Posted: November 11, 2007

Solomon Islands --Importance for rural training centers raised
Two prominent Catholic Church visitors to the Solomon Islands have emphasized the importance of developing rural training centers. Christina Reymer , the Director of Mahitahi, a Catholic volunteer organization in New Zealand, and Br. Michael Lynch , S.D.B., the Head of the Australian Salesian Missions Office raised this point during their recent visit. Ms. Reymer and Br. Lynch were among hundreds of international visitors invited for the episcopal ordination of Bishop Luciano Capelli at the end of October in Gizo.

Ms. Reymer and Br. Lynch had the opportunity to visit Tetere Rural Training Centre and Don Bosco Training Institute at Henderson. During their visit to the Tetere Rural Training Center, Ms. Reymer said rural training centers are the essence for growth and development in the villages. She said that volunteers from Mahitahi are engaged in rural training centers on Guadalcanal Province. She said her organization is pleased to support the work of rural training centers in the Solomon Islands.

Br. Lynch told Don Bosco students that hard work is the ingredient fro success in any field.

"The great footballers and the champion athletes master their craft and then practice, practice, practice," he said.

South Africa – Reagola helps the Salesians with IT aid
Re a gola is a Tswana term meaning "we are growing". It is pronounced Re ah ghola.

Reagola strives to become a world leader in IT infrastructure support by developing its people to their full potential and by creating an environment that encourages growth, flexibility and excellence through leadership, transparency and a clear strategic direction with tangible goals

Reagola supports the Salesians in South Africa and has donated computers to this NGO. In 2006, Reagola partnered with the Salesians to provide a Christmas party for the street children of Cape Town. It has also employed a number of people who graduated from the Salesian training programs.

Reagola has committed to developing the youth of South Africa by sponsoring local sports clubs and youth programs. Sport by its very nature encourages teamwork and discipline, thereby minimizing the potential for unsocial behavior. The Salesians are honored to be partners with them in this important work.

India -- KHUSHIYON SE BHARA: Celebration for street children

Mumbai, India Don Bosco High School Campus, at Matunga, Mumbai, India was the host to over 5000 cheerful and exuberant street children November 3 -4, 2007, at the Diwali Mela organized by Shelter Don Bosco, Wadala, Mumbai. The theme for this year`s Mela was: Celebrating Childhood.

The event spread featured games; movies; cultural activities such as puppet shows, folk dances, tribal dances; street plays on various social issues, mimicry, circus acts and various performances by the children themselves; social activities like medical health checks, counseling and various other awareness programs; creative activities such as pottery, glass painting, and block printing. These activities provided the roofless and rootless, disadvantaged children of Mumbai, a platform to regain their lost childhood; to relax, rejuvenate and rediscover the little joys of life. Staff also sought to document the street children`s expectations and hopes.

Beginning with a solemn prayer dance and lighting of the lamp, the entire event progressed with escalating enthusiasm. Mr. Michael Owen, the American Consul General in Mumbai presided at the inaugural ceremony. Mr. Owen and his wife visited the various stalls and participated in some of the activities. They were amazed at the energy of the children, and the enthusiasm of the volunteers. They commended the Salesians for making a difference to the lives of the underprivileged. The second day of the Mela was jointly inaugurated by the Archbishop of Mumbai, and Cardinal designate, Oswald Gracias and Fr. Ivo Coelho, the Salesian Provincial of Mumbai. Archbishop Oswald said, ``The love of these children coming to me so warmly, brings tears to my eyes, they don`t have much, but the love they have they give it all``. In his own capacity he said that he would ensure that they would always be supported and encouraged to live life fully and become contributive citizens to the society.

The Mela was indeed a huge success with over three hundred volunteers, social workers, numerous well-wishers, benefactors, Salesians and support staff of Shelter Don Bosco who were behind the success of the event. The children who participated in the Mela were touched by the love and affection of the hosts since they are often forgotten and marginalized children. It was truly an event which lifted up many a dejected heart.

If you wish to know more or want to reach out and touch young rejected lives then look up http://shelterdonbosco.org.

Posted: November 9, 2007

Pakistan – The reaction of the Salesians to the state of emergency
(Lahore) – A letter sent to the ANS editor's office reports the reaction of the Salesian community in Lahore when the emergency that has affected Pakistan and the International community began.

On Saturday evening, Nov. 3, 2007, while the youngsters of the Don Bosco Technical and Youth Center were watching television and the Salesians busy preparing for the coming week, the break in communications caught everyone by surprise. The only source of information was the computer. The Salesians asked the youngsters not to go out after the Sunday Mass next day. A visit from Bro. Michael Lynch, S.D.B. from the Australian Salesian Mission Office was about to make was cancelled and the German Inspection Team from Misereor returned home immediately.

While the state of emergency continues and some schools did not reopen on Monday, the Salesans continued classes as normal and requested the students to concentrate on their studies.

The Salesians hope that order and security will shortly return to normal.

Argentina – Salesian school damaged in a storm
(Rosario) – On the afternoon of October 26, 2007 a new atmospheric disturbance struck Rosario, Argentina, causing damage in various parts of the city. The 1027 Luisa María de Olguín School, in the Ludueña district run by the Salesians, suffered damage.

The winds, similar to those of last year - also in November, hit the city bringing down trees, flooding the streets and lifting tiles from the roofs. Masts and dishes were also brought down causing interruptions to radio and television transmissions and putting the telphones out of use.

The roof of several classrooms in the Salesian school was torn off by the wind. The Salesian Province of Rosario has begun organising the collection of funds to respond to the immediate needs.

Ukraine – Happy holidays with God
(Vynnyky) – On Saturday November 3, 2007, the first youth activity organised by the Salesians in the newly erected community in Vynnyky, a city not far from Lviv, ended.

