Cameroon - March 2022 - On March 14, the Rector Major, Fr Ángel Fernández Artime, began the Animation Visit to the Salesians of Cameroon, during which he met the confreres of all the works, the members of the Salesian Family and received the perpetual vows of several Sons of Don Bosco. Then, from March 17-23, he presided over the spiritual exercises for the Provincials and Provincial Councils of the Africa-Madagascar Region.
(ANS - Yaoundé) - The week-long retreat of the Rector Major, Fr Ángel Fernández Artime, with the Provincial Councils of the Africa-Madagascar Region is proceeding with the rhythm proper to the Spiritual Exercises, marked by prayer and fraternity. During his conferences, the Tenth Successor of Don Bosco dealt with various themes inherent to provincial animation and governance, under the banner of Don Bosco's motto, "Study to make yourself loved," as well as talking in-depth about the Salesian mission and what characterizes it in the overall ecclesial action.
(ANS - Yaoundé) - Yesterday afternoon, March 17, the Provincials of all the Salesian Provinces and Vice-Provinces of the Africa-Madagascar Region, with the members of their Councils, began the Spiritual Exercises guided by the Rector Major, Fr Ángel Fernández Artime. A total of 96 Salesians from 14 Provinces and Vice-Provinces of the continent are present, in addition to the Regional Councilor, Fr Alphonse Owoudou.
(ANS – Bruxelles) – From the 14th to the 18th of Febryary, during what the European Institutions entitled as the “Africa Week”, the international Seminar on "Capacity Building for Leadership in TVET (Techical Vocational Education and Training) Mobility between African and Europe" took place in Brussels.
(ANS – Nairobi) – Don Bosco Utume, an interprovincial Salesian formation house and study center (specific formation to priesthood), has for the past 37 years been an iconic venue where young Salesians from most of the Africa-Madagascar Region converge for their last 4 years of initial formation. It now hosts 61 candidates to priesthood coming from 22 different African nations (besides a few missionary ad gentes) and from 10 provinces of this fastest-growing region in the Salesian Congregation.
(ANS – Johannesburg) – On 4 December 2021, at All Saints Parish of Ennerdale, Johannesburg, in connection with the SSCC Centers of Lesotho, Cape Town, and Malamulele, the online Congress of the Association of Salesian Cooperators (ASSCC) of the Centers of Southern Africa was held.
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.