(ANS - Vatican City) - Their best wishes to Pope Francis during the recent period of his stay at the Gemelli hospital were among the most touching and affectionate. In a video they "sang" their closeness and their encouragement, assuring him: "You are always a great friend to us and we want to be with you soon." There are 185 children, aged 5 to 13, participating in the "Youth Summer Camp" in the Vatican until 30 July. Fr Franco Fontana, chaplain of the Pontifical Gendarmerie and Director of the Salesian community in the Vatican, explained the meaning of the initiative to L'Osservatore Romano.
(ANS - El-Houssoun) - Organized by the Salesians in Lebanon, the Youth South Camp in the mountain house of El-Houssoun (Byblos district) is increasingly revealing itself to be an oasis of peace, serenity and conviviality in what is a dramatic social, political and economic context, one that is unprecedented in the centennial history of modern Lebanon.
(ANS - Madrid) - After an intense and anomalous school year, thousands of children, adolescents and young people face the summer holidays with greater desire than ever to disconnect from routine. For them, the Salesians of Spain are organizing the activities of the Salesian Summer: 13,000 participants of various ages are expected, accompanied by about 1,400 animators and Salesians.
“We make Holiness consist in always being joyful,” said Don Bosco, and joy is certainly not lacking in all those Salesian courtyards which, in recent weeks, are being populated for the Youth Summer Camps. Many young people, after a difficult year marked by restrictions, have returned to fill the Salesian centers in every part of the world, to play, have fun and spend time together. Always respecting the safety measures, the kids are ready to live to the fullest this summer 2021.
(ANS - Vatican City) - Despite the current pandemic situation, and potential future changes in compliance with public health decisions, the second edition of "Youth Summer Camp in the Vatican" is set to start. The initiative promoted by the Governorate of the Vatican City State, also sees the Salesian Family involved and at the forefront.
Montreal, Canada - July-August 2020 - The Salesian Youth Center in Montreal managed to organize a mini Summer Camp again this year: held over four weeks, three days a week, it saw the participation of about 55 children and young people. In addition to recreational activities, carried out in compliance with health and safety measures, the mini-camp also carried out its mission of educating to the faith. In this sense, the presence of a younger Salesian, Fr Branden Gordon, was considered by all to be a real gift.
PHOTO GALLERY
INTERVIEWS
-
Italy – A Salesian on the front line of the war in Ukraine: "Being close counts, words come later"(ANS - Rome) - As he tells with a gentleness that does not seem to come from horror, he is "resting a little bit" in Rome these days. Fr Oleh Ladnyuk is a Ukrainian Salesian priest who is a military chaplain at the front, among the soldiers who fight in defence of their country and among the civilians who for over two years have seen their lives wiped out. He brings humanitarian aid where the missiles fall and from those places he helps with the evacuation of young people and adults - so far at least 500 people, but there are probably many more. These days the Salesian – who carries out his ministry in Dnipro and teaches History in a state school in the city – is in Rome to take part with two other priests and a dozen lay people from his country in the "Accompanying when Trauma Hits" course hosted by the Pontifical Salesian University in collaboration with the Faculty of Educational Sciences, with the DON BOSCO NEL MONDO Foundation and the Don Bosco Network. A project that aims to provide theoretical and methodological tools to deal with the traumas caused by war.
EDITORIAL
-
Myanmar – Tragedy of Innocent Children in the midst of Armed Conflicts(ANS – Naypyidaw) - Myanmar finds itself immersed in profound grief and anguish as innocent lives, particularly those of children, continue to be mercilessly lost in the enduring armed conflicts. Families are left devastated by the tragic loss of their loved ones while the relentless violence shows no signs of abating. This week, a heartfelt plea from Myanmar reached our community, shedding light on the heart-wrenching death of a young girl Juliet in a military airstrike, prompting a unified call for prayers and action.
EVENTS
-
Italy – "Education and culture of safeguarding in sport. Towards the establishment of protection and prevention models": PGS conference with UPS(ANS – Rome) – The synergy between the Salesian Youth Sports Centres (PGS) and the Pontifical Salesian University (UPS) in Rome gave rise to the conference on "Education and culture of safeguarding in sport. Towards the establishment of models of protection and prevention", which will take place on 13 April, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:45 p.m., at the UPS facilities in Rome.
SPECIAL REPORTS
-
United States – INT’L DAY FOR STREET CHILDREN: Salesian Missions highlights programs that provide shelter and support(ANS – New Rochelle) – Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco, joins humanitarian and international organizations around the globe in highlighting the plight of homeless children on the International Day for Street Children. The day provides organizations and the millions of street children in countries worldwide with an opportunity to have their voices heard while ensuring that their rights are not ignored.
MESSAGES OF THE RECTOR MAJOR
-
I’M A SALESIAN AND I’M A BOROROTHE MESSAGE OF THE RECTOR MAJOR, Fr Ángel Fernández Artime, SDB
Diary of a Happy and Blessed Missionary Day
Dear friends , I’m writing to you from Meruri in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. I write this greeting almost as if it were a journalistic report, because it has been only 24 hours since I arrived in the middle of this Brazilian state.