(ANS – Rome) – The Mass of episcopal ordination of Card. Ángel Fernández Artime, Rector Major of the Salesians of Don Bosco, Titular Archbishop-elect of Ursona; and of Giordano Piccinotti, Titular Archbishop-elect of Gradisca, President of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See (APSA), is not only a Salesian event but primarily an event of the Church, in which the two Sons of Don Bosco place themselves at the full disposal of the needs of the Church. The participation of numerous Cardinals and Bishops in the Mass, coming from all over the world, will also be a manifestation of the "catholicity" of the rite.
(ANS - Rome) - Ninety years ago, at Easter 1934, Don Bosco was officially canonized. It was a grand apotheosis in Rome and around the world, elevating his human existence and making him a path and model of holiness for many believers. Two centuries after his prophetic Dream of the Nine Years in 1824, the saint continues to serve as a multiplying model of life. Looking ahead, in 2025, the 150th anniversary of the first Salesian Missionary Expedition to Argentina will be celebrated. These are significant dates to remember, but also opportunities to initiate verifications and projects for the future.
(ANS - Rome) - There is an air of great expecation throughout the Salesian world for the celebration of the Mass of the episcopal consecration of Card. Ángel Fernández Artime, the Rector Major of the Salesians of Don Bosco, Titular Archbishop-elect of Ursona; and that of Archbishop Giordano Piccinotti, Titular Archbishop-elect of Gradisca, President of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See (APSA), which will take place next Saturday, 20 April 2024, in the Papal Basilica of St. Mary Major, starting at 3:30 p.m. (UTC+2). Both prelates will concelebrate their First Mass as bishops the following day, Sunday, 21st April, in the Salesian Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Rome, starting at 11:30am.
Turin, Italy – April 2024 - The Salesian Spiritual Accompaniment School promoted and led by the Sector for the Formation at Salesian Headquarters in Rome has reached its sixth edition. The school, in English, began on 7 April 2024 in Valdocco with 25 participants from 18 Provinces of 4 Salesian Regions: East Asia-Oceania, South Asia, Africa-Madagascar and Central and North Europe. The first week was spent in Valdocco reflecting on the roots of the spirituality of St John Bosco, on his experience of formation at the Convitto, and on his experience of going almost uninterruptedly for more than 30 years to St Ignatius at Lanzo, for the spiritual exercises, Joining Fr Joseph Cafasso. It was also a time to visit and get to know the different Don Bosco places in Turin. Currently, participants are in their second week at Colle Don Bosco where they are conducting the individually guided silent retreat with five spiritual guides. It is an experience much appreciated by all the previous participants for the profound religious experience experienced. After these two weeks, there will be another three weeks of school where participants will learn what spiritual accompaniment means from a Salesian charismatic perspective.
(ANS – Rome) – Journalist Carlo Di Cicco died yesterday in Rome, at the age of 79. A professional who can rightly be counted among the communicators "of and for peace", and of social matters, he has always been close to Salesian spirituality – having been a professed Salesians for a period – he worked first at the ASCA agency (Agenzia di Stampa Cattolica Associata) and then at L’Osservatore Romano, where he became Deputy Director, a role Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone wanted him in. He was also for many years a close collaborator of the iNfo Salesian Agency (ANS) and also of the Salesian Bulletin.
(ANS - Rome) - Following the gathering held at Colle Don Bosco from January 18th to 22nd, 2024, focusing on Salesian Missionary Museums and organized by the Salesian Missions Sector, a decision was made to establish a commission responsible for overseeing these museums globally. This collective has been dubbed the Salesian Missionary Museums Advisory Team.
PHOTO GALLERY
INTERVIEWS
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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.