Message from Father Provincial

Vol. 13, No. 23
SALESIANS OF DON BOSCO, PROVINCE OF ST. PHILIP THE APOSTLE
December 3, 2015
Birthday Celebrations
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Message from Father Provincial
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Advent and the Year of Mercy
We have begun the Advent season. While we prepare for the birth
of Christ, we are encouraged to wait patiently, to seek forgiveness,
and to prepare well the way of the Lord.
It is interesting that the pilgrimage of Pope Francis to Africa coincided with the beginning of the Advent season. Francis brings the
Gospel alive with his actions. He shows us throughout his journeys
how to “prepare the way of the Lord” through mercy and compassion
for the weak, the vulnerable, and the forgotten. He called Africa “the
continent of hope” and proclaimed: “My visit is also meant to draw
attention to Africa as a whole, its promise, its hopes, its struggles and its achievements. . . .
We see with concern the globalization of a ‘throwaway culture’ which blinds us to spiritual
values, hardens our hearts before the needs of the poor, and robs our young of hope.”
It is also during this Advent season that the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy, called
by Pope Francis, will begin on December 8. We have a wonderful opportunity to start this
special year with our Holy Father by reflecting on how we can become more compassionate
and merciful. Pope Francis is clear as he introduces this very special Year of Mercy: “To
encounter mercy we need to encounter a person, Jesus of Nazareth. We would not know
what mercy is, if it were not for the encounter with the forgiving and compassionate glance
with which God came to meet us in Jesus Christ. Everything in Jesus’ life speaks of mercy.
His gestures and his words witness to what mercy is, for ‘he read the hearts of those he en-
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December
Fr. Harold Bernard
Fr. James Berning
Fr. Steve Ryan
Fr. Mark Hyde
Bro. Donald Caldwell
Pray for the Sick
Fr. Dominic DeBlase
Fr. Sid Figlia
Fr. Bernard Gilliece
Bro. Jerry Harasym
Fr. James Marra
Fr. John Masiello
Fr. Armand Quinto
Fr. Gennaro Sesto
Juanita Canterino, Salesian
Cooperator
Louise Yankowski, Salesian
Cooperator
Aura Veliz, Bro. Jhoni
Chamorro’s mother
Charles Hanna, Fr. George
Hanna’s brother
Salvatore D’Angelo, Fr.
Anthony D’Angelo’s brother
Alviera Nazzaro, Fr. John
Nazzaro’s mother
Josephine Reynolds, Fr.
Anthony D’Angelo’s sister
Yvonnie Perrello, wife of
Blaise Perrello, former SDB
Remember Those Who Died
 Dolores Ploch, Fr. Tim
Ploch’s mother
 Charles Maylen, Fr. John
Grinsell’s brother-in-law
PHOTO: Mass at the Ecce Homo
Chapel in Jerusalem. Left to right,
Bro. Eduardo Chincha, Bro. Tom
Dion, Bro. Adam Dupré, Fr. Steve
Shafran, Bro. Dieunel Victor, Fr.
Eric Wyckoff and Bro. Paul Chu.
Photo courtesy of Fr. Steve
Shafran.
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countered and responded to their deepest need.’ It is this glance
capable of discerning and meeting the deep yearning of the
human heart that makes Christianity as fascinating today as it
was at its inception two thousand years ago. God desires our
well-being; he wants us to be happy, full of joy, and peaceful.
He ‘does not limit himself merely to affirming his love, but
makes it visible and tangible,’ so that we may experience the
fullness that comes from the encounter with God’s mercy.”
The Year of Mercy is an invitation—an invitation to love,
kindness, conversion, and unbounded generosity. Pope Francis
is offering us the opportunity to encounter the incredible mercy
of God. I hope that each of us takes advantage of this unique
Jubilee Year, as Pope Francis puts it: “Encountering mercy
means encountering God.”
