(ANS - Rome) - The Rector Major of the Salesians of Don Bosco, Fr Ángel Fernández Artime, presented the Strenna 2021 on December 26 "Hope moves us: Behold, I am making all things new (Rev 21,5)", to a group of Daughters of Mary Help of Christians in the FMA Generalate in Rome. Reflection on Hope was introduced with a video presentation of the Strenna 2021, produced by the Department of Social Communication.
Italy - Civil Service with Salesians for Social Affairs: 1,250 places available for Italy and abroad
(ANS - Rome) - There will be about 1,250 young people aged between 18 and 29 who this year will be able to fulfill their Universal Civil Service in the projects presented by Salesians for Social Aps. This is the highest number ever and a big thank you for the result achieved goes to the staff at the national headquarters and at the regional levels for their commitment to the work of planning and design.
(ANS - Rome) - This year too, for the 28th time, the traditional artistic-solidarity event of the "Christmas Concert", promoted by the Congregation for Catholic Education, is being renewed. The concert supports the activities of the Salesian Mission Office, "Missioni Don Bosco", of Turin and of the Pontifical Foundation "Scholas Occurrentes", which this year joined in the common project "Together we network for our future!" intended to give concrete answers to the social and educational emergency caused by the ongoing pandemic.
Padua, Italy - December 2020 - On 8 December, at the church of the "Don Bosco" Institute in Padua, Sr. Jessica Soardo, Daughter of Mary Help of Christians, and Damiano Slanzi, Salesian, of the North-East Italy (INE) Salesian Province, made their perpetual profession
(ANS - Turin) - “The enchanting image of the Christmas crèche, so dear to the Christian people, never ceases to arouse amazement and wonder. The depiction of Jesus’ birth is itself a simple and joyful proclamation of the mystery of the Incarnation of the Son of God. The nativity scene is like a living Gospel rising up from the pages of sacred Scripture.” So writes Pope Francis in the opening words of his Apostolic Letter Admirabile Signum. And it is for this reason and with this spirit that the tradition of the Exhibition of Nativity Scenes in the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians is renewed again this year in Turin. With a novelty: that this year it will be open to visitors online, in order to offer anyone who wishes the opportunity to share the pleasure of the nativity scene in a free and open manner.
(ANS - Rome) – On Wednesday 9 December, the Pedagogical Institute of the Faculty of Educational Sciences and the Don Bosco Study Center of the Salesian Pontifical University (UPS) of Rome organized an online round table on the theme: “Called to relaunch the Global Educational Pact. To guard our common home”. This is a challenge that the academic community, Salesians and Daughters of Mary Help of Christians together, want to accept in order to offer a specific contribution and reflect on how to relaunch the “Global Compact on Education” in several typical areas of the Salesian mission.
PHOTO GALLERY
INTERVIEWS
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Chile – Former Salesian student in the fight against Alzheimer's disease(ANS - Santiago) - Dr Nibaldo Inestrosa, graduate of the Salesian Institute in Valdivia and national prize of Natural Sciences winner, is a pioneer and expert in the study of Alzheimer's disease in the country. In this interview, he offers an insight into the current challenges, but not before reflecting on his formative experience at the Salesian Institute in Valdivia and how this influenced his interest in biology and science.
EDITORIAL
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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
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India – INS youth solemnise Don Bosco’s Feast Day with ‘Ka Sur Kynud S-3’ Grand Finale(ANS – Shillong) – The Youth of St John Paul II, Shillong Province, celebrated the Feast Day of St. John Bosco with the Grand Finale of “Ka Sur Kynud, Season 3.” Organised by Don Bosco Media Network Television, the Social Communication Department of the Province, at Don Bosco Youth Centre, Laitumkhrah, Shillong, this two-month-long singing competition, which imitates the global singing competition The Voice, concluded on 31 January 2025, coinciding with the Solemnity of St John Bosco.
SPECIAL REPORTS
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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
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WHAT A GIFT TIME IS!THE MESSAGE OF THE VICAR OF THE RECTOR MAJOR,
Fr Stefano Martoglio, SDBThe beginning of the new year is illuminated in our liturgy by the ancient formula with which the Israelite priests blessed the people: "May the Lord bless you, and keep you. May the Lord show His face to you, and have mercy on you. May the Lord turn His countenance to you, and give you peace."