Latest News Definitive Approval of the Statute of the World Confederation of Past Pupils Six years after its experimental approval and after long and meticulous study, the Statute of the World Confederation was approved definitively at the Fifth Elective Assembly held in Rome, 3-6 October 2015. It involved all the National and Provincial Federations of the world. Now, in the lead-up to 5 December, memorial of Blessed Philip Rinaldi, considered by the Past Pupils "the Architect of the Association", the statute is given to all members to be studied, applied, and observed. The statutes of the different federations are to be updated accordingly.
Getting to know World Statute (Prayer Promise) GOD, OUR FATHER, THROUGH THE MEDIATION OF YOUR SON, JESUS, AND THROUGH THE INTERCESSION OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO give heed to the prayers of the Past Pupils all over the world. WE THANK YOU for the invaluable gift of education which we have received, under the enlightened guidance of the Salesians, which have instilled our lives with the Salesian Spirituality WE ASK YOU WITH FAMILIAL TRUST
The new Statute of the World Confederation emphasizes clearly the mission of the Past Pupils which is “to be in the world 'honest citizens and good Christians'." Their vision leads them to "commit to becoming 'salt of the earth and light of the world' in Society and in the Church'.” They achieve these goals by proclaiming and defending the values of life, freedom, truth, solidarity, fraternity and communion. In his presentation of the Statute, the Rector Major, Fr Ángel Fernández Artime, says: "I want to highlight some of the riches of the document. In Chapter I, on the identity and origin, there is a biblical text that is the key to understanding the whole text of the Statute: every past pupil is called to be salt of the earth and light of the world (Mt 5: 13-14). There is also a new chapter, Chapter II, onmembership, commitment and formation in the Association. Full information in ANS: http://www.infoans.org/1.asp?Lingua=2&sez=1&sotsez =13&doc=13840
Give us strength and courage to live the human and Christian message, in the Society and in the Church. Encourage us to become "good Christians and honest citizens”, Help us to live together and promote solidarity in our Association and beyond it. Strengthen our faith, hope and charity. WE PROMISE YOU to fight against injustice, blackmail, superficiality, indifference, and to defend at all costs, the values inspired from Don Bosco’s teaching, especially life, freedom and truth with a spirit of social, political and financial commitment, and to be, “the salt of the earth and light of the world” with a strong influence in the world and in the Church. WE BEG YOU to watch over our Salesian Family, our dear ones and all of us. Amen.
A Prayer-Promise to strengthen identity, mission and communion The Prayer-Promise is one of the novelties of the new Statute of the World Confederation of Past Pupils, approved by the Fifth Statutory Assembly which took place from 3 to 6 October last. It is a formula by which "a Past Pupil of Don Bosco expresses his resolve to live his lay vocation in society and in the Church at all times and to make Don Bosco present wherever he may be." (Statute art. 5, b). It is a synthesis of the identity, mission and vision in society of the Past Pupils and of the Association. The Statute says: "when a past pupil freely chooses to commit himself in the Association he makes the PrayerPromise" (Statute art. 5, a). it also provides that this be done publicly in a suitable celebration, so that the Association, the Church and society are witnesses to the decision made on behalf of the mission of Don Bosco among the most disadvantaged young people. With the Prayer-Promise the past pupils intend to announce to the world the decision to strengthen communion in the Association, in the Church and in society, by becoming architects and engineers of unity and solidarity. Full information in ANS: http://www.infoans.org/1.asp?sez=1&sotSez=13&doc=1387 7&lingua=2
XI Congress Asia – Oceanía will take place in East Timor New Confederal Presidenct and National Federation of East Timor, confirm that the next Congress Asia – Oceania of Past Pupils of Don Bosco will take place from 4th to 8th October 2016. President Agostinho dos Santo and Fr. Provincial Virgilio da Silva have confirmed the creation of a committee for all the arrangements. In the next numbers of our Newsflash we will give you all the details to Foster the participation of everyone.
