Book Review: Don Bosco in Australia and the Pacific

As the Yeast in Today's Human Family

"My Passion is Christ"

The Gift of Remembrance

12 Years of War

Latest News

Book Review: Don Bosco in Australia and the...

In 2020, Provincial Fr William Matthews commissioned Fr Frank Moloney to author a book recording the first 100 years of Salesian presence in Australia. Fr Frank, author of over 40 books and a...

As the Yeast in Today's Human Family

The Kingdom of God requires our collaboration, but above all, it is the Lord's initiative and gift to us. Our fragile work, if it is inserted into that of God, is not afraid of difficulties because...

"My Passion is Christ"

My dear friends and readers of the Salesian Bulletin, we have begun a new year. We find ourselves in 2023. At least to me that sounds like an unimaginable number, perhaps ‘galactic time.’ I don’t...

The Gift of Remembrance

Today, whilst many enjoying abundant material well-being, there are warning signs that genuine quality of life is in short supply. Despite the greatly increased number of people receiving higher...

12 Years of War

Syria is commerating the 12th anniversary of the outbreak of war amid a critical humanitarian situation, aggravated by the aftermath of last month's earthquakes in the north of the country. An...

Poor Students Stay in School with Rice Shipments

Poor youth gaining their education through Don Bosco Bombo schools, located in Bombo, Uganda, had access to better nutrition thanks to a partnership between Salesian Missions and Rise Against...

Working for an Inclusive World on IWD

Poverty, illiteracy and inequality in the world unfortunately continue to have a female face. The commemoration of International Women's Day aims raise awareness of these issues and achieve true...

Over 9,600 People Receive Nutritional Support

More than 9,600 vulnerable people in Peru received nutritional support thanks to a partnership between Salesian Missions and “Feed My Starving Children”, a non-profit Christian organization...

Don Bosco's Preventive System Counters Bullying

In France, it is estimated that more than 700,000 young people are bullied at school, i.e., 12 percent of elementary school pupils, 10 percent of secondary school pupils, and 4 percent of high...

Spreading Love in the Home for Naughty Boys

Called "Trano zaza maditra," ("Home for Naughty Boys") it is the state-run rehabilitation center that houses over one hundred children and youths in Anjanamasina, a suburb of Antananarivo, the...

Timorese Agricultural Students Undertake Job...

The third year students of the Don Bosco Agricultural School are in their job training period. This program is an annual activity contemplated in the school’s curriculum under the patronage of the...

Eco-Spirtual Lenten Journey

For Lent 2023, the Salesian Youth Ministry has published a tool to help young people prepare for Easter in an Eco-Spirtual Journey. The journey begins on Ash Wednesday (22/2/2023) and ends on Easter...

Fear, Solidarity, Commitment: Earthquake Told by...

"We have lived through more than 10 years of war, but perhaps these moments are the most terrible because of the terror we’ve experienced... We cannot describe what we have experienced" says Joelle...

Salesian in Jakarta Reduce Environmental Impact

The Sacred Heart of Jesus Post-novitiate Community in Sunter, North Jakarta, Indonesia has been working hard to reduce it's environmental impact. This begun with the implementation of compost...

Akworo’s Agriculture recieve Maize Processing...

Installation of one of the two Maize processing machines, purchased through donations received via the Salesian Missions has taken place at Akworo’s Agriculture store. The community continues to...

Salesian Support for Earthquake Survivors in Syria

The Salesians have been active in Aleppo, Syria, since the beginning of the war – almost 12 years ago, and are now moving quickly to mobilise support for those affected by the Earthquake which...

Salesian Aid Reaches 100,000 Ethoipoians

While Ethiopia was trying to recover from the effects of drought, covid and other issues, in November 2020 a full-scale war started between the Federal Government of Ethiopia and the Tigray Region....

Salesian Centenary Celebrations Begin!

The Salesians of Don Bosco celebrate 100 years of their presence in Australia in 2023 and centenary celebrations begun at the Mother House in Sunbury, Melbourne on 24th January, the feast day of...