Jerusalem
Bro. Tom Dion and I had a wonderful visit last week with
our brothers who are studying theology in the Salesian community in Jerusalem. It was great to have the opportunity to share a
bit of their life experience and learn more about the program at
Ratisbonne. The best part for me was being with Bros. Dieunel
Victor, Paul Chu, Eddie Chincha, and Adam Dupré and Fr. Eric
Wyckoff. They all send their greetings to the province. What a
tremendous witness they give as they fully embrace their Salesian formation experience in an international community! We
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were able to meet and pray together, celebrate Thanksgiving
Mass and dinner, and visit some of Jerusalem. Please offer a
special prayer for them, and if you have the chance write them
an email or card. I know they would love to hear from you.
Remembering Mrs. Ploch
Earlier this week we celebrated the life of Dolores Jane
McDermott Ploch, the mother of Fr. Tim. Our hearts are united
with the Ploch family during this time. Mrs. Ploch was raised by
the Salesian Sisters after she was orphaned as a child. Her gift as
a loving and devoted mother was the crown of her long life. On
behalf of the province, I want to assure Fr. Tim and his family of
our love and remembrance of Dolores Ploch in our prayers. May
she rest in peace.
Happy Advent! Know of my prayers. Pray for me.
God bless you,
Fr. Steve Shafran, SDB
Provincial
Thanksgiving Mass in Jeruslaem,
joined by Fr. “Pancho” Batista, provincial of Antilles (back row, second
from left) .
Published weekly by the Salesians of Don Bosco for Canada and the Eastern U.S.A.
SALESIANS
OF DON BOSCO
Copyright ©2015 - Salesian Society, Province of St. Philip the Apostle, Inc.
PO Box 639, New Rochelle, NY 10802-0639 USA
Publisher: Very Rev. Steve Shafran, SDB, Provincial
Editor: Fr. Michael Mendl, SDB - [email protected]
Design & Distribution: Fr. Dennis Donovan, SDB
When reading on electronic media, click on photos or links for more info.
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East Boston — Fr. John Nazzaro, Bishop Emilio Allué, Fr. Jay
Horan, and Bro. Bernie Dube celebrated Thanksgiving together.
They offered this prayer: “We thank you, Father, for the gift of
Jesus your Son, who came to our earth and lived in a simple home. We have a greater appreciation of the
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value and dignity of the human family because he loved and was loved within its shelter. Bless us this day;
may we grow in love for each other in our family and so give thanks to you who are the maker of all human families, our abiding peace as we work with youth in the spirit of Don Bosco.”
Lima, Peru (ANS) – Fr. Tim Ploch concluded a three-month extraordinary visitation of the Peru Province on
November 17-18 with meetings with the provincial and his council, the directors, and the SDBs from the
houses in and near Lima. Fr. Tim expressed his pleasure at getting to know them, and he presented statistics
on the situation of young Peruvians to stimulate the province’s reflection and discernment in the context of
its redimensioning and restructuring.
Rome (ANS) - On December 1 the Rector Major
opened the winter plenary session of the SDB
general council, which will end on January 28,
2016.
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“Back to the Future” for Don Bosco: the bicentennial video
by Fr. Bruno Ferrero, SDB
Rome (ANS) - A video
coming in the wake of the
bicentennial of Don Bosco’s
birth will be released on December 8. It will not chronicle the world celebrations that
marked this year of grace for
the Salesian Family, but—
despite its brevity—try to
condense the feeling of strong
and affectionate remembrance which his “birthday”
has aroused in all of Don
Bosco’s friends. The title
announced by the Rector Major expresses it with vigor: “I
tell you, John Bosco is alive!”
So it is not the commemoration of a date, the evocation
of a glorious past, or a simple
half-buried memory. It is
what might be called a
“subversive memory”: that is, a prophecy of a dynamic and
vital future.
The video opens with the beating of Don Bosco’s heart,
to show that this great heart continues to beat today: thousands of male and female Salesians every day continue to be
the heart of Don Bosco, who is movedOVA
and
is committed to
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all young people and people in need. Wherever there is a
Salesian, Don Bosco is alive.
