(ANS – Castelnuovo Don Bosco) – The School of Salesian Spiritual Accompaniment now in progress at Colle Don Bosco has completed its third week of the programme. After the first week of tracing the spiritual history of Don Bosco at and around Valdocco, the group of 20 Salesians moved to Colle Don Bosco, where they began their Spiritual Retreat. The individually guided retreat was in total silence, consisting of one session of meeting with the guide every day with only the Eucharistic celebration as a common programme. Even the meals were taken in silence, though in common.
(ANS - Turin) During these days - from the 24th to the 26th of April - the World Gratitude Day organized by the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians is taking place in the places of the origins of the FMA Institute in Turin, Mornese, Nizza Monferrato and Piedmont with the theme “they are my daughters”. The Feast is part of the celebrations of the 150th anniversary of the Foundation of the Institute (1872-2022) and aims to be an expression of gratitude to the Lord for the generous ‘yes’ of the Mother General of the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, Sr Chiara Cazzuola, elected in October 2021 to the service of animation and government.
Catania, Italy - April 2022 – This past Easter Monday, 18 April, the concluding phase of the Extraordinary Visitation was carried out on behalf of the Rector Major by Fr Juan Carlos Pérez Godoy, Councilor for the Mediterranean Region. On Monday morning Fr Pérez Godoy met with the Provincial Council to present the draft of his concluding report, which was then presented to the Rectors in the afternoon. The report presented by the Regional Councilor is, as said, a draft: in the coming months this document and the one prepared by the ISI Provincial, Fr Giovanni D'Andrea, and his Council on the "State of the Province" will be studied by the Rector Major and his Council. The Rector Major will send the Concluding Letter and this document will officially declare the conclusion of the Extraordinary Visitation and thus become the navigational chart for the coming years for the ISI province. These concluding days were a further moment of joy, fraternity, and sharing of the mission.
(ANS - Rome) - Preparations for the conference "Fr Alberto Maria De Agostini, man, nature, art and science", which will take place in Rome at the Salesian Pontifical University on April 25-27, 2022, are almost complete. About fifteen university professors, museum directors from Italy, Argentina and Chile, and renowned scholars will take the floor to illustrate the figure of this Salesian, who died 62 years ago, but whose cultural legacy continues to be current.
(ANS - Chianciano) - The IV Meeting of the Association of Salesian Cooperators of the Region of Italy, the Middle East, and Malta takes place in Chianciano starting today, Friday, April 22, to Sunday, April 24. The Meeting’s theme, which brings together about 300 participants from all over Italy, is: "With open arms". The core of the reflections is that of welcoming and echoes the invitation that Pope Francis has addressed to the People of God on several occasions, to be with: " arms truly open, ready for a sincere embrace, an affectionate and enveloping embrace, a bit like this colonnade in St. Peter's Square, which represents the Mother Church that embraces all in sharing our common journey."
(ANS - Rome) - Next Saturday, April 23, from 9 to 10:15 a.m. (UTC+2), the last meeting of the cycle "Which Salesians for today’s youth?" will take place, promoted by the Conference of Salesian Provinces of Italy (CISI) - Formation Sector and the study center "Opera Tabernacoli Viventi" (OTV). The meeting’s theme shall be "Remaining in Him" and the answers to the questions will be given by Fr Juan Josè Bartolomè, SDB, well-known biblical scholar, coordinator of Formation for the Mediterranean Region, who will speak about "remaining in me" in the Gospel of John; and Maria Rita Scrimieri, Salesian Cooperator, coordinator of the OTV Study Center, who will illustrate the perspective of "Remaining in Jesus" in the mystical experience of the Servant of God Vera Grita, lay Salesian Cooperator.
PHOTO GALLERY
INTERVIEWS
-
RMG - Preparation, objectives, challenges and perspectives of GC29: in dialogue with the Moderator, Fr Alphonse Owoudou(ANS - RMG) - Just a few days before the beginning of the 29th General Chapter (GC29) of the Salesian Congregation, Fr Alphonse Owoudou, Councillor for the Africa-Madagascar Region and Moderator of GC29, recounts in detail, through an articulate interview, the work preceding and underlying this responsibility, indicating the spirit that will animate it and the attitudes and conditions to make it truly a Cenacle in which the Holy Spirit can act, for the benefit of the Congregation, the Salesian mission and the youth of the world.
EDITORIAL
-
RMG – Don Bosco: “The Fascinating Saint”(ANS - Rome) - Don Bosco is perhaps the most amazing and fascinating saint, history has ever produced. The humble work which he began for the welfare of his poor and abandoned boys in Italy has produced astonishing results, and today there are nearly 14000 Salesians working in 138 countries, and there are more than 200,000 members belonging to the 32 groups of the worldwide Salesian Family sharing the charism of Don Bosco and reaching out to the needy young people.
EVENTS
-
Spain – 33rd Edition of the Edebé Prize for Children's and Young Adult Literature: Here Are the Winners(ANS – Madrid) – The 33rd edition of the Edebé Prize for Children's and Young Adult Literature has been awarded to Beatriz Giménez de Ory (Madrid, 1972) for her novel Tres niños tristes y medio unicornio (Three Sad Children and Half a Unicorn) and David Lozano (Zaragoza, 1974) for his novel La cacería (The Hunt).
SPECIAL REPORTS
-
United States – CATHOLIC WORLD DAY OF THE SICK: Salesian Missions highlights medical programs for people in need around the globe(ANS – New Rochelle) – Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco, joins Catholic organizations around the globe in honoring the Catholic World Day of the Sick. Every year on Feb. 11, the Pope marks the day with a special message calling for spiritual and physical closeness to all those who are ill. Saint John Paul II instituted the day “to encourage the people of God, Catholic health institutions and civil society to be increasingly attentive to the sick and to those who care for them.”
MESSAGES OF THE RECTOR MAJOR
-
GOOD, FAITHFUL, AND COURAGEOUS SERVANTSTHE MESSAGE OF THE VICAR OF THE RECTOR MAJOR, Fr Stefano Martoglio, SDB
During this Jubilee year, in this difficult world, we are invited to rise up, set out again, and, in newness of life, make our journey as human beings and believers.