Begun on October 29th, the memorial of Blessed Michael Rua, the event involved about sixty youngsters from Vynnyky gathered at the Salesian house to spend part of their autumn holidays in a constructive way. Called Happy Holidays with God, the week's theme was Jesus is waiting for you.

The Salesians arrived in Vynnyky in August, 2007 and began their educational-pastoral activities in collaboration with the parishes in the city. There are 3 professed Salesians in the community which has the prenovitiate and a youth center. The Happy Holidays with God project was undertaken by the community in collaboratin with the first 4 prenovices already in the house.

Posted: November 7, 2007

India – The missionary Church of Kerala: the importance of lay missionaries
(Cochin) –September 21-22, 2007 a conference  on Youth, their Mission in the Church was held at the Renewal Center at Cochin, in the State of Kerala.  The event organised and promoted by the Salesians in the India-Bangalore Province (INK).

The conference was coordinated by Fr. Joe Fernandez, S.D.B., the Vice Provincial and the opening session was led by Bishop James Pazhayattil, of Irinjalakuda. It was the first time that a conference of this type brought together the Directors of Youth Ministry, the Directors of Sunday Schools and  the state leaders of AICUF ( All Indian Catholic University Federation ), CLC ( Christian Living Communities), Jesus Youth, CML (Catholic Mission League), and  KCYM ( Kerala Catholic Youth Movement).

The conference successfully initiated a culture of net-working  among all the youth organizations in the dioceses. The final statement gives practical guidelines in making the Church in Kerala, a missionary Church, one with the focus on creating young missionaries inspired with great zeal.

Switzerland – The rights of children and adolescents
(Geneva) – On Friday, September 21, 2007 the United Nations Committee for Childrens’ Rights of the High Commisssion of the United Nations for Human Rights held a one day discussion in UN Headquarters in Geneva. The study examined one of the articles/rights of the New York Convention. A Salesian inspired NGO, VIS  (International Voluntary Service for Development ) was one of the 4 members of the  Italian NGO Delegation.

The day was devoted to the study of article 4: Allocation of resources for the rights of the child – responsibility of States.  This is linked to the Convention on the Rights of Children.

Sudan – The first rural school built in southern Sudan
(Bobcock) – The first of ten rural schools as part of the plan to relaunch the educational system and bring new life to southern Sudan has been opened in Bobcock, a village about five miles from Tonj. The program for building schools in the region was begun in 2006 led by the Salesians of Don Bosco and their lay collaborators in VIS.

The bureaucratic, administrative, and logistical complications, interrupted communications and the difficulty of getting supplies from Kenya and Uganda did not put the Salesians off. In spite of the rains that have been devastating the south of the country,the building of the school was not interrupted. Bobcock is the closest village to Tonj, and the only one so far that could be reached.

Thanks to the contributions of the Italian Bishops’ Conference (CEI), the Sudan Campaign, the Region of Lombardy (Italy) and the support of the Don Bosco Network Southern Sudan has not been abandoned to itself: youngsters, adolescents and the adults as well have the chance to take up again the studies interrupted for many long years, and this way start to build their own future again.

Bolivia –Parliament confers on the Salesians the “Bandera de Oro”
(Cochabamba) – On October 12, 2007, in Cochabamba, the Salesians of  Bolivia received the Bandera de Oro (Golden Banner), conferred by the Senate, “in recognition of their outstanding commitment and contribution to education and to communications in Bolivia.”

The medal, approved unanimously by the members of Parliament, was presented by  the Senator Dr. Gastón Cornejo Bascopé and accepted by Fr. Juan Pablo Zabala, S.D.B., Provincial of the Salesians in Bolivia.

In his address, Senator Cornejo pointed out the educational, social and pastoral efforts that the Salesians had made in the country for over a hundred years. Their contribution to education and communications was also highlighted. In his reply Fr Zabala thanked the Congress and Government for this award and reaffirmed the vocation of the Salesian Congregation to service on behalf of the young in need.

The Amanecer Foundation also honored the Sisters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul with the Silver Banner.

2007 - Germany – Representation - Unity in Diversity
( Benediktbeurn) – October 11-14, 2007  the Aktionszentrum Center in Benediktbeurn, Germany, hosted a Seminar entitled: Representation - Unity in Diversity, organized by the Don Bosco Youth Net (DBYN).

Representatives from Salesian Youth Organisations in 12 European countries : Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, Malta, Holland, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and the United Kingdom took part in the meetings.

Among the initiatives organised by the DBYN and are the product of this kind of meeting are Eurizon and various voluntary service projects, including lay missionary commitments. The next meeting of DBYN will be in March, 2008 in Toledo, Spain.

The publication, in Spanish, of Fr Macák’s diary was prepared by Fr. Jesús Graciliano González,S.D.B., a member of ACSSA and the  Salesian Historical Institute (ISS). In his introduction, he  presents a rich synthesis of the historical context in which the events, the facts narrated, and the sufferings endured by Fr Macák took place.

Fr. Macák was born in 1920 and was ordained to the priesthood in 1946. His writings concentrate on the experience of many religious who were persecuted  by the communist regime in what was then  Czechoslovakia. Fr. Macák points out that he wrote “secretly in the concentration camp for religious at Podolínec in eastern Slovakia during the year 1950, after the so-called barbaric night of April 13-14.”

The reader can learn much more directly about the experiences of many Slovak Salesians and religious during the time of persecution. Fr Macák had been able to escape to Italy and then Switzerland. Once the regime collapsed, he was able to return to Slovakia in 1990. From 1993 to 1999, he was the Superior of the province he rejoined.

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