Frystak, Czech Republic - September 2017 - The visit of the Rector Major to the Czech Republic ended on September 29 at Frystak, at the Mother House of the Salesians, where the sons of Don Bosco first arrived 90 years ago. There, Fr Ángel Fernandez Artime met the directors of the Salesian Houses, as well as the Salesians of the Province, the Salesian Family and the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians. After the Rector Major's speech and subsequent sharing, the Eucharistic celebration took place, during which Fr Á.F. Artime emphasized the importance of fidelity to the Salesian Family and Don Bosco's charism. He also praised the work among the poorest of the young, and said, "Do not be afraid to take new steps in the future!"
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Lhanguene, Mozambique - September 2017 - On September 24, the Archbishop of Maputo, Msgr. Francisco Chimoio, presided over the presbytery ordination of Salesian Vicente Nhantumbo, in the presence of Fr Marco Biaggi, the Superior of Mozambique's Vice-Province.
Taipei, Taiwan - September 2017 - On September 16, a Formation Day was organized featuring various activities, and involved over 100 people from the Association of Salesian Cooperators (ASC), and friends from the five ASC centers in Taiwan.
San Salvador, El Salvador - September 2017 - The Educational Community of the Don Bosco University, led by Rector Mario Olmos, SDB, inaugurated the Career Development Center, a modern space that brings together various Salesian-style accompaniment programs, updated and expanded thanks to the support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), through its Higher Education Project for Economic Growth. The American management model aims at accompanying students, educators and students to developing, evaluating and implementing career, education and employment decisions.
Brno, Czech Republic - September 2017 - On 28 September, St. Wenceslas Day, the Rector Major, Fr Ángel Fernández Artime, chaired the celebrations in Brno for the 90th anniversary of the Salesian Czech Province, which was attended by 500 young people. In a festive atmosphere, with dances, performances and greeting from the oldest Bohemian Salesian (103 years), Fr Á.F. Artime encouraged the young to a Christian life in what is a highly secular and secularizing context, and to live a life full of enthusiasm and generosity to others, especially to those who are weakest, to migrants and to the marginalized. Later, during the Eucharistic celebration, the Rector Major also received the perpetual profession of two Czech Salesians, Jan Fojtu and Jakub Svanda.
(ANS - Bratislava) - There is only one day left to the solemn beatification of the Venerable Servant of God, Fr Titus Zeman. The liturgy will be presided over by Cardinal Angelo Amato, SDB, the Pope's representative and Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. Among other participants, there will be the Rector Major, Fr Ángel Fernández Artime, two of Fr Zeman's sisters, several nephews and nieces, friends and past pupils, as well as Fr Alois Pestun, 89, the last surviving member of the Salesian youths for whose vocation Fr Zeman pledged to save.