Dili, East Timor – November 2022 - On Saturday, 12 November 2022, one day before the feast day of the newly canonized saint, the Salesian Family in TLS Vice-Province celebrated a thanksgiving Mass presided by His Eminence Cardinal Virgílio do Carmo da Silva, SDB, Archbishop of Dili. It was a pleasure for the Salesian Family to gather on such an occasion to celebrate the goodness of God showered upon the Church and the Salesian Family through this newly canonized saint, a nurse, and a lay Salesian brother. The Mass was being celebrated in Mary Help of Christians parish Comoro. The holiness of life that Zatti has shown to the world and us, as highlighted by Pope Francis consists of his dedication to the sick, the poor, and the abandoned. With Zatti’s canonization, the way is now opened to all of us to fulfill our final purpose of life as Christians: to become a saint, added the Salesian Cardinal in his homily. However, as mentioned in the Gospel reading, the second question posted by a scholar of the law to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”, as members of the Salesian Family, all are invited to treat others (the strangers, the poor and the abandoned, those in need) as our neighbors, as our brothers. Being our neighbor or our brothers means those whom we must love with our goodwill and this love must be shown in concrete acts. Just like Zatti, after giving up his dream of becoming a priest, rather than choosing to become a lay brother, he dedicated himself totally to the care of the sick. This choice of Zatti did not come overnight, rather it came out with full confidence and trust in God’s plan. He got tuberculosis, a sickness that would bring him to give up his plan, and to get cured he relied on God’s power. He believed that he would get cured through the intercession of Mary Help of Christians. He made a promise that after getting healed, he will offer his life for taking care of the sick. And indeed, he was healed of tuberculosis. He became a model, like the good Samaritan, Jesus himself, to show compassion and love from God to others, especially the sick. All members of the Salesian Family were present: SDB, FMA sisters, Salesian Cooperators, ADMA, Past Pupils, and young people. Most of the rectors of the Salesian communities in TLS and other Salesian priests concelebrated in the Eucharist. Meanwhile, the former Provincial of ITM, Fr. Andres Calleja, SDB graced the event with his presence and shared his missionary experience in Istanbul with all participants after the Mass.
(J.Mota, SDB)

Amatitán, Mexico - November 2022 - From November 13 to 18, the Provincial Chapter of the Salesian Province of Mexico-Guadalajara (MEG) was held at the "Betsaida" house in Amatitán, in the state of Jalisco. In addition to evaluating the implementation of the 28th General Chapter and revising and amending the Provincial Directory, the chapter work focused on four topics of provincial interest: vocation animation; Salesians and laity: management of works; sustainability of works; and pastoral care and inclusive education. The chapter assembly was attended by 52 Salesians and 12 lay men and women invited by the MEG Provincial, Fr. Filiberto González Plasencia, who was also president of the chapter assembly. The governor of the Provincial Chapter was Fr. Sergio de la Cruz.

Lagos, Nigeria – Novembrer 2022 - The Salesian youths in Nigeria are not strangers or first-time participants of the annual Salesian Youth Ministry Congress (SYM), as evidenced by an exciting edition hosted by the Mary Help of Christians community, Akure last September. 2022 came with a new ‘bang’ though, as Nigeria and Niger Republic become the ANN Province. This meant that the 2022 Salesian Youth Congress was the first edition for new Province. Joyfully, the edition also coincided with the celebration of the 40 years of Salesian presence in Nigeria, after Frs Gabriel Wade, Italo Spagnolo and Br. John Patrucco began the mission in 1982, in Akure, Ondo State. It only seemed proper that the anniversary be celebrated at the first Salesian point of entry, hence, Akure community being the host again for the youth congress. The congress started on the 10th of November, 2022, with youths arriving from the other 9 communities, although their respective youth directors had arrived earlier, for meetings with the ANN Province Youth Ministry Delegate. The congress was officially declared open that night at the Opening Mass, graced by the youths, Priests, and lay faithful. Friday the 11th involved aerobics, cleanup, breakfast, and three symposium sessions. The first session by Dr. Akinwumi Akinnuoye, a consultant psychiatrist was about the keys to maintaining mental well-being in youths. The second session with Rev. Fr. Fidelis Agbara SDB, the youth director of Mary Help of Christians, Iju Lagos, involved a talk about the 40 years of Salesian presence in Nigeria and what next. The third and final symposium came after lunch and it involved the theme of the congress – “As the yeast in today’s human family: The lay dimension in the family of Don Bosco”. This was taken by Rev. Fr. Solomon Oballa SDB of St John Bosco Community, Ondo town.