NEWS PHOTOS
San Salvador, El Salvador - December 2024 – Salvadoran Salesians Geovany Argueta and Roberto Henríquez were ordained to the priesthood on Saturday 14 December, in the parish of Mary Help of Christians. The ordaining prelate was Bishop Walter Guillén Soto, SDB, bishop of the diocese of Gracias, Honduras. Concelebrating was Fr Julio Navarro, SDB, Provincial of Central America (CAM), and Fr Rolando Echeverría, SDB, Rector of the Salesian Theologate. In addition, more than 25 Salesians of Don Bosco participated, including celebrants, Salesians in formation and Salesian brothers. Also present were the Sisters of the Divine Saviour (HDS), the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (FMA), family and friends from different countries in Central America.
Trai Gao, Vietnam – December 2024 – A solemn welcome and fervent exaltation were shown the Holy Cross, symbol of the 21st Youth Day in the Ecclesial Province of Hanoi. The Cross was delivered on 10 December to the parish of Trai Gao from the parish of An Lac, in the presence of Bishop Peter Nguyen Van De, SDB, Bishop Emeritus of Thái Bình, the Salesians, numerous religious and parishioners and, of course, many young people from the parish. Youth Day began with a brief historical excursus, followed by greetings and welcome to young people, invited to live and express the Catholic faith in life. The first day ended with an hour of prayer and adoration before the Cross. On 12 December the Cross was paraded throughout the parish, as a reminder that the Cross of Christ invites everyone to a spiritual conversion and urges everyone to be witnesses of the love that our Lord has offered for the salvation of the world.
Palermo, Italy – December 2024 - Don Bosco Ranchibile is hosting the travelling photographic exhibition entitled "Anne Frank: a current history" from 10 to 20 December. Produced and set up by the "Anne Frank House" association in Amsterdam, it arrived at the Salesian centre in Palermo thanks to the contact with the Honorary Consul of the Netherlands, Dr Emanuele Pirazzoli, and his invitation to participate in a project that involves selected students from four Palermo high schools: Regina Margherita, Gonzaga, Vittorio Emanuele II and Don Bosco. Before the exhibition, on 6 and 7 November 2024 six students attending the last year in various subjects at Don Bosco Ranchibile high school had a formative experience: two days of workshops in which students from other Palermo schools also took part, and during which tutors from the "Anne Frank Youth Network" (AFYN) association trained them as exhibition guides. The whole thing took place in an interactive way, through group activities and discussion, thoroughly analysing the historical context starting from the rise of the National Socialist party in Germany, and then focusing in particular on the life of Anne Frank, a young German Jewess and victim of the Holocaust. Despite the complexity of the topics covered, the tutors managed to fully involve the students, also teaching them how to assemble the entire exhibition, consisting of 34 panels. The exhibition is highly appreciated by the many visitors who arrive at the Salesian centre, many of whom are students from nearby schools who show a particular sensitivity to Anna's story and to the question of racial discrimination, unfortunately still current today.
Guatemala City, Guatemala – December 2024 - On Sunday 8 December, on the occasion of the feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, the Association of Salesian Cooperators (ASC) in Guatemala joyfully celebrated the promise of three new members of the Mama Margarita Centre. The ceremony took place in the Chapel of the Good Shepherd a the studentate of Philosophy in Guatemala City, and was presided over by Fr Marcelo Navarrete, head of Vocationl Animation in the Salesian Province of Central America (CAM). The promise was received by Carlos León Toledo, Provincial Councilor for ASC Ongoing Formation.