Posted: September, 2007

Hope for Darfur

(Rome) - Darfur, a region situated in the west of Sudan, in the Sahara desert is the scene of one of the greatest human tragedies. In 2005, after nearly twenty years of civil war, peace agreements were signed but have not brought order to the country. The number of victims from this conflict has now reached two million, and there are nearly four million refugees living in dire poverty.

On September 14, 2007, at Castel Gandolfo, the Pope granted an audience to the President of Sudan, Omar Hassan Ahmed El-Bashir to diccuss the crisis. Benedict XVI appealed for an end to the suffering and the insecurity of the people in Darfur, trying to ensure humanitarian assistance, and the implementation of development projects. The crucial topics of human rights and religious freedom, with particular reference to the importance of dialogue and openness among the different religions, in particular Christians and Muslims, were at the center of the discussions.

The Pope underlined the fundamental contribution of the Catholic Church, which has been working in Sudan in the fields of humanitarian aid and education for years. During this time the Salesians have been playing a significant role in Sudan, and in collaboration with VIS, are carrying out various projects for assistance and development.

The Salesian missions are concentrated in the south of Sudan, at Tonj and Wau, and in the north at Khartoum, Nyala and El Obejd. The most important center of  Salesian activity is the city of Tonj, where about 700 children are benefitting from the construction of a new school where they will be assured of a good basic education. The Salesians have been addressing the problem of a serious lack of schools by building schools, training teachers, and providing vocational training courses.

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Posted: September 30, 2007

Perú – Seeds of hope among the ruins
(Chincha) – In just over a month after the earthquake that registered 8.2 on the Richter scale hit Perù, seeds of hope are beginning to grow.

The Bishops’ Conference of Peru has informed the country that about 17 colonial churches will need to be completely rebuilt and the damage caused to others is still being assessed. They note with sadness that the greatest number of victims was in Pisco where the collapse of the church caused over 200 deaths. At Chincha, the cathedral, a colonial church of the XVIII century, cannot be used; services are being held in the open air on the church steps. Many people were at mass in honor of Our Lady on the Feast of the Assumption where the earthquake struck.

Following the earthquake, the Salesians offered their help to the youngsters opening an oratory (youth center) in the area of Chincha Baja and Tambo de Mora, where the effects of the earthquake were most evident. Each week a group of 30 young people set out for the earthquake zone to run the oratory. About 500 youngsters and teenagers take part in the various educative, recreational and training activities.

Junnior, one of the young volunteers says: “It’s great to see the smiles on the faces of the children and youngsters as they take part in the games, activities and other things we put on for them. We are Salesians at heart and bring our love and cheerfulness to others.”

“At the beginning we were a bit afraid, as you would expect,” Marilin says, “but as the time passed and we played with the children doing what we could for them, I felt inside me what you might call a Salesian spark, and from then on it was another story.”

For further information or to send a contribution see the site http://www.salesianosperu.org/oratoriosur/pages/inicio.php

Posted: September 13, 2007

East Timor - Sorting out the confusion
(Dili) -  Accurate reporting is difficult during the best of times, and more difficult when alleged incidents happen in isolated areas and are widely reported in both the secular and Catholic press.  This is true with regard to to reports on an alleged intrusion into a Catholic convent identified first a Canossian convent (quickly denied), then a convent belonging to the Salesian Sisters in Baguia (also quickly denied).

Contrary to the reports, there is no convent or dormitory belonging to the Salesian Sisters in Baguia.  Their convent is in Laga, a Salesian parish, and all is well for them there, relatively speaking.  What is true about the reported incident is that a youth ehtered into the dormitory of an orphanage in Baguia, a mission outpost of the parish. He assaulted a girl aged 11, and the youth concerned is in police custody. The dormitory was supervized by lay collaborators who have built and maintained a number of orphages in various parts ofthe country. There are no resident members of either the SDBs or FMAs in Baguia.

