(ANS - Nairobi) - Interview with Paolo Vaschetto, 48, Salesian brother in the footsteps of Don Bosco between Kenya, Ghana and Nigeria. "My relationship with Don Bosco was born in everyday life, without 'special effects'. I attended the Salesian Oratory of Bra, a town in the province of Cuneo, where I was born, and I felt a desire to serve the Lord in dedicating myself to young people, especially the poorest. And the opportunity to live and work in Africa did the rest, giving impetus to my vocation."
(ANS - Quito) Scheduled from 23 July to 10 August 2018 was the Missionary Animation Delegates of America. Salesians and lay people, coming from the provinces ANT, ARN, ARS, BBH, BCG, BMA, BSP, BOL, CAM, CIL, COM, ECU, MEG, MEM, PAR, PER, SUE, HIS, URU and VEN, gathered in the Salesian Center for Continuing Formation of America, in Quito, to exchange experiences on missionary animation, study and reflect on the theme: "Human Mobility and the Salesian Mission."
(ANS - Medellin) - Sport is an increasingly important reality in today's society. It seems that the technologies have decreased their quantity and quality, but there is no child who wants to deprive himself of their time at sports. Undoubtedly, for the Salesians, play and games linked to sport characterize the educational environment wherein it is possible to accompany the development of the young. Don Bosco matured an educational insight and Salesians in the world have provided an answer. From 21 to 25 August, in Medellin – Colombia, the Pedro Justo Berrío Institute and El Sufragio School are the venues for the 13th edition of the "National Salesian Games".
(ANS - Rome) - From 21 to 26 August, Dublin is "the capital of families". Cardinal Kevin Farrell, two years the Prefect of the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life, said that Dublin, Ireland, was chosen by Pope Francis to host the World Meeting of Families with the motto: "The Gospel of the Family: joy for the world."
I believe that this is what we have most at heart, dear readers – to feel that we are living a life that is full. It seems that this is a very human aspiration. It is with this thought that I must tell you that I have come to know in my life many persons who live and have lived full lives. I propose to follow this path myself.
(ANS - Rome) - Gessica Mazza is one of the six secretaries of the Salesian Youth Movement (SYM) of Central Italy. Young and determined, she has clear ideas when asked to indicate what the needs of today's youth are. She has no doubts in affirming that the primary need of today's youth is that of being listened to, above all by the Church and by the Salesians.
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.