Vilnius, Lithuania - October 2020 - Despite the limitations caused by the pandemic, also active in Lithuania albeit milder, the traditional opening of the oratorian year at the Vilnius festive oratory took place on 4 October, coinciding with the catechetical year. The event was attended by 210 children, 15 animators and 150 families. After Mass, the confirmation class had their first meeting, while the parents of the First Communion children had their first official meeting with the catechetical team. Meanwhile, the children, both of the catechism classes and those who usually attend the festive oratory, gathered in the square outside the church to participate in a game structured in stages by the animators. The participants, individually or in small groups, at each stage, performed a skill test, at the end of which they received sweets as a prize. The sweets were purchased through a municipal program to strengthen community activities for the neighborhood, in which the parish participated.

Fr Alessandro Barelli

Nairobi, Kenya - October 2020 - From 6 October, at the “Don Bosco Youth Education Services” (DBYES), three days of formation for teachers began on the theme “Teaching and Learning in the 21st century”. Participants include 20 teachers, Salesians and lay people, from 5 academic institutions, led by Fr Selvam Sahaya, SDB, and a team of experts.

Krakow, Poland - October 2020 - The inauguration of the 2020-2021 Academic Year of the interprovincial Theological Studentate of Krakow took place on 1 October. The opening Eucharist was presided over by Fr Tadeusz Itrych, Provincial of the Piła Province (PLN). Later, in the seminary hall, the "Canticum" cleric choir performed the hymn "Gaude Mater Polonia". The Rector of the Theologate, Fr Adam Paszek, presented a report on last year's activities of the theological studentate; Fr Wojciech Węgrzyniak, representative of the John Paul II Pontifical University in Krakow, gave the opening address. The words spoken by the Rector: "I consider the academic year 2020/2021 open" and the song "Gaudeamus igitur" officially started the new academic year.