(ANS – Santo Domingo) – Coming from the Northeast of Brazil, where he had celebrated the Feast of Don Bosco and paid tribute to the Servant of God Father Cícero Romão Batista, whom he proclaimed a Salesian Cooperator, Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime, Rector Major of the Salesians of Don Bosco, landed on Wednesday, 7 February 2024 in Santo Domingo, to carry out an Animation Visit to the Salesians of the St John Bosco Province of the Antilles (ANT).
Valencia, Venezuela – February 2024 – As part of the Extraordinary Visitation to the St Luke Salesian Province of Venezuela (VEN), Fr Hugo Orozco, Councillor for the Interamerica Region visited Casa Don Bosco in Valencia from 2-5 February. The Extraordinary Visitation, which began in November 2023, had a break and resumed at the end of January at the El Concejo community. Its objective is to listen, converse with confreres, accompany and encourage the educative and pastoral work that takes place in the Salesian presences in Venezuela. The presence of Fr Orozco was very close and joyful for this occasion, characterised by sharing with the youngsters of the house and by accompaniment and animation of the work of the Salesians. The Regional Councillor met with each Salesian, the members of the council of the Educative and Pastoral Community, the representatives of the Salesian Youth Movement and the heads of Salesian Family groups.
Bariloche, Argentina – February 2024 - The Extraordinary Visitation to the Ceferino Namuncurá Province of South Argentina (ARS) began on 7 February, led by Fr Gabriel Romero, Councillor for the America South Cone Region, on behalf of the Rector Major. The visitation began by taking advantage of the conclusion of the meeting of the Salesians of ARS Province, at the Cardenal Cagliero Retreat House in Bariloche. In the meeting with the Provincial Council on 8 February, the situation of the ARS Province in all sectors of animation was presented to the Regional Councillor: Youth Ministry, Formation, Mission and Economy. In addition, the Province's Educative and Pastoral Plan and the Overall Pastoral Plan were presented. Fr Darío Perera, ARS Provincial, commented on the situation of the Salesian houses that make up the Province, which is preparing to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the arrival of the first Salesian missionaries in Argentina.
Genzano di Roma, Italy - February 2024 - From 7 to 10 February, the World Formation Council, convened by Fr Ivo Coelho, General Councillor for Formation, is held in Genzano di Roma to verify the progress of the Sector since the last General Chapter to date. The seven Regional Formation Coordinators and the heads of the Regional Centres for Ongoing Formation, present in Nairobi (Kenya), Quito (Ecuador) and Bangalore (India), are taking part. The participants are discussing the six-year planning of the Rector Major and his Council following the 28th General Chapter, the challenges posed by Artificial Intelligence to initial and ongoing formation paths, and the verification of the processes initiated by the Sector in this sexennium. The presence of Fr Stefano Martoglio, Vicar of the Rector Major, made it possible to reflect on the causes of confreres leaving from the Congregation, in order to encourage suitable paths to guard one's vocation every day. The dialogue with a group of young Salesians from the "Zeffirino Namuncurá" community in Rome UPS favoured an interpretation of the Congregation's journey from their young experience. The summary of the work will be a contribution to the report on the state of the Congregation that will be presented at GC29.
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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Argentina – UNISAL Participates in the International Forum “Territories of the Future: South Atlantic and Antarctica”(ANS – Río Grande) – From February 19 to 21, the cities of Río Grande, Tolhuin, and Ushuaia hosted the International Forum “Territories of the Future: South Atlantic and Antarctica”, organized by the University Network for the Care of the Common Home (RUC) and the Municipality of Río Grande, with support from the National University of Tierra del Fuego (UNTDF). The event brought together universities from Argentina, Latin America, and the Caribbean to discuss sustainability and conservation in these regions, with the Salesian University of Argentina (UNISAL) playing an important role.
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.