NEWS PHOTOS
Goma, DR Congo – August 2024 – On 17 August, the Maison d 'Accueil Gahinja, under the direction of the Salesian Don Bosco Ngangi organisation, organised an educational outing for 50 street children. The event, made possible thanks to the financial support of the Don Bosco Mission Bonn, is part of a series of initiatives aimed at offering a better future to vulnerable unaccompanied minors at risk of social exclusion, while supporting families in difficulty. During the day, the children were involved in walks, dances and songs and then took part in the Eucharistic celebration presided over by Fr Dieudonné Sande Mutonkole, SDB, Director of the Don Bosco Ngangi Centre. An awareness-raising session was then held on "Individual, behavioural and social characteristics that promote resilience and family adaptation". Children were encouraged to consider the family as the ideal environment for their development, to cultivate parental love and acceptance. The day then ended with a fun game of volleyball and a meal shared between the children, a symbol of fraternity and solidarity.
Iauaretê, Brazil – August 2024 - On 16 August, the Salesian community of Iauaretê, in the state of Amazonas, in the far west of the country, on the border with Colombia, celebrated the feast of Don Bosco with the presence of the Regional Councillor Fr Gabriel Romero, as part of the extraordinary visit to the Province of Manaus. The Eucharistic celebration was attended by delegations from the ten communities of the parish, belonging to different ethnic groups in the area. Fr Wellington Abreu, the director and parish priest, and Fr José Reginaldo de Oliveira, Assistant Parish priest, concelebrated in the Holy Eucharist and the celebration was attended by the entire community of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians. During the celebration, the formation book of the Association of the Devotees of Mary Help of Christians was given to the members of the new group that is in formation. In the afternoon the representatives of the ten communities participated in the Salesian gymkhana in honour of our Father Don Bosco, organised by Salesian José Leandro Vieira. It was truly a Salesian celebration!
Lubumbashi, DR Congo – August 2024 – On 15 August, the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, 18 novices belonging to the Province of Central Africa (AFC) made their first religious profession during a celebration held at the Regina Mundi chapel of the Salesian work in Imara. Fr Guillermo Basañes, Superior of the AFC Province, welcomed the first professions inviting them, in the homily, to "always have recourse to Mary, who is the Help of Christians, as Don Bosco taught us". He then urged them to remain very close to the young, especially the weakest.
Costa Rica – August 2024 – In recent days, the Salesian Cooperators of the Interamerica Region have gathered virtually to take part in the third regional meeting. During the meeting, Sister Lucrecia Uribe, World Delegate of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians for the Association of Salesian Cooperators, and Martín Calderón, ASC World Councillor for the Region, also spoke. Many activities were planned during the day, such as Sister Uribe's conference on the significant presence of Mary and group work sessions to answer three questions: A word that defines your relationship with Mary? What gestures do you use to relate to Mary? What is your favourite Marian biblical quote? Videos were then shown on the life of three Salesian Cooperators on their way to the altars and on their relationship with Jesus and Mary: Nino Baglieri, Blessed Alexandrina Maria Da Costa and Vera Grita. Martín Calderón then closed the meeting – which involved 170 participants from 13 countries – encouraging everyone to let themselves be guided and accompanied by Mary Help of Christians.