Rome, Italy – January 2017 – The winter plenary session of the General Council is closing today. During this session, Fr. Ángel Fernández Artime, Rector Major, and the members of the Council were busy in the appointment of 13 new Provincials, the assessment of the Extraordinary Visitations, the accompaniment of the newly appointed Provincials taking part in the formation course at the General House, as well as in dealing with several questions concerning the life of the Salesian Congregation.
(ANS – Rome) – In the course of the plenary winter session of the General Council, the Rector Major of the Salesians, Fr. Ángel Fernández Artime, with the consent of his Council, appointed three new Superiors: Fr. Angelo Santorsola, Provincial of the Province of Southern Italy (IME), Fr. Francisco Sánchez Carrión, Provincial of Ecuador (ECU), and Fr. Alfred Maravilla, Superior of the Vice-Province of Papua New Guinea-Solomon Island (PGS).
(ANS – Rome) – Region Centre and North Europe is one of the 7 regions of the Salesian Congregation and, considering its historical and cultural situation, also one of the most complex. Fr. Tadeusz Rozmus, Councillor of the Region, presents it in the following interview.
Rome, Italy – January 23rd, 2017 – At the General House there has been the General Assembly of Don Bosco International (DBI), a Bureau of Representation of the Congregation with the European Institutions in Brussels. Besides Fr. Fabio Attard, Councillor for Youth Ministry and President of DBI, three other General Councillors were also present, also members of the Board of Directors of DBI – the General Economer, Mr Jean Paul Muller; Fr. Stefano Martoglio and Fr. Tadeusz Rozmus, respectively Councillors for the Mediterranean Region and for Centre and North Europe Region – the various members of DBI and the collaborators of the Dicastery for Youth Ministry. The annual appointment, coordinated by the Executive Secretary, Ángel Gudiña, allowed to assess the development of the Strategic Plan of DBI and to approve the Annual Plan for 2017. Besides the increase of the activities of the Bureau of Representation in Brussels, the Assembly also noted the growing involvement of the European Provinces in the coordination of the work.
(ANS – Rome) – Renewing the attention of the urgency to announce the Lord and to care for our poorest brethren: this is the aim of World Mission Day. Since 1988 also the Salesian Congregation proposes every year a specific missionary theme, which aims at promoting missionary animation: it is Salesian Mission Day, which for 2017 deals with the theme of First Announcement in the American continent. As of today, some videos on the Salesian Missionary experiences among the Indigenous peoples of Latin America are available online.
PHOTO GALLERY
INTERVIEWS
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Chile – Former Salesian student in the fight against Alzheimer's disease(ANS - Santiago) - Dr Nibaldo Inestrosa, graduate of the Salesian Institute in Valdivia and national prize of Natural Sciences winner, is a pioneer and expert in the study of Alzheimer's disease in the country. In this interview, he offers an insight into the current challenges, but not before reflecting on his formative experience at the Salesian Institute in Valdivia and how this influenced his interest in biology and science.
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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India – INS youth solemnise Don Bosco’s Feast Day with ‘Ka Sur Kynud S-3’ Grand Finale(ANS – Shillong) – The Youth of St John Paul II, Shillong Province, celebrated the Feast Day of St. John Bosco with the Grand Finale of “Ka Sur Kynud, Season 3.” Organised by Don Bosco Media Network Television, the Social Communication Department of the Province, at Don Bosco Youth Centre, Laitumkhrah, Shillong, this two-month-long singing competition, which imitates the global singing competition The Voice, concluded on 31 January 2025, coinciding with the Solemnity of St John Bosco.
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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WHAT A GIFT TIME IS!THE MESSAGE OF THE VICAR OF THE RECTOR MAJOR,
Fr Stefano Martoglio, SDBThe beginning of the new year is illuminated in our liturgy by the ancient formula with which the Israelite priests blessed the people: "May the Lord bless you, and keep you. May the Lord show His face to you, and have mercy on you. May the Lord turn His countenance to you, and give you peace."