NEWS PHOTOS
Pordenone, Italy - September 2024 - On Saturday 28th September, at the Don Bosco College in Pordenone, a solemn celebration took place in which Antonino Mazara, SDB, and Sister Federica Zof, FMA, made their Perpetual Profession, promising to consecrate their lives definitively to God and to the service of the Salesian mission. The guiding phrase of the celebration, taken from the Gospel of Matthew, was "Give them something to eat" (Mt 14:16), an invitation to make themselves bread broken for their neighbour, in the logic of gift and service. The celebration was attended by some 600 people from all over the Triveneto region, testifying to an atmosphere of joy and fraternity. The rite was presided over by Fr Silvio Zanchetta, Superior of the Province of North-East Italy (INE), who, during his homily, emphasized the importance of friendship and the gift of self. The celebration then continued into the evening with a valuable show on the life of Don Bosco staged by the young people of the Chioggia Oratory.
Mumbai, India – September 2024 – The Don Bosco Technical Commission continues to be a driving force in vocational education, producing over 30,000 qualified workers per year: it is the largest private organisation in India, after the government, in this field. This impressive feat was achieved thanks to the combined efforts of the Salesian Technical Institutes (ITI) and the short-term courses offered by DB Tech. To strengthen and advance this mission, heads of technical centres across India gathered in Mumbai from 27 to 30 September for intensive study, reflection and strategic planning. The event was attended by a total of 33 people, including 27 ITI managers and several institutional managers. The meeting, hosted by the Salesian Province of Mumbai,India, was led by Fr George Mathew, under the guidance of Fr Davis Maniparamben John, Superior of the Province of New Delhi. In the early days of the event, participants took part in in-depth sessions and visits, such as those to the renowned Don Bosco Technical Centre in Kurla, a centre of excellence that offers a diverse range of courses, and to the Godrej"production centre. The second day was also attended by Fr Savio Silveira, INB Provincial, who together with Fr Davis started the daily sessions focused on the impact of technology on vocational training and the new educational policy. The last day of the summit was dedicated to strategic planning, a fundamental step in shaping the future of vocational education. In conclusion, Fr Davis encouraged the Commission to continue its work, ensuring that Salesian centres remain at the forefront of the workforce revolution in India.
Quito,Ecuador– October 2024 – As part of the Animation visit he is making to the Salesian Province of Ecuador, Fr Ricardo Campoli, a member of the Social Communication Sector at Salesian Headquarters and Reference person for the Interamerica and America South Cone Regions, greeted the Provincial Council on Wednesday, 2 October. Later he held a meeting with members of the Provincial Commission for Social Communication (CICS) and the Publishers Coordination group. Fr Campoli spoke of the importance of the Provincial Social Communication Plan (PICS) in pastoral activity. In the following days, Fr Campoli was involved in a zone meeting of young communicators held in Quito, together with Fr Marcelo Farfán, ECU Provincial. Representatives of the Salesian Don Bosco-de la Kennedy Technical School and the Salesian Cardinal Spellman Educational Units and Don Bosco-La Tola shared their work in communication and actively participated in this animation and formation event. Fr Campoli shared his vocational experience and highlighted the importance of the communication network in America, also giving valuable advice on how to strengthen their communication work.
Mandalay, Myanmar - 3 October 2024 - There is a Salesian community in the city of Mandalay, northern Myanmar, that warmly welcomes young people and now cares for 52 street children with fatherly love. Needless to say, all these children have come to the centre for different reasons, each of them with a very sad story behind them. Some have already lost both parents, or are orphans of one of them. The Salesians, under the leadership of Director Fr Raphael Thu Rein Oo, SDB, provide these children with a shelter to stay, food to survive on, a school to study in and, above all, a home/family to belong to. For their integral development, the Salesian community makes them study in a nearby public school run by Buddhist monks. On weekends, the children attend educational classes, general culture, catechesis, basic English music and traditional prayers. They also have daily mass, the rosary and the traditional Salesian 'good night'. "The children are very happy and feel at home at the centre. Some openly and sincerely express that they no longer want to leave. How proud we Salesians are when our centre is a festive oratory for young people in need," say the Salesians of the Mandalay community.