NEWS PHOTOS
Sam Phran, Thailand - January 2025 - On 25 January 2025, more than 200 members of the Salesian Family joined the Salesian Family Spirituality Day, hosted by the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians [FMA] this year at Baan Than Phraphon, Sam Phran District, Nakhon Pathom Province. The main activity was to listen to the Strenna 2025 of the Rector Major, “Anchored In Hope, Pilgrims With Young People,” with Father Banchong Santisukniran as the resource speaker. Afterward, everyone joined the thanksgiving service, presided over by Father Boonlert Paneetatthayasai, the Salesian Provincial, together with the Salesian priests. During the ceremony, three new Salesian Cooperators, namely Mr. Michael Supanimit Jonlamonton, Mr. Sebastian Pathomkal Charoenrup, and Ms. Veronica Wiyada Songwantang, pledged to be active members of the Association. All three were warmly welcomed into the Salesian Family of Don Bosco. The activities and atmosphere throughout the day were filled with joy. Currently, Father Suphot Riewngam is responsible for the Salesian Family in Thailand. The 10 groups are now ready to walk together according to the 2025 Strenna: “ Anchored In Hope, Pilgrims With Young People.”
Gambella, Ethiopia - January 2025 - On 29 January, Don Bosco College’in Gambella proudly celebrated the graduation of 95 students, marking a significant step towards promoting the development and empowerment of young people and the community. The graduates, selected from Dima and Gog, attended a four-month course in agriculture, mobile maintenance, tailoring and hairdressing. The project was financed by the ‘Global Solidarity Forum’ (GSF) and implemented by ‘Mercy Corps’ in cooperation with the Salesian Institute's Vocational Training Centre. This initiative aimed to equip young people with essential skills for employment and entrepreneurship. Among the distinguished guests present at the ceremony were Mr Jini Zabakunzi from the GSF, Martha Fernandez from the Mercy Corps in Addis Ababa, officials from the Labour and Skills Office in Gambella, and representatives from the localities of Dima and Gog. The head of the COC agency also attended the ceremony, emphasising the importance of the event for the development of the region. One of the highlights of the project is the distribution of starter kits to graduates, which will now enable them to establish small cooperative groups and start income-generating activities. The provision of these kits is a strategic move to promote entrepreneurship, self-reliance and cooperative business models among young graduates. ‘This graduation ceremony reflects the impact of collaboration between global and local partners in building a brighter and more resilient future for the youth of Gambella,’ said Efren Umandal, SDB, Principal of the Salesian Technical Institute.
Kabwe, Zambia - January 2025 - On 29th January at the St Artemides Zatti Novitiate in Kabwe 28 novices from Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Zambia, R.D. Congo, South Africa and Lesotho, were guided through 9 sessions to acquire a full awareness of the Salesian consecrated vocation in its two forms: the Salesian Brother and the Salesian Priest. The novices were accompanied in discerning between the two forms of Salesian religious vocation, and learnt how to present the figure of the Salesian Brother to the youth and the laity of the local Church, getting to know better their formation, spirituality and mission. During the five-day workshop, the main guideline was the Salesian Constitutions: ‘... The significant and complementary presence of clerical and lay Salesians in the community constitutes an essential element of its constitution and its apostolic completeness’ (art. 45). Participants received a variety of inputs, such as the Ratio (ed. 2024) and the Criteria for Discerning the Signs of Both Forms (n. 780-781) in an interactive manner; an in-depth study of the figures of eminent Salesian Coadjutors, such as St Artemides Zatti, Blessed Istvan Sandor and Venerable Simaan Srugi; listening to some Salesian Brothers through the media, with quizzes based on the workshop themes. The workshop was conducted at the request of the Novice Director of the Zambia-Malawi-Zimbabwe (ZMB) Vice-Province, Fr Tresford Chisanga, SDB.
Bangkok, Thailand - January 2025 - From 22 to 24 January, the Salesian Province of Thailand (THA) Formation Commission, led by Fr Aaron Alcoseba, together with Fr Roel Soto and Fr Gerard Gigi Ravasco, organised the annual formation seminar at the Don Bosco Home, Krungthep Kreetha. The seminar was attended by seven Salesians who are in practical training and assigned to various Salesian communities in Thailand, Cambodia and Laos. Each day, the presenters offered formation both in the form of lectures and interspersed with activities on topics such as trust, listening, walking and empowerment. These were important to grow in maturity to be effective agents among the youth and to work with others. In the evening, the brothers practised listening to God's voice through silence and controlled breathing. On 24 January, the Salesians attending the seminar made a pilgrimage to the birthplace of Salesian works in Thailand: the Cathedral of the Nativity of Our Lady, in Bangnokkhuek, the newly erected Pasotti House for Spiritual Renewal’of the SIHM. They also visited the Cordis Jesu Seminary, the former formation house of the Ratchaburi diocese, where the first Salesian missionaries began their apostolic work. Fr Boonlert Paneetatthayasai, THA Provincial, presided at the Mass in the former chapel. The seminar energised each participant and provided an opportunity to reflect on their own experiences of Salesian mission in the various communities to which they belong.