Kokopo, Papua New Guinea - April 2023 - On April 10 on the occasion of the celebration of Angel Monday, the Association of Salesian Cooperators of Kokopo organized a delivery of gifts to "St. Mary's Vunapope" hospital in Eastern New Britain Province. SSCC members distributed packages of goods to all patients as well as to nurses and staff of the hospital. "Relieving their suffering with our small gifts meant a lot to them, but what we felt was that it wasn't really the gifts that mattered, but the appreciation of our presence. The various wards lit up with the light of their happy faces when we introduced ourselves and wished them Happy Easter," testified a Salesian Cooperator participating in the initiative. The activity was accompanied by Fr. Moise Paluku, SDB, Salesian Secondary School Director and pastor at the "Mary Help of Christians" center in Kokopo. The initiative has now become a tradition during the Easter season, which the SSCCs have been carrying out since 2010.

Santiago de Chile, Chile - April 2023 - On April 15, the start day of the Salesian Youth Movement (SYM) was celebrated in the "José Miguel Infante" High School of the Mary Help of Christians Educational Network. The event brought together more than 100 young people, who participated with enthusiasm and joy. They were accompanied by Fr. Carlo Lira, Provincial Superior of the Salesian Province of Chile, who experienced different moments with the young people and presided over the concluding Eucharist. "The movement is the mature fruit of the Salesian experience, to get young people to commit themselves with Jesus, taking on a living spirituality that moves them in joy, in daily life, in friendship with Jesus, in Marian devotion, in serving the world, in feeling Church, in learning to be a community," the Provincial said. The chosen motto - "With Christ, we are witnesses of the Kingdom" - was chosen at the SYM national meeting, explained Sister Karen Vivanco, National Coordinator for FMA Youth Ministry. "We took the Rector Major's Strenna 2023 and turned it into a challenge for the youth of today: to become leaven capable of transforming the mass of society." Fr. Juan Miguel Cárcamo, Delegate for the Salesian Youth Ministry of the CIL Province, finally added, "This can be a good yeast as long as it is truly united with Jesus, which is why we say that with Christ, we are witnesses of the Kingdom: when we are united with Him, we can bear much fruit and be a very good leaven for the multitude."

Cuenca, Ecuador - April 2023 - On April 17, 1966, the Don Bosco Oratory of Cuenca (ODB) was first established through the initiative and impulse of two Salesians: Fr. Bolívar Jaramillo and Salesian Br. Ángel Robusti. To celebrate these 57 years of life, various events were organized on Saturday, April 15, and Sunday, April 16, bringing together more than 2,500 people including boys, girls, youth, parents, and animators. On Saturday, they held association activities with the different groups. Contests and games related to the history of the oratory and the life of Don Bosco took place, fostering interaction among all participants. On Sunday, a special Mass was celebrated, presided by Fr. Marcelo Farfán, Superior of the Salesian Province of Ecuador, and concelebrated by Fr. Juan Cárdenas, Director of the "María Auxiliadora" community, in the auditorium of the Salesian Polytechnic University (UPS). At the end of the celebration, each catechism group presented a dance and song in an atmosphere of great joy. Finally, several games were organized in the courtyards to entertain children and youth in the oratory before closing the celebration with a fraternal sharing.