(ANS - Lima) - Giovanni Hurtado lived his childhood in the Magdalena del Mar neighborhood in Lima. The Salesian presence was widespread and had three works, with different activities - school, formation house and parish - and vocations were numerous. Today, at the age of 48, the enthusiasm of this Oratorian past pupil is even more alive and stronger than ever. He learned it from the Salesians and today he says. "I was lucky enough to meet the Salesians in a golden age, when they were always in contact with young people."
Barbacena, Brazil - March 2020 - The community of the "Sacred Heart of Jesus" Novitiate in Barbacena kicked off its activities in 2020 with the "Baldoria Oratory" event. The event was attended by over 300 children, young people and teenagers who, accompanied by novices and some members of the Salesian community, participated in recreational dance, theater and parody contests.
(ANS - Rio Tercero) - Agustín Lobos and Guadalupe Cejas belong to the community of the "Don Bosco" oratory of Santiago del Estero. This year, they have decided to grow in the service, to "leave a footprint" and go in search of a new experience. Volunteering led them to live a busy summer in Rio Tercero, an Argentine city located in the center of the Province of Cordoba.
(ANS - Bari) – This past week, Bari was the center of the Mediterranean: in fact, from 19 to 23 February, it gathered 58 bishops of the 20 Mediterranean churches for the meeting "Mediterranean, frontier of peace." In Bari, the Salesian work "Santissimo Redentore" has been active for over a century, a true educational oasis for youth in the working class district of "Libertà", which hosted one of the participants in the Bishops' meeting, namely Salesian Cardinal Cristóbal López Romero, archbishop of Rabat (Morocco).
(ANS - Santiago del Estero) - Argentina is the first missionary land conceived and desired by Don Bosco. On 1 November 1875, Pope Pius IX received the members of the Salesian missionary expedition and blessed them. On November 14, three days after their sending-off celebration in the church of Valdocco, the first Salesian expedition sent and blessed by Don Bosco left the port of Genoa for Buenos Aires. Since then, the Salesians in Argentina have founded cities, hospitals, explored rivers, dug wells, created schools of all kinds and given names to lakes and mountains, but above all, wherever they went, they created Salesian oratories.
(ANS - Rome) - A new Caritas canteen for the poor was inaugurated on Sunday, 2 February, in the "San Giovanni Bosco" parish in the Tuscolano district of Rome. There are already 200 volunteers who have guaranteed their availability to guarantee the service, which will include, in addition to providing meals, medical and nursing consultancy, the possibility of offering showers, distribution of clothing and a dedicated listening center.
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.”