Lviv, Ukraine - April 27, 2020 - During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Salesian Vice Province of Ukraine (UKR) has promoted social projects aimed at preventing the spread of contagion. Priority is given to provding aid to the municipal hospital of Lviv for infections, thanks to the common commitment of the Salesian parish of Mary Help of Christians and the "St John Bosco" youth center, which have started the production of protective masks and bedsheets, then also sent to other hospitals in the city. In addition, food packages are prepared for those in need: on Easter days, the volunteers of the Salesian centers visited over 70 families in need of help and attention, while the support service for the nutrition of poor and lonely people continues on an ongoing basis. Thanks to the social bakery at the "Pokrova" Family House of the Salesians, Easter doves were also prepared for the soldiers serving in areas of Eastern Ukraine. As for the Youth Ministry, the Salesians, with its animators, organized online oratories, through social networks, to keep in touch with young people.

Lisbon, Portugal - April 2020 - During this week the Salesians of Lisbon have resumed catechetical activities that allow about 800 children and young people to deepen their knowledge and experience of Jesus. With the enormous availability of catechists it was possible to implement a remote catechesis plan. In the communication sent to the families, Fr Luís Almeida, SDB, coordinator of the pastoral care of schools, said: “Catechesis is not a journey that needs to complete stages. It is a journey of growth in the faith, knowledge and love of the Lord Jesus that accompanies the person in all phases of his life. We want this proposal to continue distance catechesis to also involve families, with their parents as first catechists and witnesses of the faith, to help catechists on their journey.”

Santa Cruz, Bolivia - April 2020 - The young people of the Association of Mary Help of Christians (ADMA) of Santa Cruz, unable to gather to pray the Rosary because of the quarantine, decided to use the "Zoom" platform to meet and share their devotion. The initiative was born from a member of the ADMA-Youth group; in this way, young people can pray the Rosary by interacting with the participants. Paola Andrea Galean, in charge of the ADMA-Youth group of Santa Cruz, said: “It fills me with joy to see, thanks to our young people, their families dedicating 40 minutes of time to accompany us in the prayer of the Rosary. (...) Thanks to them we have a more united and stronger group than ever."