NEWS
(ANS – San Francisco) – The Church of Saints Peter and Paul in San Francisco, a building rich in history and very much part of the national popular culture, is entrusted to the pastoral care of the Salesians of Don Bosco in the St. Andrew Province of the Western United States. This coming weekend it will celebrate the centenary of its reconstruction, after its destruction in the great earthquake of 1906, and after so many years it continues, in its ordinary and extraordinary activities, to be a place where the Christian community can find a space for growth in faith and spirituality.
(ANS – Beirut) – In 2024, Lebanon was showing timid signs of reviving its economy after the previous 4 years of severe economic crisis that brought disastrous consequences for Human Rights and forced more than 80% of the population into poverty. However, on 1 October, the escalation of the war in the Middle East also involved Lebanon and the intensification of violence generated an unprecedented humanitarian emergency, with thousands of deaths and injuries and about 1.2 million people who had to leave their homes in a hurry in search of a safe haven.
(ANS – Campo Grande) – The Extraordinary Visitation by the Regional Councillor for America South Cone, Fr Gabriel Romero, to the St Alphonsus Liguori Province of Campo Grande, Brazil (BCG) continued between the last days of October and the first days of November. The events of the last week explored in particular the houses, social and missionary works in BCG.
PHOTO GALLERY
INTERVIEWS
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RMG – The missionaries of the 155th Salesian Missionary Expedition: Guy Roger Mutombo Mutshi, from the Vice-Province of Africa Congo Congo (ACC) to the Province of Southern Italy (IME)(ANS – Rome) – The final word from the new Salesian missionaries comes from Congolese Guy Roger, a missionary in the Province of Southern Italy. "My plans and dreams for my missionary life are to live in communion of spirit and action with my Salesian brothers in IME for the salvation of poor and abandoned young people, according to the heart of Don Bosco and to the greater glory of God".
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 - The reform of Technical and Vocational Education at the heart of the debate: a comparison on the development of the vocational chain and the 4+2 model(ANS - Rome) - Over 2.1 billion euro will be invested in 2023 for training and labour policies, of which 70%, 1.4 billion, will be earmarked for vocational training and 30%, 640 million, for active labour policies. These are the figures that will be presented next Thursday, 14 November 2024, at the ‘Sala Zuccari’ at Palazzo Giustiniani in Rome, during the annual seminar organised by the Centro Nazionale Opere Salesiane-Formazione e Aggiornamento Professionale (CNOS-FAP) and the PTSCLAS consultancy firm ‘on vocational training and employment policies.
SPECIAL REPORTS
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Ukraine – Youth Ministry in time of war: the gift of hope(ANS - Donetsk) - Today we conclude the journey of Bishop Maksym Ryabukha, Bishop of the Greek-Catholic Exarchate of Donetsk, in search of what the sad experience of war in Ukraine can teach Youth Ministry in other countries living in peaceful contexts. In this final contribution, the Salesian prelate delivers the last and final gift that remains and that is always worth bearing fruit: the gift of hope.
MESSAGES OF THE RECTOR MAJOR
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THE ROSE PATHTHE MESSAGE OF THE VICAR OF THE RECTOR MAJOR,
Fr Stefano Martoglio, SDB"How lucky Don Bosco is! His path is forever strewn with roses! He hasn't a worry in the world. No troubles at all!" But they couldn't see the thorns that were piercing my poor legs.” Nevertheless, I kept going. Every life is interwoven with thorns and roses as in Don Bosco's famous “Dream of the Roses and Thorns.” Hope is the force that keeps us going despite the thorns.