(ANS - Rio Negro) - One of the most important activities of the Salesian mission is the work of the oratories. Although the oratories were founded by St Philip Neri (1515-1595) in Rome, Italy, one might say that Don Bosco was a great reformer and supporter of the oratories, giving them a new form, but keeping the same pastoral educational objectives: to evangelize by educating and educate by evangelizing, which is another way of saying: "to form good Christians and honest citizens".

(ANS - Guadalajara) - The Gospel tells us that a leper once approached Jesus and pleaded on his knees: "If you want to, you can heal me." Jesus felt compassion, put forth his hand and touched him, saying, "I want to!" (cf. Mk 1, 40). Often we would like to do today as Jesus did: "Are you hungry? Here is some food!" "Are you thirsty? Drink this!" But you may ask, where will we get what it takes to feed the hungry and clothe the poor, if we have not got it? The answer comes from a group of teenagers who were moved by the words of Pope Francis and decided to do a work of mercy.

(ANS - Freetown) - Here is a story of life and faith that deserves to be shared in this year of mercy. It is best to start with a few lines of St. Teresa of Avila, mystic and Doctor of the Church: "God has no body on earth but yours. He has no hands but yours. He has no feet but yours. Yours are the eyes through which the compassion of God looks at the world. Yours are the feet with which he walks when he goes out to do good. Yours are the hands he uses now to bless us."