NEWS PHOTOS
Ayagualo, El Salvador - July 2024 - The Provincial Salesianity Commission met from 23 to 25 July in Ayagualo, El Salvador, with the firm intention of strengthening the Salesian charism among the lay people in the works of the Divine Saviour Province of Central America. The meeting marked a significant step in the conception of the Salesian formation program at the provincial level, reaffirming the commitment to the education and integral formation of lay collaborators in the mission. This year, according to the guidelines of the Overall Province Plan (OPP) and the reflections of the Provincial Chapter, the Commission has restructured itself to reorganise and update formation courses in the presence of the Salesian community, with the aim of actually implementing them by 2025. In addition, the commission has established that the "Salesians Always" Program be reactivated, as an ongoing formation program, not only to instruct, but also to accompany all works at the local level, ensuring formation in Salesianity of the respective educative and pastoral communities.
Dimapur, India – August 2024 – On 3rd August, Rev. Fr. Joseph Pampackal, SDB, was installed as the 8th Provincial of the Salesian Province of Dimapur in the presence of Fr. Biju Michael, the Regional Superior for South East Asia. The Salesians, Salesian Family members, Religious from neighbouring communities, guests and well-wishers attended the installation ceremony. Fr. Nazarius Lakra, the outgoing Vice Provincial, welcomed the esteemed guests during the Holy Mass. Fr. Biju Michael presided over the Mass with four Salesian provincials, Bishop Emeritus Joseph Aind of the Diocese of Dibrugarh, and 90 priests. In his address, Fr. Joseph Pampackal expressed gratitude and pledged to meet the expectations of the Rector Major, the Congregation, and the Province. During the felicitation program hosted by Fr. T C Joseph, Fr. Biju Michael expressed gratitude to the outgoing Provincial, Fr. Jose Kuruvachira, SDB, for his effective leadership over the past six years. Fr. Jose Kuruvachira delivered a heartfelt farewell message, thanking everyone for the journey with him. Fr. James Mani, representing the batchmates of the new Provincial, spoke on the occasion. The event also featured the release of Fr. PX Andrew's book Echoes of Grace. The book celebrates the lives of some Salesians and their intellectual and spiritual contributions of the time.
Turin, Italy – August 2024 – The 2024 edition of Campobosco ended on Tuesday 6 August, bringing together over 600 young people from the Salesian Youth Movement in Spain and Portugal. The last act was the emotional Mass in the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians, the culmination of a week spent in full youthful joy and in the deepening of Salesian history in the footsteps of Don Bosco and Mother Mazzarello. Already on 5 August it had been a special day, with the participants coming from Colle Don Bosco, the birthplace of the Saint of the Young, and visiting Valdocco, the headquarters of his mission where they met with the Rector Major, Card. Ángel Fernández Artime, SDB In a warm and friendly atmosphere, the young people had the opportunity to ask him questions about his new service as Cardinal, his message for young people and his vision of the Salesian Youth Movement (SYM) in the world, and participated in the Eucharist he presided over in the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians.
Rome, Italy - 6 August 2024 - "Is the story that I want to tell is visually appealing? Can it give rise to debates? Can people be interested in it?": these are the three key questions for generating potentially viral digital content, according to Laura Wagner-Meyer, Head of Programmes at the South African media company "Seen TV", during her second talk at "Shaping Tomorrow", the World Social Communication Conference promoted by the Salesians of Don Bosco. During her talk, dedicated to "migrants and refugees in the context of communicating with young people through social media", she emphasized the need to use social media to go beyond the prejudices about migrants and refugees that traditional media often convey; and to do this effectively, she suggested combining the potential of mobile journalism and storytelling. Thanks to the filters and lenses of digital applications, as well as Augmented Reality or the services of Artificial Intelligence, it is possible to make viewers deeply empathize with what migrants and refugees are experiencing and thus arouse involvement, proximity and - ultimately - have a real impact, not only on a communicative but also on a social level.