The Salesian Sisters run an orphanage in Laga, as well as an orphanage and a professional school in Venilale.  These were unaffected directly by the unrest. The problem in Baguia, according to local sources, was that a mob had been roaming the streets and issuing threats for about three days.  The area is isolated and the power company turns off the power to the village at midnight. The darkness and the general disturbance led to one youth, presumed to be part of the mob, forcibly entering a dormitory with some 8 girls in it. One sees, then, how reports of gangs and 8 years old girls began to develop.

Angola – 4 Catechists and 1 Salesian die in an accident
(Luanda) The Vice Province of Angola is in mourning due to the sudden death of Bro. Francisco Ottolini, a Salesian Brother, and 4 mothers, all catechists, in a motor accident  on Saturday August 18, 2007. Two other catechists were injured and taken to hospital, where they are said to be out of danger, while another Salesian, Fr Roberto Musante, remains in a serious condition.

The group of missionaries, from the Salesian presence in Lixeira, Luanda, were journeying to Mussende village, when the accident happened.

The women who died, all belonged to San José de Nazaré parish and had been catechists for some time. They were traveling to the village of Mussende to offer help with the training of other catechists, something they did regularly. Bro Ottolini was a missionary from Argentina serving as the financial administrator at the Lixeira community.

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Sri Lanka – Child soldiers still an open wound
(Colombo) The number of child soldiers recruited by LTTE, the rebel group of the Tamil Tigers in the north of Sri Lanka, continues to grow.  The Minister for Tamil Social Services, Douglas Devanada, quoting credible sources stated that Tamil Tigers aim at recruiting about 60,000 youngsters in the north of the country.

The use of child soldiers is a plague that has  afflicted Sri Lanka for years, in the course of a civil war that has dragged on for over twenty years. The tragic nature of the situation is evident in the decreasing number of children attending school. Many children will not leave their homes to atend school for fear of falling into the hands of the rebel army.

The Salesian missions in Sri Lanka date from the late ’80s, when a rehabilitation center was opened in Colombo. At first it assisted child victims of pedophilia and children “at risk” who were taken off the streets. In recent years, at the request of the government, the Salesians have begun assiting in the rehabilitation of child soldiers with therapy and job skills training. Various centers have been opened for this purpose throughout the country and the number of youngsters being assisted is now quite large.

The work is quite complex since the youngsters are now over sixteen years of age but had been recruited as soldiers when they were just ten. As a result of this, many youngsters fail to finish the recovery program, and some are forced to return to the army in order to protect their families who would otherwise be victims of reprisals by the rebels. Some try to escape the rebels by moving to another part of the country, but poverty can hinder this.

India - New Salesian presence in Mangalore
(Shirva) Don Bosco`s dream of sending his Salesians to Mangalore is becoming a reality after more than 130 years.  The Salesians of Konkan Province have opened their 3rd ministry at Shirva in Udupi District in the Mangalore Diocese.  Situated close to Kelmbet, Shirva is the largest Parish in Udupi District with 900 families and was established over 400 years ago.

The faith of the people of Shirva was nurtured by the Goan Padroado Priests for many years.  The parish is dedicated to Our Lady of Health and Our Lady is fondly known as Saude Mai.  But even before the Salesians arrived in the parish, Don Bosco was there. The 100 year old upper primary school in Kannada is named after Don Bosco. An English Upper Primary School and a High School are named after Don Bosco.  And at the entrance of the school, there is an imposing of Don Bosco.

Fr. Valerian Pinto, a diocesan priest and the present Parish Priest of Shirva, sought to have the Salesians come to Shirva.  The dream materialized this year and a donated house was renovated and blessed on June 6th, 2007 to accommodate the Salesian Commnity when the Salesians finally arrived there.

A youth center has also been opened with two Salesians and 7 boys residing in the old bungalow of the Menezes family, the donors of the property. This new opening will eventually function as hostel for college boys and an aspirantate for the whole of Karnataka.  The Salesians are also engaged in pastoral ministry and youth work at Pilar and a Mass Center of Shirva Parish.

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