NEWS
(ANS - Lubumbashi) – Don Bosco Kansebula in Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, was able to improve the yield from its farm thanks to donor funding from Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. The “Food security for the youth of Don Bosco Kansebula” project helped to provide food for 360 children and youth ages 6-22, as well as 83 young Salesians who are studying philosophy at Don Bosco Kansebula.
(ANS - Rome) - Next Saturday, April 23, from 9 to 10:15 a.m. (UTC+2), the last meeting of the cycle "Which Salesians for today’s youth?" will take place, promoted by the Conference of Salesian Provinces of Italy (CISI) - Formation Sector and the study center "Opera Tabernacoli Viventi" (OTV). The meeting’s theme shall be "Remaining in Him" and the answers to the questions will be given by Fr Juan Josè Bartolomè, SDB, well-known biblical scholar, coordinator of Formation for the Mediterranean Region, who will speak about "remaining in me" in the Gospel of John; and Maria Rita Scrimieri, Salesian Cooperator, coordinator of the OTV Study Center, who will illustrate the perspective of "Remaining in Jesus" in the mystical experience of the Servant of God Vera Grita, lay Salesian Cooperator.
(ANS - Czerwińsk) – The flow of refugees who daily cross the border between Ukraine and Poland has slowed down in recent days: those who were able to escape from the most exposed areas have mostly already done so, while those who remained did so by choice or for lack of alternatives. However, following the foreseeable scenarios of war, the team coordinating Salesian activities in all the territories involved is preparing for a possible second wave, which seems more likely every moment.
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.