(ANS – Rome) – After the conclusion of the Animation Visit to the Province of Brazil-Recife, Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime does not immediately return to Salesian Headquarters, but continues his trip to America: from Wednesday 7 to Monday 12 February 2024 he will carry out a new Animation Visit, this time to the St John Bosco Province of the Antilles (ANT).
(ANS – Juazeiro do Norte) – The dedication ceremony of the Church of the Bom Jesus located in the so-called "Horto" of Father Cicero, which is part of the Salesian work in the city, took place on Saturday, 3 February 2024, in Juazeiro do Norte, in the State of Ceará. After more than two decades, the dream of the Servant of God Fr Cícero Romão Batista was thus realized, in the presence of Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime, Rector Major of the Salesians of Don Bosco, on an Animation Visit to the St Aloysius Gonzaga Province of Brazil-Recife (BRE). Present too were the Diocesan Bishop of Crato, Bishop Magnus Henrique Lopes, the Superior of BRE, Fr Francisco Inácio Vieira Júnior, and numerous priests, seminarians, religious and lay people.
(ANS - Juazeiro do Norte) - The Rector Major of the Salesians Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime took part in the programme for the last day of the Pilgrimage of Our Lady of Candeias at Juazeiro do Norte-CE,. The celebration ended on Friday, 2 February, with the theme "The Servant of God, Father Cícero Romão: the Father of the Sertão" and underlined the motto of the event: "The brilliant light that shines even brighter".
(ANS – Juazeiro do Norte) – In the late evening of Wednesday, 31 January, Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime, Rector Major of the Salesians, was welcomed at the Orlando Bezerra de Menezes airport in Juazeiro do Norte, among hymns celebrating the people of northeastern Brazil and their great faith. The Salesians and the members of the various groups of the Salesian Family awaited 10th Successor of Don Bosco with trepidation. On his second visit to the cities, immediately after landing he said: "I am very happy, because I think we will experience profound and very beautiful days."
(ANS – Jaboatão dos Guararapes) – On Wednesday, 31 January 2024, the Salesian Institute in Jaboatão dos Guararapes received an illustrious and exciting visit. Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime, Rector Major of the Salesians of Don Bosco, made an unscheduled visit to the Educative and Pastoral Community demonstrating his warm and attentive presence for them all.
Recife, Brazil – January/February 2024 – “The Salesian Family of Northeast Brazil is celebrating! Don Bosco is among us!" In this spirit, the Salesians of Recife welcomed the visit of Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime, Rector Major of the Salesians of Don Bosco, to the St Aloysius Gonzaga Province of Brazil-Recife (BRE). After landing in the afternoon of Tuesday, 30 January at Recife International Airport, the 10th Successor of Don Bosco will be in Brazil until 4 February, taking part in numerous events over these days, such as the Feast of Don Bosco with the local community, the dedication of the Church of Bom Jesus in Juazeiro do Norte, giving the Servant of God Father Cícero Romão Batista the posthumous qualification of Salesian Cooperator, the Provincial Feast day and a meeting with young people.
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.