(ANS – Lima) – "Now, in the name of God, let us the Peruvian edition of the Salesian Bulletin." With these words, printed 60 years ago, in March 1964 this bimonthly magazine was launched in the Andean country. Six decades later, it has established itself as the main vehicle for communicating Don Bosco’s work in the country and one of the most important magazines in the history of the contemporary Peruvian Church.
(ANS – Rundu) – Salesians in Rundu, Namibia, have a new house thanks to funding from Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. The house will directly benefit 11 Salesians, five of whom will be there full-time. The house will also benefit more than 5,000 people in the community who will be accessing youth programs and the parish.
(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.
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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Italy – Don Bosco’s Letters Return back to Valdocco, Turin!(ANS – Turin) – On Wednesday, April 2, 2025, the city of Turin, particularly Valdocco, will commemorate the publication of “The Letters of Don Bosco” (edited by Francesco Motto, Rome, LAS 1992-2024). Two distinct events will be held: one in the morning, open to the general public, and another in the evening, exclusively for Salesian family members and well wishers. These events will serve as a platform to highlight the significance of Don Bosco’s letters.
SPECIAL REPORTS
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United States – World Water Day: Salesian Missions highlights projects that ensure clean water for youth(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 World Water Day. Led by U.N.-Water, the organization that coordinates the United Nations’ work on water and sanitation, the day has been honored on March 22 every year since 1993.
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.
