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(ANS – Rome) – Looking ahead to 2025, the Jubilee Holy Year and the 150th anniversary of the First Salesian Missionary Expedition, Fr Stefano Martoglio, Vicar of the Rector Major, currently in charge of the Congregation worldwide ( Art. 143 of the Constitutions), addresses a missionary appeal to all Salesians on the anniversary of the foundation of the Salesian Congregation, today, 18 December. "I am addressing this letter to you, renewing the spirit of our origins, the missionary spirit that has made the Congregation what it is from the beginning," Fr Martoglio writes.
(ANS – Rome) – On Wednesday, December 18, 2024, Pope Francis received in audience His Eminence Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints. During the audience, the Holy Father authorized the Dicastery to promulgate the Decree concerning:
- the martyrdom of the Servant of God Elia Comini, a professed priest of the Society of St. Francis de Sales, born on May 7, 1910, in Calvenzano di Vergato (Italy, Bologna) and killed, in hatred of the Faith, in Pioppe di Salvaro (Italy, Bologna) on October 1, 1944.
This recognition opens the way for the beatification of this Salesian priest of Don Bosco, a martyr of the Monte Sole massacre, which took place exactly 80 years ago. This was the most heinous slaughter carried out by Nazi SS forces in Europe during the Second World War (1939–1945) in the territories of Marzabotto, Grizzana Morandi, and Monzuno, commonly known as the "Marzabotto Massacre."
(ANS – New Rochelle) – Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco, joins humanitarian organizations and the international community in honoring International Migrants Day. The day is held each year on Dec. 18 to recognize the efforts, contributions and rights of migrants worldwide.
Tigaraksa, Indonesia – December 2024 – On 17 December, in the spirit of Christmas joy, the Salesian novitiate community in Tigaraksa held an early Christmas celebration with the Youth Group for Faith Formation. The event was celebrated before the children left for the Christmas holidays and took place in a lively, orderly and joyful way, involving adolescents, parents, Salesians and FMA. The activity began with a Christmas prayer service that directed the hearts of children to reflect on the theme "Let's go to Bethlehem", to teach them the values of humility, simplicity and solidarity with the poor and marginalised. The children were encouraged to deeply understand the meaning of Christmas, inspiring them to bring love and compassion into their daily lives. After the prayer service, the event continued with a Christmas bazaar, one of the most exciting parts for children with various activities, fun games and performances. The dances, performances and songs they performed not only showed their creativity, but also conveyed profound Christmas messages of love, hope and peace. The highlight of the event was the distribution of Christmas gifts prepared by the community. The activity ended with a community prayer.