Ukrainians Fight Through Winter's Bite to Send...

Winter in Eastern Europe can kill even in normal times: temperatures reach -25/30°C. Today in Ukraine, however, the situation is much worse than it usually is as many houses have broken windows or...

Uninterrupted Welcome, Help and Support for...

A beautiful home, the warm place of welcome and of one's own security, reduced to a pile of rubble; the objects of one's daily life reduced to mute witnesses to missile attacks: this is the sad...

Donor Funding Empowers Indian Women

Fifty young women who live at the Salesian Surakshita Home, located in the town of Ravulapalem in Andhra Pradesh, India, were supported through donor funding . Surakshita Home provides living...

Strenna 2023: Other images and suggestions worth...

In the long months of work leading up to the official release of the Strenna message for the New Year, the Sector for Social Communication, at the request of the Rector Major, Fr. Ángel Fernández...

Don Bosco is present amongst thousands of...

"One gesture, one life" is the leitmotiv of the urgent interventions that the Salesian coordination of the East Delegation of the "Central Africa" Province (AFC-EST) are carrying out in...

Nutritional Support at Don Bosco Kansebula

More than 360 youth received nutritional support at Don Bosco Kansebula, located in Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, thanks to donor funding from Salesian Missions, the U.S. development...

Strenna 2023

After much anticpation, the artwork to accompany the Salesian Strenna for 2023 has been releaws. The poster, which illustrates the message of his Strenna for 2023: " As the Yeast in Today's Human...

Lives Lived Well: VALE Fr Gerrit Kraan

Fr Gerrit Kraan was born on the 13th December 1929 in Utrecht Netherlands, to a strict parental home, where love was expressed not necessarily in affection, but rather in food on the table,...

VALE fr James Adayadiel

Fr James Adayadiel was born in Poonjar-Changanac, Kerala, India in 1932. He was a brave pioneer and missionary in Samoa, which was still known as Western Samoa when he arrived. He also spent a...

Lives Lived Well: VALE Fr Norman Ford

Fr Norman Ford was born in 1935 in Ballarat, Victoria and educated at De La Salle College, Malvern. He entered the Salesian novitiate in 1952 and professed temporary vows in 1953. At the time it was...

Salesian Sisters Celebrate 40 Years!

The Salesian Sisters of Samoa, together with the Parish and school community, mission partners and the Educational Community at Leauvaa, came together to give thanks and praise to God and Mary, for...

Siva...It's who we are!

What makes the Don Bosco schools in Samoa unique is their focus on a holistic education. One of the key priorities of our educators in Samoa is to engage and empower each young person so that they...

Cagliero back in the field!

The Cagliero Project is an initiative of the Australia-Pacific Province that provides overseas volunteer experiences for people who wish to work with disadvantaged young people. The Cagliero Project...

A Journey Of Faith

I was surprised and somewhat daunted at my election as the new president of the Bishops Conference. It is an important role and not one that I had ever imagined I might be asked to take on. At the...

What are Trees Worth?

Everyone knows trees are valuable, but did you know you can calculate their specific added value to your property? Having mature trees in your yard or property is usually seen as valuable commodity:...

Dream, Believe, Achieve!

“Dream, believe, achieve” were the words chanted by the young people gathered to celebrate International Youth Day on the 12th of August. They had come from the Jittu Squatter Settlement in of...

“Christianity Plummets”

I have always taken a secret delight in being proved wrong. Once previous firmly held convictions give way to the possibility that they might not be so correct as envisaged, our minds are open to...

A clouded people

The weather recently in Melbourne has been incredibly cold! The mornings have been frosty and overcast, although the sun has come through on some days. Melbourne isn’t bringing its locals much...

"Now I Know Kindness Exists!"

“I want to do something nice for people, for children, for young people, just as the people of Poland and Slovakia did for me." These are the words of Kira, a young Ukrainian refugee in Slovakia,...

