Bogotá, Colombia - August 2023 - From 25 to 28 August, the Salesian National Games 2023 were held at the Salesian presence in Mosquera, with the participation of young athletes from 21 delegations of Salesian works and presences from all over Colombia. The event was attended by Fr John Jairo Gómez Rúa, SDB, Superior of the Salesian Province of Bogotá; Fr Luis Fernando Valencia, SDB, Superior of the Salesian Province of Medellín; Fr Ramiro Morales Hernández, SDB, Rector of the Salesian presence in Mosquera; Fr Wilfredo Higuera Rey, SDB, Coordinator of Youth Ministry in Mosquera; Mother Eulalia Marín, of the Sisters of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary (HHSSCC) at the Sagrados Corazones school in Mosquera; and the mayor of the city, Gian Carlo Gerometta Burbano. As part of this celebration, the Youth Eucharist of St John Bosco was celebrated in María Auxiliadora Parish. For four days, joy and love for sport were the real key players, offering sports competitions in which many emotions and experiences filled the hearts of all the young participants.
La Ceja, Colombia – August 2023 – The meeting of young Salesians in Formation from the Province of Colombia-Medellín (COM) was held from 26 to 28 August at the Sacred Heart of Jesus Novitiate House in La Ceja, Antioquia. The aim of the event was to recognise this moment as a meeting of brothers rejoicing in life in common, fraternity and their respective talents, strengthening the identity of consecrated persons.
La Ceja, Colombia - August 2023 - The Provincial Missionary Congress of the Province of Colombia-Medellín (COM) was held from 17 to 19 August under the theme "With Mary, sent to the mission". The meeting was held at Monte Maria House in the municipality of La Ceja (Antioquia) in the presence of 32 leaders who are part of the Missionary Coordinators. The aim of the Congress was to bring together the Base Mission Teams, strength formation, projection and apostolic identity around the figure of Mary, seek support mechanisms to consolidate the accompaniment paths of the different works of the Province. The Provincial Missionary Commission (CIAM), the Base Missionary Team and Fr Hernán Darío Carmona, Provincial Missionary Delegate, worked on the realisation of the Congress.
Copacabana, Colombia – July 2023 – The Curatorium of the Blessed Philip Rinaldi Postnovitiate in Copacabana was held on 14 July, to monitor the internal processes of community life, the response of the formation team and the journey of the young religious in academic, fraternal life, prayer, apostolic and -pastoral aspects, and with reference to the Local Community Project. The meeting was accompanied by Fr Hugo Orozco, Councillor for the Interamerican Region. Linked up digitally, he encouraged the participants to live the Salesian charism freely and to make the most of the work that the community has done since the previous Curatorium. Present at the meeting were Fr John Jairo Gómez Rúa, Superior of the Salesian Province of Bogotá, Fr Luis Fernando Valencia, Superior of the Salesian Province of Medellín, while the Vicar of the Province of the Antilles, Fr García Capellán Carlos Nabel, was connected digitally.
Bogotá, Colombia - June 2023 - Members of the Fundación Salvador del Mundo (FUSALMO), from El Salvador, participated in the 'BID lab forum' on entrepreneurship and innovative technology to improve lives in Latin America and the Caribbean. The forum was organised by the Inter-American Development Bank on 13 and 14 June, in the city of Bogotá, Colombia. Ivette Padilla, Manager of Management and Development, and Nelson Cruz, Executive Director of FUSALMO, were the institution's representatives at the event. During the conversation, topics of high impact on the region's economy were discussed, including changes in production methods, connections between people, initiatives and resources, and investment opportunities in technologies and blockchain. The activity had a great social impact as it sought solutions through Latin American and Caribbean entrepreneurs to generate employment and help families in the region.
Medellín, Colombia – June 2023 – Ciudad Don Bosco, a work in the San Luigi Bertrando Province of Colombia-Medellín (COM), celebrated a Seminar for life and the world of work, an opportunity for Salesian educational institutions to open their doors to companies to listen to the new proposals that exist at the corporate level on issues such as social and environmental responsibility, carbon neutrality, waste management and sustainability. As has been said, it was ultimately a matter of establishing “a pact for the environment, a path towards sustainability in the world of work”. Following the direction proposed by Pope Francis in the Encyclical Laudato Si', and the Pastoral Proposal for 2023-2025, the Salesians from Ciudad Don Bosco intend to train professionals who take on the task of creating environmentally responsible spaces, thinking about future generations. The event was attended by companies such as Prodenvases S.A.S, Fundación Botellas de Amor, Área Metropolitana, Grupo Argos and EPM, which collaborate with the Salesians and have the common objective of carrying out their mission by making proposals that preserve nature. The seminar left important indications to develop initiatives that contribute to the protection of the environment in the world of work.
PHOTO GALLERY
INTERVIEWS
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Democratic Republic of Congo – Fr Owoudou on the situation in the eastern parts of the country: “No matter how dark the night may seem, dawn will inevitably come”
(ANS - Goma) - During his latest phase of the Extraordinary Visit to the "Mary Most Holy Assumption" Province of Central Africa (AFC), Fr. Alphonse Owoudou, Councillor for the Africa Madagascar Region, conducted an interview with the magazine "JAMBO VIJANA," representing the youth engaged in the Salesian works of the Province's Eastern Delegation. Addressing the ongoing violence and conflicts in the region, Fr. Owoudou expressed hope, saying: "No matter the length of the night, dawn will inevitably come."
EDITORIAL
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“Speaking with the Heart”: A great Antidote for the Ills of today’s world
‘Revolutionize the world with your kindness, by speaking with your heart’, is the dream that Pope Francis envisions for humanity through his 57th World Communication Day message, that falls on this Ascension Sunday, 21st May 2023. ‘Speak with your heart in truth and charity’, and this is the best antidote that can cure the ills of today’s society.
EVENTS
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Italy – "Labs To Future": the final event of the "Labs To Learn" project in Valdocco
(ANS – Turin) – The final event of the "Labs to Learn" project was held on Tuesday, 5 March 2024, entitled "Labs To Future: The path – The results – The challenges" . The project was selected by the "Con i Bambini" social enterprise within the framework of the Foundation for the Fight against Child Educational Poverty and came into being with the intention of combating early school leaving and preventing educational poverty, increasing the number of young people with difficulties who fulfil their school obligation, access higher education and/or job placement, and opening the way for personal growth according to their inclinations and aspirations.
SPECIAL REPORTS
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Peru – Centenary of the High Altar of the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians in Lima
(ANS – Lima) – The centenary of the consecration of the high altar in the Crypt of the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians in Lima was celebrated on 19 March, on the feast of St Joseph and in homage to Fr José Calasanz Marqués, then Provincial of the Salesians in Peru and Bolivia – now recognised as Blessed by the Church – on account of his name.
MESSAGES OF THE RECTOR MAJOR
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DREAMS THAT KEEP COMING TRUE!
THE MESSAGE OF THE RECTOR MAJOR, Card. Ángel Fernández Artime, SDB
When reflecting on all this, I feel I have a little authority to say: “Dear Don Bosco, your Dream is still VERY ALIVE.”