Melbourne, Australia - May 2022 - The XXII Provincial Chapter of the Salesian Province of Australia (AUL) began on May 20 at the "Catholic Leadership Centre" in East Melbourne. Fr  Chris Ford, SDB, Regulator of the Provincial Chapter, was assisted by some lay people in the preparation, organization, and execution of the assembly, while some Salesians and members of the Salesian Family were able to participate in the Chapter via audiovisual link. The use of the "Teams" program and the center's digital media was a great success in connecting with Australia, Samoa, Fiji, and New Zealand in real-time. On the second and third days of the Chapter, numerous lay Salesian mission collaborators were invited to share their dreams, concerns, and joys in making Don Bosco's dream an ever more beautiful reality in Australia and the Pacific. They actively participated in discussions and presentations on the three major themes -  identity, formation, and mission - according to the Rector Major's guidelines. FMA Provincial Sister Louise McKeogh and Sister Delma Lamb, FMA, also participated in this formation process to deepen Salesian identity in missions with young people. The Chapter was also attended by some Salesian Cooperators, youth leaders, and several leading figures from the AUL Province. The Provincial Chapter concluded on May 24 with the celebration of the feast day of Mary Help of Christians, patroness of Australia.

Chennai, India – May 24, 2022: On the feast day of Mary Help of Christians, eight young salesians, belonging to the province of Chennai, who were in the temporary vows made their perpetual profession at Don Bosco College, Yellagiri. Cl. Clement Arockia Raj, Cl. Arockia Piriyan, Cl. Arul Prasanth, Cl. Arockia Johnpaul, Cl. Arockia Das, Cl. Hendric John Antony, Cl. Sagayam Muthu and Cl. John Kennedy made their perpetual profession with the motto, ΄To be with him forever΄. The ceremony took place at the jubilee hall in Don Bosco College, Yelagiri and was presided over by Fr. Jose Kochamkunnel SDB, the provincial of Chennai province, who received the vows of these young salesians in the presence of the other salesians of various communities, religious, parents and collaborators of the salesian mission.

Quito, Ecuador - May 2022 - As part of the Extraordinary Visitation to the Salesian Province of Ecuador (ECU), Fr Hugo Orozco, Councilor for the Interamerica Region, presided over the Eucharist for the Feast Day of Mary Help of Christians in which Salesians from the communities of Quito, members of the various groups of the Salesian Family and young students from Salesian school centers participated. The Shrine of Mary Help of Christians in "El Girón" was filled with great joy to celebrate the patroness of the Salesians and pay homage to her through prayer. During his homily, Fr Orozco told those present, "My desire is that you may grow in love for Mary, that you may contemplate her, that you may learn from her as a teacher, and that you may experience her love as a mother." Fr Orozco will conclude the Extraordinary Visitation to the Province of Ecuador tomorrow, May 26, with the presentation of the final report to the Rectors and Salesians. The event shall take place at the "San Patricio" Spirituality Center, which will also bring together lay people and youth to participate in the concluding Eucharist.