We are living in a difficult time tainted by ominous threats. It can be compared to a hostile sea, a
harbinger of terrible storms.
Ours is a society faced with
doubts and uncertainties; it
needs Don Bosco more than
ever. Now more than ever
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our world needs Salesians
who will continue to fill in
the color and give warmth
to the rough draft drawn by
Don Bosco.
As stated by the Rector
Major, in the dream of the
raft (BM 8:142-150) Don
Bosco faced the stormy sea
in order to save the young.
After 200 years, the Salesians are still doing that fearlessly. Don Bosco is not the
past but the present and the future.
The bicentennial video will be released officially in
several languages on December 8, anniversary of the work
of the Salesian oratory.
In advance of that date, another short video will be
published in which the general councilor for communications, Fr. Filiberto Gonzalez, introduces the bicentennial
video.
Men in Formation
Bro. Adam Dupré, SDB
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Week of December 6-12
Asked to “picture his Scripture,” Bro. Adam Dupré wrote, “Be alert, stand firm in the faith, be
brave, be strong. Do all your work in love” (1 Cor 16:13-14). For Bro. Adam, “being Salesian
means being a steadfast light of Christ in the world in all that we say and do.”
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The Pope’s call for peace and a new way forward in the Central African Republic
by Paterne Modekpo, SDB
Bangui (ANS) - The pastoral visit of Pope Francis to
the Central African Republic on November 29-30 took
place under the sign of reconciliation and peace. The Central African population is convinced that the Pope is a driving force for a better understanding of people who are different (“the other”). The overall impression is that, after the
Pope’s visit, the mentality of Central Africans will turn to
the search for peace.
Young people want to discover a new strength so that
their future may be more reassuring and more peaceful.
Young people and the Salesians hope for a way forward in
which peaceful coexistence is possible. Young people are
still asking themselves about the Pope’s exhortations to
“resist the fear of the other” and to “start a new way forward.” Many wonder how this is possible, since they are
accustomed to seek revenge or to turn in on themselves.
In general, the atmosphere was festive among both Muslims
and Christians. In the PK5 district, the most Muslim area of
Bangui, Pope Francis’s arrival was broadcast live on the radio.
The Koudoukou axis connecting the Muslim area to the Christian area, was “borrowed” on Sunday by Christians from the
Bimbo, Petevo, Fatima, and Kpetenè districts—something
which had seemed impossible after recent outbreaks of violence
(see story below).
Indeed, just before the Pope’s visit, Fr. Agustin Cuevas, a
Salesian missionary in CAR, had commented to Spanish journalist Angel Exposito of COPE that people expected a
“miracle,” in order to have “a little ‘peace and understanding,’
to be able to move freely around the country and the city, because this was impossible, there was so much enmity, so much
hatred, so many quarrels between them.” He said that this was
why they wanted the Pope to give “a message of peace, understanding, dialog, and coexistence.”
Violence on the increase in Bangui, just days before the Pope’s visit
Bangui (ANS) - “The situation is really bad. Violence has
increased, and every night we can hear the sounds of gunfire
and grenades,” says one of the Salesian missionaries who work
in the Damala district of Bangui. “Some churches and places
where displaced persons are being hosted have been attacked
by Seleka militias,” he adds.
The Salesians in Bangui have also observed that in recent
weeks the killings and violence in the streets of the capital have
increased, especially in the area closest to the PK5 neighborhood. This has meant that hundreds of people have fled their
homes and the number of displaced persons has grown.
The Salesian houses in Bangui, in the Damala and Galabadja sections, house over 10,000 people in need of a safe place to
live. “Another big problem is the shortage of food to feed all
these people,” they say. “No one is safe. A few days ago one of
our missionaries had to run away because of a shooting, and a
group of our young people were captured, among them one of
our students from the vocational center. Fortunately, they have
since been released.”
