(ANS - Rome) - The assembly of the members of the International Volunteers for Development (VIS), Don Bosco Missions (Missioni Don Bosco), The Don Bosco Foundation in the World (Fondazione Don Bosco Nel Mondo) and National Headquarters of the Salesian Missions (Centro Nazionale Opere Salesiane), took place on the afternoon of Tuesday, 17 October. They appointed the two new members of the VIS Executive Committee, the body that takes care of its ordinary and extraordinary administration. Making up the VIS board will be Fr Luca Barone, from the Salesian Generalate, and Fr Daniel Antúnez, the President of Don Bosco Missions (Missioni Don Bosco), who takes on the role of the treasurer.
(ANS - Rome) - From 12 to 15 October 2023, the General Assembly (General Executive Body) of "Don Bosco Youth-Net" (DBYN) was held in Rome, hosted by the Salesian organization "Youth Tourism for Social Change" (a Social Service Promotion Association - TGS) at the National Headquarters of Salesian Missions in Italy (which houses the two Italian partners of the international network, "Salesians for Social Works" and "TGS" (Turismo Giovanile e Sociale).
(ANS - Rome) - Wednesday, 18 October 2023 marked the 150th anniversary of the birth of the Venerable Salesian Bishop Luigi Olivares, SDB (Corbetta, Italy, 18 October 1873 - Pordenone, Italy, 19 May 1943). To mark the occasion, a concelebrated solemn Mass was celebrated, presided over by Fr Pierluigi Cameroni, the Postulator General for the Causes of Saints of the Salesian Family at the church of Santa Maria Liberatrice in the Testaccio district of Rome, of which Olivares was the first parish priest.
Catania, Italy - October 2023 - "Lui vede più lontano di te" ("He sees further than you") is the title of the new single track launched on the occasion of the Giò Beach Party, the inauguration party for the new Salesian pastoral year 2023-2024, organized on 24 September at the Playa in Catania. The song was composed and set to music by the 'DBsons', a musical group of the Salesian Youth Movement (SYM) of Sicily, born from the initiative of two young Salesians, Fr Emanuele Geraci and Fr Giuseppe Priolo. The two Salesians have always believed in the communicative power of music as a means of talking about God and making Him present among young people. The new single is built on this year's pastoral theme 'You see further than me. Signposts to dream again', inspired by Don Bosco's '9-year Dream', which will celebrate its second centenary in 2024. The piece can be heard on the YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62lv8bSGogw
(ANS - Rome) - The inauguration of the 2023-2024 Academic Year of the Salesian Pontifical University (UPS) took place on Tuesday 17 October, with the Eucharistic concelebration presided over by Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime, the Rector Major of the Salesians of Don Bosco and Grand Chancellor of the UPS and the keynote address by Monsignor Giovanni Cesare Pagazzi, the Secretary of the Dicastery for Culture and Education.
(ANS - Rome) - In 2022, the Salesian Pontifical University (UPS) launched an inter-disciplinary research project on the theme "Young people, affections, identity", involving the professors of its various faculties. In order to share the fruits of this research and promote the accompaniment of young people towards an affective sexual education, UPS is proposing now a Conference for educators of young people, formators, men and women religious, priests and pastoral workers from 1 to 3 March 2024.
PHOTO GALLERY
INTERVIEWS
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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
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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."