(ANS – Kotadeniyawa) – Missionary testimonies are the source of new missionary vocations. This is the experience of many Salesians. And this is also the experience of Faustin Bahati, a Congolese Salesian missionary in Sri Lanka: “When I was a student at the Salesian school, I read the story of the first Salesian missionaries in my country. Their testimonies appealed a lot to me. They have contributed greatly to the evangelization and the social life of my people. I felt inspired. I began to personally discern a missionary vocation in my own heart. I felt deep within me a call to Salesian life and, during my novitiate, I expressed my desire to be a missionary ad gentes, ad vitam”.
La Plata, Argentina - December 2017 - On December 15 the reopening of the Don Bosco theater of the "Sagrado Corazón de Jesús" school in La Plata was celebrated. After being closed for about 10 years, the local Salesian community, headed by Fr Francisco De Rito, decided to restore the theater. The inauguration took place with the staging of the opera "Don Bosco, the Musical" of the group "Ramos Mejía". Among many others, the Provincial of Argentina South, Fr Honorio Caucamán, was present.
Suva, Fiji Islands - 18 December 2017 - Over a hundred pupils from the Salesian "Don Bosco Sunday School" visited the nursing home of the Sisters of Nazareth to share the Spirit of Christmas with its elderly residents. During the visit, the students sang typical Christmas carols and brought elderly food and gifts to the elderly.
Toronto, Canada - December 2017 - On 10 December the Mary Help of Christians Center welcomed four new members to the Association of Salesian Cooperators (ASC) during the Eucharist presided over by Fr Mario Villaraza, SDB, director and parish priest of the San Benedetto parish. A number of Salesian Family members participated in the celebration. There are about a hundred Salesian Cooperators in Canada.
Rome, Italy - December 2017 - On December 17, about 80 members of the Salesian Congregation and of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians of the Africa and Madagascar Region gathered in the community of the Sacred Heart to celebrate Christmas. The day was organized by the students in Rome of the two regions CIVAM (SDB) and CIAM (FMA). Rector Major Fr Ángel Fernández Artime greeted the assembly inviting everyone to curate the Salesian identity and mission in Africa and to grow in the experience of the Salesian charism. The celebration included: the welcome of all participants, the presentations of two SDB and FMA Councilors, and the Eucharist presided over by Fr Américo Chaquisse, Councilor for the Africa and Madagascar Region, and concelebrated by Fr Guillermo Basañes, General Councilor for the Missions.
The Cañas, Chile - December 2017 - On 16 December four Salesians - Osvaldo Valenzuela, Eduard Rojas, Romedil Ilufí and Eduardo Oviedo - were ordained deacons by Msgr Cristián Roncagliolo, auxiliary bishop of the archdiocese of Santiago.