Rector Mayor’s voice
Christmas Greeting by Rector Mayor Link to vídeo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mez uX3t-1I&feature=youtu.be
President Greeting Dear Past pupils, dear Exallievi, More than two months have passed since the V Assembly in Rome. Time flies very quickly and in less than one month we are going to publish our programme for the years to come until 2021. You will be the primarily addresses of this programme, we are preparing it for you! We are preparing it having in mind the incredible richness hidden in our association and in every of its members. Our main goal for the next period is to be able to use this richness for the development of our members, but also for the Salesian family and the societies in which we live. We are doing it because we are aware of the most important message of Don Bosco for us: Be saint! Reach the heaven! It is the most important program of our lives – to reach the heaven. It seems complex and difficult, but it isn´t. It´s easy and simple! But we have to be able to imagine it, and to imagine it we need the mental scheme that will lead us and will help on us our way to heaven. This scheme is simple: Good Christian and honest citizen. Be proud of being Past pupil! Be good past pupil of Don Bosco! Yours in Don Bosco
Presentation of the Book “Don Bosco hoy” in Roma organized by Past Pupil Sergio Rodríguez – director of Cervantes Institute in Rome Yesterday, 1 December, the book "Don Bosco Hoy" was launched by the Cervantes Institute in Rome at the Spanish Embassy to the Holy See. It contains an interview given by the Rector Major of the Salesians, Fr Ángel Fernández Artime, to the journalist Ángel Expósito. It also has twelve chapters on fundamental questions of the life and mission of Don Bosco, which, in the words of Dr Expósito, are very topical, because, "unfortunately everything he fought against 200 years ago in the Kingdom of Piedmont continues to occur again today."
There are six key issues Don Bosco fought against or for which he worked: violence, immigration and refugees, Africa and the missions, education and vocational training, social networks and communication, racism and xenophobia. He confronted all these with one approach: education" said the journalist. He expressed his satisfaction at being able to participate in the launch of the book, which also brought together several members of the Salesian Family who are experts in the topics of the twelve chapters that accompany the interview. When the parents of other faiths send their children to our schools, knowing how we educate, knowing that we will not teach any explicitly religious message - although of course we teach the values we believe in – it is because they believe that this humanist way of educating (which includes deep evangelical values) will ensure that their children will have an outlook on life that they like (...). Those boys and girls, the parents of tomorrow, will have a different understanding of peace, of the relationship between man and woman, of violence and diversity ... Tell me if this is not transforming society." In addition to the Ambassador of Spain, Dr Eduardo Gutiérrez Sáenz de Buruaga, the event was attended also by ambassadors to the Holy See, including those of Honduras, Panama and Colombia; Ms Carmen Magallón of the Editrice Romana; Father Giuseppe Costa, SDB, of the Libreria Editrice Vaticana; and the organizer of the initiative and director of the Cervantes Institute in Rome, Dr Sergio Rodríguez López.
Whispered Words of World Delegate V Elective-Statutory Assembly and pilgrimage-retreat of Past Pupils to Torino to greet Don Bosco, from 3rd to 9th October 2015, are two events that allow our Association to promote a new spring. The fruits of these meetings were, among others: election of a new Confederal Presidency, a new Statute for World Confederation, an increase of unity, fraternity and communion As such World Confederation is living a beautiful and excellent moment. Now is time to Local Unions, Associations and National and Provincial Federations (Presidents and Delegates) to transmit to the members the spirit, strength and decisions to strengthen and renew the Association. It is exactly this, what will transform Local Unions the real lungs of Federations and World Confederation. Therefore, it is necessary to renew National Federation statutes and assume new determinations contained in the new Confederal Statute. Last but not least, in order to guarantee a better comprehension of the Statute, we will offer some training and explicative materials. The first one has already been published. It explains, among other things, the motivation of the election and the meaning of Bible text in the context of the first article and the whole Statute: “You are salt of the Earth…and light of the World” (Mt 4.13-14)… The second document will consist on an anaylisisexplanation of the Prayer Promise of Past Pupils.
Maltese Past Pupils organise National Conference on the Synod and the Family The National Federation of the Past Pupils and Friends of Don Bosco in Malta organised a National Conference about the Church Synod on the Family that was held in Rome last October. The event took place at the Intercontinental Hotel on the 12th December 2015 where various members from the Salesian Family as well as other guests took part. APS Bank supported the initiative.
Solidarity Corner In the transfer meeting of the World Presidency we he valued how to grant the “Solidarity Project 2016”. Considering the urgency that our brothers in Syria are living and, that although the war, in some Salesian Presences, Past Pupils were starting to get organize we decided to donate the funds collected in 2016 to help Salesian Houses in Syria. “MUTUAL AID SOCIETY: HELP YOUR SYRIAN BROTHER” Collected funds will be transferred to the Province so that groups of Syrian Past Pupils will help that have nothing due to this non-sense war.
The main speaker was the Bishop of Gozo, Mons. Mario Grech, who participated in the Synod in Rome. Bishop Grech gave an overview of the document that was issued at the end of the Synod and also shared some of his personal experiences. He appealed to everyone to be open and reflect on the outcome of the Synod. He encouraged everyone to put God ahead of us and allow people to discern His will.
