(ANS – Madrid) – At the beginning of the new year, and with the feast of Don Bosco already on the horizon, the Salesians in Spain present their 2024 vocation campaign: an educative and pastoral proposal that intends to continue promoting and consolidating an authentic vocational culture in all the houses of the two Salesian Provinces in the country – the St James the Greater Province (SSM), based in Madrid, and the Mary Help of Christians Province (SMX), based in Seville.
Ourense, Spain – January 2024 – On January 2, the Amencer Youth Centre in Ourense organised the 28th edition of "Boscomusic", a charity concert in support of the "Proyecto Hombre de Galicia". The audience attended 8 shows by groups and soloists, for a total of 20 musicians, with over 10 technicians, with various musical styles: rock, pop and author's songs, acoustic and unreleased versions.
(ANS – Madrid) – On 26 and 27 December, the Council of the Province of St James the Greater, Spain (SSM) met in Salamanca with Fr Fabio Attard, Delegate of the Rector Major for the Extraordinary Visitation of the Province, as part of the last meeting of the Council in 2023. During the meeting Fr Attard presented the first impressions of his Visit and in the interview that follows the SSM Provincial, Fr Fernando García, illustrates the steps taken from August until now, and the strengths and challenges indicated by the Visitor.
(ANS – Madrid) – The courtyards, classrooms and theatres of the Salesians in Spain are dressing up to celebrate Christmas 2023, highlighting adults and children with living nativity scenes, parties, singing competitions and visits from the Three Kings. From children in kindergarten and primary school, who sang and danced to the rhythm of Christmas music, to the older ones who participated in parish choirs or collaborated in the setting up of living nativity scenes, everyone was able to enjoy "Salesian Christmas" for the umpteenth time.
(ANS – Valladolid) – On Friday 15 December 2023, in Valladolid, due recognition was given to the creativity and dedication of students and educational institutions engaged in the learning-service methodology, aimed at promoting a significant development of students and social action in the communities. All this was possible thanks to the event of the delivery of the Learning-Service Awards (ApS in Spanish), 2023 edition.
(ANS – Vigo) – “These 75 years show that education is really a matter of the heart.” This is what Fr Fernando García Sánchez, Superior of the Salesians from St James the Greater Province, Spain, told those present at the celebration for the 75th anniversary of the Hogar Afundación institute in Vigo. The commemorative event, held on Tuesday 19 December, filled the Centre's auditorium and involved several authorities.
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.