(ANS – Rome) – The Salesian Central Italy Circumscription (ICC), through its Integral Ecology team, and the Cinecircoli Giovanili Socioculturali APS (CGS) association intend to launch a challenge to young people, entitled "Please look forward". The proposal will serve to raise awareness among teenagers and young adults aged 15 to 30 on the issues of integral ecology, through designing and creating audiovisual products. "Salesians for Social APS" and the Salesian VIS - International Volunteering for Development NGO will also collaborate in the initiative.
(ANS – Rome) – The Extraordinary Visitation to the Sacred Heart Circumscription of Central Italy (ICC), carried out by Fr Juan Carlos Pérez Godoy, Councillor for the Mediterranean Region, on behalf of the Rector Major, Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime, concluded on 10 and 11 March 2024.
(ANS – Vallecrosia) – The real estate confiscated from organised crime has been officially handed over to the community; a real estate complex located in the municipality of Bordighera, which will be used on behalf of disabled children, and a part of agricultural land located in the municipality of Vallecrosia, which will serve to promote courses for young people at the Don Bosco Institute and the Salesian Vocational Training Centre to acquire the skills also useful for job opportunities in agriculture, will be allocated for social purposes.
(ANS – Rome) – Education, culture, charity, commitment to fighting religious illiteracy: St John Bosco Parish in Rome, long entrusted to the Salesians, throbs daily with life, faith and social commitment. Led by Fr Roberto Colameo, it is among the largest communities in Rome by number of inhabitants, just under 60,000. "It is also the only case in Rome, if not in Italy, in which the parish gave its name to the neighbourhood" explains Fr Roberto. "Although it has officially changed to the Tuscolano suburb, people continue to call it the ‘Don Bosco neighbourhood’".
Frascati, Italy - February 23, 2024 – The educational community from the Salesian "Villa Sora" Institute has always been rooted in the Tuscan territory, in continuity with the Estate Ragazzi that for more than ten years has welcomed about 700 young people from Frascati, and has decided to give concrete support and accompaniment to the students at Frascati, according to the spirit of the founder St John Bosco. With the resolution approved by the Municipal Council on 13 February and with the signing of the protocol of the following 22 February, the "QUICONTE" project was launched. The project involves the creation of a working group and the reception at Villa Sora of some boys and girls attending secondary schools in the municipality. An expansion of the resources available to them also to combat early school leaving and provide support to the families most in difficulty. At the operational level, in the afternoons the "Villa Sora" institute will welcome some boys and girls attending the comprehensive institutes of Frascati, providing support in the study and providing for participation in structured and free recreational activities in the courtyard. The young people will be assisted by students attending the Salesian institute and by volunteers, according to the Don Bosco Preventive System.
(ANS – Livorno) – At the proposal of the Mayor of Livorno, Luca Salvetti, Salesian Fr Gigi Zoppi will climb the steps of the Civic Palace in the city on 19 March 2024 to receive the honour of the City of Livorno, reserved for people, groups, associations that have contributed to giving impetus and vitality to the city through their personal virtue and dedication, with concrete works in the field of civics, social, culture, sciences, work, school, sport.
PHOTO GALLERY
INTERVIEWS
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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.