(ANS – Vatican City) – On Thursday, 15 February 2024, the Holy See Press Office announced that the Holy Father Francis has appointed Salesian Father Francesco Fontana as Chaplain of the Directorate of Museums and Cultural Heritage, Coordinator of all the Chaplains of the Directorates and Central Offices, Coordinator of the "Estate Ragazzi" Program and of the "Family Day" Program and other family pastoral initiatives.
(ANS – Rome) – The film "Zatti, hermano nuestro" – a production of the Salesian Bulletin and of the two Provinces of Argentina, North and South, written and directed by Fr Ricardo Campoli, member of the Social Communication Sector of the Salesian Congregation – was the winning film at the 15th edition of the international festival of Catholic filmography "Mirabile Dictu", in the short film category. The award ceremony took place on the evening of Thursday 15 February 2024, in the fine setting of Palazzo Cesi in Rome, near the Vatican.
(ANS – K’Long) - The second day of the EAO Team Visit in Vietnam commenced with a solemn celebration of the Holy Eucharist at 6:30 am, presided over by the Rector Major, Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime. During the homily, Fr Stefano Martoglio, Vicar of the Rector Major, urged the participants to embrace a spirit of renunciation and wholeheartedly follow the teachings of Jesus, becoming dedicated disciples of Don Bosco.
(ANS – Turin) – St John Bosco's deep faith in Jesus Christ was manifested, during his life, also through a discreet and constant but intense, devotion to the Shroud, silent witness of the Passion and Resurrection of the Saviour of the world. To deepen Don Bosco's connection with Sacred Linen, as part of its usual review of podcasts related to Shroud literature, the International Centre for Shroud Studies (CISS) dedicated an episode to the Father and Teacher of Young People.
(ANS – Turin) – From 29 August to 1 September 2024, Fatima will host the 9th International Congress of Mary Help of Christians promoted by the Association of Mary Help of Christians (ADMA) and aimed at all groups of the Salesian Family. It aims to make known, deepen and spread the devotion to the "Don Bosco's Madonna". In view of this significant appointment of the Salesian Family, the organising team of the congress has promoted a series of nine videos in which different personalities of the Salesian world invite everyone to participate; and the first invitation could only be that of Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime, Rector Major of the Salesians of Don Bosco and Father and Centre of Unity of the Salesian Family.
(ANS – Vatican City) – The Vatican also joins the Salesian Family in celebrating the dream that St John Bosco had at nine years of age, which inspired all his work and his charism; and it does so through a stamp and a special stamp cancellation dedicated to this important anniversary.
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 – International Women's Day: Salesian Missions highlights educational programs that empower women and girls(ANS – New Rochelle) – Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco, joins humanitarian organizations and countries around the globe in celebrating International Women’s Day on March 8. The day honors the economic, political and social achievements of women while focusing the world’s attention on areas requiring further action.
MESSAGES OF THE RECTOR MAJOR
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WE ARE DON BOSCO TODAYTHE MESSAGE OF THE VICAR OF THE RECTOR MAJOR, Fr Stefano Martoglio, SDB
Dear friends and readers, members of the Salesian Family, for this month's greeting in the Salesian Bulletin I will focus on a very important event that the Salesian Congregation is holding presently: General Chapter XXIX. This assembly, the most important one that the Congregation can experience, occurs every six years along the Salesian Congregation’s journey.