(ANS – Salzburg) – The Salesians of Don Bosco in the Guardian Angels Province of Austria have communicated with deep sorrow the passing of their confrere Bishop Alois Kothgasser, Bishop Emeritus of Salzburg. The Salesian prelate died last Thursday, 22 February 2024, in his apartment in the Salzburg seminary, in the presence of his closest family members, the seminarians he had accompanied as pastor, and the Metropolitan Archbishop of Salzburg, Archbishop Franz Lackner, OFM, who expressed his deep sadness at the death of Bishop Kothgasser, but also his great gratitude for the "model of meekness" of this "human-centred bishop".
(ANS – Livorno) – At the proposal of the Mayor of Livorno, Luca Salvetti, Salesian Fr Gigi Zoppi will climb the steps of the Civic Palace in the city on 19 March 2024 to receive the honour of the City of Livorno, reserved for people, groups, associations that have contributed to giving impetus and vitality to the city through their personal virtue and dedication, with concrete works in the field of civics, social, culture, sciences, work, school, sport.
(ANS – El Campello) – On Thursday, 15 February 2024, 25 people from the Salesian communities of Alcoy, Alicante, Burriana, Cabezo de Torres, Elche, El Campello and Valencia met at the Salesian house in El Campello to participate in a new formation meeting organised by the Delegation for Social Communication of Spain’s Mary Help of Christians Province (SMX). This event, which gathered the witness of the formation given in the houses of the Aragonese Autonomous Community – in Spain’s St James the Greater Province (SSM), in April and September – was confirmation of the good health of a project that for several years has been trying to offer a unified shape to the "Salesian vision of the world".
Bollington, Great Britain – February 2024 – Salesians in Initial Formation in Great Britain met at Savio House Retreat Centre from 16 to 18 February. The meeting was held by the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians of Great Britain, who took this opportunity to share the rich spirituality and writings of Mother Mazzarello. Salesian Fr Francis Preston, Provincial Delegate for Formation, accompanied the young Salesians in Formation throughout the weekend. Fr Nhan Le, one of the participants, explained how this meeting was enriching and important to learn more about Mother Mazzarello, the charism of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians and the roles of women in the Church.
Torhout, Belgium – February 2024 – Tthe Provincial Chapter of the Salesian Province of Northern Belgium and the Netherlands (BEN) was held from 14 to 17 February at the Groenhovee Diocesan Service House. The assembly, divided into various sessions, was presided over by Fr Bart Decancq, Superior of Province BEN, and Salesians, Daughters of Mary Help of Christians and lay people reflected together on the future of the Salesian charism in Flanders and the Netherlands. Another session of the Provincial Chapter is scheduled for 13 April.
Tlaquepaque, Mexico – February 2024 – On Thursday, 22 February, the Provincials belonging to the America South Cone and Interamerica Regions met in Tlaquepaque, in the State of Jalisco, Mexico, to take part in the Curatorium of the Regional Centre for the Formation of Salesian Brothers in America (CRESCO America). The meeting was chaired by Fr Filiberto González, Superior of the Mexico-Guadalajara Province (MEG); and accompanying the meeting was also Fr Guido Errico of the Formation Sector, and connected online, Fr Gabriel Romero, Councillor for the America South Cone Region. The Curatorium focused on crucial issues related to the formation and guidance of Salesian brothers in formation. Among the points highlighted, the review and approval of the adjustments to the Formation Project, the Directory and the CRESCO Statutes should be noted, highlighting the commitment to the constant improvement of the formation path. Proposals for formation of the formation team for 2024 and 2025 were also discussed, with the aim of ensuring an enriching educational environment for future Salesian brothers. In addition, the commitment to the preparation of formators and the identification of possible future candidates was explored. This focus on formation and identifying talents reflects the constant commitment to strengthening the Salesian mission and ensuring quality formation for the next generations of Salesian brothers. The Curatorium of "CRESCO America" proved to be a vital space for discussion, decision-making and strategic planning, highlighting the ongoing importance of Salesian formation.
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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Italy – On-Line Course on Integral Ecology 2025: An Initiative of the Alliance for the Care of Our Common Home (Pontifical Universities & Atheneums of Rome)(ANS – Rome) – 2025 marks the tenth anniversary of Laudato Si’, Pope Francis’ landmark encyclical letter on the Care for Our Common Home, in which he invited all people of good to “a new dialogue about how we are shaping the future of our planet” (Laudato Si’, 14). However, as Pope Francis recognizes in Laudate Deum, the apostolic exhortation published on 4th October 2023, “our responses have not been adequate” and “the world in which we live is collapsing and may be nearing the breaking point.” (Laudate Deum, 2).
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."