Mass for Don Bosco's 205th birthday broadcast live
(Rome, August 3, 2020) - August 16 is always a special feast day for the Salesian Family: it is, in fact, the day on which the anniversary of Don Bosco's birth is celebrated. Also this year, which marks the saint's 205th birthday, a solemn Eucharistic concelebration is scheduled, which will also be visible online and which will be celebrated at the Basilica of Colle Don Bosco, in Castelnuovo Don Bosco, where the "Father and Teacher of Youth" was born.
The Mass will begin at 11:00 (UTC + 2) and will be presided over by the Rector Major, Fr Ángel Fernández Artime.
For all those who wish to attend, but cannot be physically present, the Eucharist will be broadcast live by ANS on its Facebook page (with commentary in three languages - Italian, English and Spanish) and on ANSChannel on YouTube where it will remain available for viewing online even at the end of the live broadcast.
PHOTO GALLERY
INTERVIEWS
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Ukraine – Salesians and Ukrainian Church involved in initiative: "Feed the poor"(ANS - Kiev) - The Ukrainian population continues to be crushed by the economic crisis, by the lack of food and now also by the coronavirus pandemic, always keeping in mind the repercussions of the ongoing conflict in the east of the country. From 25% to 45% of citizens are no longer able to provide for their own humanitarian needs; to respond to this dramatic situation, the Greek-Catholic Church has launched the "Feed the poor" initiative. The Salesian Fr Maksym Ryabukha, Vicar of the Ukrainian Vice Province (UKR) and Director of the Salesian House in Kiev, talks about the initiative of the Church and the social context.
EVENTS
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Malta – SYM Europe and Middle East General Assembly 2020(ANS - Sliema) - The Salesian Youth Movement (SYM) of Europe and the Middle East held its traditional General Assembly on November 20-21. Although it was planned to be hosted by Malta, the current situation required it to be done online. More than 60 young people, representatives of the various countries, accompanied by Salesians and Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, participated in the meeting, which was always accompanied by the virtual presence of the General Councilors for Youth Ministry Sister Runita Borja, for the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, and Fr Miguel Ángel García Morcuende, for the Salesians. The theme of the Assembly revolved around the so-called 4 Cs": Crisis, Connectivity, Communion and “coinvolgimento”, i.e., Involvement.
SPECIAL REPORTS
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Brazil – Salesians in the Amazon(ANS - Brasilia) - Since 1915 the Salesian mission has operated with 23 indigenous ethnic groups in the Rio Negro region and its tributaries in the extreme north of Brazil. The Salesian missionary dimension in the country finds expression above all in the presence among the original peoples: the Provinces of the Salesians of Don Bosco "St Domenico Savio", based in Manaus (BMA), and "St Alfonso Maria de 'Liguori" based in Campo Grande (BCG), and the Provinces of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians dedicated to “Laura Vicuña” and “Santa Teresinha” (Manaus) and “Our Lady of Peace” (Cuiabá), are considered missionary Provinces for this very reason.
MESSAGES OF THE RECTOR MAJOR
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DON BOSCO, THE MAN OF GOD WHO ALWAYS ASKED OTHERS FOR HELPDear friends of Don Bosco and his charism, I greet you almost at the end of 2020, this year which we have lived through and which we will remember as a hard year, painful in many ways. It is a year that has changed us – without intending to have done so – in our lifestyle, habits, and customs perhaps but, certainly, at least, in the rhythm of our personal, family, and community life. While thinking about all that a year means, I pondered on something that I keep very much in my heart. I don’t know if it is due to how I was raised or to my own nature but I have engraved into my very being the need to give thanks constantly and to be grateful for the so very many things that I receive in my life as a free gift, having nothing to do with personal merit. I don’t know if others feel this way. Maybe other people consider that everything they have is owed to them, even life itself, but this is not how I feel.