(ANS - Rome) – On Tuesday, 5 March 2024, the Holy See Press Office announced that the Holy Father Pope Francis has assigned to Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime, SDB, the Rector Major of the Salesian Society of St. John Bosco, the titular See of Ursona, with archiepiscopal dignity, in view of his episcopal ordination scheduled for coming 20 April.
(ANS – Salzburg) – The Salesians of Don Bosco in the Guardian Angels Province of Austria have communicated with deep sorrow the passing of their confrere Bishop Alois Kothgasser, Bishop Emeritus of Salzburg. The Salesian prelate died last Thursday, 22 February 2024, in his apartment in the Salzburg seminary, in the presence of his closest family members, the seminarians he had accompanied as pastor, and the Metropolitan Archbishop of Salzburg, Archbishop Franz Lackner, OFM, who expressed his deep sadness at the death of Bishop Kothgasser, but also his great gratitude for the "model of meekness" of this "human-centred bishop".
(ANS – Vatican City) – The work for the next session of the Synod on Synodality continues with the appointment of some Consultors by the Pope. The Holy See Press Office announced on Wednesday 10 January that the Holy Father has appointed five Consultors to the General Secretariat of the Synod, including Salesian Archbishop Timothy John Costelloe, Metropolitan Archbishop of Perth, Australia.
(ANS – Tlaquepaque) – The 40th anniversary of the founding of the Salesian Higher Institute (ISS = Istituto Superiore Salesiano) - formerly the Risen Christ Salesian Theological Institute - of the Province of Mexico-Guadalajara (MEG) was celebrated on 8-9 December 2023. For the occasion, a special theological congress was held entitled: "Accompanying young people to live their faith in today's world".
(ANS – Bangkok) – “Don Bosco Home”, Bangkok played host to the 28th annual “Federation of Asian Bishops Conferences (FABC) - Office of Social Communication (OSC) Bishops” meeting from 20-24 November 2023 on the theme “Communication in the Church in Asia Today”. Fr. George Plathottam, SDB, the Executive Secretary coordinated this event. The Salesian Commission of Social Communications of Thailand collaborated closely in the organization of this meeting.
(ANS – Cúcuta) – The Second Meeting of the Bishops of the Colombian-Venezuelan border took place in the Colombian city of Cúcuta from 18 to 20 September, under the motto "Charity on the 2023 border". The participants in the meeting represented their respective ecclesiastical jurisdictions, dioceses or vicariates, with their inhabitants and the multiplicity of migrants who live there or who have left from there. About thirty people participated in the event, including priests, representatives of Migrant Service Organisations, members of the Vatican Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development (DSSUI), and above all bishops, such as the Venezuelan Salesians: Bishop Pablo Modesto, Bishop of Guadualito, and Bishop Jonny Eduardo Reyes, Apostolic Vicar of Puerto Ayacucho.
PHOTO GALLERY
INTERVIEWS
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Democratic Republic of Congo – Fr Owoudou on the situation in the eastern parts of the country: “No matter how dark the night may seem, dawn will inevitably come”
(ANS - Goma) - During his latest phase of the Extraordinary Visit to the "Mary Most Holy Assumption" Province of Central Africa (AFC), Fr. Alphonse Owoudou, Councillor for the Africa Madagascar Region, conducted an interview with the magazine "JAMBO VIJANA," representing the youth engaged in the Salesian works of the Province's Eastern Delegation. Addressing the ongoing violence and conflicts in the region, Fr. Owoudou expressed hope, saying: "No matter the length of the night, dawn will inevitably come."
EDITORIAL
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“Speaking with the Heart”: A great Antidote for the Ills of today’s world
‘Revolutionize the world with your kindness, by speaking with your heart’, is the dream that Pope Francis envisions for humanity through his 57th World Communication Day message, that falls on this Ascension Sunday, 21st May 2023. ‘Speak with your heart in truth and charity’, and this is the best antidote that can cure the ills of today’s society.
EVENTS
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Italy – "Labs To Future": the final event of the "Labs To Learn" project in Valdocco
(ANS – Turin) – The final event of the "Labs to Learn" project was held on Tuesday, 5 March 2024, entitled "Labs To Future: The path – The results – The challenges" . The project was selected by the "Con i Bambini" social enterprise within the framework of the Foundation for the Fight against Child Educational Poverty and came into being with the intention of combating early school leaving and preventing educational poverty, increasing the number of young people with difficulties who fulfil their school obligation, access higher education and/or job placement, and opening the way for personal growth according to their inclinations and aspirations.
SPECIAL REPORTS
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Peru – Centenary of the High Altar of the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians in Lima
(ANS – Lima) – The centenary of the consecration of the high altar in the Crypt of the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians in Lima was celebrated on 19 March, on the feast of St Joseph and in homage to Fr José Calasanz Marqués, then Provincial of the Salesians in Peru and Bolivia – now recognised as Blessed by the Church – on account of his name.
MESSAGES OF THE RECTOR MAJOR
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DREAMS THAT KEEP COMING TRUE!
THE MESSAGE OF THE RECTOR MAJOR, Card. Ángel Fernández Artime, SDB
When reflecting on all this, I feel I have a little authority to say: “Dear Don Bosco, your Dream is still VERY ALIVE.”