(ANS – Rome) – Last 4 July marked an unprecedented date in the 70-year history of the Salesians in Korea. Fr Guido Garino, SDB, General Secretary in Rome, sent an official document to the Provincial Superior, Fr Won-Cheol Choi, SDB, informing him that the Salesians of Mongolia had come under the jurisdiction of the Korean Province. A long and intensive process, which took several years and involved many different groups (Korea, Vietnam, the Mission Sector in Rome, etc.), had finally reached its goal.
(ANS – Rome) – Bova Marina is preparing to welcome the Rector Major of the Salesians: from Friday 2 to Sunday 4 August 2024, for the 125 years of presence of the Salesians in the locality, Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime will travel to the Calabrian town to meet young people, visit the places of the Servant of God Bishop Cognata and take part in the liturgical programme that will consecrate the town to Our Lady of the Sea.
(ANS – Rome) – 13 Salesians (11 priests and 2 brothers) met for the fourth In-depth Seminar on the Centrality of the Eucharist in the Salesian charism from 24 to 27 July 2024, at the Salesian San Tarcisio house in Rome, , starting from the writings and testimony of the Servant of God Vera Grita, Salesian Cooperator. The meeting, coordinated by Fr Pierluigi Cameroni, Postulator General for the Causes of Saints of the Salesian Family, concluded the online initiative to explore the 28th General Chapter of the Congregation "on the urgent need to make the ‘Da mihi animas, cetera tolle’ a reality in the proclamation of the Gospel", organised by the "Work of Living Tabernacles" Study Centre and the Conference of Salesian Provinces of Italy (CISI) Formation sector.
(ANS – Rome) – At the end of the General Council's summer plenary session, the Rector Major of the Salesians of Don Bosco, Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime, announced the theme of the Strenna for 2025, which will be entitled: "Anchored in hope, pilgrims with young people".
Vatican City, Vatican - July 2024 - Today, July 29, 2024, the Diocesan Inquest of the Servant of God Akash Bashir (June 22, 1994 - March 15, 2015), lay Salesian alumnus, was opened at the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints. Present - with Dr. Federico Favero of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints - were Fr Pierluigi Cameroni, Postulator General, and Fr Gabriel Cruz, Vice-Postulator of the Cause. The 4 envelopes of Transunto and Public Copy were presented, two in Urdu and two in English, and then the seals were broken, going through the General Index to verify the articulation of the structural parts of the Inquiry and dwelling in particular on the work of the Historical Commission. With the opening, the Proceedings can be divided and organized. They will then pass temporarily to the Typography, which will collate and bind them in blank, titling and numbering the volumes, as per the practice of the Dicastery. Thereafter, they will be made accessible to the competent Office, for it to study their legal validity: that is, the Dicastery will check that the fulfillments prescribed under the law have been carried out correctly and completely in the Diocesan Phase.
Jakarta, Indonesia - July 2024 - Taking advantage of the presence in Indonesia of Fr M.C. George Menamparampil, former Coordinator of Salesian Mission Offices, Fr Yohanes Boediraharjo, Economer of the Salesian st Louis Versiglia Vice-Province of Indonesia (INA), invited ten lay people, some of them Salesian Cooperators or Salesian Cooperators aspirants, to understand the nature of Salesian Mission Offices. The meeting was also attended by Fr Vincentius Prastowo, recently appointed Superior of the INA Vice-Province, and Fr Adie Prinanto. Fr Menamparampil spoke of the importance and work of the Salesian Mission Office: "By basing our work on the Word of God ‘I want mercy, not sacrifices’, we work for young people, especially the poorest. Our works must also be communicated to the general public so that it is possible to obtain greater support. And in addition to support from abroad, the Mission Office must also be able to obtain support from local benefactors."
PHOTO GALLERY
INTERVIEWS
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Italy – Fr Gildasio Mendes: "Salesians today promote justice, peace and solidarity through social communication"(ANS - Rome) – "Salesians today promote justice, peace and solidarity through social communication". This was stated by the Salesian Congregation's General Councillor for Social Communications, Fr Gildasio Mendes, during an interview conducted by Fr João Carlos Ribeiro and journalist Jocasta Pimentel from "FM Don Bosco" radio station in Fortaleza, in the Province of Recife, Btrazil (BRE), during a break in the "Shaping Tomorrow" World Congress held in Rome from 1 to 7 August 2024. Below is an extensive summary of the interview, the full audio of which was broadcast by the "Tempo de Paz" radio program and the full text of which is available in the Portuguese version of the article.
EDITORIAL
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Myanmar – Tragedy of Innocent Children in the midst of Armed Conflicts(ANS – Naypyidaw) - Myanmar finds itself immersed in profound grief and anguish as innocent lives, particularly those of children, continue to be mercilessly lost in the enduring armed conflicts. Families are left devastated by the tragic loss of their loved ones while the relentless violence shows no signs of abating. This week, a heartfelt plea from Myanmar reached our community, shedding light on the heart-wrenching death of a young girl Juliet in a military airstrike, prompting a unified call for prayers and action.
EVENTS
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Spain – 2024 Pastoral and Theological Updating(ANS – Santiago de Compostela) – The two Provinces of the Salesians of Don Bosco in Spain, Saint James the Greater (SSM) and Mary Help of Christians (SMX), are organising their Theological and Pastoral Updating meetings this year for the second part of July. This is an event that has become traditional, organised by the Formation Delegates of both Provinces, and aimed mainly at cultivating spirituality and ongoing formation among Salesians throughout the country.
SPECIAL REPORTS
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Peru – From dreams to jungle: a spiritual and cultural journey in the unknown Kuyuntsa(ANS - Kuyuntsa) – Several decades ago, young Salesian missionary Luis (Luigi) Bolla left his life in Italy, driven by an inner voice that called him to explore lands unknown to him, but known to God. "You will have to walk a long way, carrying my Word," said the mysterious character who would change the course of his life.
MESSAGES OF THE RECTOR MAJOR
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Between Admiration and PainTHE MESSAGE OF THE RECTOR MAJOR, Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime
I cordially greet all Don Bosco’s friends who come here with interest. Today, I greet you for the last time from this page. As of August 16, the day on which we commemorate Don Bosco’s birth (August 16, 1815), my service as Rector Major of the Salesians of Don Bosco ends. There’s always a reason to give thanks, always. Thank you! Thank you—to God, above all, to the Congregation and Salesian Family, to so many dear people, and to so many friends of Don Bosco’s charism, many of them benefactors.