(ANS - Lima) - Sunday 26 July, in an atmosphere of joy and gratitude, the opening of the celebrations for the Jubilee centenary of the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians in Lima, the cultural and historical heritage of the city of Lima, was celebrated. The ceremony included a solemn Eucharist presided over by Msgr. Carlos Castillo, Archbishop of Lima, and concelebrated by several Salesians, including the Provincial Vicar, Humberto Chávez, SDB, and Fr Santo Dal Ben Lava, parish priest of the Basilica.
(ANS - Rosario) - In Rosario, Mary dresses as a Help of Christians. The Salesian community of the Sacred Heart of Jesus accompanies the families of Ludueña and Barrio Industrial in this socio-health-related emergency. Latin America is now the continent with the highest number of sick people; Brazil is second for the highest number of infected and deceased people due to Covid-19. In Argentina, 23,620 cases of infection have so far been confirmed, 693 dead, with 7,305 people healed; thus, the quarantine has been extended until 28 June and, meanwhile, poverty continues to increase.
Dalat, Vietnam - May 2020 - On May 24, the Salesian community of the post-novitiate and the "Don Bosco" parish in Dalat celebrated the feast of the Ascension of the Lord and the feast day of Mary Help of Christians in a solemn way, since the restrictive measures were revoked. About 4,000 people attended the event.
Minga Guazú, Paraguay - May 2020 - On May 24, a multitude of vehicles participated in the procession in honor of Mary Help of Christians in the city of Minga Guazú. The manifestation of faith culminated in front of the Temple of Mary Help of Christians, where the Salesians of the community gave the blessing to the faithful. This year, due to health restrictions, the celebration of the novena and the central Mass were held behind closed doors and broadcast on various digital channels. In the evening, 27 artists participated in the online serenade broadcast via social networks, cable TV and local radio.
(ANS - Santiago) - In the last five months humanity has experienced a period of uncertainty due to the spread of Covid-19. Millions of people have been infected and thousands have lost their lives due to the pandemic. These are difficult times when the faith of millions of believers has been tried and tested. In response, the Church has firmly set foot into the digital courtyards, so as not to lose communion with the people of God who were forced to stay in their homes for security reasons.
(ANS - Melbourne) - While the Covid-19 pandemic continues to affect the lives of Australians, Catholic bishops have decided to entrust the entire Nation of Australia to the care of Mary Help of Christians. The act, through a prayer specially composed for the occasion, was carried out in many parishes and communities throughout the country, both on Sunday 24, in the traditional anniversary of the feast day, and on Monday, for those who postponed celebrations because of its concurrence with the solemnity of the Ascension.
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Italy – Real challenge of post-Covid-19 economy: Sister Smerilli, FMA talks about it(ANS - Rome) - “It's said that, after Covid-19, we have to start again. But are we really convinced that it is useful to restart doing exactly what we did before? In the work group I am part of, we prefer to use the verb 'regenerate', moving towards a transformation of the economy, the world of work and society, learning from what we have experienced. We believe this is the real challenge, after the trauma of the pandemic that has hit the whole planet.” Sister Alessandra Smerilli, religious of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, professor at the Pontifical Faculty of Education "Auxilium" and Councilor of State at the Vatican, talks about the challenge of the economy after the experience of Covid-19.
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Costa Rica – Restructuring of mausoleum of Blessed Maria Romero, FMA(ANS - San José) – Taking place last Saturday, 12 September, feast day of the Name of Mary, at the House of Mary Help of Christians, "Sister Maria Romero Social Works", in San José, Costa Rica, was the blessing of the renovated Mausoleum of the Blessed Maria Romero, religious of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (FMA). The archbishop of San José, Msgr. José Rafael Quirós, presided over the solemn ceremony.
SPECIAL REPORTS
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Italy – Simply priests(ANS - Rome) - On 15 September 1993, in Palermo, Fr Pino Puglisi was brutally killed by the mafia. A symbolic coincidence, on the same day of this year Fr Roberto Malgesini was killed. Fr Puglisi was bothersome because he distanced young people from the world of crime, removed from the street those boys who, without his help, would have been sucked into the life of organized crime, used for small robberies and drug dealing. Fr Malgesini had always been involved in helping people in difficulty, the poorest people. For years he translated the Christian message into practice, bringing breakfast to the poor, accompanying them to doctors himself, managing the municipal canteen and dormitory, welcoming people, mainly migrants.
MESSAGES OF THE RECTOR MAJOR
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Fearless, YOUNG PROPHETSWe are united by one mission: "the salvation of many souls, beginning with our own", as our beloved father Don Bosco used to say.