Toma de posesión de la nueva directiva de la federación de Sao Paulo con la presencia del Consejero Eduardo Pessoa We share Eduardo’s testimony: “Two days ago I went (with my wife Patrícia) to the city of São Paulo here in Brasil to take part of an induction ceremony (Holly Mass) of the new board of directors of that "Inspetoria"/Province, and also of an important local Union.
We are aware that many Provinces in Europe are already committed in helping Middle East Province, and particularly Syria, but we believe that as Past Pupils we must do something extra. Fr. Provincial Munir El Rai and Economer Fr. Alejandro León, are already aware of our initiative, and very happy because of it. In next numbers we will inform you about our campaign.
The past pupils invited me not only to participate in the ceremony, but also to, along with them, have a public induction of my election of Rome. That was a very kind invitation, for it shows our sense of brotherhood and friendship. So I went there and solemnly proclaimed ou new promisse prayer, followed by all the past pupils present. It was a marvelous celebration, with the presence of the "Inspetor"/Provincial, the Delegate of the "Inspetoria" and other Salesians.
If you want to collaborate you can send your contributions in the following bank account: Bank: POSTE ITALIANE. SWIFT: BPPIITRRXXX. IBAN: IT53O0760103200000043261007 Concept: SIRIA
“Honest Citizens” In this section we highlight fellow Alumni who are setting a good example in civil society and are a model for us all. Philipines: Medical Mission by Past Pupils The Don Bosco Past Pupils of Lawaan (DBPPOL) held a Medical Mission on November 29, 2015 at the Don Bosco Formation Center, Lawaan, Talisay City - Cebu. The activity was coordinated by Mr. John Calo, the President of the DBPPOL along with its recent batch of officers. The members of the DBPPOL are the alumni of the former Don Bosco Missionary Seminary which used to be a High School Aspirantate but closed down in 2005 and paved a way for a new batch of college aspirants as what it is today.
This annual event was held in cooperation with the local government of Baragay Lawaan through the instrumentality of Barangay Captain Joel Cabo. Through his social workers, the poorest and those in need of medical attention among his constituents were identified and given ticket stabs for them to avail of the free medical check-up. The activity was able to serve 285 patients with a good number of senior citizens and pediatric patients among them. Around 197 packs containing two kilos of rice with noodles were also distributed along with free medicines.
Announcements DATABASE OF NATIONAL AND PROVINCIAL/REGIONAL LEADERS From this Presidency we would like to be closer to your reality in the Association, both at national and provincial/regional level, with that purpose we kindly ask you to send us some contact data from your President and other referent people of your movement to reach them. We need the following data: • Full name • Mail address • Email address • Telephone number and cell number • Language(s) for communication • Birth date (to send you our compliments) DIPLOMAS OF 25 AND 50 YEARS OF FIDELITY TO DON BOSCO! World Confederation has available for all Local Unions and Federations diplomas of fidelity, that go together with the don Bosco button, that you can see below. Its cost is of 10 € per diploma and button (including the expenditure costs to your local Union or Federation)
The medical team was coordinated by Dr. Alex Junia from batch 85 who is a cardiologist and the current President of the Philippine Heart Association (PHA). Among the services offered during the medical mission were medical consultations, pediatric clearance and referrals, glucose test, blood pressure examination, ECG and medical ultrasound. Don Bosco Missionary Seminary since its establishment on December 8, 1976 has had several alumni coming from the medical profession. Others are into law, banking and the teaching profession. Though it made a major transition from High School to College with the establishment of Don Bosco Formation Center that caters to the aspirants of the Philippine South Province – FIS, it continues the legacy of forming Bosconians who can make a difference in Philippine society. Next year, it will celebrate 40th anniversary of its foundation.
You can ask them writing to: World Delegate – Fr. José Pastor (rjosepastor@gmail.com) Vicepresident GEX – Ángel Gudiña (angelgudina@gmail.com)
World Presidency in pictures In future editions of the Newflash, Presidency members will inform about their activities in their Regions or at World Level. In the meantime this arrives, many members of the Presidency have had meetings due to several reasons or took part in activities at national level.
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Meeting of Strategic Planning in Slovakia (Michal & Angel). Meeting of Provincial Federation of Kolkatta Calcuta (Rajesh & Rajiv). Closing of Casa Don Bosco in Expo2015 and deliver of the pavilion to the young people in Ukraine (Maurizio)
Induction ceremony of Provincial and Local Presidencies in Sao Paulo (Eduardo). Visit to Malta after V Assembly (Josﾃｩ Pastor). Preparation meeting IV Edition of ELCA (Fresia). Visit to Milano (Rajesh & Maurizio). Meeting in Brussels (Bryan & ﾃ］gel)