Despite this difficult situation, Pope Francis went ahead
with his visit the capital of the Central African Republic during
his trip to Africa. “We are confident that his visit will bring
peace,” say the Salesians.
The rector of the cathedral of Bangui, Abbé Mathieu
Bondobo, described as a “moment of grace for all the people of
Central Africa” the Pope’s decision to open the first Holy Door
of the Jubilee Year of Mercy in Bangui on November 29 during
his pastoral visit to the country.
“Through the Holy Door, God comes to us. He opens the
door for us. He shows us the road that leads us to God, and this
road passes through forgiveness and mercy,” said the rector,
speaking to Vatican Radio. He expressed the joy of his people at
the Pope’s “exceptional gesture.”
Because of his love for the “margins,” the Holy Father has
chosen to come to “Central Africa, a country that is experiencing a difficult time in its history,” said Abbé Bondobo. The intention of the Pope, he continued, is therefore to help the Central African people “get out of this terrible situation, to live in
peace and to encounter Christ.”
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Proclaiming Jesus in the city: a permanent state of mission
Conference at the Salesianum discusses initial proclamation in urban contexts
(ANS - Rome) - A weeklong course at the Salesianum
in Rome, “Study Days on the Initial Proclamation of
Christ in the City,” promote discussion and in-depth reflection on the importance of the first proclamation of the
Gospel in an urban context. The seminar, organized by the
SDB Missions Department and the FMA Missions Sector,
ran from November 15 to 21.
The Salesians and Salesian Sisters had already held
joint study days on five continents between 2008 and
2014. Various ways of action in the Salesian mission were
noted and new approaches to first proclamation were proposed for the situations in Europe (Prague, 2010); South
Asia (Calcutta, 2011); East Asia (Sampran, 2011); Oceania (Port Moresby, 2011); among Muslims and for the Middle East (Rome, 2012); in Africa (Addis Ababa, 2012);
and, finally, in Latin America (Los Teques, 2013).
The study days at the Salesianum concluded this cycle of reflection. They were conducted in three phases: analysis of the situation; study and reflection; formulation of conclusions.
Each day began with a biblical reflection led by Sr. Maria Ko, FMA, so that the discussion “might really center on the personal
encounter with Christ, who gives himself to us in his Word” (Benedict XVI, Verbum Domini, n. 73).
The initial proclamation of Jesus is “the permanent priority of mission,” to which “all forms of missionary activity tend” (John
Paul II, Redemptoris Missio, n. 44). It is different from “kerygma,” which refers to the proclamation of the core content of the Christian faith. Initial proclamation seeks, rather, to establish relationships and stir in the minds and hearts an interest in knowing the person of Jesus Christ and, ultimately, having faith in him.
Speakers were chosen from outside the Salesian
Family so that a “different voice” might be heard on
the subject and new insights and perspectives provoked, helping the participants think beyond their
normal way of thinking.
On the first day, a Comboni priest, Fr. Giulio
Albanese, who is also a journalist, described the city
in today’s globalized world, highlighting the common features and phenomena of the city. He insisted
that “our works” are not always evangelizing, but we
have to plan and have the intention to ensure that
“our work” is really evangelizing.
On the second day, Sr. Milva Caro, a Scalabrini
missionary, daughter of Italian immigrants in Germany, spoke about the phenomenon of human mobility
and the challenges and opportunities for the first
proclamation in an urban setting.
On the third day a layman, Prof. Carmelo Dotolo,
dean of the School of Missiology at the Pontifical
Urban University, stressed the distinction between
secularization and secularism and the challenges and opportunities for the first proclamation in a secularized urban setting.
On the fourth day two speakers gave a profound reflection on the first proclamation from a Salesian perspective. Sr. Piera Ruffinato, FMA, professor at the Auxilium Pontifical School of Education, showed that in urban areas the Preventive System can be a
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Salesian way to carry out the first proclamation. Fr. Ubaldo
Montisci from the Department of Youth Ministry and Catechetics at the Salesian Pontifical University showed how youth ministry in the urban environment offers many opportunities for the
first proclamation.
