NEWS
(ANS - Évora) - From April 28 to May 1, the city of Évora, Portugal, hosted the 27th edition of the Salesian National Games. After a three-year hiatus due to the pandemic, 760 athletes, supported by 80 technical staff members, competed in Futsal, Volleyball, Basketball, and Ping-pong competitions for the 2023 edition of the Salesian National Games.
(ANS - Medellín) - From April 25-29, at "Villa San Francisco de Sales" in Medellín, school leaders from the Andina - CINAB region (Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Bolivia, and Peru) of four groups of the Salesian Family met: the Salesians of Don Bosco (SDB), the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (FMA), the Daughters of the Divine Savior (HDS) and the Sisters of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary (HHSSCC). The purpose of the gathering was to reflect together on the journey of the schools concerning the use of new technologies in Salesian education, and to delve into some aspects of the Charter of Identity of the Salesian School in America (ESA, in Spanish), in preparation for the congress to be held in Guadalajara, Mexico, May 1-5, 2024.
(ANS - Rome) - The tradition of the World Novena to Mary Help of Christians (May 15-23), promoted by the Salesian Central Headquarters and of relevance for all members of the Salesian Family who intend to adequately prepare for this recurrence, is renewed again this year. The videos and accompanying booklets for Novena 2023 will be made available online in the coming days, while the presentation video can already be viewed as of today, Thursday, May 4.
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 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.