Turin, Italy - April 2023 - On April 23, during the end of the second day of the International Meeting of Salesian Bulletin Managers, the new book by Fr. Gildasio Mendes, General Councilor for Social Communication of the Salesian Congregation, entitled "Don Bosco and Digital Reality," was launched. Present at the event were Fr. Ivo Coelho, General Councilor for Formation, Br. Jean Paul Muller, Economer General, and Fr. Joan Lluis Playà, Central Delegate of the Rector Major for the Secretariat for the Salesian Family, as well as many other guests. The book was made possible thanks to the collaboration of various people, in addition to Margherita Ferro and Fabrizio Emigli, who were involved in revising the text and creating the cover. Father Gildasio said that he had wanted to start writing these pages specifically with the intention of fulfilling the project of the communication sector towards the new methodology, that of digital. The book is meant to be grounds for the exposition of the possible new educational and communicative evangelizing methodologies, and for reflection on how they should be adapted to this new era. From the concepts exposed, it is clear how much Don Bosco, although he lived in a period far removed from the digital world, maintained an educational and spiritual practice that today we can define as rather perspicacious: the way he had of interacting, his synaesthetic intelligence, and his language are the features that we try to transport into the digital world. The festive evening ended joyfully with songs and music offered by renowned musician Fabrizio Emigli.
(ANS - Turin) - With the Mass celebrated last April 20 at the Basilica Maria Ausiliatrice in Turin-Valdocco, the Course of Delegates for the Salesian Family of English-speaking Provinces concluded. Over the course of these five days, the Delegates were spiritually enriched by visits to the Salesian historical sites of Valdocco, Colle Don Bosco, Mornese, and Nizza Monferrato. These visits allowed them to engage with the history of the Salesian Family.
(ANS - Turin) - The fourth group of the Salesian School of Spiritual Accompaniment (SSA, in English) began its journey last April 17, in Valdocco. 24 Salesians are participating in this English version of the school; they come from 19 Provinces and Vice-Provinces and 14 countries: FIN, FIS, AUL (Pacific Delegation), PNG, TLS, MYM, INM, INB, INK, INT, INN, INH, AFE, AET, ZMB, AFM, ATE, GBR, MLT. Thus, most of the participants come from the three Salesian Regions, Africa-Madagascar, East Asia-Oceania, and South Asia.
(ANS - Rome) - "In this beginning of the Holy Year of Redemption we have given you the most beautiful gift: we have given you the Pastor, the Bishop; and such a Bishop...." These words, spoken by Pope Pius XI on the day after the episcopal consecration of Bishop Giuseppe Cognata, accompanied the day celebrating the 90th anniversary of that event. In fact, exactly on April 23, 1933, in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Rome, the young director of the Salesian House of the Sacred Heart, Fr. Giuseppe Cognata, who had been appointed on the previous March 16 as bishop of Bova, one of the poorest and most deprived dioceses of Calabria, which had been without a pastor for three years, received episcopal ordination. The consecrating bishop was the Primate of Poland, Salesian Cardinal Augustus Hlond, now Venerable; co-consecrators were Bishop Luigi Olivares, Bishop of Sutri and Nepi, also a Salesian and Venerable, and Bishop Romolo Genuardi, Auxiliary Bishop of Palermo, a cousin of Bishop Cognata.
(ANS - Turin) - One of the most interesting aspects of the international meeting of the Editors of the Salesian Bulletin was the presentation of the various aspects of Salesian Bulletin from the different continents. Christoph Sachs, representing Germany and Austria presented on the theme 'How the Salesian Bulletin can reach people in an increasingly secular society in Europe,' while Clarence Watts from Republic of South Africa outlined the theme 'Salesian Bulletin in the service of solidarity and peace.' Fr. Bobby Kannazhath from India presented on the theme 'Communicating the Salesian Spirit through the Salesian Bulletin in the Context of Cultural and Religious Diversity.'
(ANS – Turin) - The first session for the international summit for the Editors of the Salesian Bulletin commenced with the speech of Fr. Stefano Martoglio, the Vicar of the Rector Major, who spoke on the theme “The Charismatic dimension of the Salesian Bulletin”.
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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GOOD, FAITHFUL, AND COURAGEOUS SERVANTSTHE MESSAGE OF THE VICAR OF THE RECTOR MAJOR, Fr Stefano Martoglio, SDB
During this Jubilee year, in this difficult world, we are invited to rise up, set out again, and, in newness of life, make our journey as human beings and believers.