Madrid, Spain - February 2024 - On 12 February, the Salesian Province of St James the Greater Province, Spain(SSM) began the first session of the Provincial Chapter 24 (CI-24), in preparation for the 29th General Chapter of the Salesian Congregation. One hundred and fifteen Chapter members gathered online, led by CI-24 President and SSM Provincial, Fr Fernando García, who welcomed the participants and gave the opening address. The Moderator, Fr Javier Valiente, dealt with the preparation of the IC-24, in which there will be five working groups. The first three coincide with those proposed by GC29: Core area 1: Animation and care of the true life of every Salesian; Core area 2: Salesians, Salesian Family and Laity Together "with" and "for" young people; Core area 3: A courageous evaluation and redesigning of the Congregation's governance at all levels. The other two themes of work will be health homes and the reorganisation of works and communities. After the approval of the Rules of Procedure, the Secretaries and Scrutineers were presented and the Moderators were elected. The Commissions were also announced. In the previous months, the communities have contributed thematic ideas for the Chapter, and now the Chapter members must work individually on the proposed topics. The horizon is set with the celebration in the presence of the IC-24, which will take place in Salamanca from 31 March to 3 April.
Madrid, Spain - February 2024 - Queen Letizia of Spain presided over an event, on the occasion of World Safer Internet Day, during which some students from the Salesian Our Lady of the Rosary school in Rota received an award from the Spanish National Institute of Cybersecurity (INCIBE) for their project. The students made a short film entitled "Ask for help, you can change the ending", in which they denounce the risks of harassment on social networks and highlight how harassment can even lead to suicidal thoughts, but that there are ways out and alternatives to help. Students Mari Félix Sánchez and Agustín Ramos, representing the entire working group, together with their teacher Emilio Ruiz, who guided them through the process, went to the NH Collection Real Casino in Madrid, where the event chaired by Queen Letizia was held. The Salesian students had a unique experience, not only because they were among the winners, but also because they were able to collect their prize from the hands of Queen Letizia and share a chat with her, explaining their project.
Barcelona, Spain – February 2024 – About 35 Salesian Cooperators and Delegates of the Iberian Region, together with a large group of Salesian Cooperators from Barcelona, participated last weekend in the first edition of "In the footsteps of Don Bosco", a formation proposal experienced through the places that Don Bosco visited in Barcelona. It was a charismatic experience to further explore knowledge of Don Bosco, with the encouragement to imitate him. The group visited the most significant Salesian sites in the city, namely Martí Codolar, Can Prats, Torre Gironella and Tibidabo, but also famous places of worship such as the Sagrada Familia, an architectural work by architect Antoni Gaudí. The participants then examined Don Bosco's legacy in the city and delved into the figure of the Venerable Dorothea de Chopitea and the presence of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians in the city.
Madrid, Spain – February 2024 – South of the Colombian capital Bogotá is Ciudad Bolívar, an agglomeration of neighbourhoods composed of dilapidated houses that are home to more than one million people, most of them displaced by the Colombian conflict and refugees from other Latin American countries. The Salesian Mission Office Madrid, Misiones Salesianas, in collaboration with the Spanish television program (TVE) "Pueblo de Dios", went to Colombia last November to tell about the work that Salesians carry out in the two Salesian Provinces of Colombia. The first episode is entitled "Oasis of peace south of Bogotá" and focuses precisely on the commitment of the Salesians to inhabitants of Ciudad Bolívar, in order to improve their living conditions. Here, the Juan Bosco Obrero Popular Formation and Promotion Centre offers technical and job training programs, such as circus art, and supports minors, young people and their families, to encourage their hope and ability to dream.
(ANS – Madrid) – A meeting of Provincial Delegates for Youth Ministry from the two European Regions (Mediterranean and Central and Northern Europe) was held in Madrid from 5 to 9 February, convened by Fr Miguel Angel García Morcuende, General Councillor for Youth Ministry.
Spain – February 2024 - Thousands of people participated in the various races organised for different charitable causes in various Salesian houses on the occasion of the liturgical celebration of Don Bosco. There are numerous Spanish Salesian presences that, throughout the month of January and part of February, indicate foot races, encouraging educative and pastoral communities to run for different causes in favor of social solidarity. The Cross Popular Don Bosco in Puebla de la Calzada held on 14 January was one of the first to start, now in its 21st edition. The Salesians of Sarrià organised the "Don Bosco Run" on 28 January to support the young people of the neighbourhood, while on 30 January the Salesians of Carmona held the "Don Bosco Run". On 3 February, the 9th edition of the popular charity race in favour of the "Bosco Global" NGO and the FISAT Foundation took place in Alicante; on the same day the Salesians of Huelva organised their race around the Salesian compond. On 4 February, the now traditional race took place in Mérida, in which over 800 runners and 409 families participated, in favour of the Murialdo Project; in Jerez de la Frontera, the 10th edition of the popular race in favour of the homeless; in the Cross Don Bosco of Carabanchel, one of the most popular now in its 55th edition, 2,300 runners participated. Salamanca with over 800 participants also organised the 29th edition of the Don Bosco People's Race on 4 February and the 25th edition of the Don Bosco People's Race was organised in Valladolid with over 1,700 participants.
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.