Italy - Don Bosco at the International Book Fair

The 28th International Book Fair will take place in Turin from 14 to 18 May. The theme will be "The ...
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Italy - Don Bosco at the International Book Fair

The 28th International Book Fair will take place in Turin from 14 to 18 May. The theme will be "The Wonders of Italy". In this Year of the Bicentenary of the birth of Don Bosco, thanks to the initiatives of various publishers, the Salesian presence at the exhibition will be impressive.

Libreria Editrice Vaticana (LEV)will be present with a 140 square metre pavilion dedicated to Don Bosco. The stand evokes a corner of the old courtyard of Valdocco, with a setting inspired by the drawings of Corrado Mezzana (1890-1952) for the volume of the Life of Blessed John Bosco by the Salesian Gian Battista Calvi in 1929.

This scene was chosen to honour Don Bosco patron of publishers, and his ever filial and affectionate relationship with the Popes, who in turn never failed to lend assistance and support. So, along with many publications by and about Pope Francis, and a special space reserved for Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, at the LEV stand there will be several books related to Don Bosco, including “Don Bosco Today" the book-interview of Fr Ángel Fernández Artime with Ángel Expósito, and "Pope Francis and Don Bosco" by Alejandro Leon, on Pope Francis’s links with the Salesians.

Among the various events that will enliven the participation of LEV in the fair there will also be the launch of three books: "Faith and the Common Good. The Christian Contribution to Contemporary Society" by Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, SDB, former Secretary of State (Friday, 15 May); "The Smile of Tenderness - Readings on the Care of Creation", by the architect Paolo Portoghesi, with a contribution as rapporteur by Cardinal Raffaele Farina SDB, archivist and librarian emeritus of the Holy Roman Church (Saturday, May 16); and "Interviews and Conversations with Journalists - Two years of Pontificate," edited by Fr Giuseppe Costa, SDB, Director of LEV (Sunday, May 17).

The Salesian publisher Elledici will also participate in the exhibition, with a stand of 100 square metres. In addition to displaying its own publications, Elledici will also act as host to several Salesian publishers from other countries in order to offer a panoramic view of Salesian publishing all over the world.

Another initiative of Elledici at the fair will be a seminar on Friday 15 May on "St John Bosco, Turin and the World." Among the speakers will be Fr Filiberto González, Councillor General for Social Communication, who will be in Turin that weekend for the Meeting of the Delegates for Social Communication of the Mediterranean region.

Among the Salesian publishers to be present at the Fair, two more have confirmed their participation: "Edebé" and the "Central Catequística Salesiana" (CCS).
link: www.infoans.org/1.asp?sez=1&sotSez=13&doc=12614&Lingua=2

Croatia - The ongoing formation of Salesians

Wednesday, April 29, in the Provincial House of the Salesians in Knezija (Zagreb), over 40 Salesians ...
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Croatia - The ongoing formation of Salesians

Wednesday, April 29, in the Provincial House of the Salesians in Knezija (Zagreb), over 40 Salesians from the various educational and pastoral communities gathered with Fr Filiberto Gonzalez, General Councilor for Social Communication, to hold the periodic ongoing formation. The theme of the meeting was shown by three titles: "Communication in the family, a privileged place for the encounter of gratuitous love", "Don Bosco the communicator in celebration of the bicentennial of his birth" and "Personal reflections applied to community life".
By Fr Sebastijan Marković, SDB

After the introduction of the coordinator, Fr Milan Ivančević, and the greetings of the Provincial, Fr Pejo Orkić, Fr González spoke, stressing the importance of ongoing formation for the Salesians, reaffirming the priority: the encounters of the confreres, the reciprocal communication and the ability to develop love towards others in the community; these elements are measured more in the actual relationships rather than in their detailed analysis, applied more in being together rather than in the study of some topics.



