(ANS – Bologna) – The Community of the Mission of Don Bosco (CMB), 28th group of the Salesian Family founded in Bologna in 1983 at the Salesian Our Lady of San Luca Institute and the Sacred Heart Parish there, will be holding its Third General Assembly from 2 to 9 July this year at its historic headquarters in Bologna. Representatives of the various communities from Madagascar, Burundi, Ghana, Haiti, Argentina, Chile, Ukraine and Italy will be present, together with their Salesian Delegates.
(ANS – Addis Abeba) – The pilot project of the Global Solidarity Fund has changed the lives of more than 1,500 “returning” migrants, refugees and internally displaced persons over 30 months in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, which takes in more than one million refugees from the continent. Five religious congregations, including the Salesians of Don Bosco and the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, under the coordination of the archdiocese, have been responsible for their job preparation - in tailoring or as hairdressers, in domestic help or leather cutting. To date, over 70% have already found work.
(ANS – Montevideo) – The Salesians of Don Bosco and the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians came together at the Sustainable Uruguay Expo from 8 to 11 June 2023, organised by the Ministry for the Environment and held at the Antel Arena stadium in Montevideo.
Argentina – May 2023 – The Pastoral Coordinators in schools in the Province of Argentina South (ARS) met online on 30 May. The meeting was attended by all those who accompany School Ministry in each of the Salesian houses of the Province and those who animate proposals in schools, in Vocational Training Centres and Institutes of Higher Education. The meeting was attended by coordinators from 55 Salesian Houses, in what was a good opportunity to meet and reflect on a path that has been consolidated over the years and on the figure of the Pastoral Coordinator, which is particularly important, as it is part of the Animation, Management and Accompaniment Team (EAGAs in Spanish). Those present during the meeting on 30 May, also discussed and reflected on School Groups and on the objectives, contents and structure of the next course that will be offered to students in collaboration with the Salesian University (UNISAL).
Caracas, Venezuela – June 2023 – After concluding the assemblies at the national level, the 8th International General Assembly of the Damas Salesianas Association (ADS) was held in Caracas from 6 to 9 June. This activity takes place every six years and its purpose is to elect the leaders of the Association's International Directorate. The event was attended by members from Angola, Argentina, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Colombia, Guatemala, Madagascar, Dominican Republic, Spain, Peru and Venezuela. Also present were the Spiritual Assistants and the Salesians who accompany the ADS, such as Fr Rafael Montenegro, Superior of the Salesian Province of Venezuela; Fr Humberto Chávez of Peru; Fr Servio Rojas of Ecuador; Fr Luis Bernardo Mur of Colombia (Bogotá Province), Fr Rafael Andrés Borges and Fr Francisco Méndez of Venezuela. During the days, the report and the balance sheet for 2018-2023 were presented by Ms Alicia Itriago. The new International Directorate for the Damas Salesianas for 2023-2029 will be led by Eliana Gherardi, as President, and Zoila Guerrero as Vice-President, Anita Mendez, as Secretary, and the Councillors for the various sectors.
La Plata, Argentina – June 2023 – The National Mary Help of Christians Meeting was held at the San Miguel Salesian house on 3 June. The theme for the meeting was “Together with you, Mary”. The event, open to the entire Salesian Family in the country, was held in the presence of the members from Argentina South Province (ARS), and online for those from the Argentina North Province (ARN), in atmosphere of common gratitude to God for the gift of Mary Help of Christians. During the day, in a typically Salesian atmosphere, the themes of the Rector Major’s 2023 Strenna and the role of Mary in the life of the Church were explored.
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.