Ratisbonne, Israel - May 2020 - On the evening of May 3, the Salesian community of Ratisbonne celebrated the conferral of the ministries of Acolyte and Lector to 25 Salesian Theology students belonging to 20 Provinces. The celebration took place in the catacomb of the Ratisbonne monastery and was presided over by Fr Emanuele Vezzoli, Vicar of the Salesian Province of the Middle East (MOR).

Rukago, Burundi - May 2020 - The population of the Rukago parish has been severely tested by the COVID-19 pandemic. As an immediate response, the Salesian mission, working closely with the Planning and Development Office, has developed a prevention project funded by the Mission Office of New Rochelle (New York, USA). Fr Raphaël Katanga, Economer of the Salesian community of Rukago, explained: “This project benefits approximately 65,000 people from the parish of Rukago. In particular, we supported some vulnerable families of the indigenous group who risked being left without food due to the limited circulation of goods and people.” Also, thanks to the project, 8 churches, 15 schools and the Salesian oratory have been equipped with handwashing facilities, and an awareness campaign on personal hygiene was offered.

Joinville, Brazil - May 2020 - On May 24, on the occasion of the feast day of Mary Help of Christians, the Salesians who pastorally assist the "St Anthony" parish of Joinville organized a motorcade, a Marian procession, in which over 2,000 cars participated for a total of about 8,000 people. Participants strictly followed the security protocols in place to combat COVID-19. During the 48 km route, the vehicle carrying the image of Mary Help of Christians went through 15 neighborhoods, collecting numerous manifestations of faith from people on the street or in their homes.