Rome, Italy - February 26, 2020 - On February 26, Pope Francis opened Lent with the penitential procession and the ritual of the imposition of the Ashes at the Basilica of Santa Sabina on the Aventine Hill. Addressing the faithful, the Pontiff said among other things “Lent is not the time to pour out unnecessary moralisms on people, but to recognize that our poor ashes are loved by God. It is a time of grace, to welcome the gaze of love of God upon us and, so looked at, change your life. We are in the world to walk from ash to life. So, let's not pulverize hope, let's not incinerate the dream that God has on us. Let us not give in to resignation.” During the rite, the Holy Father received the ashes on the head from the hands of Cardinal Jozef Tomko, titular owner of the Basilica of Santa Sabina, then in turn imposed them on those present, after having sprinkled them with blessed water.
(ANS - Lombriasco) - After the positive response of the first edition of Expo "AgriCultura" Lombriasco, at the Salesian Agricultural School of Lombriasco, at the gates of Turin, in the land of Don Bosco, the new edition of "Expo2020" is being prepared, with important novelties.
Turin, Italy - February 2020 - On February 15 and 16, the fifth meeting dedicated to the 2019/2020 Starters Course was held in Valdocco, promoted by the Mission Animation of the Special Circumscription of Piedmont and Valle d'Aosta (ICP) and aimed at young people who will be leaving for a mission experience this next summer. The weekend was projected against the background of interculturality: first, on Saturday, the students reflected on the concept of "interculture", led by the course's animators. Then they experienced it by meeting the children of the community of minors from the San Luigi oratory of Turin, sharing an evening of joy, testimonies, music, dancing and dinner prepared together. Sunday was dedicated to meeting with Pier Lugi Dovis, president of the diocesan Caritas of Turin, to better understand the meanings of the words "migrant" and "refugee", the dynamics that involve many nations of the world and to try to revolutionize prejudices and patterns that come into play when it comes to knowing "the other".
(ANS - Turin) - "The fire and the canoe". With this beautiful image, Fr Andrea Bozzolo, SDB, professor of Dogmatic Theology at the Turin Section of the Faculty of Theology of the Salesian Pontifical University, presented the Working Tool of the 28th General Chapter (GC28) to the capitulars gathered in the Teatro Grande of Valdocco.
(ANS - Bari) – This past week, Bari was the center of the Mediterranean: in fact, from 19 to 23 February, it gathered 58 bishops of the 20 Mediterranean churches for the meeting "Mediterranean, frontier of peace." In Bari, the Salesian work "Santissimo Redentore" has been active for over a century, a true educational oasis for youth in the working class district of "Libertà", which hosted one of the participants in the Bishops' meeting, namely Salesian Cardinal Cristóbal López Romero, archbishop of Rabat (Morocco).
Turin, Italy - February 2020 - As part of GC28, the Curatorium of Provincials who have Salesian students at the Salesian Pontifical University (UPS) was held. The central theme was: the life of the Salesian students of the UPS, also regarding the possibility of the transfer of the Salesian Community Theologians of Gerini. The meeting was chaired by Fr Ivo Coelho, General Councilor for Formation, flanked by Fr Mauro Mantovani, UPS Rector, Fr Eugenio Riva, Superior of the UPS Vice-Province, and Fr Adam Kazimierz Homoncik of Gerini.
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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RMG - St. Francis de Sales Communicator: All for Love(ANS – Rome) - The figure of St. Francis de Sales, chosen by Don Bosco as an example of a communicator, teaches that communication is a matter of the heart. In his expression, "Everything in the Church is love: everything lives in love, for love, and of love," we understand his revolution in the way of communicating, and how communication becomes fruitful when it allows communion and the exchange of one's experiences in a path of accompaniment and collaboration in God's project.
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."