(ANS – Rome) – Don Bosco’s third successor at the head of the Salesian Congregation was Fr Philip Rinaldi, Rector Major for 9 years from 1922 to 1931. The Salesian historian Fr Giovanni Battista Francesia said that he lacked “only the voice of Don Bosco, he has everything else”; while Fr Egidio Viganò, another Rector Major, called him “a genuine witness and interpreter of the Salesian spirit” and ”a prototype of pastoral kindness.”
Radna, Slovenia - 1926 - The Salesian work in Radna, in the Slovenian municipality of Sevnica, was opened in 1907 and was for a long time a Novitiate welcoming Slovenian, Croatian, Polish, Slovak, and Czech novices from the then Province of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Then, from 1923 to 1941 it became the Novitiate of the new Salesian Vice-Province of Yugoslavia, established after the end of World War I. Taken in 1926, this photo shows the moment of the visitation of the Rector Major at the time, Fr. Filippo Rinaldi.
(ANS - Rome) - On Saturday 5 December the Salesian Family recalled the liturgical memorial of Blessed Philip Rinaldi (1856-1931), Don Bosco's III Successor at the head of the Congregation. From his first profession, in 1880, until his death as Rector Major, he was involved in a great variety of Salesian charismatic enterprises, while always maintaining a rather low profile.
Rome, Italy - Pictures of Fr Filippo Rinaldi, III Rector Major of the Salesians and Founder of the Volunteers of Don Bosco, who became a Blessed today
(ANS - Vatican City) - On 31 January, on the occasion of the Solemnity of St. John Bosco, the Salesians of the Vatican celebrated Mass in St Peter's Basilica, in the Chapel of the Choir, together with the staff of the printing press. For the occasion, the Papal Master of Ceremonies granted permission for the display of a reliquary of Don Bosco from 1929.
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.