Rome, RMG - September 2020 - On 28 September the members and partners of the Don Bosco Network (DBN) including the Economer General of the Salesian Congregation, Bro. Jean Paul Muller, SDB, and the Coordinator of the Salesian Mission Offices, Fr George Menamparampil, SDB, met online for the Annual General Assembly meeting. 25 representatives of Salesian organizations from Europe, USA, India, and Africa discussed the impact of Covid-19 on the programs, projects and operations of the various institutions and on the coordinated response to this pandemic and on the plans for the post-emergency situation. It was thus revealed that in these difficult times, cooperation and networking through digital means are essential for effective support for the Salesian Mission to help needy young people all over the world. The collaboration and synergy with the Salesian representative at the United Nations, "Don Bosco International", "Don Bosco Tech Africa", and other organizations of the Salesian Family, help to promote Don Bosco's charism and to have a better impact on international forums. On the subject of turnover, Wojciech Mroczek has finished service as coordinator of the DBN and is now working for “Don Bosco Aid” in Ireland; Fonny Grootjans from Belgium takes his place; Carlos Caballero was replaced by Angel Gudiña as Member of the DBN Board.
(ANS - Rome) - Mons. Stefano Ferrando, Salesian Bishop and founder of the Missionary Sisters of Mary Help of Christians, was born in Rossiglione (province of Genoa and diocese of Acqui Terme) on 28 September 1895. Today is thus the 125th anniversary of his birth.
(ANS - Rome) - 'Moved by hope: “See, I am making all things new” (Rev 21: 5)' is the title that the Rector Major, Fr Ángel Fernández Artime, has chosen for the message of his Strenna for 2021. As every year, his message is accompanied by a poster that graphically translates the insights and orientations that the Father and Center of Unity of the Salesian Family intends to offer to all the followers of Don Bosco. Here, then, is the poster for the Strenna of 2021, which is being sent to Salesian houses all over the world in these days.
(ANS - Rome) - On Sunday 27 September the Church celebrates the 106th World Day of Migrants and Refugees, on the theme of internally displaced persons (IDPs), chosen by Pope Francis, with the motto: "Like Jesus, forced to flee."
(ANS – Rome) – The video presentation of the first part of Animating and Governing the Community: The Ministry of the Salesian Rector is available on YouTube (links below), along with other animation aids for the communities, which is going to be disseminated via email to all Provinces and Rectors. The video, originally in Italian, has been dubbed in English, Spanish, French and Portuguese.
(ANS – Rome) – As Salesians, we join the call and invitation of Pope Francis for a Global Compact on Education: as a mission, as a choice, as a future. To say "Salesians" is to say Education and Evangelization of young people. Once with Don Bosco, today like Don Bosco, renewed in the forms, in the processes, in the methodologies we need to make them live the opportunity of a new humanity. The best we can offer the new generations is education, thinking about the future of humanity with and for the young.
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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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
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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.