Posted June 26, 2009
Democratic Republic of the Congo –50th anniversary of the Salesian Province
(Lubumbashi) – On May 10, 2009, the Salesians in the Mary Assumed into Heaven Province of Central Africa (AFC) celebrated the 50th anniversary of the founding of their Province. Fr. Adriano Bregolin, Vicar of the Rector Major, joined in the celebrations.
The celebration, held in the Imara Salesian Sixth Form College in Lubumbashi, was attended by the political and administrative authorities of the city, many young people, and members of the Salesian Family. Fr. Adriano Bregolin presided at Mass. Also among the guests was Fr. Jozef Claes, Provincial of North Belgium (BEN). The first Salesians who served in the African Province were from Belgium.
At end of the Mass the AFC Provincial gave an address of thanks and presented a memento to the former Provincials and missionaries who have contributed to the development of the Salesian presence in this part of Africa.
In the afternoon, youngsters from the Safina house performed a play telling the story of the origins of the presence of the Salesians in Africa. At the end of the entertainment, Fr. Bregolin gave out the prizes to the winners of the youth competition organized for the 50th anniversary of the Province.
Cambodia – Fire destroys Don Bosco Sihanoukville Radio and TV studios
(Sihanoukville) – A severe thunderstorm struck Sihanoukville early Saturday morning, May 9, 2009. A direct lightening strike set fire to the radio and TV studio sections of Don Bosco Technical School and destroyed them.
The alarm was given by one the 100 boarders sleeping near the campus. In spite of all the efforts including those of the local fire brigade, the studios were completely destroyed.
Fortunately other buildings in the immediate vicinity did not catch fire. According to Fr. John Visser, the Rector of the Salesian House in Sihanoukville, the cost of the damage will amount to tens of thousands of dollars. Thankfully, no one was injured.
The Radio and TV studios had just opened in February, 2009. The equipment was donated by benefactors from the Netherlands.
Due to the soundproof protection of the rooms themselves, the fire was contained within the two studios. Other sections of the communications department in the school were not affected.
"We want the studios to become a center of production for education and development in the country," Fr. Albeiro Rodas, the Vice Rector and coordinator of the communications project, said. He immediately appealed to people to help in the reconstruction of what has been lost.
Israel - Five Salesians invited to meeting within the Holy Land
(Jerusalem) – On Monday May 11,2009, after his significant visit to the Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum, Pope Benedict XVI met representatives of the religious communities in Israel. Gathered in the Notre Dame Center were Christian leaders, the Chief Rabbi, the Muslim President of the Religious Court of Appeal and the head of the Druse community.
Among those invited to the event were five Salesians who are working in the Holy Land and who contribute to dialogue and ecumenism: Fr. Francis Preston, Fr. Gianni Caputa, and Fr. Maurizio Spreafico, who had already welcomed the Pope in the morning at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv.
During his address the Pope emphasized the importance of truth as an essential element to keep dialog open and to build peace.
Slovenia – A Happy Minibus
(Ljubljana) –On May 16, 2009, in the Fuzine district of Ljubljana, a Happy Minibus took to the streets. It will be used by the Salesians and their helpers to find and meet youngsters on their own ground and work with the young encouraging them to seek education and instruction.
The Fuzine district has a growing immigrant population, especially from the Balkans, and is struggling with the social integration of the new comers into the work force, society in general, and in the educational system.
The Happy Minibus which will serve as a kind of traveling Oratory and is part of a Skala (Rock) project which the Salesians in Slovenia have launched in this area.
The launching ceremony for the Happy took place during the traditional annual celebration in the district, the Fuzine Festival. Local authorities, the donors who made the purchase of the minibus possible, the Salesian Provincial of Slovenia (SLO), Fr. Alojzij Slavko Snoj, as well as some of the young who will benefit from this mobile oratory participated in the ceremony.
Dominican Republic – Promoting justice for children most in need
(Santo Domingo) – On May 25, 2009, the National School of Law (ENJ) in the Dominican Republic and the Salesian network organization Muchachas y Muchachos with Don Bosco signed an agreement to cooperate in developing social projects for the poorest children.
“You cannot administer justice properly if you don’t know what Dominican society is really like. So I am very happy about the agreement that has been signed. Through it, we want to bring our lawyers and judges and advocates closer to the community,” declared Dr. Jorge A. Subero Isa, President of the Supreme Court.
The agreement is aimed at developing social initiatives which foster human values among members of the Judiciary. It is intended to include social work among the compulsory subjects on the curriculum of those who aspire to becoming Justices of the Peace. Additionally, it mandates a period of practical experience so the Justices can be more aware of the people they are called to serve in their practice of law.
“I have always thought that the Justice Ministry ought to have the mission to be the greatest promoter of justice for the people. Educating people in justice would achieve a better prevention of crimes and a development of justice as virtue,” said Fr. Juan Linares, S.D.B., Director of Muchachas y Muchachos with Don Bosco.
The agreement provides for mutual support in various activities such as conferences, seminars, workshops and other events regarding holistic formation for those engaged in the legal field which can contribute to the development of young people. The two institutions have also arranged to exchange educational experiences for teachers, teaching materials and other issues of shared interest.