The joy of Gratitude Joy

Recently I have experienced a couple of events in life that cheer my spirits - gathering for celebrations, travel and simple daily routines; without having to think of lock-downs and restrictions. I...

From Sunrise to Sunset

It is a great joy to live in communion the 150th of the foundation of our Institute on August 5. From sunrise to sunset, every community in the world raised the hymn of praise and gratitude to God...

An Unimaginable Gift

It can be said that one of the greatest riches of Africa are its children. They are all over and always happy and smiling (I would almost say unaware of the poverty in which they live). During three...

Gratitude

Recently a thought-provoking letter arrived on my desk. It speaks for itself. Dear Father, My wife and I feel we should share the following with you as you know our family situation. Last Friday...

Youth, Art and Social Transformation Festival

Twenty-seven artistic works, from 14 Provinces and spotlighting the talents of young people - in theater, dance, song, music, and circus - were the focus of the Salesian Social Works Artistic...

Dominic Winners at Day of AI

On Wednesday 27 July 2022, Year 7 to 10 students from secondary schools across Australia participated in a day of creative, fun and hands-on activities to immerse themselves in AI. For students it...

30 years of Mission in Mongolia

In a mission country like Mongolia - where there are about 1,300 Catholics, out of a population of more than 3 million people - remembering one's roots and joining forces with all those involved in...

'Youth Outreach' to the peripheries

Since November 1991, the Salesian-founded and inspired Hong Kong 'Youth Outreach' has accompanied thousands of young people in crisis, offering a broad variety of emergency or preventive youth...

New Homes by Institut Don Bosco

The Salesian center "Institut Don Bosco," based in Gradignan, animates and coordinates homes and services scattered throughout the New Aquitaine region in southwest France. A total of 47 facilities...

Increased food Security thanks to Donors

Through the generosity of donors, breakfast and lunch have been provided to poor children aged 3 to 18 years at the Don Bosco Youth Center, in Rundu. 200 children have been provided with two meals a...

OzBosco’s Back!

After two long years, OzBosco was able to return to an in-person event, to the great joy of all that gathered! Around 60 young people and teachers joined 2 SDBs and 2 FMAs for a weekend gathering,...

100,000 pay homage to Blessed Ceferino Namuncurá

100,000 people joined the traditional pilgrimage to pay homage to Blessed Ceferino Namuncurá, held in Chimpay, Argentina on Sunday, August 28. Marking the end of a two-year absence due to COVID...

Robotics: A window to the Future!

Iskra is a year 10 student at Salesian College Chadstone In Coding and Robotics this semester, we are learning about Robotics, using VEX IQ robots along with coding giving the course an even...

St John Bosco College launchs Reconciliation...

To coincide with NAIDOC Week 2022, St John Bosco College launched its first Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP).This RAP is a formal statement of commitment made by St John Bosco College towards...

Salesian Commitment to Refugees Never Goes on...

Although in many parts of the world this is a time of vacation and relaxation, the Salesians - and the many young people and lay people who voluntarily collaborate with them – have not forgotten...

30 Years of Saving Young from Homelessness

Launched by Fr Chris Riley 30 years ago, “Youth Off the Streets” is a comprehensive service network for the youth at risk, is journeying with the vulnerable young people and young adults of Sydney,...

Salesian Mission Week Lights up Brazil!

After a two-year hiatus, Salesian Mission Week has finally returned to the streets of Brazil!! From July 16 to 24 Salesian joy and enthusiasm flooded the cities of Águas de Prata, Aparecida, São...

Summer Camps after War Trials

It is enough that you are young for me to love you very much," Don Bosco used to say. However, his universal love for young people had a preferential way for the young people who were most in need...

Lives Lived Well: Vale Sr Teresa Fossati

Teresa was the third in a family of three children; she was born on the 31st August 1925 to Emma Ripamonti and Carlo Fossati. Devout Catholics, they presented her for baptism the day after her...

