Cuba - Salesians are Part of the Cultural Landscape in Havana
On Wednesday 14 May, the Salesian Centre for Social Communication presented a concert called "A Tribute to Cinema" at the Hall of the Karl Marx Theatre in Havana. The concert was produced in conjunction with the Ballari Studio and Productions, with t
link: www.infoans.org/1.asp?sez=1&doc=10825&Lingua=2
Dominican Republic - Award for Bishop Rivas, SDB
On 31 May last, at the Catholic University of Santo Domingo, the Third National Congress of Catholic ...
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Dominican Republic - Award for Bishop Rivas, SDB
 On 31 May last, at the Catholic University of Santo Domingo, the Third National Congress of Catholic Communicators conferred an award on Bishop Fabio Mamerto Rivas, SDB, Bishop Emeritus of Barahona, in recognition of his years of dedicated service of communication.
As part of the celebration of World Day of Social Communications, the National Commission for Pastoral Communication of the Dominican Episcopal Conference reflected on the theme proposed by Pope Francis: "Communication in the service of an authentic culture of encounter" with the help of Catholic communicators in all the dioceses.
Bishop Rivas was the first Bishop to be President of the Commission. He started the first initiatives to promote the unity of Catholic communicators, and also to strengthen the institutions and means of communication of the Dominican Catholic Church. He was the first bishop of the Diocese of Barahona, and the first Salesian bishop of Dominican origin. He is considered a tireless worker for the good use of the media in the country.
link: www.infoans.org/1.asp?Lingua=2&sez=1&doc=10864
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Italy - Press Conference:
The first official press conference at Colle Don Bosco will take place this afternoon, 3 June, at Mo ...
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Italy - Press Conference:
 The first official press conference at Colle Don Bosco will take place this afternoon, 3 June, at Morialdo. It is being organized to highlight and enhance the spirit of warmth and friendliness of the places where Don Bosco was born and lived, and which helped to make him the symbolic figure that he still is in the world.
John Bosco was born in Castelnuovo d'Asti on 16 August 1815. He lived in the area of Monferrato, and spent his life in places like the Becchi, Buttigliera, Morialdo, Chieri, Turin, Valdocco ...
Don Bosco, the saint who formed so many others, died on 31 January 1888.
First a man and then a saint, he loved his native land of Monferrato. In anticipation of the Bicentenary of the birth of Don Bosco, which will begin next August, Colle Don Bosco has organized a press conference to raise awareness of the places where he lived, the beauty of the place where he grew up, and which continues to enchant his followers until this day.
The aim is to highlight the welcoming spirit of Don Bosco’s land, the hills and valleys that speak of him, and are waiting with open arms for the arrival of the people who will come during the Bicentenary year.
The project is being organized in collaboration with other groups in Asti and Monferrato, who are also working on various schemes to make pilgrims welcome.
The press conference entitled "The holy year of Don Bosco" will take place this afternoon at 5.00 p.m. (GMT +2), in the theatre of the Salesian Institute at Colle Don Bosco
It will be chaired by Marco Graziano, journalist and director of the Mediaset networks. The coordinator is Fr Egidio Deiana, Rector of the Basilica of St. John Bosco in Castelnuovo d'Asti. Various agencies in the area will take part.
link: www.infoans.org/1.asp?sez=1&doc=10842&Lingua=2
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Uganda - Donated Books Help Improve Educational Opportunities for Poor Youth
Thanks to a recent donation and coordination efforts of Salesian Missions, four schools in Uganda no ...
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Uganda - Donated Books Help Improve Educational Opportunities for Poor Youth
 Thanks to a recent donation and coordination efforts of Salesian Missions, four schools in Uganda now have new textbooks. The schools serve vulnerable children and focus on ending the cycle of poverty through education and opportunities. Through primary, secondary and technical schools, Salesian missionaries in Uganda (and around the globe) focus their efforts on helping poor youth obtain an education and later, the job skills necessary for stable employment.
Don Bosco Children and Life Mission, St. Mary’s Secondary School, St. Joseph’s Primary School and Sacred Heart Sisters School will utilize the books for years to come.
“A new book in the hands of a student opens him or her up to the opportunities that are available through education,” says Father Mark Hyde, executive director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco headquarted in New Rochelle, NY. “While this is true whether it takes place down the street or across the globe, it is especially powerful in places like Uganda.”
More than 550 boxes of books were donated to the four schools, covering a variety of subjects including geography, science and music, and have been made available in the classrooms and school libraries at these primary and secondary institutions.
“The books bring a great value to our school and academic performance,” says Barshir Sadick, a student at Don Bosco Children and Life Mission, one of the secondary schools that was a primary recipient of the donation. “Some of the books are quite colorful with drawings and images that the young students in the primary grades have also found fascinating and enjoyable.”
