithful of the prelature.