(ANS - Rome) - On the occasion of the feast day of Don Bosco, next Sunday, 31 January, the Holy Mass will be broadcast live from the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Rome, located in the same complex that today houses the Salesian Headquarters, on Italy's top channel, RaiUno: at 10:55 am - UTC + 1. The Rector Major, Fr Ángel Fernández Artime, will preside over the celebration, while the liturgical animation will be provided by a representative of the choir of the Salesian Youth Movement of Central Italy, directed by Fr Francesco De Ruvo, SDB.
(ANS - Rome) - “From now on let it be our motto: let the holiness of the children be the proof of the holiness of the father," wrote Fr Rua after the death of Don Bosco. This wish has found particular confirmation over time. In fact, from Don Bosco to the present day a tradition of holiness is attested which deserves attention, because it is the incarnation of the charism that originated from him and which expressed itself in a plurality of states of life and forms, which made the Salesian charism shine of particular light and constitutes a patrimony for the Salesian Family, the community of believers and men of good will. Moreover, it is necessary to express deep gratitude and praise to God for the sanctity already recognized in the Salesian Family and for that in the process of being recognized. The Salesian Postulation involves 173 Saints (9), Blessed (118), Venerables (18), Servants of God (28). The Causes followed directly by the Postulation are 58 (plus 5 extra).
(ANS - Rome) - The winter plenary session of the General Council ends today, 28 January. As per tradition, in view of the closing, the Rector Major, Fr Ángel Fernández Artime, shared the work sustained with the community of the Salesian Headquarters, offering his “Goodnight” thought.
(ANS - Rome) - The Spirituality Days of the Salesian Family, which closed just over a week ago, in this year marked by the pandemic saw the involvement of numerous people and groups spread all over the world as a sign of hope. Through the organization of coordination by regions, a vast network of communion and sharing of contents and intentions has been created which has seen numerous seeds of hope manifest themselves through concrete proposals.
(ANS – Rome) – The Congregation's Department for Social Communication has an intense and meaningful program for 2021. Today it is presented directly by the General Councilor for Social Communication, Fr Gildásio Mendes dos Santos.
(ANS - Rome) - The dissemination program of the text "Animating and Governing the Community - The Ministry of the Salesian Rector" proposes for these first months of 2021 the reading, study, sharing on the text's second part, entitled: "The Rector in the Salesian Religious Community”. At the end of September, animation material was proposed on the first part: “The Salesian Consecrated Identity”. In April, the introduction video and materials for animation relating to the third and final part shall be offered: “The Rector and the Shared Salesian Mission”.
PHOTO GALLERY
INTERVIEWS
-
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
-
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
-
Spain – 33rd Edition of the Edebé Prize for Children's and Young Adult Literature: Here Are the Winners(ANS – Madrid) – The 33rd edition of the Edebé Prize for Children's and Young Adult Literature has been awarded to Beatriz Giménez de Ory (Madrid, 1972) for her novel Tres niños tristes y medio unicornio (Three Sad Children and Half a Unicorn) and David Lozano (Zaragoza, 1974) for his novel La cacería (The Hunt).
SPECIAL REPORTS
-
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
-
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.