Valladolid, Spain - March 2024 - Fr. Fabio Attard's Extraordinary Visit to the Salesian Province of Spain "St. James the Greater" (SSM) resumed in March. From March 2nd to 5th, he visited the Salesian house in Valladolid, where he shared personal experiences, emphasizing the importance of listening, unity, and collective growth. Alongside conveying greetings from the Rector Major, Fr. Attard underscored the significance of pastoral charity and pedagogical intelligence in Salesian work. Through engaging discussions, he prompted reflections on the challenges of today's society, stressing the need for committed individuals who embody acceptance, respect, and closeness in daily life. Actively participating in various Salesian sectors and community activities, Fr. Attard's optimistic demeanor provided a revitalizing energy, affirming the fundamental importance of their work for young people and society.
(ANS – Madrid) – The tenth edition of the Salesian Communication Days was held on Thursday 29 February and Friday 1 March 2024 at the Salesian house of Atocha, in Madrid. It was entitled "Artificial Intelligence. Keys and challenges of a new frontier", a theme that aroused great interest among the hundreds of participants, shedding light on how it is possible to advance in this new communication paradigm from the Salesian point of view, at the service of education and the "Good News" of the Gospel.
(ANS – Madrid) – The National Centre for Salesian Youth Ministry in Spain, in coordination with the Central Catequética Salesiana (CCS) the Salesian Publisher in the country, is presenting the second edition of the Pastoral Dialogues, the theme of which will be "Ministry in the metaverse: artificial intelligence vs pastoral intelligence". The event will take place on 12 April 2024 at the St James the Greater Province (SSM) Provincial House in Madrid, and will aim to study and reflect on the proposed theme thanks to contributions from various experts in the sector.
Astudillo, Spain – February 2024 – A total of 23 young people from all over Castile and León, participated, on 24 and 25 February, in a meeting called "EQUATOR GO!", organised as part of the European youth participation project "Our voice at home: the door to Europe", in which the Federation of Salesian Youth Centres in Castile and León collaborated with "Aspaym CyL" and with the support of the Youth Council of the Autonomous Community. “EQUATOR GO!” took place in Astudillo, coinciding with the Annual Assembly of the Federation of Youth Centres. The objective was to educate young people on European values and, at the same time, to get to know the European Union better, learning to build opportunities and work as a team. It was, therefore, an intense weekend, in which the city of Astudillo, in the midst of the celebrations in honour of Saint Matthias, became the epicentre of enthusiasm, participation and Salesian charism.
(ANS – Madrid) – The "The Church in education, presence and commitment" Congress was held in Madrid on Saturday, 24 February, organised by the Spanish Episcopal Conference, in which several representatives of Salesian schools participated.
(ANS - Madrid) - Piero Fabris, the Executive Director of Don Bosco Tech Europe, had the honour of representing the Salesian Congregation as a keynote speaker at the Spanish National Congress "La Iglesia en la Educacion", promoted by the Spanish Episcopal Conference On 24 February 2024, at the Madrid Trade Fair Institute (IFEMA).
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.