RMG - 22 December 2023 - The first online meeting of the Province Mission Office Consultative Teams took place on the morning of Friday, 22 December 2023. The idea of forming this group came from the proposals put forward during the meeting of the Provincial Mission Offices "Dare to Share", held in Sacrofano, near Rome, from 19 to 23 October 2023. This meeting was organised by the Missions Sector at Salesian Headquarters, and brought together the Directors, managers and collaborators of the Salesian Provinces Mission Offices. During the meeting, the General Councillor for the Missions, Fr Alfred Maravilla, encouraged everyone to collaborate with the Missions Sector in order to offer a qualified service to the evangelising activities of the Congregation. The objective of this seven-member consultative team is: "To assist the Coordinator for Salesian MissionOffices in the Missions Sector in coordinating and animating the activities of the Missions Sector".
(ANS – Rome) – The 7th Successor of Don Bosco, Fr Egidio Viganò was a Lombard by birth, but South American by adoption. Endowed with great intellectual and organisational capacity, very active also in the service of the Church and the Pope, he was also described as “the American Don Bosco”, leading the way for subsequent Rectors Major who have come from that continent.
(ANS – Rome) – In 1965 the Salesians at their 19th General Chapter elected Fr Luigi Ricceri as their leader. He held this position for 12 years from 1965 to 1977. It was with him that the Congregation embarked on the path of renewal to which the whole Church was called in those years, after the Second Vatican Council.
(ANS - Rome) - During the winter plenary session of the General Council, Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime, Rector Major of the Salesians of Don Bosco, with the consent of the members of his Council, appointed Fr Francis Hamasaki Atsushi, Superior of St Francis Xavier Province of Japan (GIA) for the six-year period 2024-2030. Fr Hamasaki will succeed Fr Jacob Hamaguchi Hideaki who has served the Province of Japan as Provincial since 2018.
(ANS– Rome) – Fr Renato Ziggiotti led the Salesian from 1952 to 1965, elected to this mission by the 27th General Chapter in the history of the Congregation founded by Don Bosco. He was the first Rector Major not to have met Don Bosco directly – although he made his first vows before Fr Rua, the founder's first heir.
(ANS - Rome) - Following up on a long tradition, the traditional day of recollection, celebration and sharing, in view of Christmas for Salesians and the lay staff working in the central offices of the Congregation was held at the Salesian Headquarters on Monday, 18 December 2023. The guest of honour for the day was Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime, Rector Major of the Salesians of Don Bosco, accompanied by the Economer General, Br Jean Paul Muller, SDB.
PHOTO GALLERY
INTERVIEWS
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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."