Jerusalem, Israel - August 2019 - Salesians from all over the Spanish-speaking world walked in the footsteps of Jesus Christ in the Holy Land, lived a "formation experience", deepened the Word of God in every place they visited, and met Him in prayer. It is an experience that every Salesian must have at least once in his life, in order to "configure us more deeply to Christ and renew our fidelity to Don Bosco, in order to respond to the ever new demands of the youthful and popular condition" (CS, 118)."
(ANS - Jerusalem) - The wonderful and thrilling "Formative Experience in the Holy Land" (EFTS), which took place from 11 to 23 August, has come to an end. It was led by Fr Juan José José Bartolomé and Fr Francisco Enríquez de Zulaica, and saw the participation of 37 Salesians from all over the Hispanic world. It was a necessary experience for the Salesians and a proposal that comes from the Formation Department and is supported by the Salesian community of Ratisbonne, in particular by Fr Matteo Balla, SDB.
(ANS – Jerusalem) – What have the fruits of the 8-day pilgrimage of the General Council in the Holy Land been? It was a unique opportunity to touch the places of Jesus, to walk in the places where Word was made Flesh and lived among His people!
(ANS - Nazareth) – One cannot carry out such an important and delicate service as that of guiding and accompanying the Salesian Congregation if care is not taken to always remain spiritually "in shape". In this perspective, and with the desire to share an occasion of fraternity and authentic community life, the Rector Major and the other members of the General Council began a pilgrimage to the Holy Land this past Saturday, June 29th.
Ratisbonne, Israel - June 2019 - On 16 June, the Salesian Monastery of Ratisbonne gathered more than 300 people at the church of St Anna for the diaconal ordination of eight Salesians, presided by Msgr. Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Apostolic Administrator of Jerusalem. Present at the celebration were Fr Timothy Ploch, Councilor for the Interamerica Region, and Fr Alejandro José León Mendoza, Superior of the Salesian Province of the Middle East (MOR).
Beitgemal, Israel - November 20, 1938 - Feast day for the beatification of Maria Domenica Mazzarello, co-founder of the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, in Beitgemal. The venerable Simone Srugi, SDB, second from left, poses in front of the portico of the sanctuary of St. Stephen, together with three Arab Salesians.
PHOTO GALLERY
INTERVIEWS
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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
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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
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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
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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
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I’M A SALESIAN AND I’M A BORORO
THE 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.