Don Bosco Children and Life Mission is located just outside of Kampala, the largest city and capital of Uganda, and provides services to more than 200 at-risk boys aged 8 to 17. The program offers primary, secondary and technical education along with sports programs, youth clubs, guidance counseling and life skills training. The donated books will aid the students in their academic pursuits.
Close to 67% of Ugandans are either poor or highly vulnerable to poverty, according to UNICEF. While the country has seen some economic growth as well as improvement in its Human Development Index ranking over the last 20 years and Uganda’s literacy rate has improved with 73 percent of the population literate, the country still ranks near the bottom at 161 out of 186 countries and only 23 percent of Ugandans go on to acquire a secondary education.
link: www.infoans.org/1.asp?sez=1&doc=10893&Lingua=2
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Animation - Letter from Fr Filiberto
Dear friends,
the Rector Major and the General Council are now occupied with the summer sessions of the council. Among other things, we are particularly looking into the six-year planning period that includes the ordinary life of the congregation and the study and how to put into practice the GC27. We are also engaged in the coordination among sectors and these sectors with the Regionals. The result of this coordination will be the plan to have meetings in each region and the various collaborations between us.
We have already agreed to have the different types of meetings during the six-year period. Regarding the sector of Social Communications are the following:
+ A meeting with the three Councillors for the mission with the Provincials of each region,
+ When it is possible, to set an assembly meeting among the delegates of the different sectors,
+ Meetings by continents, by regions or by conferences and by sectors specific to Social Communications.
As soon as everything is approved we will inform you of the dates, the type of meeting and the venue.
Another important criteria agreed by the Provincials and Regional is the choice of the most suitable location within their own region, in order to have an optimal sharing, formation and reflection on Social Communications.
I encourage you to be refreshed in your annual programming with the spirit of the GC27 and the Bicentennial celebrations- taking even at a higher level, the provincial communion and cooperation of the different sectors, each putting their own resources to the one mission as described in our SSCS handbook.
May the Sacred Heart of Jesus turn your heart to communicate with creativity and depth of God's love to young people. The Salesians and lay staff of this Social Communications Department greet you and offer mutual prayers..
Yours in Don Bosco,
Fr. Filiberto
Information: RMG - GC27: Videos and Powerpoint online
As of today, 5 June, two videos and a powerpoint presentation are available online to assist in making the themes of GC27 known throughout the Congregation. They were prepared by the Department of Social Communication, led by Fr Filiberto González.
First of these is a video that features some of the key ideas developed in the Chapter to explain the three core themes: Mystics in the Spirit, Prophets of Fraternity and Servants of the Young. The authors are Fr Bruno Ferrero, Editor of the Italian Salesian Bulletin, and Fr Gianluigi Pussino, Delegate for Social Communication of the Circumscription of Central Italy.
A second video shows the key moments of the chapter which took place from 22 February to 12 April 2014. This is the chronicle of the Chapter which shows faces and situations as events unfolded.
Both videos were produced by Don Bosco Missions - Media Centre in Turin.
Finally, there is a powerpoint presentation on the theme "Witnesses of the radical approach of the Gospel. Work and temperance." It was produced with the assistance of Fr Natale Vitali, Regional Councillor for the Southern Cone of America.
Fr Francesco Cereda, Moderator of GC27 and now Vicar of the Rector Major, thanked the Department for Social Communications, saying that "the presentation of these study-aids is an opportunity to communicate immediately the spirit and style of celebration of the Chapter. This brings us to the operational phase of assimilating GC27 and putting it into practice in the entire congregation. We have to accept the Chapter decisions in our minds and hearts, before we can begin the journey of implementation which is full of promise.”
The two videos are available in several languages on the ANSChannel, while the powerpoint document, which is also in different languages, is available on the website sdb.org.
link: www.infoans.org/1.asp?sez=1&doc=10855&Lingua=2
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Formation: SSCS 5.4.5 The Care of our Cultural Heritage
In what does it consist?
In synergy with the Economer, the Provincial Secretary and the Provincial Delegate for the Missions,
the care and promotion of the Cultural and Salesian heritage include, first of all,
the artistic heritage of paintings, sculpture, architecture, mosaics and music
placed at the service of the mission of the Salesian Congregation.
To these are added also the wealth of books contained in the libraries
and historical documents preserved in the archives of the central, provincial and local communities.
Finally, they cover the literary works, theatrical productions, and film, produced through traditional or new means,
and also the different types of museums and exhibits.
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Production: Italy - Euroclip 2014: Don Bosco is here!
 The second festival of Euroclip, the short film competition sponsored by the Youth Ministry of ICP (the Special Circumscription of Piedmont and Valle d'Aosta), ended with the victory of the oratory of Valdocco with the short film “Don Bosco was here, Don Bosco is always here”. The final night was celebrated in Valdocco on 30 May.
The theme of this year's competition was the motto that accompanied the pilgrimage of the relic throughout Italy, "Don Bosco is here." However, as the organizers were keen to point out, this was not just a slogan, but an invitation to portray the everyday life of the Salesian works, where Don Bosco is still alive and active among young people.
