(ANS - Rome) - ‘Since the time set by the aforementioned decree has come to an end, as of today I cease to hold the office of Rector Major of the Society of St Francis de Sales’. In a short communiqué, Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime declares that as of today, 16 August 2024, his mandate as Rector Major comes to an end.
(ANS – Rome) – The World Confederation of Past Pupils of Don Bosco joins the entire Salesian Family in expressing heartfelt gratitude to Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime, who today, 16 August, concludes his term as Rector Major of the Salesian Congregation. In a short message, signed by the President of the World Confederation, Bryan Magro, the Past Pupils say they are grateful for the inspiration, leadership and guidance that the Rector Major has given in recent years.
Turin, Italy – 11 August 2024 – Presiding over the Eucharist with young men and women at the Salesian Synod of Young People, on Sunday, 11 August, Card. Ángel Fernández Artime officiated at his last Mass as Rector Major in the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians in Turin. At the end of the celebration, the 10th Successor of Don Bosco also placed his signature in the register of bishops and cardinals at the sanctuary and basilica, in memory of this historic circumstance.
(ANS – Turin) - The basilica of Mary Help of Christians wore a youthful look as young people of the Salesian Youth Synod gathered with a profound sense of reverence and joy for the Inaugural Mass at the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians in Valdocco. This sacred celebration was presided over by the Rector Major, Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime, accompanied by several members of the Salesian Youth Ministry Sector and numerous Salesians of Don Bosco from around the world. The Cardinal extended a warm welcome to everyone attending, both in person and via live stream, expressing his joy at seeing so many young people from across the globe gathered in the very place where Don Bosco had envisioned their presence centuries ago.
(ANS - Turin) - The Youth Synod begins today. There are 376 participants; 292 young people have the right to vote in the Assembly. The other participants in the Synod, without the right to vote, are: the Rector Major and 45 Salesians: representatives of the Regions/responsible for content and entertainment, logistics, social communication, translators and technical staff; 19 FMA; 15 musicians and 5 lay technicians.
Turin, Italy – August 2024 – The 2024 edition of Campobosco ended on Tuesday 6 August, bringing together over 600 young people from the Salesian Youth Movement in Spain and Portugal. The last act was the emotional Mass in the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians, the culmination of a week spent in full youthful joy and in the deepening of Salesian history in the footsteps of Don Bosco and Mother Mazzarello. Already on 5 August it had been a special day, with the participants coming from Colle Don Bosco, the birthplace of the Saint of the Young, and visiting Valdocco, the headquarters of his mission where they met with the Rector Major, Card. Ángel Fernández Artime, SDB In a warm and friendly atmosphere, the young people had the opportunity to ask him questions about his new service as Cardinal, his message for young people and his vision of the Salesian Youth Movement (SYM) in the world, and participated in the Eucharist he presided over in the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians.
PHOTO GALLERY
INTERVIEWS
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RMG – Fr Gildasio Mendes, General Councillor for Social Communication, talks about his two new books on Don Bosco(ANS – Rome) – At the end of the International “Shaping Tomorrow” Communication Conference (Rome, 1-7 August 2024), the General Councillor for Social Communication, Fr Gildasio Mendes, publicly presented his most recent two literary works, both dedicated to Don Bosco and motivated by the bicentenary of the latter’s famous Dream at Nine Years of Age. They are As seeing him who is invisible and Parallels 15 and 20. Today he shows us in detail the meaning and perspectives of the two books.
EDITORIAL
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Myanmar – Tragedy of Innocent Children in the midst of Armed Conflicts(ANS – Naypyidaw) - Myanmar finds itself immersed in profound grief and anguish as innocent lives, particularly those of children, continue to be mercilessly lost in the enduring armed conflicts. Families are left devastated by the tragic loss of their loved ones while the relentless violence shows no signs of abating. This week, a heartfelt plea from Myanmar reached our community, shedding light on the heart-wrenching death of a young girl Juliet in a military airstrike, prompting a unified call for prayers and action.
EVENTS
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Italy – The chapel of the relics at the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians in Turin celebrates 90 years and celebrates them with an exhibition on the Shroud(ANS – Turin) – Again this year, on 14 September, on the occasion of the liturgical feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross and the day of the Opening of the Crypt, the Shrine of Mary Help of Christians in Turin hosted an evening dedicated to the Shroud,, as part of the "Culture in the Basilica" exhibition, entitled "The Shroud: witness of great love".
SPECIAL REPORTS
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RMG – 100 years of Salesian holiness in the shadow of Mary: 8 September 2024 in Slovenia and Slovakia(ANS – Rome) – Don Bosco was a great lover of Our Lady and the "thread" of her strong and discreet presence as a mother, teacher and helper, never failed for each of her children. It is therefore not surprising that so much Salesian holiness is also interwoven with very deep bonds with Mary: every Servant of God, every Blessed and Saint of the Salesian Family has a special, sometimes all-encompassing bond with her, as it was for Fr Silvio Galli, SDB, or Sister Antonietta Böhm, FMA. This 2024 is also marked by two anniversaries directly connected to some figures of Salesian holiness: those of the Shrine of Mary Help of Christians in Raknovik, Ljubljana, consecrated on 8 September 1924, and that of the arrival in 1924 of the Salesians at the national Marian Shrine in Šaštín, Slovakia, dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows.
MESSAGES OF THE RECTOR MAJOR
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On WINGS of HOPETHE MESSAGE OF THE VICAR OF THE RECTOR MAJOR, Father Stefano Martoglio
While continuing my service as Vicar in the coming months, quietly, very simply, and completely in continuity, I’ll replace the Rector Major in leading the Congregation to the General Chapter, the 29th, in February 2025.