Brno, Czech Republic - July 2024 - Several young Salesian missionary volunteers, after having prepared themselves throughout the pastoral year, concluded their training during the last meeting in Brno, which was followed by the missionary sending-off ceremony. A total of seven young people, three girls and four boys, will go on mission to Albania, England, Bulgaria and Kenya. The sending out Mass was presided over by the Superior of the Salesian Province "St John Bosco" (CEP), Fr Martin Hobza, and during the Eucharist the young missionary volunteers received the cross and made a commitment to give their time and love to children and young people, especially those most in need.

Dosquebradas, Colombia - June 2024 - Camp Bosco 2024, organized by the Salesian Province "St Louis Bertrando" of Colombia-Medellín (COM), took place at the end of June. The formative-pastoral meeting for all the young people of the Salesian Youth Movement (MGS) concluded the faith formation itineraries of the pastoral year and was the most important event to establish the pillars of Salesian Youth Spirituality in the country. The event also saw the participation of a Delegation from the Salesian Province "St. Peter Claver" of Bogotá (COB), and the participants experienced great fraternity all united in living the legacy of Don Bosco, with a testimony of the vitality of the Salesian spirit.

(Chicago, IL – July 3) – Young adults were invited from St. John Bosco-St. James Parish to attend an archdiocesan young adult Eucharistic Revival event on Friday, June 28, at St. Alphonsus Church in Chicago. This was part of the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage Revival effort that began in California on the Junipero Serra Route (one of four in the states) as it stopped in Chicago to make its way to Indianapolis, IN, for the Eucharistic Congress. The event at St. Alphonsus was a full night consisting of Mass, procession with Eucharistic adoration, a social, and pilgrim witness talks. At Mass, the homilist focused on the theme of staying with Jesus because Jesus desires to stay with us despite our shortcomings. This was pointed out in Peter’s three-fold denial of Jesus in the Passion, yet Jesus helped Peter to move from trepidation in denial to a three-fold pledge of commitment of love for Jesus by tending and feeding the flock. A witness talk made by a permanent pilgrim traveling the entire Junipero Serra route spoke about how her worldly life and behavior were altered once she attended a retreat. During the adoration session, she experienced a profound connection with Jesus which has remained with her.

By Fr. Jim Berning, SDB