GLOBAL
SALESIAN NEWS
RMG - Beatification of Titus Zeman: Rector Major’s Letter
South Korea – Vocations journey also in military service (ANS - Uijongbu) - Due to the historical and social situation of South Korea, Salesian candidates are supposed to complete their compulsory military service before their novitiate. In the past, there was a 36-month-long military service duty; now, fortunately, they are only called to serve 21 months. Salesian candidates are enrolled for the military service only after two years as aspirants. At present, there are 10 aspirants in military service, with one on standby. Last week, September 12-15, the Military Diocese of Korea in the Uijong Bu ‘One Heart Training Center’ organized a nationwide retreat for all Catholic seminary students carrying out their military service. The Salesian aspirants finally had a chance to meet their friends and experience, once again, a typical Salesian family environment.
Puerto Rico - Hurricane Maria damages thousands of homes and the Salesians prepare to help
(ANS - San Juan) - Hurricane Maria has caused heavy damage and at least 14 deaths in Puerto Rico. Dr Carmen Yulín Cruz, mayor of the country’s capital, San Juan, which has about 390,000 inhabitants, explained that at the moment “it is very difficult to calculate the damage and the number of houses destroyed.” The Mayor of Fajardo City, Dr Aníbal Meléndez, said, “I have never seen my city so devastated.” After striking Puerto Rico, Hurricane Maria has decreased in intensity and is now headed towards the eastern coast of the Dominican Republic. Both in Puerto Rico and in the Dominican Republic, the Salesians have a number of educational works, parishes, oratories and youth centers, and they are preparing to organize relief aid for people left homeless, without water, without food.
OCTOBER 2017
(ANS - Rome) - On the occasion of the imminent beatification of Venerable Fr Titus Zeman, SDB, taking place on September 30 in Bratislava (Slovakia), the Rector Major, Fr Ángel Fernández Artime, has sent a letter to Salesians across the globe and to members of the Salesian Family. In it, Fr Á.F. Artime emphasizes that it is significant that the martyrdom of Fr Zeman is acknowledged as fruit of the sanctity of the Salesian family, in the light of the Bicentenary of Don Bosco’s birth, 2015, and following the beatification of the Blessed Stephen Sandor, the Hungarian Salesian Coadjutor, in 2013.
Spain - “Ven y veras”: Mary Help of Christians Salesian Province looks to vocation as service
(ANS - Seville) - The motto “Ven y veras” (Come and See) will be the guiding theme of the pro-vocations campaign presented by the Province of Spain-Mary Help of Christians. Over the next 12 months, lay vocation, vocation to marriage and family, vocation to ministerial service, or consecrated life will all be presented. The project’s main aim is to promote vocational animation among the young of the Salesian centers, accompanying them to the discovery of God’s call in their lives as a way of serving others, both in society and in the Church. The “Ven y verás” project began on 31 May, 2017, and will end in 2018, and shall be proposed to the young of every Salesian centre. The campaign is represented by concentric circles that represent life as a vocation, life as a service and life as a gift to God in consecrated life. Young people are therefore invited to question themselves on the example of the first disciples, and in their personal answer or response to God, find their happiness. 19
The Salesian Bulletin