(ANS – Stony Point) – Don Bosco had two very important women in his life: his earthly mother, Mamma Margaret, the heart of the Preventive System, and his heavenly mother, Mary Help of Christians, the heart of his work with the young, the poor, and the founding of the Congregation. A few years after his priestly ordination and the fragile beginning of his work with poor boys that would become the Oratory, our beloved founder had a follow-up to his dream at nine.
(ANS - Rome) - The terrible reality of the war, with violence, bombings and thousands of people fleeing; but also the hidden and silent miracles that took place for so many simple people, the constant presence of Mary Help of Christians, and the zeal of a shepherd for his suffering flock. All this was concentrated in the "good night" thought that a few days ago Bishop Maksym Ryabukha, SDB, auxiliary bishop of the Donetsk Exarchate, offered to the Salesians at Salesian Headquarters in Rome.
Kuarmunda, India - October 2022 - The inauguration of the first Marian Congress and Pilgrimage at the Provincial level of the Salesians of Dimapur (IND) was held on October 23 at the Mary Help of Christians Church in Kuarmunda, Odisha state. The church is becoming a center shrine of pilgrimage, and this is testified by the many pilgrims who have come from all the parishes in the province, members of the Salesian Family, and priests and religious who work in Salesian parishes or collaborate with the Sons of Don Bosco. On Oct. 24, Bishop Kishore Kumar Kujur of Rourkela presided over Mass in honor of Mary Help of Christians.
(ANS - Turin) - "We, too, celebrated the Patronal Feast of our house, named after Mary Help of Christians, with Mass and a procession with the painting of Mary Help of Christians: thus the Mistress of the House was able to see all her properties and bless the city of Kyiv, the heart of Ukraine." This was the greeting that came with joyful affection from Ukraine, as well as from many brothers and sisters belonging to the different groups of the Salesian Family scattered around the world, from Burundi to Argentina.
(ANS - Santiago) - The Temple of Mary Help of Christians in the center of Santiago, the capital of Chile, experienced a historic day last May 24: during the celebration of the patronal feast day, the church was officially recognized as a Shrine of Mary Help of Christians.
(ANS – Cebu) – The Salesian Province of the Philippines South celebrated its 30th founding anniversary on the 24th of May, 2022, Solemnity of Mary Help of Christians. It was a milestone for the Province as it recalls 30 years of mission in Visayas and Mindanao.
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.