The first prize went, then, to the oratory of Valdocco. The many merits of their short film were acknowledged, such as its "impeccable technical production from the aspect of photography and colour, its “originality” understood in the etymological sense of 'returning to the origins,' the quality of the actors and the strong characters of the film."
The oratory of Pinerolo was awarded second place for the short film "Down Hill". It was commended for its "wise and balanced production, highly creative screenwriting, and the message carried by a fine soundtrack that was well integrated into the script."
Still in the running for third place are the oratory of San Benigno, with "Symphony in Db", the Vocational Training Centre in Valdocco with "Me and Him", and the oratory of Rebaudengo, with "1864". Readers can vote until midnight on June 22 using the "Like" click on the Facebook page of the SYM in Piedmont, Valle d'Aosta and Lithuania, or on the website page dedicated to EUROCLIP.
The organization said it was pleased with the quality of the short films and the work of the young people, their teachers and leaders. Fr Alberto Lagostina thanked the participants and stressed the need to "tell the good things that happen in our houses".
At the end of the evening, Fr Alberto Martelli, National Delegate for Social Communication, thanked the participants and looked forward to EUROCLIP in 2015, the year of the bicentenary of the birth of Don Bosco.
The Euroclip festival was initially intended as a competition open to all young people in Europe, but evolved into various initiatives at provincial or national level. The competition promoted by the ICP, now in its second year, will become a regular forum of expression of Salesian values by young people.
link: www.infoans.org/1.asp?Lingua=2&sez=1&doc=10888
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Production: Vietnam - Salesian magazines spreading the charism
 With official permission from the State Publishing House, Salesian Vietnam has gone into publishing aimed at a general readership (Don Bosco Magazine) as well as various publications to help catechists, including Vietnamese translations of materials from Elledici.
The Don Bosco Magazine currently has a 3,500 print run per edition.
Word & Life (Loi & Cuoc Song), a title already developed and made popular by the Northern Province of the Philippines, currently has a print run of 4,000 but this is constantly growing. It is aimed at catechists and already goes out to five dioceses where it is very much appreciated.
Just as obvious when you think about it, is the fact that behind all this work there is an intense translation effort. Vietnam stands tall in this regard, though it is not the only Province in the Region that has a well-organised team working in this area. Significant translations of Salesian material are being done also in Thai, Japanese, Korean, Chinese (certainly Cantonese), Tetum, Bahasa Indonesia, Mongolian, and some too in Khmer ...
The Soc. Com Vietnam team, in fact, is also busy translating and publishing titles from Elledici, especially ones that might appeal to a broader public and also to catechists.
It is in this context that Fr Bruno Ferrero's material seems to be popular here. Fr Bruno Ferrero, Editor of the Italian Salesian Bulletin, might well be the most published Salesian of modern times. He is hugely popular in Eastern Europe and it is interesting to see that he appeals also in Vietnam.
link: www.infoans.org/1.asp?Lingua=2&sez=1&doc=10916
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Preservation: RMG - The gift of Fr Cais to the young people of Thailand: the Bible in their language
 After twenty-two years of work, the first entirely Catholic translation of the Bible in the Thai language is ready to go to print. It is the result of the commitment of several people and especially of Fr Francis Cais, a Salesian missionary in Thailand since 1960. On a visit to Rome he spoke to ANS about his experience.
How did the Bible in the Thai language come about?
This initiative was started by lay people who felt the need of a Thai Catholic Bible. They also supported the work financially. In Thailand, in fact, there are just 300,000 Catholics out of a population of 66 million. Although the first settlements took place here 300 years ago, Catholic missionaries had translated only the Gospels. Even after the liturgical reform of the Council, they continued to use the Bible of the Protestant Churches with just a few changes.
We started in a very solemn manner, with a special Mass, on 6 January 1992. We thought we could do the job very quickly, distributing the material among many priests who knew English. Two of us, Fr John Mary Vianney Thatsanai, a Salesian Past Pupil, and I, were involved at first only in coordinating the work but we came to realize that the job was not going well.
So, Fr Thatsanai and I sat down face to face and started translating verse by verse, from the original texts, trying always to find the best possible translation. As we finished each book we asked three university professors, two Buddhists and a Catholic, to review the work. Their contribution was important because they brought different points of view, female and inter-religious, and they were able to make different suggestions. We worked very well together, always trying to attain unanimity on every doubtful word. Finally we revised the first books that we had done twenty-two years ago, because the language has evolved in the meantime!
The result now is a translation that reads well. It is idiomatic and at the same time faithful to the original, The text is accompanied by introductions, notes, explanations, a glossary and maps. The bishops are very satisfied. They have already ordered 10,000 copies but we are printing twice that number.
link: www.infoans.org/1.asp?sez=1&doc=10917&Lingua=2
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