Posted May 19, 2008
China – A prayer rich in meaning
( Hong Kong) – While numbers of victims of the earthquake, which struck western China on Monday continue to soar, there has also been a multiplication of initiatives to help and show solidarity towards the victims.
In Taizé, more than 2,000 European young people gathered to pray for China and for the victims of the earthquake.
Remembering the victims will be an important part of the first meeting of the Chinese Catholic community in Italy planned for May 24-25 in Rome. This initiative, promoted by the Migrant Office of the Italian Episcopal Conference, is a response to the appeal of the Holy Father, Benedict XVI, to celebrate May 24 as a World Day of Prayer for the Church in China.
There are two main events in the programme: Mass in the Basilica of St Mary Major, at which Cardinal Ivan Dias, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples, will preside, and participation in the Pope’s Angelus in St Peter’s Square.
As announced in the diocese of Hong Kong, Benedict XVI has offered the opportunity of obtaining a plenary indulgence to those taking part in events related to the World Day of Prayer for the Church in China. To benefit from this, the faithful should participate in one of the solemn functions taking place from May 15 to 25 in the diocese, fulfilling the usual conditions.
Cardinal Zen, bishop of Hong Kong, has declared a novena during which there will be a special celebration each day in a church dedicated to the Virgin Mary in his diocese. On May 24 it will be the turn of the Salesian parish of Mary Help of Christians in Kowloon, Hong Kong.
The Rector Major, Fr Pascual Chávez, has invited the Salesian Family to unite in prayer, according to the Pope’s wishes. To this end, the ninth successor of Don Bosco has provided prayer intentions for each day of the novena for the Feast of Mary Help of Christians.
Brazil – The National Conference of Bishops Presents Evidence of Death Threats made against some Bishops
(Brasilia) – Following various death threats made to some Bishops in the Brazilian State of Pará, the Brazilian National Conference of Bishops (CNBB) has an 80 page dossier sent to the Parliamentary Commission for Amazzonia detailing the situation and requesting intervention by the authorities.
Some time ago the CNBB reported to the government that several Bishops were being threatened: Bishop José Luiz Azcona, of the Prelature of Marajó, Bishop Edwin Kräutler, of the Prelature of Xingu, and Bishop Flavio Giovenale, S.D.B., of Abaetetuba. The same document was sent to various international organizations involved in defending human rights, e.g. Amnesty International.
According to a report on the information site UOL.com.br, the dossier contains 16 pages of press reports from various media which followed up on the threats, 16 letters addressed to human rights organizations and to the Governor of Pará, Ana Júlia Carepa, 20 pages of reports from the 14 dioceses in the State and finally letters of support sent to the Bishops under threat.
The death threats received by the three Bishops followed their denunciation of human rights abuses that had occurred in their dioceses, such as the sexual exploitation of youngsters and teenagers and the trafficking of women in which, it appeared, politicians and other authorities were involved.
The CNBB hopes that the competent authorities will follow up the dossier and do something to support the victims in this situation. The Member of Parliament who chaired the meeting at which the dossier was presented, Janete Capiberibe, said that she wanted to set up a commission to fight against the violation of human rights in Amazzonia, and suggested that it might be possible to get a report of the meeting sent to the President Luiz Inácio (Lula) da Silva.
The presentation of the dossier to the Parliamentary Commission for l’Amazzonia occured on the same day that a court in Brazil, on the grounds of legitimate defense, freed a land-owner accused of being responsible for the killing of Sr. Dorothy Stang in 2205, who was working in the State of Pará. Referring to the verdict, Bishop Giovenale criticized it but said that it “was predictable” given the pressure exerted in the case.
Cameroon – 5 years of GFS
(Yaoundé) – On Saturday May 3, 2008, World Press Freedom Day and the eve of the XLII World Communications Day, a Group of Journalists named St. Francis of Sales (GFS) celebrated its fifth anniversary with a meeting at the Provincial House in Yaoundé. The gathering included 55 representatives of the media, the press, radio, television, and the school of journalism.