Fr. Angel Fernandez and Mother Yvonne Reungoat gave
Good Nights on November 20-21. Both stressed the missionary
character of the two congregations and the importance of keeping alive the missionary flame in each member.
The participants in the seminar concluded that awareness
that Salesians are always carrying out the first proclamation of
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Jesus is what leads all SDBs and FMAs to live in a permanent
state of mission, a situation that demands a pastoral and spiritual
conversion in each one. The Rector Major also stressed that
what is important is not so much the papers that will be published, but the change of mindset that this learning experience
and reflection has brought about in each participant.
The proceedings of the study days will be published as a
book, in different languages, with different index cards that will
enable local communities in different parts of the Congregation
to use the material for ongoing formation.
Embrace the Future with Hope: the 86th half-yearly meeting of USG
Rome (ANS) - The superiors general of men’s institutes of
consecrated life gathered at the Salesianum in Rome on November 25 for their 86th semi-annual meeting. The theme of this
meeting was “Embrace the Future with Hope: Consecrated persons on a journey with the people of God.” The day was devoted to reflection on the recent Synod of Bishops on the role of
the family.
After the initial greeting by the president, Fr. Adolfo Nicolas, SJ, there were contributions from four delegates who had
attended the Synod.
Fr. Baawobr of the Missionaries of Africa said that he was
impressed by the different sensitivities and the many issues
raised, adding that the ultimate convergence of a synthesis “was
a sign that the Spirit of Jesus was at work accompanying the
assembly.”
For Fr. Schroeder of the Benedictines of Sant’Ottilia, the
cornerstone of the synod was the challenge of globalization.
“How can the Church preserve its unity, as a universal Church,
in the face of enormous cultural diversity?” he wondered, concluding that “we have to embody the values of our faith more
deeply in our respective cultures.”
According to Fra Cadorè, a Dominican, the “crucial issue”
of the synod was what it means to be Church (ecclesialità). He
argued that, through a theology of communion, the Good News
of the paschal mystery should be evident from the life of
believers, and families should be seen as places of mediation
even to the point where they become the first evangelizers.
Finally, Fra Herve of the Little Brothers of Jesus recalled
some “highlights” of the Synod, as singled out by the Pope himself, such as starting from Nazareth, receiving every single person with a look of mercy, building a Church that is fully synodal, the importance of accompaniment, and developing a look
that is always more and more merciful.
Work continued in the afternoon with the report of the secretary general, Fr. David Glanday, on the period 2012-2015.
On the 26th, many participants spoke about the Synod’s
work. These included Professor Jesus Manuel Arroba Conde,
Claretian, dean of the Pontifical Lateran University’s School of
Canon and Civil Law; Fr. Saulo Scarabattoli, pastor and prison
chaplain from Perugia; and Professor Giuseppina DeSimone,
professor at the Theological School of Naples.
On November 27 the superiors elected Fr. Mauro Jöhri,
OFM Cap., as president; Fr. Michael Brehl, CSSR, as vice president; and the executive committee (photo, above left) and council of 16, to both of which Fr. Angel Fernandez was elected.
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Venerable Bro. Simon Srugi: example and model for the Middle East
Jerusalem (ANS) – November 27 was the anniversary of
the death of Venerable Simon Srugi, SDB. “In the context of
the Jubilee Year of Divine Mercy, his figure and his example
stand out and invite imitation. To him we entrust the Middle
East, which is restless and wounded, the Salesian Family, the
Salesian brothers, and in particular the sick,” says Salesian Fr.
Gianni Caputa from Jerusalem.
Simaan was born in Nazareth on April 15, 1877, to a
Melkite father and a Maronite mother. At the age of five he lost
both parents and was entrusted to Fr. Antonio Belloni, who was
called “Abul-iatama, father of orphans.” He had founded a religious congregation to take care of children in need. In 1891 Fr.
