For example, at the Salesian center “San Antonio Abad” (St. Anthony, the abbot) in Valencia, there are now eight new students—minors from the areas hardest hit by the flood—who are attending our school while waiting for their own school to return to normalcy. Meanwhile, at the “San Juan Bosco” center in Valencia, there are 35 temporary students, as the school is closer to the area most damaged by the DANA. In this way, the aim is to provide reassuring routines and habits to the children and young people, helping them find a sense of normality that can ease their minds. “The level of commitment from the families and the staff at the center is admirable, as they have made themselves available to meet the needs of the victims,” commented Noelia Soriano, Principal of the “San Antonio Abad” school.
Regarding financial aid, donations are being channeled through the accounts opened by Caritas at its Valencia headquarters.
The Young People Leading the Aid and Awareness Activities
At the same time, Salesian houses across Spain continue to commit to helping the areas affected by the DANA and raising awareness among young people and families about the importance of supporting and helping those in need.
Without interrupting regular activities, pastoral teams have proposed initiatives encouraging young people to take action to assist others who are going through very difficult situations.
Young volunteers are traveling to the most devastated areas to help clean mud off the streets, remove furniture and appliances that have been damaged, or distribute supplies to families who have lost everything. Organized by their youth center, the FISAT Foundation (which manages the Salesian social projects in the Valencia Community), or the Salesian youth ministry services, these young people dedicate their free time with a spirit of service and selflessness.
Solidarity with Valencia at Every Moment
The “San Juan Bosco” Salesian house in Valencia is being used as a collection point for necessary goods for needy families. José Antonio Chaveli, the Principal of the Salesian school, stated in a message to families: “Our pastoral community has always been supportive of the suffering people, and in this moment we have done so once again.” Since Friday, November 1st, with the help of the young people from the youth center, the Salesian house has been collecting goods to take to the “ground zero” – the epicenter of the disaster. In the coming days, students will continue to deposit needed items in the school’s lobby.
The “Good Morning” and Other Initiatives
In Ourense, the Salesians did not hesitate to interrupt classes to gather all the students and their families in front of the center to read a statement of support and request financial aid for their Valencian friends.
Salesian students from Alcalá de Guadaíra and Las Palmas also participated in moments of prayer, coming together to remember the victims of the Valencia disaster and their families. “We pray together for their peace and strength in this difficult time. May our faith and our prayers bring comfort and hope to those who need it most,” they said.
At the primary section of the Salesian school in Lugo, students took time for reflection and wrote letters of solidarity for the children of Valencia. Similarly, the younger children at the Salesian school in Atocha, Madrid, experienced a special Salesian “Good Morning” moment, sending a light of hope to the people living through difficult times right now.
Meanwhile, the Salesian school in La Línea de la Concepción organized a solidarity marathon event with the slogan “Participate, Run, and Help” for November 15th, aiming to support the most vulnerable people in Valencia who have been affected. The second edition of the “Don Bosco Solidarity Mile,” after the success of last year’s first edition, will once again take to the streets, inviting citizens to take part in a gesture of solidarity. Salesian students from Puertollano have also raised funds to collaborate with their local municipality in support of those affected.
Solidarity Chestnut Gatherings
The Salesians of Granada organized three days of goods collection at their center, which will be transported directly to Valencia by volunteers from the Salesian Brotherhood of Christ the Redeemer and Our Lady of Health, in collaboration with the Maria Auxiliadora Association of Zaidín and the local youth center.
Salesian centers in La Orotava, Cartagena, and Algeciras also joined the Caritas Valencia campaign, contributing their part. The center in Algeciras donated all the money raised during last weekend’s Mass, while solidarity collections have also been launched at the center in Jerez de la Frontera, by the young people of the “Carabela” youth association in Huelva, and by those at the “Porta Oberta” youth center in Burriana.
Similarly, in La Línea de la Concepción, the traditional autumn chestnut gathering, in memory of Don Bosco’s miracle, was an opportunity to collect food for Caritas Valencia.
In other Salesian centers, such as in Córdoba, Madrid, and Seville, students led moments of prayer for the eternal rest of the deceased so that the Lord and Our Lady Help of Christians comfort and support the survivors. More such prayer events are planned, including one on the evening of Friday, 8th November in Triana, where a fundraising campaign has also been launched.
Finally, it is worth noting that the Salesian Cooperators of the Spanish Provinces have encouraged their members to donate through Caritas to support those in need.
Source: Salesianos.info