Lives Lived Well: Vale Fr Mika Leilua

Fr Mika Leilua was born in the village of Vaiusu in Samoa on 15 May 1963 to devout Catholic parents, Leo Leilua and Lesina Ulugia in a family of nine children. Having attended St Francis Xavier...

Sisters mark 150 years

On the 14h May, the Church at St. Jude's Scoresby, Melbourne came alive with the celebration of the 150th anniversary of the Foundation of the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians...

Throwing Away The World

We live in a ‘throw away’ world that seems to spin around a dual axis, the unquenchable desire for ‘more’ and the insatiable yearning for ‘new’. We, as human beings, want to have more and more and...

Sustainable Hospitality

Don Bosco Technical Centre (DBTC) in Alafua, Samoa is pleased to announce the opening of a newly purpose-built kitchen and classroom facility. The building was funded through generous donors from...

Schools and Missions

On March 24th the Salesian Missions team ran a professional development day for employees of Salesian works from around Australia. Co-led by the Salesian Missions Team and Fr. Peter Hoang from the...

Ordination to Diaconate of Br Jeff Miller

On the 25th of March 2022, the Solemnity of the Annunciation, the Ordination to Diaconate of Br. Jeff Miller was celebrated at St. Joseph's Church, Collingwood. Many Salesians, as well as Jeff's...

Final Profession of Br Anh Vu Nguyen

Sunday, 20 March, was a special day; Brother Peter Anh Vu Nguyen made his Perpetual Profession, in front of a packed crowd at the newly built Youth and Recreational centre in Suva Fiji. Also present...

Sponsor a Teacher Educate a Nation!

Ms Tasileta Tagiilima started working at Don Bosco Technical Centre (DBTC) in Alafua, Samoa, in 2018 on a temporary contract to help with secretarial duties. Little was Tasileta to know that this...

Salesian Youth Ministry

Don Bosco's Preventive System Counters Bullying

In France, it is estimated that more than 700,000 young people are bullied at school, i.e., 12 percent of elementary school pupils, 10 percent of...

Eco-Spirtual Lenten Journey

For Lent 2023, the Salesian Youth Ministry has published a tool to help young people prepare for Easter in an Eco-Spirtual Journey. The journey...

Siva...It's who we are!

What makes the Don Bosco schools in Samoa unique is their focus on a holistic education. One of the key priorities of our educators in Samoa is to...

Dream, Believe, Achieve!

“Dream, believe, achieve” were the words chanted by the young people gathered to celebrate International Youth Day on the 12th of August. They had...

OzBosco’s Back!

After two long years, OzBosco was able to return to an in-person event, to the great joy of all that gathered! Around 60 young people and teachers...

30 Years of Saving Young from Homelessness

Launched by Fr Chris Riley 30 years ago, “Youth Off the Streets” is a comprehensive service network for the youth at risk, is journeying with the...

Summer Camps after War Trials

It is enough that you are young for me to love you very much," Don Bosco used to say. However, his universal love for young people had a...

Because I said so!

We all want our children to grow up to become model citizens, to be kind and generous members of our community. We often view our children as a...

Faith in the Wildlands

Embracing the wild outdoors of Nanga Bush Camp in Dwellingup, 106 young people and 40 volunteer leaders from around Perth embarked on the annual...

SDB News

Book Review: Don Bosco in Australia and the...

In 2020, Provincial Fr William Matthews commissioned Fr Frank Moloney to author a book recording...

Lives Lived Well: VALE Fr Gerrit Kraan

Fr Gerrit Kraan was born on the 13th December 1929 in Utrecht Netherlands, to a strict parental...

VALE fr James Adayadiel

Fr James Adayadiel was born in Poonjar-Changanac, Kerala, India in 1932. He was a brave pioneer...

Lives Lived Well: VALE Fr Norman Ford

Fr Norman Ford was born in 1935 in Ballarat, Victoria and educated at De La Salle College,...

Lives Lived Well: Vale Fr Mika Leilua

Fr Mika Leilua was born in the village of Vaiusu in Samoa on 15 May 1963 to devout Catholic...

