(ANS - Mumbai) - The Salesian Provincial Conference South Asia (SPCSA) convened its Assembly and Council at Bosco Provincial House, Matunga, Mumbai, from February 8th to 11th, 2024. This significant event brought together Provincials from India's 11 provinces and the Vice Province of Sri Lanka, Provincial Delegates, Network, and Dimension Heads, along with specially invited members, totalling 42 participants.
(ANS – New Delhi) – The General Councillor for the Missions, Fr Alfred Maravilla, was on an Animation Visit to Jesus the Good Shepherd Province of New Delhi (INN) from 7 to 12 February 2024. The INN Province was founded in 1997 and covers 11 states in northern India. Over 220 Salesians promote the integral development of countless young people, most of whom are followers of other religions, through schools, Vocational Training Centres, university institutions, boarding schools and centres for youth animation, for social services and for the emancipation and development of children at risk.
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam – February 2024 - At 1:20 p.m. on February 13, 2024, the Rector Major, Fr. Ángel Fernández Artime and the General Councilors arrived at the Tan San Nhat airport, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam where they were given a warm welcome by different representatives of the Salesian Family. Then they proceeded to the Provincial house of Don Bosco Viet Nam in HCM City, where they were also felicitated and welcome. Then the Rector Major and the General Councilors continued to move to the Retreat Center Don Bosco K'Long, Dalat, Lamdong (about 300 km from HCM City) to prepare for the Team Visit, which is scheduled to begin tomorrow. The Salesian family and young people are filled with enthusiasm and joy to welcome these Salesian Superiors and consider it a moment of grace and blessing for the Salesian Mission in Vietnam.
(ANS – Tirupattur) - In a display of grandeur befitting its prestigious legacy, the Sacred Heart College (Autonomous) celebrated its 73rd College Day. The event, held on February 10th, 2024, at the picturesque College Grounds, witnessed a convergence of students, faculty, esteemed guests, and cherished alumni.
(ANS – Lecco) – Giuliano Maresi and Serafino Ripamonti, two climbers from the "Ragni di Lecco" Rock School – who had participated in the inauguration of the exhibition on Fr Alberto Maria De Agostini promoted by the Salesian Historical Institute (ISS) in 2022 in Rome and in 2024 in Turin – could not help but bring the same exhibition to their city. The great Salesian missionary, the explorer of Patagonia, lies behind the privileged relationship that Lecco mountaineering and the red sweaters of the "Spiders" had and have with those mountains "at the end of the world". The occasion came with the beginning of the celebrations for the 50th anniversary of the conquest of Cerro Torre by the "Città di Lecco" expedition (1974) and the 150th anniversary of the foundation of the local section of the Italian Alpine Club (CAI - 1874).
(ANS – Corigliano d 'Otranto) – A socio-educational day centre called "Buona Stoffa" (good material) was recently opened in the Salesian work in Corigliano d 'Otranto. As Giovanna Coccioli, in charge of this work explains, "it aims to support families in education, accompanying children and young people from 6 to 18 years of age who are sent to us by the social services for an educational journey parallel to school, accompanying them in an after-school service and enabling them to study in a beautiful, welcoming context where attention is also paid to their health, with benches and ergonomic chairs."
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 – Artificial Intelligence, School, and Vocational Training: The Salesians of Italy at “Didacta” 2025(ANS – Florence) – The Salesian network for vocational training and education will participate in the “Didacta Fair” to discuss artificial intelligence, employment, business, and school education.
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.
