Lent began with Ash Wednesday, a time of fasting, prayer and almsgiving, in preparation for Holy Week.
Vatican City, Vatican - 17 February 2021 - At 9:30 this morning, at the Altar of the Chair of St Peter’s Basilica, the Holy Father Francis celebrated Holy Mass with the rite of blessing and imposition of ashes.
Vatican City, Vatican - February 2021 - On the occasion of the 25th World Day of Consecrated Life which is celebrated on February 2, the liturgical feast day of the Presentation of the Lord, Pope Francis presided at the Mass in St. Peter's Basilica, which was attended by members of the Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life. Also present: Fr Ángel Fernández Artime, Rector Major of the Salesians.
Anisakan, Myanmar - December 2020 - On 26 December, a meeting was organized at the Salesian "Nazareth House" in Anisakan to discuss social ecology and care for creation. The meeting saw the participation of 55 people, including Salesians, young people, volunteers and house staff. The theme of the "ecological vocation", which was already underlined by Saint John Paul II, was studied in depth, and the contribution of Pope Francis to the care of creation was reflected upon.
(ANS - Vatican City) - On January 1, at the beginning of each new year, the Church celebrates Mary Most Holy Mother of God and it is to her that the prayers and hopes of peace for the world have been entrusted in this 2021 which has just begun. In fact, January 1st is also the day on which World Day of Peace is celebrated.
Vatican City, Vatican - December 2020 - On December 24, Pope Francis celebrated Christmas Mass in St. Peter's Basilica.
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!