Kuarmunda, India - October 2022 - The inauguration of the first Marian Congress and Pilgrimage at the Provincial level of the Salesians of Dimapur (IND) was held on October 23 at the Mary Help of Christians Church in Kuarmunda, Odisha state. The church is becoming a center shrine of pilgrimage, and this is testified by the many pilgrims who have come from all the parishes in the province, members of the Salesian Family, and priests and religious who work in Salesian parishes or collaborate with the Sons of Don Bosco. On Oct. 24, Bishop Kishore Kumar Kujur of Rourkela presided over Mass in honor of Mary Help of Christians.
(ANS - Turin) - "We, too, celebrated the Patronal Feast of our house, named after Mary Help of Christians, with Mass and a procession with the painting of Mary Help of Christians: thus the Mistress of the House was able to see all her properties and bless the city of Kyiv, the heart of Ukraine." This was the greeting that came with joyful affection from Ukraine, as well as from many brothers and sisters belonging to the different groups of the Salesian Family scattered around the world, from Burundi to Argentina.
(ANS - Santiago) - The Temple of Mary Help of Christians in the center of Santiago, the capital of Chile, experienced a historic day last May 24: during the celebration of the patronal feast day, the church was officially recognized as a Shrine of Mary Help of Christians.
(ANS – Cebu) – The Salesian Province of the Philippines South celebrated its 30th founding anniversary on the 24th of May, 2022, Solemnity of Mary Help of Christians. It was a milestone for the Province as it recalls 30 years of mission in Visayas and Mindanao.
(ANS - Turin) - At the final meeting of the Salesian Family’s World Advisory Council aka Consulta - held in Valdocco from May 19 to 22 - the primary Association of Mary Help of Christians (ADMA) of Turin-Valdocco joyfully announced the date and place of the next International Congress of Mary Help of Christians to the superiors of the 32 groups of the Salesian Family present: it will take place in Fatima, Portugal, from August 29 to September 1, 2024.
Madrid, Spain - May 22, 2022 - The XXIX edition of the “Popular Run” of Mary Help of Christians took place on Sunday, May 22, gathering more than 300 runners of all ages who completed different circuits designed for different categories. The Run is an initiative that the Past Pupils of the Salesian home in Paseo de Extremadura in Madrid have been carrying out for 29 years and has established itself as the longest-running marathon in the entire district. It is a particularly popular tradition, characterized by a typically Salesian atmosphere, with children, families, entertainers, and friends of the Paseo work sharing a day of sport, cheerfulness, and genuine Salesian joy.
PHOTO GALLERY
INTERVIEWS
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RMG – Interview with Fr Francisco Lezama, Provincial of Uruguay(ANS – Rome) – Fr Francisco Lezama was born in the city of Montevideo on 11 September 1979. He got to know the Salesians in the Salesian work of Las Piedras, where he took part in youth groups and parish activities.
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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Spain – 2024 Pastoral and Theological Updating(ANS – Santiago de Compostela) – The two Provinces of the Salesians of Don Bosco in Spain, Saint James the Greater (SSM) and Mary Help of Christians (SMX), are organising their Theological and Pastoral Updating meetings this year for the second part of July. This is an event that has become traditional, organised by the Formation Delegates of both Provinces, and aimed mainly at cultivating spirituality and ongoing formation among Salesians throughout the country.
SPECIAL REPORTS
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Solomon Islands – Salesian presence in the country(ANS – Honiara) – The presence of Don Bosco has reached every continent in the world. We can say that only Antarctica is missing, and even in the islands of Oceania the Salesian charism, which is well adapted to the different cultures and traditions, is spreading.
MESSAGES OF THE RECTOR MAJOR
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WHEN AN EDUCATOR TOUCHES HIS CHILDREN’S HEART— OR THE ART OF BEING LIKE DON BOSCOTHE MESSAGE OF THE RECTOR MAJOR, Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime
The art of being like Don Bosco: “Remember that education is a matter of the heart, of which God alone is the master, and that we can achieve nothing unless God teaches us the art and hands us the key” (The Biographical Memoirs of Saint John Bosco, XVI, 376).