Shillong, India – July 2024 – In a solemn ceremony, 22 clerics were ordained deacons on 1 July, during a Mass celebrated at the Sacred Heart Theologate in Mawlai. Bishop Joseph Aind, SDB, Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Dibrugarh, was the ordaining prelate. Present at the celebration was Fr John Zosiama, Superior of the Salesian Province of Shillong, India (INS), the Vice-Provincials of the provinces of Shillong, Guwahati and Dimapur, rectors, professors and confessors, students of theology and families of the ordinands.
Santa Tecla, El Salvador - 1942 - This photograph, dating from 1942, shows a group of students, school staff and Salesians from the Salesian Institute of Santa Cecilia, in the Salvadoran city of Santa Tecla. It is, specifically, the Arts and Crafts section. The picture, as the inscription reads, was taken on 8 December, on the feast day of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This and other images tracing the Salesian history of El Salvador are available on the Flickr profile of the Salesian Bulletin of Central America.
(ANS – Rome) – The Salesian Youth Ministry Sector has just published an updated and significantly expanded edition of the Vocational Training Centre section of the Youth Ministry Framework (2014), which traces the path of reflection and practice of recent years in the Salesian Congregation around the relevance, identity and educative and pastoral work of these Salesian presences. The effort of the Sector, through the different continental coordinators of Don Bosco Tech and their teams, consisted of collecting what they have shared in many meetings of reflection and sharing during the last two years.
Goma, DR Congo – June 2024 - Salesians from the St Joseph Delegation of the AFC-EST celebrated the Feast of Gratitude around the Provincial Superior of Central Africa (AFC), Fr Guillermo Basañes, on Sunday 30 June in Goma. In the Mamma Margaret house, the headquarters of the Delegation, the highlights were the Eucharist, presided over by Fr Basañes and concelebrated by Fr Pascual Chávez, Rector Major Emeritus; the reading of the words addressed to the Provincial, the anniversaries of ordination and profession of some Salesians and finally the sharing of a fraternal meal. In the coming days Fr Chávez will lead the annual retreat for the Salesians of the AFC-EST Delegation.
(ANS – San Salvatore Monferrato) – Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime, Rector Major of the Salesians of Don Bosco, on Sunday, 30 June 2024, was in San Salvatore Monferrato in the diocese of Casale Monferrato, in Piedmont, to remember Salesian Father Carlo Evasio Cavalli, a native of the town of Monferrato, who was the spiritual father of Salesian Brother Artemides Zatti, proclaimed a saint on 9 October 2022. On the occasion, the 10th Successor of Don Bosco, and since last April 20 also Titular Archbishop of Ursona, led a rich program of activities culminating in the dedication of the Via Crucis Way to Saint Artemides Zatti located at the Shrine of the Madonna del Pozzo.
Addlestone, Great Britain – June 2024 – Salesian Makuochukwu Malachy Okeke made his Perpetual Profession on 23 June at the church of the Holy Family in Addlestone. The celebration was presided over by Fr Gerry Briody, Superior of the Province of Great Britain (GBR) and involved a large number of faithful and parishioners. The Mass was also streamed so that the Salesian's family, friends and confreres, belonging to ANN Province could follow him from Nigeria.
PHOTO GALLERY
INTERVIEWS
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Portugal – Interview with the Rector Major of the Salesians, Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime(ANS – Fatima) - During his visit to Portugal for the National Day of the Salesian Youth Movement and the Pilgrimage of the Salesian Family to Fatima, Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime, Rector Major of the Salesian Congregation, gave a brief interview to the Salesians in Portugal, in which he talks about the importance of young people in the Salesian charism, the current challenges of the Congregation and its prospects for the future.
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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Italy – Study conference: "The lengthy term of governance of an educational institute 1881-1924"(ANS – Rome) – A study conference called "The lengthy term of governance of an Educational Institute 1881-1924" was held in Rome at the General House of the Sisters. It was promoted by the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (FMA) and the "Auxilium" FMA Study Centre of the Pontifical Faculty of Educational Sciences, on Saturday, 8 June 2024, aimed at exploring the figure of Mother Catherine Daghero (1856-1924), FMA. A figure of great importance and significance for the FMA Institute – of which she was Mother General for 43 years, from the age of 25 until her death – but little known within the Salesian Family itself.
SPECIAL REPORTS
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United States - World Youth Skills Day: Salesian Missions highlights educational initiatives(ANS – New Rochelle) - Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco, joins humanitarian organizations and the international community in celebrating World Youth Skills Day, celebrated on July 15 each year since 2014. The United Nations designated the day as a way to bring greater awareness of the importance of technical and vocational education and training, as well as the development of other skills relevant to both local and global economies.
MESSAGES OF THE RECTOR MAJOR
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WHEN AN EDUCATOR TOUCHES HIS CHILDREN’S HEART— OR THE ART OF BEING LIKE DON BOSCOTHE MESSAGE OF THE RECTOR MAJOR, Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime
The art of being like Don Bosco: “Remember that education is a matter of the heart, of which God alone is the master, and that we can achieve nothing unless God teaches us the art and hands us the key” (The Biographical Memoirs of Saint John Bosco, XVI, 376).