Ordination to Diaconate of Br Jeff Miller

On the 25th of March 2022, the Solemnity of the Annunciation, the Ordination to Diaconate of Br....

Final Profession of Br Anh Vu Nguyen

Sunday, 20 March, was a special day; Brother Peter Anh Vu Nguyen made his Perpetual Profession, in...

Australia Pacific Provincial Chapter

The 22nd Provincial Chapter of the Australia Pacific Province began at the Catholic Leadership...

Lives Lived Well: Vale Fr Peter Rankin

On 14 January 2022, Fr Peter Rankin left this world for the next, leaving behind an incredible...

Salesian Schools and Parishes

Dominic Winners at Day of AI

On Wednesday 27 July 2022, Year 7 to 10 students from secondary schools across Australia participated in a day of creative, fun and hands-on activities to immerse themselves in AI. For students it...

Robotics: A window to the Future!

Iskra is a year 10 student at Salesian College Chadstone In Coding and Robotics this semester, we are learning about Robotics, using VEX IQ robots along with coding giving the course an even...

St John Bosco College launchs Reconciliation Action Plan

To coincide with NAIDOC Week 2022, St John Bosco College launched its first Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP).This RAP is a formal statement of commitment made by St John Bosco College towards...

Sustainable Hospitality

Don Bosco Technical Centre (DBTC) in Alafua, Samoa is pleased to announce the opening of a newly purpose-built kitchen and classroom facility. The building was funded through generous donors from...

Schools and Missions

On March 24th the Salesian Missions team ran a professional development day for employees of Salesian works from around Australia. Co-led by the Salesian Missions Team and Fr. Peter Hoang from the...

Sponsor a Teacher Educate a Nation!

Ms Tasileta Tagiilima started working at Don Bosco Technical Centre (DBTC) in Alafua, Samoa, in 2018 on a temporary contract to help with secretarial duties. Little was Tasileta to know that this...

Waste into Blessings

Fr Andre is a member of the St John Bosco Parish in Jakarta, where he has earnt a reputation amongst the young people as a uniquely entertaining musican! Organic waste can be decomposed in nature,...

"Papi the Clown" Learns from Young Salesian Students.

Recently, Papi the Clown met and became very good friends with Fr Daniel Federspiel, who is the Provincial of the Southern France region. As a child, Papi was unable to go to school and never had...

Pioneering Young Women of Samoa Excel in Studies

Sulata Naomi Urima and Elisapeta Manaia are two young women who are breaking personal and cultural expectations of themselves at the Don Bosco Technical Centre in Samoa. They are both studying male...

Br Lidio Immersed in a New Salesian Culture

My name is Br. Lidio, I am a Salesian brother from East-Timor and I joined the Salesians in 2012. I have been in Australia for two years, residing at the Salesian Clifton Hill Community while I...

Xavier College, One School - Two Campuses

Xavier College, Gawler is about to write another chapter in their twenty-six-year history as the doors officially open at their second campus. Located just a 20 minute drive away at 1 Benjamin...

Don Bosco Oratory's Week 2020

Being part of the Salesian family at Salesian College Chadstone means that we stand together, no matter the challenges we face - and the whole world is certainly being challenged now! Don Bosco’s...

Salesians Boosting Equality in Samoa

When you imagine what it might be like in the Pacific Island of Samoa, no doubt there are images of a crystal blue ocean and palm trees dotting a pristine beach. There is truth to this as Samoa is...

Student Views: Captain's Report

It goes without saying that our community is currently experiencing hardship. The struggles we are facing as we adapt to a new way of learning and a lack of interaction with each other are...

Female Students Put Best Oar Forward!

It has been a great year of firsts for the young women studying at Don Bosco Technical College in Alafua, Samoa! Currently midway through their first year of study, some of them have now also been...

Technology Fosters Learning, Even in the Earliest Years

An interesting positive result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent switch to remote teaching and learning has been the rise of 1 to 1 devices in our Early Years classrooms. I recently read...