(ANS – Madrid) – The day for improvement of youth employability, which took place on 25 May at the Meliá Princesa Hotel in Madrid, brought together 100 young people in search of their first work experience, along withmanagers and human resources officials of important companies, establishing a valuable contact for both parties. The day took place within the framework of the project for improvement of youth employability and the Primera Experiencia Profesional (First Professional Experience), promoted by the Pinardi Federation of Salesian Social Platforms and the Autonomous Community of Madrid, in collaboration with the Quiero Trabajo (I Want to Work) Foundation. The event has the financial backing of the Ministry for Inclusion, Social Security and Migration and the European Union's Next Generation program, through the National Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan.
(ANS - La Coruña) - On Saturday, May 6, in honor of St. Domenico Savio, the groups of children and youth of the "Itinerary of Faith Education" of the Spain-Saint James the Greater (SSM) Province - Saltimbanquis, Andaina, and ADS -, which are part of the Federation of Salesian Youth Centers of Galicia, celebrated their "Xuntanza," that is, their festive gathering. The event took place at the "Abeiro" youth center in La Coruña, marking the 30th anniversary of its founding. Similar events were also held on the same day and the following day in León and Deusto.
(ANS - Krakow) - "Savionalia, I am here!" This was the exclamation of joy and enthusiasm shouted by the participants of the "Savionalia 2023" event, the Poland-Krakow Province (PLS) youth festival. Last weekend, May 5-7, nearly 500 of them gathered at the Salesian Interprovincial Theological Studentate "Łosiówka" in Krakow to participate in this long-awaited event.
(ANS - Rome) - Gen X, Gen Y, Gen Z, Gen Alpha, Gen C are all terms that have now entered our daily lexicon. Trying to understand what the differences between these categories are, however, can generate confusion. Cataloguing the various generations and their respective different ways of approaching the world of communication has been the task of Fr. Maciej Makuła, SDB, a member of the Social Communication Sector, who has been offering ANS readers his contributions on communication in the Salesian Family since February 2023.
(ANS - Malaga) - After visiting the Canary Islands, Rector Major, Fr. Ángel Fernández Artime, concluded his trip to Spain with a visit to Malaga, to participate in the Provincial Assembly of Salesian Cooperators (SSCC) of the Province of Mary Help of Christians, held in the Diocesan House of Spirituality "San Manuel González." The meeting was also attended by Fr. Juan Carlos Pérez Godoy, Councilor for the Mediterranean Region; Sr. Charo Ten, Provincial of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians of Spain; and Fr. Fernando Miranda, who will be installed as Superior of the Spain-Mary Help of Christians (SMX) Province on Saturday, May 13; Fr. Luis Fernando Álvarez, SMX Salesian Family Delegate; Antonio Boccia, World Coordinator of the Association; and Borja Pérez, SSCC World Councilor for the Iberian Region.
(ANS – Melbourne) – The 140 first year students (aged 12-13) from Melbourne’s Salesian College Chadstone spent three days building community amongst themselves and improving the lands around them. Hosted by the “Don Bosco Camp & Centre Safety Beach”, Victoria, Australia, the program had a two-pronged focus; for the students to get to know one another and to learn what “sustainable living” entails.
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.