(ANS - Valencia) - The consecration of the Temple of St. John Bosco in the Venezuelan city of Valencia took place last January 28 in an atmosphere of joy and great participation, in the presence of more than a thousand faithful. Msgr. Pablo Modesto González Pérez, SDB, Bishop of Guasdualito, was also present at the event.
(ANS - Rome) - The minor Basilica of San Giovanni Bosco in Rome is the largest parish in the city in terms of the number of faithful, a collection of works of art, and has also been an "ongoing construction site" for a long time, due to important restoration work to which it is subjected; but neither this, nor the pandemic, stop the apostolic zeal of the community that animates it.
Rome, Italy - On 2 May 1959 the Basilica of San Giovanni Bosco was solemnly consecrated by Cardinal Benedetto Aloisi Masella. The following day Pope John XXIII came to visit it. He began to pray in front of the remains of Don Bosco, which had arrived from Turin for the occasion. Behind the high altar there is the large mosaic made up of 15 million tiles, which reproduce the theme of the Glory of St John Bosco. The Basilica not only houses the large mosaic, but also an infinity of other works of art, by artists such as Marcello Avenali, Tommaso Bertolino, Lorenzo Gigotti, Emilio Notte and Baccio Bacci.
(ANS - Rome) - The mosaic behind the altar of the Don Bosco Temple in Rome, depicting Saint Giovanni Bosco in Glory, surrounded by saints and blesseds of the Salesian Family, after a restoration that lasted several months, was returned last Sunday, on solemnity of Pentecost, to the faithful of the Roman basilica dedicated to the Piedmontese saint. Such an event, highlighted Gianpiero Palmieri, auxiliary bishop of the East sector for the diocese of Rome, "gives new hope in such a dramatic moment."
(ANS - Rome) - A new Caritas canteen for the poor was inaugurated on Sunday, 2 February, in the "San Giovanni Bosco" parish in the Tuscolano district of Rome. There are already 200 volunteers who have guaranteed their availability to guarantee the service, which will include, in addition to providing meals, medical and nursing consultancy, the possibility of offering showers, distribution of clothing and a dedicated listening center.
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 BORORO
THE 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.