Rome, Italy - July 2020 - On July 12, Fr Alphonse Owoudou, Councilor for the Africa-Madagascar Region, had a first meeting with the African Salesians present at the Salesian Pontifical University (UPS) in Rome. The meeting, which took place in compliance with the anti-COVID-19 directives, took place in the upper church of the UPS, with the aim of establishing contact between the Councilor and the Salesians of the Region present at the UPS for reasons of study or mission. Fr Gabriel Ngendakuriyo, Director of the community Don Rua welcomed Fr Owoudou, who articulated his intervention on three points: presentation of the function of the Regional Councilor according to the Salesian Constitutions and the deliberations of the GC28; reflections and actions that all the Salesians of the Africa-Madagascar Region are called to carry out for a more effective Salesian presence in the Region; presentation of its program for the next year. After his speech, there was a moment of dialogue with the participants, with questions about the configuration of the region, the functioning of the Conference of Provinces and Vice Provinces of the Region (CIVAM).

Italy - "Open for holidays" of Salesians of Torre Annunziata
Torre Annunziata, Italy - July 2020 - Yesterday, Monday 13 July, the "Aperti per Ferie - open for holidays" initiative started: games, swimming pools, entertainment for children aged 6 to 14 at the Salesian Summer Center in Torre Annunziata. There are three 2-week modules, with the participation of about 80 children for each module, accompanied by animators and educators. The summer center is promoted by the Municipality of Torre Annunziata, and the Salesian association "Piccoli Passi Grandi Sogni - Little Steps, Big Dreams" manages the planning. "With the partial return to normal after the months of socio-health emergency caused by the Coronavirus," explain the mayor, Vincenzo Ascione, and the commissioner for Social Policies, Martina Nastri, "it was important to start safely, offering a valid recreational opportunity to the more disadvantaged sections of the population."

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Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea - July 2020 - The annual retreat of the Salesians of the Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands Vice-Province (PGS), led by Fr Roger Miranda, took place from 5 to 11 July. The event was attended by 12 Salesians including priests, Salesian brothers and trainees, missionaries from eight countries and four continents. Due to the restrictions for the containment of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Salesians of the Solomon Islands and of the communities of Kumgi and Vunabosco were not present.