(ANS - Lima) - On May 15, the beginning of the Novena to Mary Help of Christians was celebrated throughout the world. Thousands and thousands of devotees of the Help of Christians return to the place that has seen them grow - be it a school, an oratory, a parish, a youth center, a house, a Salesian mission place, a reception center ... And this reality happens in every house of the Salesians, of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians of Peru or of any other of the groups of the Salesian Family.
The first stone was laid on 27 April 1865, in the presence of Prince Amedeo di Savoia;
On September 23, 1866 the great dome was finished;
In 1867 the statue of the Madonna was placed at the end of the dome;
(Rome, 14th May 2019) - Given last year's success, the experience of the world Novena to Mary Help of Christians is being repeated in 2019, with testimonies on the sanctity of the Salesian Family and the comment of the Rector Major of the Salesians of Don Bosco, Fr Ángel Fernández Artime.
The initiative, launched for the first time in May 2018, for the 150th anniversary of the consecration of the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians in Turin, is repeated again this year, seeing as it is the 150th anniversary celebration of the foundation of the Association of Mary Help of Christians, which has scheduled its VIII International Congress of Mary Help of Christians (in Buenos Aires, Argentina) this next November.
If last year the guiding theme was Don Bosco's dreams, this year the novena deepens "the beatitudes of the Salesian Family", presented by the Rector Major at the last Spirituality Days of the Salesian Family. In this way the novena, in addition to being a tribute to Mary Help of Christians and an instrument of devotional unity among all the groups of the Salesian Family, again relaunches the central theme of the 2019 Strenna: the sanctity of everyday life.
The structure of the novena provides a different video for each day which will present:
- one of the Salesian Beatitudes;
- a motto related to the Magnificat of Mary;
- a reflection on a figure of Salesian holiness;
- the comment of the Rector Major;
- a testimony from a member of the Salesian Family;
- the final prayer.
The novena videos shall be available in Italian, English, Spanish, French, Portuguese and Polish, on various channels: the sdb.org site, the ANS channel on YouTube, and the ANS Facebook page. The first day’s videos are already online.
The initiative of the Novena to Mary Help of Christians is promoted by the Rector Major, with the support of the Department for Social Communication, and produced by ANS, in collaboration with "IME Comunicazione". Fr Bruno Ferrero, SDB, Director of the Italian Salesian Bulletin, Fr Carlo Cassatella and Antonella Colucci collaborated on the texts.
The videos of the novena, can thus be used for prayer and animation in the communities, parishes and centres of the Salesian Family across the globe.
(ANS - Brasilia) - Mary Help of Christians, celebrated by the Church on May 24, was a central figure in the life of Don Bosco and indicated by him as the patroness of the Salesian Family.
(ANS - Rome) – Now near the beginning of the novena to Mary Help of Christians, the first resources relating to the World Novena proposed by the Rector Major to the whole Congregation and to all the groups that share the Salesian charism are being made available online. Accompanied by Fr Ángel Fernández Artime, this year's focus for meditation shall be the "beatitudes of the Salesian Family".
- The first Christians in Greece, Egypt, Antioch, Ephesus, Alexandria and Athens called the Blessed Virgin Mary with the name of "Help of Christians";
- Mary Help of Christians interceded in the battles of Lepanto and Vienna;
PHOTO GALLERY
INTERVIEWS
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Belgium – Isaac Kimeli, Past Pupil of the Don Bosco Institute in Hal, Olympic athletics finalist: "My past has made me who I am today"(ANS – Hal) – Belgian athlete Isaac Kimeli has competed in two Olympic finals in Paris: the 5,000 and 10,000 metres. In the first, he ranked eighth, in 13'18″10. Isaac arrived in Belgium at the age of 15 and was welcomed by the Salesians in Hal, near Brussels. In an interview with Don Bosco Magazine, he reviewed his career and his time at the Salesian school.
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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Brazil – 22nd National Meeting of Schools of the Salesian Network Brazil and 15th National Meeting of Local Economers(ANS – Brazil) – The 22nd National Meeting of Schools of the Salesian Network Brazil (ENARSE) and the 15th National Meeting of Local Economers (ENEL) took place online on 28 and 29 August. The event brought together the leaders of the schools and Provinces of the Salesian Network Brazil (RSB), with the aim of promoting ongoing formation in the managerial, pedagogical, pastoral, communicative and administrative-financial dimensions to strengthen the Salesian Educational Mission in the Network.
SPECIAL REPORTS
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Peru – From dreams to jungle: a spiritual and cultural journey in the unknown Kuyuntsa(ANS - Kuyuntsa) – Several decades ago, young Salesian missionary Luis (Luigi) Bolla left his life in Italy, driven by an inner voice that called him to explore lands unknown to him, but known to God. "You will have to walk a long way, carrying my Word," said the mysterious character who would change the course of his life.
MESSAGES OF THE RECTOR MAJOR
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Between Admiration and PainTHE MESSAGE OF THE RECTOR MAJOR, Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime
I cordially greet all Don Bosco’s friends who come here with interest. Today, I greet you for the last time from this page. As of August 16, the day on which we commemorate Don Bosco’s birth (August 16, 1815), my service as Rector Major of the Salesians of Don Bosco ends. There’s always a reason to give thanks, always. Thank you! Thank you—to God, above all, to the Congregation and Salesian Family, to so many dear people, and to so many friends of Don Bosco’s charism, many of them benefactors.