Rome, Italy – February 2024 – "Called to Love with Hope. Salesian Strennas by FR ÁNGEL FERNÁNDEZ ARTIME, sdb" is a book that was presented on Thursday, 29 February 2024 at the Maria Santissima Bambina Institute (Via Paolo VI, Rome). It is a collection of the Strennas that Fr Ángel Fernández Artime, Rector Major of the Salesians of Don Bosco, now Cardinal, has produced and disseminated in his 10 years at the head of the Salesian Congregation (2014-2024) and was edited by his Secretary and spokesperson, Fr Giuseppe Costa.
Milan, Italy – February 2024 – Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime, Rector Major of the Salesians, was present on Thursday 29 February for the launching of the National Exhibition of Masterpieces 2024, an initiative that the National Headquarters of the Centro Nazionale Opere Salesiane – Formazione Aggiornamento Professionale (CNOS-FAP) has been promoting since 2008, as a motivational tool for students, a useful goal for teaching and as a showcase to foster contact with companies. The event was hosted by the Saint Ambrose Institute in Milan and involved well-known local personalities, such as the Councillor for Education, Training and Work in the Lombardy Region, Simona Tironi, and the Vice-President of Confindustria with responsibility for Human Capital, Giovanni Brugnoli.
(ANS – Rome) – The seventh video of the series "It is time for Chapter 28" has been made available online today, Friday, 23 February 2024, in which Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime, Rector Major of the Salesians, illustrates the seventh Action Guideline delivered after the 28th General Chapter: "IT IS TIME FOR GREATER GENEROSITY IN THE CONGREGATION. A universal and missionary Congregation."
(ANS – Kigali) – The third day of the Team Visit to the Salesian Region of Africa-Madagascar was marked by two highly significant moments: in the morning, the reflection on Youth Ministry offered by the General Councillor, Fr Miguel Angel García Morcuende; in the afternoon, the touching visit to the 1994 Genocide Memorial.
(ANS – Kigali) – Wednesday, 21 February 2024 was a special day for participants in the Team Visit to the Salesian Africa-Madagascar Region, still underway at Gatenga, in Kigali, Rwanda. The day began with a Eucharistic celebration presided over by Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime, Rector Major of the Salesians, in which the assembly prayed for Fr Jésus Benoît Badji, Superior of the Province of North West Africa (AON), whose birthday was celebrated. After two intense and rich work sessions, the day was enlivened by the visit of Cardinal Antoine Kambanda, Archbishop of Kigali.
Kigali, Rwanda – February 2024 – The Team Visit to the Africa-Madagascar Region has begun, following the pilgrimage on 19 February, carried out as a moment of spiritual preparation by the Superiors of the 15 Salesian circumscriptions in the Africa-Madagascar Region, accompanied by their Provincial Councillors and led by the Regional Councillor, Fr Alphonse Owoudou. From 20 to 23 February, the entire General Council of the Salesian Congregation, led by Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime, is animating the Team Visit, which includes numerous activities, works, discussions and moments of reflection and exchange. The Team Visit to the Africa-Madagascar Region concludes the cycle of team visits to the 7 Salesian regions which began in March 2023 with South Asia and then continued with America South Cone, Interamerica, North and Central Europe, Mediterranean and, most recently, East Asia-Oceania.
PHOTO GALLERY
INTERVIEWS
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Italy – Fr Gildasio Mendes: "Salesians today promote justice, peace and solidarity through social communication"(ANS - Rome) – "Salesians today promote justice, peace and solidarity through social communication". This was stated by the Salesian Congregation's General Councillor for Social Communications, Fr Gildasio Mendes, during an interview conducted by Fr João Carlos Ribeiro and journalist Jocasta Pimentel from "FM Don Bosco" radio station in Fortaleza, in the Province of Recife, Btrazil (BRE), during a break in the "Shaping Tomorrow" World Congress held in Rome from 1 to 7 August 2024. Below is an extensive summary of the interview, the full audio of which was broadcast by the "Tempo de Paz" radio program and the full text of which is available in the Portuguese version of the article.
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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Spain – 2024 Pastoral and Theological Updating(ANS – Santiago de Compostela) – The two Provinces of the Salesians of Don Bosco in Spain, Saint James the Greater (SSM) and Mary Help of Christians (SMX), are organising their Theological and Pastoral Updating meetings this year for the second part of July. This is an event that has become traditional, organised by the Formation Delegates of both Provinces, and aimed mainly at cultivating spirituality and ongoing formation among Salesians throughout the country.
SPECIAL REPORTS
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Peru – From dreams to jungle: a spiritual and cultural journey in the unknown Kuyuntsa(ANS - Kuyuntsa) – Several decades ago, young Salesian missionary Luis (Luigi) Bolla left his life in Italy, driven by an inner voice that called him to explore lands unknown to him, but known to God. "You will have to walk a long way, carrying my Word," said the mysterious character who would change the course of his life.
MESSAGES OF THE RECTOR MAJOR
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Between Admiration and PainTHE MESSAGE OF THE RECTOR MAJOR, Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime
I cordially greet all Don Bosco’s friends who come here with interest. Today, I greet you for the last time from this page. As of August 16, the day on which we commemorate Don Bosco’s birth (August 16, 1815), my service as Rector Major of the Salesians of Don Bosco ends. There’s always a reason to give thanks, always. Thank you! Thank you—to God, above all, to the Congregation and Salesian Family, to so many dear people, and to so many friends of Don Bosco’s charism, many of them benefactors.