As a priority, the councilor has pointed out the letter of Don Bosco about spreading good books, an effective channel through which the salvific contents of a sound education can reach the young people and the people of God. The participants, divided into three groups, commented on the main ideas of the letter seeking the connections between the time of Don Bosco and today.



During the group discussions it was then observed that the present time reveals a crisis in the reading of books, but also the spread of new technologies among young people and the need that also the Salesians use these new possibilities of communication, especially in the educational and pastoral activities.

After the celebration of the Eucharist, in which the provincial noted the importance of the Word through which God communicates with his people, in the afternoon there was another reflection in groups on the Pope's message for the 49th World Day of Social Communication.
At the center of the message there is the family, as a privileged place for the encounter and for the formation in the art of true communication: in the family resides all the human components, from the communion of joy, of pain, of concern and of the approaches towards openness to God, prayer in common, the transmission of the faith, of human values and of mutual acceptance.

At the end of the thematic reflections, Fr Orkić informed the participants about some information on the life and work of the Salesians in the Province: he recalled the formation that rejuvenates and enriched oneself, with new members (10 postnovices, 2 novices, 7 postulants, 3 deacons) and he invited to pray for the sick and elderly Salesians.


Fr González stayed in Croatia until 1 May, visiting the communities of Žepče and animating the sector of Salesian communication in the country.
link: www.infoans.org/1.asp?sez=1&doc=12579&Lingua=2

India - Don Bosco Communications South Asia plans to take on new challenges

The Management Council of Don Bosco Communications (BOSCOM), South Asia, consisting of 14 delegates ...
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India - Don Bosco Communications South Asia plans to take on new challenges

The Management Council of Don Bosco Communications (BOSCOM), South Asia, consisting of 14 delegates from the different provinces of India, met at Kharguli, Guwahati, on 25-26 April to discuss the role of the commission in South Asia Region and plan for some upcoming events.

By Fr Bivan Mukhim, SDB

Fr Maria Arokiam Kanaga, the Regional Councillor of South Asia who was present at the meeting, spoke to the members and said that the Salesians need to give a new dimension to the communication ministry in South Asia Region. “We need to create a writer’s forum to make the Salesians in India heard,” he said. “We need to keep in mind the changing scenario in the communication sector and come up with alternative and innovative means of ministry. While making the local ministry more effective, common ventures with specific thrust areas each year are also important. The bicentenary year of Don Bosco’s birth is a great opportunity for the commission to think out of the box and come up with new plans and projects that address the problems and challenges faced by the new generation.”

At the outset of the meeting Fr Joaquim Fernandez of the province of Mumbai and secretary of BOSCOM, took charge of the Office of the Regional Delegate for Don Bosco Communications South Asia, having been appointed to that post by the SPCSA, as Fr Antony Earathara had completed a term of three years. Fr A. Raj, the editor of the Salesian Bulletin, from the Province of Tiruchi, was then elected as the new Secretary of BOSCOM South Asia.

Some of the deliberations made during the management Council meeting touched the following points:

1. The role to be played by the communication commission in the two big events that are coming up as part of the bicentenary celebrations of Don Bosco`s birth, in New Delhi and Kolkata. A six-minute video will be prepared to be screened on the occasion, showcasing Don Bosco and the Salesian works in South Asia, and some of the illustrious Salesian alumni.

2. Re-designing and giving a face-lift to the regional web portal for the conclusion of the bicentenary celebrations.

3. Appointing a seasoned editor to edit Bosco Information Service (BIS) news so that the news reports will reflect better quality in terms of news writing.

4. Plans to revamp the Salesian Bulletin (English edition) as presented by Fr. A. Raj, its editor.

5. Holding a multi-city film festival - Don Bosco Bicentenary International Short Film Festival of India (DBBiSFFi) - towards the conclusion of the bicentenary celebrations.

6. Appointment of a full timer to co-ordinate communication ministry of the region, with an office in New Delhi.
link: www.infoans.org/1.asp?sez=1&doc=12552&Lingua=2