Belloni’s works were jointed to the Salesians, and Simaan was
so happy with them that at the age of 16 he asked to enter the
Congregation. He made his perpetual profession in 1900.
Bro. Srugi was distinguished for the charity which he exercised toward the boarders in the agricultural school in Beit Gemal, and toward the workers and farmers of the area, who were
poor and often sick. Particularly after the First World War he
made a definite decision to care for the sick.
Those who lived with him knew that he drew his tireless
charity from his constant union with God, nourished by personal and community prayer and devotion to the Heart of Jesus and
to Mary Help of Christians.
He considered himself fully a Salesian educator. The chil-
dren of Beit Gemal carried
in their hearts the wounds of
war, and some of them remembered the sight of parents being killed in front of
them. He understood that
they needed affection, and
said to his confreres: “They
are small; they are orphans.
We have to be their parents,
help them, correct them
when they make mistakes,
but never hurt them. We
must educate them without using the stick nor our hands or a
sharp tongue.”
At a time and in an area that, after the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, was troubled by struggles, Simaan was a peacemaker. In all circumstances he educated to mercy and forgiveness. In 1939 he began to experience health problems that
eventually led to his death on November 27, 1943.
Because of World War II only a few people could attend his
funeral, but among them were some Muslim farmers. All were
unanimous in celebrating his virtues, convinced that he had died
a servant of God.
More information is available at www.sdb.org.
Cause for the beatification of the Servant of God Cardinal Giuseppe Guarino
by Fr. Pier Luigi Cameroni, postulator general
Rome (ANS) – Following the request made by Sr. Mary
Cerullo, Superior General of the Apostles of the Holy Family, a
member group of the Salesian Family, on November 26 Fr. Angel Fernandez Artime gave his permission for the cause of beatification and canonization of the Apostles’ founder, the Servant
of God Cardinal Giuseppe Guarino, to be taken up by the SDB
postulator general.
Giuseppe Guarino was born in Montedoro in Sicily on
March 6, 1827. He studied in the seminary of Agrigento and
was ordained in 1849. In 1871 he became archbishop of Syracuse, where he won the people’s hearts and revived the religious
fervor. In 1875 Popw Pius IX entrusted him with the archdiocese of Messina, which he served for 22 years.
He reorganized the seminary and promoted the active and
fruitful service of both male and female religious. In 1889 he
founded a new religious family: the Little Servants (now known
as the Apostles) of the Holy Family, entrusting them with the
mission of working for the religious and social development of
the young and the full development of the family.
He
distinguished
himself especially by
his
active
charity,
which reached a heroic
level during the smallpox and cholera epidemics that struck Messina between 1885 and
1887. When an earthquake devastated the
city in 1894, he offered
his life to God that the
damage and casualties
might be limited. On
January 18, 1893, he
was made a cardinal by Pope Leo XIII. He died in Messina on
September 21, 1897.
Cardinal Guarino admired Don Bosco and supported him in
his work, even though they were in contact only by letter. Don
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Bosco titled him a Salesian Cooperator. One of his biographers
wrote of him: “He seemed to be filled with the spirit of Don
Bosco. He was affable and gentle with everyone.” He asked
Don Bosco to send the Salesians to Messina to work with the
young, a request that was met by Fr. Rua in 1893.
The cause of Cardinal Guarino is currently in the Roman
phase, where the “Positio super virtutibus” is being drafted.
This brings to 29 the number of Servants of God whose causes
for beatification and canonization are currently being accompanied by the SDB postulator general.
The Salesian Family is committed to protecting women and promoting their rights
Rome (ANS) - The General Assembly of the United
Nations established November 25 as International Day for
the Elimination of Violence against Women. This commemoration urges people to work for and raise awareness
around the world for an end to the violence that is still inflicted on women.
Society and the Church would not be the same without
the contribution that so many women make; but this contribution is possible only when women are truly recognized
and their rights protected.
