(ANS – Rome) – On the 148th anniversary of the Salesian Missionary Expedition, Saturday 11 November 2023, Fr Alfred Maravilla, General Councillor for the Missions, announced that in the last winter session of the General Council the Rector Major, with the consent of his Cuncil, accepted the invitation of Bishop Petros Stefanou, Catholic bishop of Syros, Santorini and Crete to open a Salesian presence in his diocese. “Greece is the most recent country in Europe where we are establishing a presence after many years. It is the new Salesian frontier in Europe”, Fr Maravilla explained.
(ANS – Rome) – “Do not be afraid of new technologies!” The words contained in the title of this article - the tenth written by Fr Maciej Makuła, a member of the Social Communication Sector, as part of the series of contributions on Communication in the Church and in the Salesian Family - were written by John Paul II in 2005, in the Apostolic Letter “The Rapid Development”.
(ANS – Rome) – 11 November is an unforgettable date for all the Salesians around the world: the day the Congregation began its missionary thrust – a journey that began 148 years ago, on 11 November 1875 with the First Salesian Missionary Expedition, and which it has no intention of stopping. Indeed, the entire Congregation is already looking forward to the 150th anniversary of that date which will be celebrated in two years time in 2025. After not even a century and a half, almost 10,000 Salesians have been sent to mission lands and the educational work that came from Don Bosco extends to over 130 countries on five continents. And the Rector Major's call to send missionaries to places of greatest need continues to be more valid than ever.
(ANS – Rome) – By mandate of the Moderator of the 29th General Chapter (GC29) of the Salesian Congregation, Fr. Alphonse Owoudou, the official logo of the event and the prayer to prepare spiritually for this event have been released and are being disseminated.
(ANS - Rome) - Only a few days remain until 11 November, the day that marks the beginning of the Salesian missionary era. This year also it also represents the deadline for taking part in the competition to identify the logo for the 150th anniversary of the Salesian Missions. The Missions Sector is therefore renewing its invitation to submit graphic designs to create the logo that will feature on all the publications and initiatives linked to this significant anniversary.
Rome, RMG - October 2023 - The winning poster of the competition for the Strenna of the Rector Major for 2024: "The dream that makes you dream: A heart that transforms 'wolves' into 'lambs,” created by the young Paraguayan artist Salmi Medina, is now available to all in the digital format. On ANSFlickr and on the sdb.org website, its versions in the six most spoken languages in the congregation (English, Spanish, Italian, French, Portuguese and Polish) is accessible; for editions in other languages, the editable file in .psd format is available on OneDrive.
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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RMG - St. Francis de Sales Communicator: All for Love(ANS – Rome) - The figure of St. Francis de Sales, chosen by Don Bosco as an example of a communicator, teaches that communication is a matter of the heart. In his expression, "Everything in the Church is love: everything lives in love, for love, and of love," we understand his revolution in the way of communicating, and how communication becomes fruitful when it allows communion and the exchange of one's experiences in a path of accompaniment and collaboration in God's project.
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."