Porto, Portugal - 1962 - The Oficina de São José Past Pupils of Porto triumphed on 7 August 1962, in the 3rd Division national basketball championships. The club had been founded on 31 March 1940, and in more recent times, in the 2007/2008 championship, it also emerged in the 2nd Division national championships.
(ANS – Quetta) – On 18 March a new program, called "Early Learning Adventures", was launched at the Don Bosco Learning Centre in Quetta, Pakistan. This initiative represents a crucial moment for the education, emancipation and development of the Salesian community in Pakistan.
(ANS – Quito) – On the eve of last year's World Youth Day, the Pope, in a conversation with young people, reminded them that "joy is missionary, joy is not for oneself, it is to bring something." This invitation of an outgoing Church is received by young people from different areas of the Salesian Province of Ecuador (ECU), coming from Oratories, Schools, Higher Institutes, Parishes and Shrines. Throughout the year, they continually prepare for one of the most significant experiences they have: the missions during Holy Week.
(ANS – Bellflower) – In the spirit of Holy Week, Saint Dominic Savio Church in Bellflower, California, recently hosted three days of profound reflection and dialogue centered around the youth and their relationship with Christ and the church. Facilitated by the coordinator of Youth Ministry, Dr. Jc Montenegro, this event provided a transformative experience for both young people and adults alike, fostering a deeper understanding of each other and nurturing their relationships with God in preparation for the celebration of His resurrection.
(ANS – Turin) – After last July's survey of the Michael Rua Oratory, the Fourth Council Committee chaired by Vincenzo Camarda met again with the Director of the oratory, Fr Stefano Mondin, who spoke at the Palazzo Civico to present the project known as "Barriera oggi. The neighbourhood becomes a community", funded by a call for educating communities.
(ANS – Esmeraldas) – The "Research Club for Scientific Drafting" (CIRC, in Spanish) has been a beacon of knowledge within the Mary Help of Christians Educational Unit in Esmeraldas (UEFMAE) since its foundation in 2019. The club, led by Elio Ramirez Rubira (Director and founder), aims to guide young people with missionary skills and a fervent interest in learning, and to promote research among Esmeraldas students.
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.