Unfortunately, however, violence against women is a
daily reality in all parts of the world. It is seen in physical,
sexual, or psychological coercion by men against their sisters, daughters, and companions, in stark contrast to the
vocation to love and protect that belongs to every person.
Don Bosco’s Salesian Family “can’t be understood
without Mama Margaret,” as Pope Francis said in Turin last
June. The Salesian Family is strongly committed to promoting the protection and development of women and the effective exercise of their rights.
In Sierra Leone, for example, the Salesians run a refuge
for girls who are victims of violence. The girls are protected
and accompanied as they try to work though the trauma and
rebuild their lives.
In India, the Catechist Sisters of Mary Immaculate Help
of Christians—a member group of the Salesian Family—
conduct raids, together with the police, on the brothels of
Calcutta, to free women and girls from the clutches of their
exploiters.
The voice of the Salesians and the Daughters of Mary
Help of Christians is brought also to the institutions of the
U.N., to establish partnerships in collaboration with other
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institutions and to work with them against this social
scourge.
Aware of the value of female education to break the vicious circles of violence and denial of rights, the various
branches of the Salesian Family often operate worldwide to
promote the education of women, business opportunities for
women, activities and conferences to make women aware of
their rights, the training of women as leaders in their local
communities, and so on.
The Salesian Family, in communion with the whole
Church, “gives thanks for all women and for each: for mothers, sisters, wives; for women consecrated to God in virginity; for women dedicated to the many, many human beings
who await the gratuitous love of another person; for women
who watch over the human in the family, which is the fundamental sign of the human community; for women who
work professionally, and who at times are burdened by a
great social responsibility; for women ‘perfect’ for women
and ‘weak’ for all as they have come forth from the heart of
God in all the beauty and richness of their femininity” (Mulieris dignitatem, n. 31).
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Sacred Heart, a “periphery” in the center of Rome, where refugees feel at home
Rome (ANS) - For several years the Salesian house of
Sacro Cuore (Sacred Heart) in Rome has been a center where
people of every race and color meet, thanks to the Sacred Heart
Missionary Project. It has been a place of new life for the youth
of the world. There is a whole range of activities for young people, both Italians and immigrants, who attend the center located
across the street from the Termini station, a real crossroads for
the cultures and problems of the capital.
In 2009, together with the Missionary Sisters of the Risen
Christ, the Salesians began to consider how they could make
Sacred Heart a reference point for many young people, especially the poorest. Among the various forms of youth poverty,
they felt that the young refugees or asylum seekers who gathered around Termini station were the ones with the most pressing needs.
The project now caters for approximately 170-180 young
refugees, people fleeing their countries because they are in
grave danger or who, for various reasons, are recognized by the
Italian State as needing protection or humanitarian assistance.
The majority are men aged 20-30. Their place of origin has
varied over the years depending on the flow of migration.
The first problem is socialization. “We favor the creation of
a social network for these young men who are at high risk of
being ghettoized. Our goal is to create a ‘home that welcomes,’
where they can feel at home regardless of their religion, ethnicity, or origin and where they can meet young Italians whom they
can relate to,” says Fr. Emanuele DeMaria, the Salesian in
charge of the project. To this end they organize outings and
parties, as well as groups of interreligious dialog.
Other activities are geared toward their integration into Italian society: Italian courses, primarily, but also computer literacy, support for those who are studying to obtain a degree or certificate, driving school, help with composing a curriculum vitae
or preparing for job interviews.
All this is carried out under the coordination of the Salesians
and the Missionary Sisters of the Risen Christ, with about 40
young volunteers and young people doing civil service. Before
starting these volunteers are all given training in relation to their
duties, and also formation in the Salesian way of doing things.
As a result, many of the volunteers have discovered or resumed
the paths of faith and spirituality.
Additional information is available on Facebook.
