“Rise Up, Do not be Afraid”  That was the theme for the Confirmation retreat that was held by the Salesian Parishes of Saint Mary’s and Santa Isabel in Boyle Heights. The retreat was led by youth leaders from St. Dominic Savio and Salesian Family Youth Center’s Oratory teams.  The talks were given by the youth leaders who shared their personal experiences to help inspire and … Continue reading Young Leaders Inspire Participants at Salesian Lenten Confirmation Retreat

(ANS – Vatican City) – We publish Pope Francis’ preface to the volume “More Women’s Leadership for a Better World: Caring as the Engine for Our Common Home,” edited by Anna Maria Tarantola, published by “Vita e Pensiero.” The text is the result of joint research of the Centesimus Annus Pro Pontifice Foundation and the Strategic Alliance of Catholic Research Universities (Sacru). Pope Francis writes: … Continue reading Pope’s Preface for “More Women’s Leadership for a Better World” 

Dear Salesian Family, Salesian Young People, and Friends: What a week it has been… On Friday, February 24, I was in San Francisco for a small farewell luncheon for Dr. Daniel Sonkin, who has been working for the Province in various capacities including as the Mental Health Advisor and the Coordinator of the Review Board. Thank you, Dr. Sonkin, for your years of service. I … Continue reading Provincial Letter

by Fr. Ed Liptak, SDB La Cuaresma comenzó con una oración en busca de las riquezas ocultas de Cristo. Los domingos siguientes nos invitan a hacer a Jesucristo más y más parte de nuestra vida diaria. “Es tu rostro, Señor, lo que busco. No escondas tu rostro”. Antiguamente, buscar el rostro de Dios significaba buscar su presencia. Necesitamos crecer en nuestro deseo de encontrar a … Continue reading Riquezas Escondidas de Cristo

by Fr. Ed Liptak, SDB Lent opened with a prayer seeking the hidden riches of Christ. The Sundays following invite us to make Jesus Christ more and more a part of our daily lives. “It is your face, Lord, that I seek. Hide not your face.” Of old, to seek the face of God meant to seek his presence. We need to grow in our … Continue reading Hidden Riches of Christ

Insights from the Religious Education Congress on the Don Bosco Educational System Last Sunday, a conference on “Youth Empowerment” was held at the Religious Education Congress, featuring Doctor Juan Carlos Montenegro as the keynote speaker. The conference was held in the framework of the “Strenna” of the Rector Major of the Salesians entitled “AS THE YEAST IN TODAY’S HUMAN FAMILY: The lay dimension in the … Continue reading Empowering Youth and Lay Leaders

(ANS) – The Youth Ministry Sector of the Salesian Congregation held three webinars about digital health on Feb. 16, 20, and 24. Animated by expert Guillermo Cánovas, they were attended by 300 people in each of the three appointments, representing all regions of the Congregation. Each session was made accessible in 5 languages. The sense of this education was to address the topic of digital … Continue reading Formation on Digital Health for Adolescents

(ANS – Kyiv) – Exactly one year has passed since the invasion of Ukraine. Over 200,000 dead, 40,000 wounded, nearly 2,700 schools bombed and an additional 500 schools completely destroyed are just some of the current figures of the conflict. Nearly 18 million people need urgent humanitarian aid to live, and more than 5.5 million schoolchildren have seen their education disrupted by the war. Millions … Continue reading Ukraine – Salesian Solidarity Will Outlast War

The Salesian Missionary Volunteer Program as put on by SDB West, recently carried out its first missionary expedition since the pandemic began, bringing hope and aid to those in need in the Tijuana Salesian Project. The program brought together 12 students from St Francis High School in Watsonville, California, aged between 14 and 17 years old, and guided by two of their teachers (Christopher Croghan … Continue reading Bringing Hope Across Borders

(ANS – Aleppo) – It is a microcosm of humanity still in shock inside the Salesian house in Aleppo. “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 Klzi, animator of the Salesian oratory. Yet these are also people with great … Continue reading Syria – Fear, Solidarity, Commitment: Earthquake as Told by Young People in Aleppo

Unai, Mercedes and Isabel are three people who have been impacted by the Salesian experience. During their time as Salesian volunteers, they had the opportunity to work with children and young people from diverse backgrounds and cultures at the St Dominic Savio Parish and the Salesian Family Youth Center Summer Camps. Their experiences left a lasting impression and inspired them to continue serving others in … Continue reading The Impact of Salesian Missionary Volunteers

(ANS – New Rochelle) – Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco, has launched an emergency appeal to provide disaster relief for those impacted by the devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck in Kahramanmaraş province in southern Turkey, very close to Syria’s northwestern border, on Feb. 6. The earthquake was felt in 14 countries, including Lebanon, Israel, Cyprus and Jordan. … Continue reading Salesian Missions Launches Appeal to Support those Impacted by Devastating Turkey/Syria Earthquake

by Fr. Ed Liptak, SDB Brothers and Sisters in Faith, the readings on this  7th Sunday in Ordinary Time ‘A’ offer at first glance  challenges all but impossible to meet. Our gentle and  good Jesus, as Matthew’s Gospel presents him, has  been advising on the Christian way of life, and now  he makes demands of us seemingly far beyond what any ordinary human being can … Continue reading Only With Faith

by Fr. Ed Liptak, SDB Hermanos y hermanas en la fe, las lecturas de  este domingo ofrecen a primera vista desafíos casi  imposibles de cumplir. Nuestro Jesús gentil y bueno, como lo presenta el Evangelio de Mateo,  ha estado aconsejando sobre el modo de vivir la  vida cristiana. Y, ahora, él nos hace demandas aparentemente mucho más allá de lo que cual quier ser humano … Continue reading Sólo Con Fe

by Fr. Ed Liptak, SDB Es tu elección. Elige la luz o elige la oscuridad. Elige correcto o incorrecto. Elige el cielo o el infierno. Escoge a Dios o elige a Satanás. Este es el mensaje en hebreo de la verdadera Sabiduría dejada por el anciano Sirácida para su hijo, quien la transmitió a su propio hijo entonces en Alejandría, Egipto. Allí el nieto de … Continue reading Depende De Usted

by Fr. Ed Liptak, SDB It is your choice. Choose light or choose darkness. Choose right or wrong. Choose heaven or hell.Choose God or choose Satan. This is the message in Hebrew of true Wisdom left by the elder Sirach forhis son, who passed it on to his own son then in Alexandria, Egypt. There the grandson of Sirach prefaced and translated his Grandfather’s Wisdom … Continue reading It’s Up To You

Dear Salesian Family, Salesian Young People, and Friends: It brought me joy and happiness after spending a few days visiting our Salesian SDB community in Laredo, TX, and joining the Salesian Sisters in celebrating Saint John Bosco’s Feast Day with the young people of San Antonio, Texas. The Salesian Mission in Texas is so alive and active! I am also helping a Busy Students’ Retreat … Continue reading A Letter from Vocations Coordinator