(ANS – Turin) – On 18 April 2024, the Association of Mary Help of Christians (ADMA) celebrates 155 years since its foundation: in Turin on 18 April 1869, by the work of St John Bosco, the year after the consecration of the Church of Mary Help of Christians in Turin (9 June 1868), as a sign of gratitude for the benefits that people recognised as received from the Virgin, and as an instrument for the defence and growth of the faith of the Christian people.
(ANS – Rome) – "Accompanying when trauma hits" is the title of the training course scheduled from April 3 to 17 at the Salesian Pontifical University in Rome. This course, organized by the University in collaboration with the Don Bosco nel Mondo and the Don Bosco Network, aims to provide tools for the management and prevention of trauma for educators, teachers, and members of the Salesian Family working in armed conflict contexts. Participants include representatives from three Salesian provinces - Middle East Province (MOR), Greek Catholic Vice-province of Ukraine (UKR), and Poland-Cracow Province (PLS) - as well as from the diocese of Donetsk, Ukraine.
Turin, Italy – April 2024 - The Salesian Spiritual Accompaniment School promoted and led by the Sector for the Formation at Salesian Headquarters in Rome has reached its sixth edition. The school, in English, began on 7 April 2024 in Valdocco with 25 participants from 18 Provinces of 4 Salesian Regions: East Asia-Oceania, South Asia, Africa-Madagascar and Central and North Europe. The first week was spent in Valdocco reflecting on the roots of the spirituality of St John Bosco, on his experience of formation at the Convitto, and on his experience of going almost uninterruptedly for more than 30 years to St Ignatius at Lanzo, for the spiritual exercises, Joining Fr Joseph Cafasso. It was also a time to visit and get to know the different Don Bosco places in Turin. Currently, participants are in their second week at Colle Don Bosco where they are conducting the individually guided silent retreat with five spiritual guides. It is an experience much appreciated by all the previous participants for the profound religious experience experienced. After these two weeks, there will be another three weeks of school where participants will learn what spiritual accompaniment means from a Salesian charismatic perspective.
Palermo, Italy – April 2024 - Vocational animation ended on Saturday 13 April at the Don Bosco Institute, Villa Ranchibile in Palermo, animated by a team of young FMA and SDB from Sicily. During the week, several activities were carried out with the 950 students of the first and second grade secondary school, the latter divided into the Classical, Scientific and Economic-Social high schools. Inspired by a famous Italian song from 1979, the testimony of consecrated young people was linked to the theme of the light we receive from Christ, how the moon reflects that of the sun, and the experience of darkness, which challenges us to restart and rekindle ourselves. In the meetings in the assembly, during the morning of retreat, but above all with the formation dynamics carried out class by class, many adolescents were emotionally involved through the simple gesture of turning on a light bulb that, together with those of their classmates, made a large moon shine. The young team, FMA and SDB, also experienced days of great charismatic wealth, characterised by the rhythm of the school day; the morning Eucharist celebrated together and the uninterrupted presence among the children of the school and the oratory, cemented the group, made the educational heart of Don Bosco and Mother Mazzarello present and visible.
Rome, Italy – April 2024 - On Thursday, 11April the Pontifical Salesian University (UPS) signed an agreement with the Hungarian Gál Ferenc University that provides, in particular, for collaborative activities with the Institute of Catechetics. Different possibilities for cooperation range from the sharing of research projects and educational paths to the exchange and collaboration between professors of the two universities. The Rector, Prof. Fr Andrea Bozzolo, together with the Secretary General Fr Jaroslaw Rochowiak and Prof. Ubaldo Montisci, welcomed the Hungarian delegation comprising the Rector of the Gál Ferenc University, Prof. László Dux; the Director for International Affairs of the Diocese of Szeged-Csanád, Dr. Róth Márton; the Bishop of the Diocese of Szeged-Csanád, Bishop László Kiss-Rigó; the Rector of the Seminary in the Diocese of Szeged-Csanád, Kovács József and the Director of the Institute of Catechetics and our former student, Levente Gabor Serfózó.
Source: unisal.it
(ANS – Venice) – On Sunday, 14 April 2024, as many as 7,500 members – and a total of over 8,000 people, also considering the 330 volunteers and the 200 individuals and companions of guest folk groups – participated in the traditional Solidarity Walk called "Su e Zo per i Ponti di Venezia" (Up and Down Veneticn Bridges, in Venetian dialect): a sustainable tourism initiative organised by the Salesian TGS Eurogroup NGO, which also associates a solidarity project with the event every year, aimed this year at Salesian works in the Holy Land.
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."