(ANS – Ljubljana) – The Salesian Cardinal Giovanni Cagliero 100 years ago, at the consecration of the church of Mary Help of Christians in Rakovnik Ljubljana, said, "Slovenes, you are the nation of Mary. If you venerate Mary, you will have nothing to fear!". On the occasion of the centenary of this event on 25 May 2024, Rakovnik's work received the visit of Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime, Rector Major of the Salesians, who, in addition, blessed the restored church, installed the new Salesian Provincial, blessed the new statue of Don Bosco and met with the Salesian Family and friends of Don Bosco in Slovenia.
(ANS – Rome) – Keeping up the promise he made on 17 December 2023, when he took possession of the diaconate of Santa Maria Ausiliatrice on Via Tuscolana assigned to him by Pope Francis, the Rector Major of the Salesians and Titular Archbishop of Ursona, Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime, celebrated the Feast of Mary Help of Christians 2024 in the church he is responsible for.
(ANS – Rome) – Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime will spend his last Feast of Mary Help of Christians as Rector Major of the Salesians of Don Bosco in the city that has been his home – apart from his many trips – in the last 10 years: Rome. The 10th Successor of Don Bosco will preside over the solemn festive Eucharist at 6 pm (UTC+2) at the Salesian Basilica of Mary Help of Christians in Via Tuscolana, the church which the Holy Father Francis, on 30 September 2023, assigned him as his cardinalate.
(ANS - Turin) - On the afternoon of Wednesday, May 22, the eve of the Feast of Mary Help of Christians, the Don Bosco House Museum in Turin-Valdocco inaugurated a temporary exhibition on Don Bosco's 9-Year Dream. The ceremony featured Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime, Rector Major of the Salesians, and participants from the World Consultation of the Salesian Family, along with other prominent Salesian figures and cultural personalities.
Fatima, Portugal – May 2024 – It was in a festive atmosphere that the young people of the Salesian Youth Movement (SYM) of Portugal welcomed Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime, Rector Major of the Salesians of Don Bosco, on the occasion of the SYM meeting that took place on 18 May in Fatima. Hundreds of young people gathered in the auditorium of the Paul VI Pastoral Centre and celebrated St John Bosco's childhood dream with the Rector Major. "Let's advance in the dream" was the title of the show "Art and Faith" that the SYM from the different schools and settings of the Salesians and the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians brought to the stage. This year the SYm celebration had the special presence of the Rector Major, who was in Fatima to preside over the Pilgrimage of the Salesian Family. The words of Jesus and Mary, Mother and Teacher of the young John Bosco, were the inspiration for young people to reflect on their lives, their experiences, their learning and even their problems. The audience, guided by the voices and choreographies of the young people, retraced the night of the prophetic dream that St John Bosco had as a nine-year-old.
(ANS – Fatima) – The 72nd National Pilgrimage of the Salesian Family to Fatima began in the Chapel of the Apparitions at the Shrine, with a first greeting to Our Lady. In the presence of the Rector Major of the Salesians, Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime, the Salesian Family renewed its devotion to Mary, Mother of the Church, Teacher of St John Bosco and leader of the Salesian Congregation.
PHOTO GALLERY
INTERVIEWS
-
RMG – Fr Gildasio Mendes, General Councillor for Social Communication, talks about his two new books on Don Bosco(ANS – Rome) – At the end of the International “Shaping Tomorrow” Communication Conference (Rome, 1-7 August 2024), the General Councillor for Social Communication, Fr Gildasio Mendes, publicly presented his most recent two literary works, both dedicated to Don Bosco and motivated by the bicentenary of the latter’s famous Dream at Nine Years of Age. They are As seeing him who is invisible and Parallels 15 and 20. Today he shows us in detail the meaning and perspectives of the two books.
EDITORIAL
-
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
-
Italy – The chapel of the relics at the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians in Turin celebrates 90 years and celebrates them with an exhibition on the Shroud(ANS – Turin) – Again this year, on 14 September, on the occasion of the liturgical feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross and the day of the Opening of the Crypt, the Shrine of Mary Help of Christians in Turin hosted an evening dedicated to the Shroud,, as part of the "Culture in the Basilica" exhibition, entitled "The Shroud: witness of great love".
SPECIAL REPORTS
-
RMG – 100 years of Salesian holiness in the shadow of Mary: 8 September 2024 in Slovenia and Slovakia(ANS – Rome) – Don Bosco was a great lover of Our Lady and the "thread" of her strong and discreet presence as a mother, teacher and helper, never failed for each of her children. It is therefore not surprising that so much Salesian holiness is also interwoven with very deep bonds with Mary: every Servant of God, every Blessed and Saint of the Salesian Family has a special, sometimes all-encompassing bond with her, as it was for Fr Silvio Galli, SDB, or Sister Antonietta Böhm, FMA. This 2024 is also marked by two anniversaries directly connected to some figures of Salesian holiness: those of the Shrine of Mary Help of Christians in Raknovik, Ljubljana, consecrated on 8 September 1924, and that of the arrival in 1924 of the Salesians at the national Marian Shrine in Šaštín, Slovakia, dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows.
MESSAGES OF THE RECTOR MAJOR
-
On WINGS of HOPETHE MESSAGE OF THE VICAR OF THE RECTOR MAJOR, Father Stefano Martoglio
While continuing my service as Vicar in the coming months, quietly, very simply, and completely in continuity, I’ll replace the Rector Major in leading the Congregation to the General Chapter, the 29th, in February 2025.