NEWS
(ANS - Kigali) - After his visit to Uganda, Fr. Alfred Maravilla, General Councilor for the Missions, drove to Rwanda, together with the Superior of the "St. Charles Lwanga" Vice-Province of Africa Great Lakes (AGL), Fr. Pierre Célestin Ngoboka. Upon their arrival, they were welcomed in the Provincial House by the Salesians representing Salesian communities in the country. During the extended "Salesian goodnight," which included a question-and-answer session, Fr. Maravilla emphasized "the need for a Congregational rethinking of 'missions' in light of ecclesiological development." "Today, 'missions' can no longer be thought of only in geographical terms as in the past. Missions are found in any context where there is a need to proclaim Jesus Christ," he pointed out.
(ANS - Rome) - On Sunday afternoon, May 7, 2023, Salesian Virgílio do Carmo da Silva, archbishop of Dili, capital of Timor-Leste, took possession of his cardinal title, in the order of cardinal presbyter, at the parish "Sant'Alberto Magno," located on the northern outskirts of Rome.
(ANS – Seoul) - Six years after the previous EAO regional congress in Tokyo (May 2017) each of the 8 Salesian ASC provinces in the East Asia - Oceania Region is preparing for the upcoming Hong Kong Congress. Beside the election of the new World Councillor for the East Asia-Oceania Region, each province will report on the life, vocation, formation and mission of their members.
PHOTO GALLERY
INTERVIEWS
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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.