(ANS - Rome) - As scheduled, on the afternoon of Wednesday, 29 May, the presentation of the restoration results of the decorative palimpsest in the crypt of Saint Cecilia took place at the Catacombs of San Callisto in Rome. These catacombs have been under the care of the Sons of Don Bosco since 1930. "Beauty and sacredness" were the two guiding themes of the event, which repeatedly surfaced in the various speeches delivered by the guests attending the occasion.
Genoa, Italy – May 2024 – Fr Gabriel Cruz, Spiritual Animator of the Primary ADMA, accepted the promises of 13 aspirants from the Sampierdarena, Genoa ADMA group on Sunday, 26 May. Founded in 2013, the Sampierdarena, Genoa ADMA group has 43 members.
Turin, Italy – May 2024 - An SYM National Advisory Council was held from 24 to 26 May in Valdocco. Young people from the various areas, delegates and Youth Ministry councillors took part. The theme at the centre of the meeting was the pastoral proposal developed for the next three years, based on the theological virtues, and for the Pastoral Proposal 2024/2025 entitled "Awaiting His Love". During the three days of the meeting, there was time for formation on the theme of hope, offered by Fr Paolo Paulucci. Hope is the topic of the coming Church Jubilee Year. The work was carried out in plenary sessions and divided by territories, to allow reflection on what is happening in the territories and to be able to share it with others. There was also opportunity to be part of the celebrations for Mary Help of Christians and visit the Casa Don Bosco Museum.
Rome, Italy – May 2024 - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Coronation Mass (K317) for choir and orchestra only was performed on Sunday, 26 May at the Basilica of St John Bosco, in the context of the celebrations for Mary Help of Christians, in the presence of Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime, 10th Successor of Don Bosco. The event was made possible thanks to the courage of the Basilica Choir, the "COR.MAX" (acronym for choir Mary Help of Christians), which tried a wonderfully complex and difficult program, ultimately victorious in this undertaking. All this thanks to the intervention of the soloists who follow and instruct the choral sections: soprano Fausta Ciceroni, tenor Maurizio Valeri, alto Beatrice Maccaroni and bass Alessio Magnaguagno. The Sabina Wind Orchestra conducted by Maestro Fabio Ginevoli, with an impressive CV of concerts and events, transcribed the Mozart work for his own ensemble and succeeded in being extremely convincing and exciting. And the emotions were the added value of this event that certainly warmed the hearts of the audience and the Rector Major, who at the end of the mass thanked the choir director, Alessio Magnaguagno, for the beautiful concert.
(ANS – Genoa) – The 32nd edition of the International Salesian Youth Games was held in Genoa, Italy From 25-29 May 2024, an event of healthy sports competition and an opportunity for cultural exchange, confrontation, friendship, and respect, under the banner of the values that distinguish “PGS International” (PGSI), the international organisation that brings together Salesian Youth Sports Groups (PGS).
Castelnuovo Don Bosco, Italy – May 2024 – Formation in the charism was provided for employees of the Piedmont and Valle d’Aosta Special Circumscription (ICP) on Wednesday, 22 May. This was for roles and functions together with the Salesians in the economic, management, pastoral, planning and editorial aspect of the entire Province. During the pastoral year, the province's community offers two retreats and one formation session on the charism. Last year formation in the Charism included a guided tour of the Salesian places in Valdocco, and this year, for the bicentennial of the Dream, it was a must to explore the characteristic places of Colle Don Bosco. Fr Luca Barone, from Salesian Headquarters in Rome, acted as guide, combining with wisdom and competence the historical, biographical, charismatic and artistic/symbolic aspects of the many places that tell of a call, an accompaniment and a mission. The “sonship and responsibility” focuses that served as a content and link for all the places were especially valuable.
Source: salesianipiemonte.info
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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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
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Italy – On-Line Course on Integral Ecology 2025: An Initiative of the Alliance for the Care of Our Common Home (Pontifical Universities & Atheneums of Rome)(ANS – Rome) – 2025 marks the tenth anniversary of Laudato Si’, Pope Francis’ landmark encyclical letter on the Care for Our Common Home, in which he invited all people of good to “a new dialogue about how we are shaping the future of our planet” (Laudato Si’, 14). However, as Pope Francis recognizes in Laudate Deum, the apostolic exhortation published on 4th October 2023, “our responses have not been adequate” and “the world in which we live is collapsing and may be nearing the breaking point.” (Laudate Deum, 2).
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."