(ANS – Rome) – One of the two choices that Fr Ángel Fernández Artime, the Rector Major, has made to graphically represent his message for the 20221 Strenna – “Do everything through love, nothing through constraint” (St Francis de Sales) – is by Mauro Pallotta, in ‘arte MAUPAL’, the street artist who has become well known for his murals dedicated to Pope Francis. The interpretation this artist offers is an innovative representation of a scene from the Salesian Oratory: Don Bosco at play with his boys.
(ANS – Rome) – “Do everything through love, nothing through constraint” is the theme that the Rector Major, Fr Ángel Fernández Artime, has chosen for the 2022 Strenna, inspired by St Francis de Sales, given the 400th anniversary of his death. This motto has also encouraged a number of artists throughout the world who have sent various proposals to Salesian Headquarters, representing this key message for the Salesian Family in images. Don Bosco’s Tenth Successor has chosen two from among all those that have arrived; two that in different ways and using different approaches are able to challenge and motivate the Salesian Family to continue acting in Don Bosco’s style and with trait of loving-kindness so typical of Geneva’s Saint.
(ANS - Rome) - From 16 to 18 November 2021, the launch of the "Sustainable Latin America Environmental Project" workshop was held online. On the occasion, Br. Jean Paul Müller, Economer General of the Salesian Congregation, Fr Líder Justiniano, Provincial of Bolivia, and Fr Rafael Bejarano, Coordinator of the Social Works of the Inter-America and America South Cone regions, took part in the event and illustrated diverse aspects motivating the project. 50 representatives from the Salesian Provinces of: Antilles, South Argentina, Bolivia, Central America, Chile, Colombia-Bogotà, Colombia-Medellín, Ecuador, Haiti, Mexico-Guadalajara, Mexico-México, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela participated in the meeting.
(ANS - Rome) – The East Asia-Oceania (EAO) Delegates for Social Communication and Missions Offices came together in a Zoom meeting to discuss and reflect on Communicating Jesus Christ Today to the Millennial and Gen Z Mindsets. The meeting, held on 16 and 17 November 2021, was organized jointly by the Social Communications and Missions Sectors in Rome-Generalate headed by councillors Fr. Gildasio Mendes, SDB, and Fr. Alfred Maravilla, SDB.
(ANS - Rome) - Among the participants in the 152 Salesian Missionary Expedition is one of the oldest, with his 47 years; but the zeal that animates him is that of the youngest. We are talking about Fr Barnabé Gbodonoumèto Noudéviwa, originally from Benin, destined for Argentina. Speaking of how his missionary vocation was born, he says: "Our Congregation is missionary by charism and the first Salesians I knew were Spanish missionaries who bore witness to their love for God, Don Bosco and young people. Moreover, salesianly I grew up in the Vice Province of Francophone West Africa (AFO), which includes seven countries, so I have always been available to 'depart', to leave my country and my culture, to work in any country of the Vice Province."
(ANS - Rome) – The Social Communications and Mission Delegates of South Asia met online on November 15 and 16, 2021, to work together and communicate Jesus today through the dynamics of culture in the digital environment. The General Councillor for Social Communication, Father Gildasio Mendes and General Councillor for Salesian Missions, Father Alfred Maravilla, were present.
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.