Salesians are fighting against hunger worldwide
New Rochelle (ANS) – More than 793,000,000 people
around the world go hungry every day, according to the U.N.’s
Food and Agriculture Organization. And according to the
World Food Program and the U.N., two billion people lack the
vitamins and minerals needed to live healthy lives. Against
these forms of hunger the Salesians are busy with numerous
food projects, feeding young people in their works and promoting agricultural education and the development of sustainable
food systems.
Operating primary schools, technical training centers, agricultural schools, youth centers, orphanages, and programs for
street children, Salesian missionaries are on the front lines of
the battle against hunger. Working and living in the communities they serve, Salesian missionaries are perfectly positioned to
ensure that the distribution of food aid reaches those who need
it most.
Salesian food programs provide meals to students during the
school day and serve as an incentive for families to send their
children to school. “The meals children receive at Salesian
schools may be their only meals. This food not only encourages
them to attend school; it allows them to focus on getting the
December 3, 2015
E-Service
education they need without worrying about where their next
meal will come from. Children cannot learn on an empty stomach,” says Fr. Mark Hyde, executive director of Salesian Missions in New Rochelle.
As a result of the feeding programs, students are thriving.
Many have gained weight, suffered fewer illnesses, and become
more focused on their studies. Teachers are seeing better student performance in class, a decrease in absenteeism, and an
increase in program enrollment rates.
Many Salesian programs all over the world are also dedicated to developing sustainable food systems and providing agricultural education.
For instance, Salesian-run Don Bosco Kep, located in Kep
Province, Cambodia, has developed a small farm to serve better
the needs of poor and disadvantaged youths in the region.
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The Don Bosco Agro-Educational Complex, located in the
town of Sulcorna in the state of Goa in western India, has developed the area’s first agriculture college. The new college will
use 110 acres of fertile land for hands-on farm training and emphasize organic cultivation in its four-year degree program.
The Austrian Salesian Youth of the World program has
planned its second agricultural project in the town of Moatize,
located in the Tete province in northern Mozambique. The project, which will be carried out in seven different rural communities, aims to educate farmers in the latest innovations in agriculture and livestock techniques in order to improve food security
and increase income potential. The project will train close to
1,000 families, or about 5,000 people. With increased food production in the small rural communities participating in the program, about 8,000 residents will be positively affected.
Nepal continues to suffer
Katmandu (ANS) - After several weeks of silence, we
have received an update on the situation in Nepal, which was
struck last spring by two violent earthquakes. Sadly, the news
is not good. “We pray for the people of Nepal because they are
suffering again, and this time not because of a natural disaster,
but because of human actions,” says Fr. George Menamparampil, head of Bosconet of New Delhi.
“I have just made my third trip to Nepal since the quake.
We were able to go only to the nearest village, on account of
the severe shortage of fuel. But that visit was enough,” he
writes.
The gratitude of the people toward the Salesian Family is
huge: “The village chief told us ‘for us Don Bosco is God.’ I
know he did not mean that for him the person of Don Bosco
was God, but that what the Salesians of Don Bosco have done
for them after the earthquake represented God himself’s coming toward them with open arms, with hands full of the things
they needed and with a heart full of love. . . . I was also happy
to see their optimism and the new houses they have built as
they work for the betterment of their village.”
The socio-political situation remains uneasy, however. Unrest following the ratification of a new, secular, democratic
constitution is still going on more than three months after the
promulgation of the legislative text.
At the southern border with India, a kind of block has developed. This is a real problem for the people of Nepal, because
the roads linking the country to China, on the northern border,
are extremely difficult to pass in the winter, as well as being
very long.
“Nepal is a small, poor country, the 19th poorest in the
world,” says Fr. Menamparampil. “It does not produce oil or
natural gas, and does not meet its requirements for many essential goods, including building materials. The economy is paralyzed. Government officials are not in their offices. The documents for the renewal of the registration of our company [i.e.,
the Salesian aid program] and the documentation regarding the
accounts ... are locked in a government office.” Fuel is rationed,
and the supply that Fr. Jijo John, local coordinator of Salesian
aid, had the foresight to lay in a few days before rationing started is almost gone.