(ANS - Rome) - On the eve of Christmas 2019, the 10th Successor of Don Bosco, Fr Ángel Fernández Artime, sends greetings to all his confreres, to the Salesian Family and to the young: to remember that “there are many reasons to feel profoundly good, because profoundly loved by God"; but also to animate "to have eyes to see and more open hearts" to help solve humanity's many challenges.
(ANS - Rome) - Yesterday, 19 December, Fr Ángel Fernández Artime, Rector Major, with the consensus of the General Council, appointed Fr Martín Lasarte Topolanski, as Provincial of the Angola Vice Province for the 6-year term, 2020-2026.
Rome, Italy - December 2019 - On 19 December, there was the last joint meeting of the General Councils of the Salesians of Don Bosco and of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians before their General Chapters, respectively 28th and 24th. The meeting began with the Eucharist presided by the Rector Major, Fr Ángel Fernández Artime, with the participation of Mother Yvonne Reungoat, FMA Mother General, of the 15 SDB General Councilors and of the 15 FMA General Councilors. The Rector Major focused the Thanksgiving meeting on the common charismatic journey of the last six years. The fraternal meal was animated not only by Christmas songs with the accompaniment on the guitar of the Rector Major but also by the spontaneous sharing of the Mother General and the traditional exchange of Christmas gifts. Mother Reungoat expressed profound conviction for the value and impact of these joint twice-yearly meetings of the General Councils. “Even if we do not achieve very concrete goals, each meeting gradually shapes our common Salesian way of thinking and promotes greater synergy in the Salesian Family.”
(ANS - Rome) - Yesterday, 18 December, Fr Ángel Fernández Artime, Rector Major, with the consensus of the General Council, appointed the following for the 2020-2026 term: Fr Agilan Sarprasadam, as Provincial of the India-Tiruchy Province; Fr Marcin Kaznowski, Provincial of the Poland-Krakow Province, and Fr Adolfo de Jesus Sarmento, Provincial of the Vice Province of Mozambique.
Rome, Italy - December 2019 - On December 17, in the Salesian Central Office of the "Sacred Heart" of Rome, the Rector Major, Fr Ángel Fernández Artime, met with several foreign ambassadors to the Holy See to greet and thank them for supporting the Salesians of Don Bosco. The ambassadors of the following countries were present: Chile, Bolivia, Peru, Argentina, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Spain, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Uruguay and Panama.
1859
In April, the construction of the Suez Canal begins in Egypt;
The second Italian war of independence is fought between April and July;
At the end of April, the first part of "Tale of Two Cities" is published, one of the only two historical novels by Charles Dickens;
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.