Zagreb, Croatia - October 2022 - On October 15-16, the Rector Major, Fr Ángel Fernández Artime, attended the celebrations for 100 years of Salesian presence in Zagreb, Croatia, and the 50th anniversary of the foundation of the "St. John Bosco" Province of Croatia (CRO). There were many events attended by the Successor of Don Bosco to bring closeness to the Salesians, the Salesian Family, and Croatian youth. The highlight of the two-day celebration was the celebration of Mass at the shrine of the Holy Mother of Liberty, presided over by Fr. Sutalo, during which the Rector Major delivered the homily. "This anniversary," he said, "is a strong and beautiful occasion to thank the Lord for all He has given us in the centenary of our presence in this city."
(ANS – Zagreb) – The Rector Major, Fr. Ángel Fernández Artime, celebrated 100 years of Salesian presence in Zagreb and the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Croatian Salesian Province of St. John Bosco with the Salesians, the Salesian Family, and the Salesian youth.
Zagreb, Croatia - September 2022 - A meeting of the Rectors, Economers, and Parish Priests was held on Monday, September 12, at the Salesian Provincial Headquarters of Croatia (CRO). The gathering began with a greeting to the participants by Fr. Tihomir Šutalo, CRO Provincial, who presented selected parts from the Croatian translation of the Salesian Rector's Handbook (2019), published earlier this year during the months of closure due to the pandemic. The Provincial emphasized that this is not just a manual for Rectors but for all Salesians, because everyone must actively participate in the life of the local and Provincial community. During the meeting, Fr. Josip Stanić, Provincial Economer, together with an expert for the use and distribution of electricity, presented to the Salesians some important points to improve and optimize the use of energy in the lives of individual Salesians and communities in these times that call for an especially attentive attitude of everyone in the face of the economic crisis. The Delegate for Youth Ministry presented to the Salesians the work and activities of the past summer along with plans for the new school and pastoral year. The Salesians were able to get a close look at the work being done at the provincial headquarters and the adjacent Mary Help of Christians Church in preparation for repairs to the damage caused by the earthquakes of the past two years. Finally, they discussed some other current issues for the life of Salesians and youth in the province, participation in the upcoming canonization of Artemide Zatti, and the upcoming visit of the Rector Major to the CRO province.
Zagreb, Croatia - June 2022 - The Association of Mary Help of Christians (ADMA) held a Family Day in the "Mary Help of Christians" parish in Zagreb last Saturday, June 18. Encouraged by Pope Francis' invitation to organize local meetings on the occasion of the World Meeting of Families, members of the local ADMA group promoted this event, which brought together more than 30 families. On the occasion, Fr. Mihovil Kurkut, SDB, spoke to couples about parenting. The expectations of parents, the power of prayer in education, and other topics strongly attracted the attention of the mothers and fathers present at the event, while Salesian animators prepared various activities for the children present. After the celebration of Mass, families had lunch together to deepen friendships.
Croatia - June 2022 - About 60 Ukrainian children, with the help of the Salesian Mission Office of Bonn, Germany, and the Salesian Province of Croatia (CRO), have arrived on the Croatian island of Prvić, near the city of Šibenik, where they will spend nine days. The children come from the city of Lysychansk, in eastern Ukraine, which has been under Russian bombardment since March and is currently in the worst affected part of the war. The children have endured the horrors of war, spending several months in shelters. The Salesians took them to Lviv and then decided to move them at least for a short time away from the war, to the Croatian coast.
Croatia - May 2022 - After two years of preparation, eight new Salesian Cooperators from Croatia made their promise. The ceremony took place on May 21 in the Church of Mary Help of Christians in Split in the presence of the National Council of the Association of Salesian Cooperators, local Salesian Cooperators, Salesians and the faithful. On May 23 at Mary Help of Christians Church in Zagreb three married couples celebrated their commitment and joined the local Association of Mary Help of Christians (ADMA), which was founded in 2020. There are now 14 married couples in the ADMA and they have over 30 children almost all under the age of ten.
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.