(ANS - Vatican City) - Their best wishes to Pope Francis during the recent period of his stay at the Gemelli hospital were among the most touching and affectionate. In a video they "sang" their closeness and their encouragement, assuring him: "You are always a great friend to us and we want to be with you soon." There are 185 children, aged 5 to 13, participating in the "Youth Summer Camp" in the Vatican until 30 July. Fr Franco Fontana, chaplain of the Pontifical Gendarmerie and Director of the Salesian community in the Vatican, explained the meaning of the initiative to L'Osservatore Romano.
(ANS - Košice) - From the presentation of the program of Pope Francis' apostolic visit to Slovakia from 12 to 15 September 2021, it was announced that on Tuesday 14 September the Holy Father will meet the Roma community at the Salesian house in the Luník IX district in Košice, a suburban neighborhood with the largest Roma population in Slovakia. The Salesians of Don Bosco have been present in the place since 2008. Fr Peter Bešenyei, Delegate for the Pastoral Care of Roma in the Salesian Province of Slovakia (SLK) and Secretary of the Slovak Episcopal Commission for Roma and Minorities, expects the participation of thousands of Roma from all over Slovakia.
(ANS - Vatican City) - When the pandemic will finally be behind the whole world, there will be a need for a world of work that is different from what it was before, that knows how to start from the discarded, those set aside, left behind, and that knows how to value and appreciate the dimension of caring. These two ideas, taken from the message that Pope Francis sent to the 109th International Labor Conference, are analyzed by Sister Alessandra Smerilli, religious of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, undersecretary for faith and development to the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development and the coordinator of the Vatican's COVID-19 commission's economic task force. Below, a summary of her reflection.
(ANS - Brasilia) - The Salesian Forum for the Global Educational Pact took place online on 17 and 18 June, an event jointly promoted by the Brazil Salesian Network (RSB) Schools and RSB Comunications. The Forum involved educators and students in the commitment to the Global Educational Pact proposed by Pope Francis and renewed their passion for education based on the principles of the new humanism. The event brought together 1,275 students and educators representing 94 RSB schools, as well as special guests and provincial coordinators.
(ANS - Rome) - Yesterday, 16 May, on the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord, the 55th World Communications Day was celebrated. The theme of Pope Francis' message is: "Come and see" (Jn 1:46). Communicate by encountering people where and as they are. With this theme, the Holy Father wanted to underline the importance of experiencing, of "seeing with one's own eyes".
Vatican City - May 2021 - On 1 May, at the Madonna del Soccorso in the Gregorian Chapel of the Vatican Basilica, Holy Father Francis presided over the recitation of the Holy Rosary that opened the prayer marathon on the theme “From the whole Church the prayer to God went up unceasingly. (Acts 12,5)” to invoke the end of the pandemic. The initiative, born at the Pope's wish, is promoted by the Pontifical Council for the New Evangelization and involves thirty Marian shrines from all over the world; each, for each day of the month of May, traditionally the Marian month, will lead the prayer of the Rosary for the whole Church. On May 31, Pope Francis will lead the recitation of the Rosary in the Vatican Gardens at the end of the prayer marathon.
PHOTO GALLERY
INTERVIEWS
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RMG – 150 years ago Fr. Orione, light of charity in the world, was born(ANS - Rome) - St. Luigi Orione was born in Pontecurone, in the province of Alessandria, Italy, on June 23, 1872. For three years, from October 1886 to August 1889, he was a student at the Valdocco Oratory in Turin. Don Bosco, who soon noticed his human qualities, counted him among his favorites, assuring him, "We will always be friends." During his time in Turin, he also became acquainted with the charitable works of St. Giuseppe Benedetto Cottolengo, close to the Salesian oratory, until he later started his "Little Work of Divine Providence." On the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the birth of "don Orione," as he is universally known, we post an interview with Father Tarcisio Vieira, who has just been confirmed by the General Chapter of the Oriones as the Congregation's Director-General.
EDITORIAL
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Listening With Our HeartLittle John was watching the television and the sight of the African children being shown in utter poverty made him cry, and after sobbing in desperation he got up and pulled out a few slices of bread and went near the television and started pushing those slices in every small little hole on the back of the television. In his simplicity, he thought he was offering a little bread to those hungry children. The little boy expresses best what it means to listen with the heart.
The attentive gaze of a mother by the side of her child, and the slightest cry or movement of the child makes her respond immediately with a gentle touch or a caress, and this too is perhaps another example of what it means to listen with the heart. The mother feels what the child needs.
Listening with the heart is the experience of a noble, loving, compassionate person. Looking around, we see millions of people who suffer in silence every day. Everyone longs to be heard and listened to. But the raging fire and chaos, noise and humdrums have caused so much of deafness within, and we only listen to some sounds. We have lost the quality to empathize, to listen and to feel.
The call to listen with the ear of one’s heart, is the invitation of Pope Francis in light of the 56th World Communications Day, that is popularly celebrated on the Ascension Sunday every year. Are we really truly listening? Why do we struggle to listen? How can we listen with our heart? These can be some areas of introspection as we ponder on this theme of the World Communications Day – “Listening with the ear of the heart”.
EVENTS
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Italy – "Auxilium Faculty: female perspectives for Rome as an educating city"(ANS - Rome) - An event on the theme "Auxilium Faculty: female perspectives for Rome as an Educating City" was held yesterday, Tuesday, June 14, 2022, in the Sala della Protomoteca on the Capitol Hill in Rome, organized by the Pontifical Faculty of Educational Sciences "Auxilium," in collaboration with the Municipalities XIII and XIV of the Municipality of Rome, to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the foundation of the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (1872-2022).
SPECIAL REPORTS
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RMG – "Communication, Management and Governance": the latest article by Fr. Gildasio Mendes in the series "St. Francis de Sales Communicator. Inner pilgrimage, wisdom in the art of communication."(ANS - Rome) - On the day of the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, a devotion closely linked to the figure of St. Francis de Sales, we publish the last of six articles written by Fr. Gildasio Mendes, General Councilor for Social Communication, on the theme, "St. Francis de Sales Communicator. Inner Pilgrimage, Wisdom in the Art of Communication."
MESSAGES OF THE RECTOR MAJOR
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«MY NAME IS SEAN CAYD». The Story of an Unimaginable GiftDear Readers, friends and most especially friends of Don Bosco's charism, I send you my affectionate greeting. They always come with gratitude for the sympathy you have towards Don Bosco, the saint of the world's youth, and the closeness, respect, or curiosity you feel towards those of us who try to continue his mission in the Church and the world. With all my heart, I thank you!