NEWS PHOTOS
Recife, Brazil - October 2024 - On Sunday, 6 October, the National Meeting of Salesian Novices was held in digital mode in the presence of Fr Sedney Manja and Fr Herison Leandro, Novice Directors. In addition to the 11 novices belonging to the various Salesian provinces in Brazil, three practical trainees also participated. The meeting was marked by spiritual depth, community life, the Salesian charism, the family spirit in Salesian houses, pastoral work and love for Don Bosco, with special emphasis on the message given by Fr Francisco Inácio, Superior of the Salesian Province of Recife , Brazil (BRE).
Tlazala, Mexico - September 2024 - The Salesian Leaders Formation Workshop (FAS), Level 1, was held at the Casa del Hombre Nuevo Salesian spirituality and retreat centre in the Mexico-Mexico Province (MEM), The course was organised by the Youth Ministry, Sector which is part of the reactivation of the ASMEM Programme (Salesian Animators of the Mexico-Mexico Province) aimed at young leaders in the works, providing a formation proposal through in-person workshops and bimonthly formation, in synchronous meetings that will be taught according to the new AS curriculum. From 27 to 29 September, various activities took place: dynamics of integration and knowledge among peers, appropriation of content such as ‘The Society for a Good Time’, or elements of ‘Salesian Youth Spirituality’, accompanied by moments of reflection and prayer, as well as creative and recreational activities in teams and groups whose objective was to generate friendship, trust, leadership and courage. The Mass of Thanksgiving of the Salesian Youth Movement, presided over by Fr Ignacio Ocampo, Superior of the MEM Province, was the context in which the young AS youth professed and signed their pledge, committing themselves to live in Christ, in the style of Don Bosco. Fr Ocampo and Fr Juan Aarón Cerezo Huerta, Provincial Delegate for Youth Ministry, handed over the crosses. The school was accompanied by several Salesians and members of the Salesian Family, Pastoral Agents and Pastoral Leaders from Salesian Colleges.
Krakow, Poland - 5 October 2024 – There have already been 20 years of activity for Ziemia Boga (Land of God). Although it is known to the outside world mainly as a theatre group, as some of them are involved, for example, in the performance of the Passion of Christ with young Salesians from the seminary, it is not just that: they consider themselves a Salesian community whose patron is St John Bosco himself. The Ziemia Boga community was founded 20 years ago at the Salesian Seminary in Krakow, under the wing of the Salesians of this city. It is made up of students, past pupils, workers, job seekers and families. Its main task is evangelisation. This task is carried out mainly through theatre, but not only. The members of the community are guided by two fundamental principles: responsibility and the renunciation of mediocrity.
Caracas, Venezuela - October 2024 - On 7 and 8 October, the Salesian Provincial House in Venezuela (VEN) was the scene of a significant meeting of those responsible for Salesian pastoral work, convened with the aim of evaluating, reflecting and projecting pastoral work in the various Salesian works. This event was animated by the Provincial Delegate for Salesian Youth Ministry, Fr Jorge Bastidas, who offered an opportunity for dialogue and in-depth study of the current situation in the country and its impact on pastoral activity. The central objective of the meeting was to unite Salesian pastoral agents to address the evaluation and planning of pastoral activity, in line with the guidelines established in the Salesian Educative and Pastoral Plan (SEPP) and the Sectoral Operational Plan (POS) 2019-2025. During the work, there was a deep reflection on the meaning of pastoral care, as well as an assessment of its scope and application in Salesian works. The most relevant aspects of the meeting were: formal presentation of the sector and service delegates to those responsible for pastoral animation, strengthening and promoting collaborative work; identification of the challenges arising from the current situation of the country, adapting pastoral strategies to a changing context; specific moments were dedicated to deepening the challenges from a spiritual perspective, looking for indications in the biblical teachings to orient pastoral action. The meeting offered an opportunity for evaluation and reflection on the work done, reaffirming the unwavering commitment of those responsible for pastoral care to the Salesian mission.