Sri Lanka – Salesians provide emergency relief to refugees
(Colombo) Don Bosco Society Sri Lanka donated, transported and distributed relief materials worth Lkr 5,000,000 (USD 44,000) in the refugee camp (Zone 4) at Chettikulam, in war torn northern Sri Lanka. Hon. Deputy Minister for Aviation, Mr. Sarath Gunarathna, braved the heat and dust to visit camps sheltering approximately 250,000 Internally Displaced People (IDP) to distribute rations on May 29, 2009. All the five camp zones come under an area called Manik Farm which is the second largest IDP camp area in the world according to the UN.Un-hygienic
Camp Conditions
Thousands of refugees living in the heat of summer in tents stand in long lines for water. By the time they reach the head of the line, and it is their turn to receive water, they may have to leave empty handed and thirsty because the pump has broken or the well has run dry. The Government has drilled 126 tube-wells for these camps, but the 250,000 refugees are too much to handle in the present situation. There is only 1 tube-well for about 2,000 refugees.
Hygiene is non-existent in the camps. Toilets are too few for so many and the strong odors and over flowing open drains making the situation even worse. Food is cooked in common kitchens located throughout the camp, but this is done under un-hygienic conditions. Since water is a scarcity, these people find it difficult to cook and clean used pots and utensils. Temporary shelters in some of the camps are made out of corrugated tin sheets which makes it is even worse for people to live in the scorching heat. Most people prefer to be in the open, outside their shelters. Outbreaks of various diseases seems imminent. There are some 800 people in the camps already suffering from chicken pox.
DB Helps in Urgent Camp Needs
“Don Bosco Society has helped the Army and the Government rebuild the lives of the Internally displaced Persons (IDPs) with immediate medical help, counseling the children of the orphanage being built within the camp zone 4 and distributing free food,” said Brigadier Lakshman Perera, the person in charge of the camps.
The Don Bosco Team promised a mobile clinic with a ten-member medical team including. 2 pediatricians, 3 physicians and 5 nurses. The medical team will work in the camp for one month on a trial basis and review the situation after that.
As psycho-social assistance for children is of immense importance, the Salesians have sent in a team of five counselors to provide counseling service to the children at the orphanage.
“We will identify children and youth from these camps who could be given basic technical training within the camp in trades like house wiring, carpentry and plumbing. The children can later be professionally trained at our technical centers so that they can be skilled, productive and law-abiding citizens who, tomorrow, will contribute to the building of our nation,” said the Salesian in charge of the school.
“We appreciate the praiseworthy work the Government of Sri Lanka is doing for the IDPs. However, it is not easy to manage over 250,000 IDPs on a day to day basis, said Don Bosco Provincial, Fr. Anthony H. Pinto. He assured the people of extensive support from the Salesians.
India - Don Bosco Alumni give back to society
(Dimapur) On June 7, 2009, the Don Bosco Alumni, Dimapur Unit, set up a free Medical Clinic at Don Bosco School in Lhomithi Colony. Over 260 patients were treated and medicines were distributed for free. Dr. Stephen Kamson, coordinator of the Clinic, said that the Don Bosco Alumni are guided by a common concern for the marginalized and those living in poverty, especially the young. They are committed to reaching out to needy youth in this part of the country.
The Dimapur Unit of Alumni has 11 members who are doctors. They organized this medical camp as a first venture to alleviate the suffering in society. Volunteers from The Distric Immunization Department, the Urban Malaria Control Department and the Clinical Lab of Zion Hospital have allowed the clinic to provide a wide range of services to the poor. Generous contributions of medicines from the firms who produce them have increased the level of survival from treatable diseases.
Vietnamese Salesians strengthen the Catholic Church
(Ho Chi Minh City) The path of evangelization for the Catholic Church in Mongolia has been renewed after the change in government from the pro-Soviet Communist dictatorship thanks to Vietnamese Salesian missionaries. In addition to pastoral activities, the Salesians are engaged in charitable, educational, welfare and developmental activities which contribute to the country’s growth.
In 1991, when the Communist regime fell, there were no Catholics in Mongolia. The next year with the adoption of a new constitution that recognized religious freedom, several Salesian priests from Vietnam dedicated their mission to the rebirth of the local Church, rebuilding places of worship and forming communities. By 2006, Catholics numbered 600, including 350 native Mongolians. Thanks to the Salesian-sponsored vocational courses, the local Church welcomed its first Mongolian seminarian, Enkh Baatar, in 2008.
For Catholics although the community is small, the local church is keen to help people and the country develop, expanding the chance of education for everyone, promoting the participation of all people in new and creative social activities that can contribute to the rebirth of the social fabric.
The Vietnamese Salesian mission runs a kindergarten, a technical school, soup kitchens, two farms and a shelter for 120 disabled children.
Salesian social work groups are also actively involved in helping street children in the capital, Ulaanbaatar, as well as assisting women who have been victims of abuse.
However, the Church’s involvement is not limited to social activities, but also reflects the need for evangelization as Pope John Paul II noted several times during his pontificate.
In 1997 Sts. Peter and Paul’s Cathedral was completed. In 2004, the first edition of the new Mongolian language Bible was published, including several traditional Catholic prayers.
About 60 missionaries from different countries are working in the country, spread out across the four parishes established since 1991. The last one to be established opened in 2007 in Darhan, an industrial town in northern Mongolia.
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