Fr. José Antonio Vega, Superior of the Vice Province of Tropical Equatorial Africa (ATE) introduced the morning encouraging those present to develop the GFS group. He also spoke about the involvement of the Salesians in the field of communications in the light of what had emerged at the recent 26th General Chapter.
Mme. Georgette Laurentine Assiga, President of the GFS, gave an account of the history of the group referring also to St Francis of Sales and to Don Bosco. She also described the activities of solidarity promoted by the group on behalf of the sick and the abandoned, as well as current issues examined in their meetings including their study of the important social documents of the Church and the interventions of the Pope.
Richard Touna, Director of the Cameroon weekly Repères, spoke about the role of the journalist in crisis situations. Responding to a question from the audience Mr. Touna referred to the problems experienced in the African continent in the context of globalization and how African journalism is called upon to address the media of the whole world.
The St Francis of Sales Group of Journalists began on May 3, 2003 at the invitation of Fr. Jean Baptiste Beraud, Delegate for Communication in the ATE Vice Province, who asked journalists to meet together to study the topics of the social teaching of the Church. Gradually the meetings become a monthly event. The Press Conference organized in April, 2004 to coincide with the visit of the IX successor of Don Bosco, Fr. Pascual Chávez, gave the Group a good opportunity to introduce themselves to the Cameroon media. Many journalists in fact, and from a variety of political and religious backgrounds, began to attend the meetings of the Group.
Colombia – Living in a peaceful city
(Medellín) – The Salesian House of Ciudad Don Bosco (Don Bosco City) in Medellín held a Week of Living Peacefully Together, April 21-25, 2008. The motivation behind the week was to encourage and train members of the educational and pastoral community in a greater commitment to building up a climate of equality, respect, tolerance, reconciliation and forgiveness, and seeking peaceful solutions to problems so as to promote mutual support.
The week opened with a workshop to raise awareness and reflect on the dynamics of living together in the institute, designed for the coordinators and educators in the center. This was followed by the viewing of Tony Kaye’s film, American History X. The film became the backdrop for analyzing the themes of exclusion and intolerance during the next three days.
The Week of Living Peacefully Together concluded with a Day of Vaccination against Violence and the signing of a pact, in which young people and educators committed themselves to live the values discovered and appreciated during the week and to seek peaceful solutions to everyday problems. A special feature of the day was a visit from Juan Pablo Tobón, who plays for Envigado, a Colombian professional soccer team. He spoke to the young people about the importance of being tolerant and knowing how to forgive in order to live in peace.
Ciudad Don Bosco is a Salesian institute where children and young people at risk are able to live, study, and learn a useful trade to help them integrate successfully into society.
Germany – Building the family on firm foundations
(Bonn) – On the International Day of the Family, May 15th, Br. Jean-Paul Müller, S.D.B., director of Don Bosco Mission in Bonn, spoke of how this important social institution is compromised in many parts of the world. He noted that Universal Declaration of Human Rights calls the family the “fundamental group unit of society.”
The violation of the rights of women and children prevents new generations from planning their future. In addition, millions of youngsters have no access to culture or to personal or professional development.
In Asia the birthrate is falling, through general or selective abortions. In particular, in some nations boys are growing up convinced that they cannot have their own family because they cannot afford the dowry of their spouse. Girls of marriageable age are already a “rare commodity” in many places, and are advertiZed almost as “products” on the internet or shops specializing in matrimony.
“It seems that we have lost sight of this problem. We must offer new generations the possibility of studying and going to school to prepare them to take up the responsibilities of parent and spouse,” Br. Müller said. He then addressed the theme of the 2008 International day of the Family: Fathers and Families: Responsibilities and Challenges.
The problem is also present in Europe, if for different reasons. At Chisinau, capital of Moldova, for example, 30,000 children have been left to their own devices by parents seeking work in other towns or European nations. In response to this crisis, the Salesians of Don Bosco plan to open a training center in the summer of 2008.
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