(ANS – Vatican City) – The list of participants at the 16th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops was presented on Friday 7 July 2023 by the Holy See Press Office. The first session will be held in the Vatican from 4 to 29 October 2023. Among them there are several Salesians and members of the Salesian Family, called to give their contribution in terms of reflection, discernment and proposal on the theme “For a synodal Church: communion, participation and mission”.
(ANS – Madrid) – Yesterday, Sunday 9 July, Pope Francis announced the creation of 21 new Cardinals, including the Rector Major of the Salesians of Don Bosco, the Spanish Salesian Fr Ángel Fernández Artime. Due to this appointment, the Superiors of the two Salesian Provinces of Spain – St James the Greater (SSM), based in Madrid, and Mary Help of Christians (SMX), based in Seville – on behalf of all the Salesians they represent, wish to express as follows:
(ANS – Rome) – The Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which this year took place on the same date on which one of the apparitions of the Sacred Heart to St Margaret Mary Alacoque was recorded, on 16 June, is one of the most heartfelt and well-attended religious celebrations in the Salesian Family around the world, given the great attention that St John Bosco and, before him St Francis de Sales, gave to this particular devotion. Celebrations at the minor Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Rome in particular were great. The Basilica is entrusted to the Salesians and it celebrates its patronal feast on this occasion.
(ANS - Rome) - On Sunday afternoon, May 7, 2023, Salesian Virgílio do Carmo da Silva, archbishop of Dili, capital of Timor-Leste, took possession of his cardinal title, in the order of cardinal presbyter, at the parish "Sant'Alberto Magno," located on the northern outskirts of Rome.
(ANS – Hyderabad) - The three-day South Asian team visit concluded on 3 march 2023 at the Don Bosco Provincial House, Hyderabad in the presence of his Eminence, Cardinal Poola Anthony, Archbishop of Hyderabad.
Anisakan, Myanmar – December 2022 – On December 8, at 7:00 a.m. (the local time), the Vice-Province of Myanmar was blessed with two newly ordained Salesian priests, namely Fr. Anthony Vallence, SDB, and Fr. Henry Go Lam Thang, SDB. The ordination ceremony Mass solemnly presided over by His Eminence Cardinal Charles Bo and concelebrated by Fr. Bosco Zaya Aung, SDB (the superior), along with some 33 priests from Salesian communities and other religious congregations, took place at the Shrine of Mary Help of Christians in the compound of Nazareth Apostolate School. There were also about 800 participants at the Mass. During his homily, the ordaining bishop encouraged the newly ordained priests to be wounded healers for the suffering people in the country; to be with them and for them, while listening to their inner cries with the ears of the heart. At the end of the Mass, the thanking speech of Fr. Anthony Vallance, the presentation of gifts to the parents of the two newly ordained priests, and the ceremony of congratulations were orderly taken place at the Shrine. The Salesians of Don Bosco-Myanmar were glad to have another two newly ordained confreres among themselves. Let us continue to pray for the newly ordained priests so that they may persevere in their holy Salesian vocations till the end, and be the healers for the suffering people in Myanmar.
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.