On Saturday July 16th the CAFOD Mass of Thanksgiving for Volunteers was held in the Salesian parish of Our Lady Help of Christians, Sherborne Road, Farnborough. The Mass, which took place at 2pm, was organised by Martin Brown, CAFOD’s Community Participation Coordinator. After the Mass, a talk was given by a CAFOD employee who spoke at length about her official visits to Guatemala and El Salvador. A number of farmers in El Salvador grow maize, which can be difficult as small -scale farmers not only have to battle the inimical physical geography and climate, but also the presence of “middle-men” who buy their maize only to sell it to third parties for exaggerated profits. In many cases, it is the children of these farmers who suffer. Many children are orphans or have to be looked after by aunts and grandparents as parents have had to move in order to find work. One grandmother who has sadly passed away, confided to the speaker five years ago that she prayed that God would “give me a long life so that I can continue to work for Him.” In Guatemala, a country plagued by violence both civil and domestic, communities have been blighted by turf wars between rival drug gangs. During the recent disastrous volcanic eruptions, in which scores of people have tragically lost their lives and many are still missing, CAFOD works with local partners to assist people in both their immediate and long-term need. For the past thirty years, CAFOD has been supporting the Federation of Radio Schools in Guatemala. This service provides education to children who otherwise would be unable to attend school on a regular basis due to transport difficulties and rural isolation. One of the benefits of the radio schools is that broadcasts are made in many of the local languages. For many people of Guatemala, with its large percentage of indigenous peoples, many of whom speak little Spanish, the radio broadcasts in their local languages helps both to educate, inform and instil a sense of community. Communication is vital in the case of recent events, as the radio stations were able to request on air the donation of vital emergency donations, such as toothbrushes, nappies, sanitary towels and items of food. Furthermore the speaker told the attendees about Fr. Asis, a native of Cape Verde, currently working in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Overcoming the racism of certain police officers, F. Asis feels that his calling is to be a voice of challenge to society, especially for the poor facing eviction from their favelas. Fr. Asis believes that it is essential to listen to people; only then can you truly understand what they need and want. He believes that Jesus did not build churches; instead He brought people together.
St Joseph Cafasso, who we celebrate on 23rd June, has a special place in the Salesian Family, as the mentor, spiritual director and friend of Don Bosco. We celebrate his memorial on 23rd June.
Born in Piedmont, Italy, into a devout peasant family that valued education, he bore the discomfort of a spinal deformity, and became an outstanding scholar and respected teacher and seminary director.
On Wednesday June 20th, the Memorial of St. Alban, a selection of Year 7 pupils from Salesian School Chertsey attended the annual Good Shepherd Celebration at Worth Abbey, West Sussex. Salesian School Chertsey has a proud tradition of being in the position to represent Catholic secondary schools in this increasingly popular diocesan event.
Province Justice and Peace delegate, Fr Marco Villani SDB, reports on CAFOD's work in South America
On Saturday June 16th the CAFOD Mass of Thanksgiving for Volunteers was held in the Salesian parish of Our Lady Help of Christians, Sherborne Road, Farnborough. The Mass, which took place at 2pm, was organised by Martin Brown, CAFOD’s Community Participation Coordinator.
After the Mass, a talk was given by a CAFOD employee who spoke at length about her official visits to Guatemala and El Salvador. A number of farmers in El Salvador grow maize, which can be difficult as small -scale farmers not only have to battle the inimical physical geography and climate, but also the presence of “middle-men” who buy their maize only to sell it to third parties for exaggerated profits. In many cases, it is the children of these farmers who suffer.
World Refugee Day is on 20th June. We pray for all those facing hardship, anxiety and danger as they are forced to seek refuge away from their homes, for the people who help them, and for our politicians, who need to find fair, caring and Christian soluntions to the world wide refugee crisis, and the conflict and poverty at its root.
Speaking in support of the Caritas Share the Journey campaign, Pope Francis has encouraged "all people of good will to create ever new spaces for sharing” with refugees and migrants to create greater compassion, understanding and solidarity.
Comical Games??? Hazel Fort, from the Chaplaincy at Savio Salesian College Bootle near Liverpool, explains all about this day of fun for the younger members of the Bosco Group - students who volunteer to be directly involved in Don Bosco's mission at school.
May 24th, 2018 dawned fair but cloudy. As it progressed, the day matched other days that week and spawned a heatwave. Thus many prayers were answered by God and Mary Help of Christians, whose feast day it was: we could hold our Comical Games.
‘What are Comical Games?’ asked the Junior Boscos somewhat dubiously.
‘It’s like the Olympic games with all the serious bits taken out!’ I answered.
We were at the end of a long, dark year in which the Junior Boscos had worked their socks off. Every dinner break, they had been involved in Charity Fund Raising, Liturgical Art, Drama to animate the weekly Gospel, or planning their Peer Chaplaincies – all leading up to submitting their work for their Faith in Action qualification. They had spent a fortnight polishing up their reports or seeking out photographs for evidence. It was time for fun.
I instituted a games tournament in which they had teams and played three card games, three board games, three games of air hockey and three games of Pool. BUT the culmination was to be the Comical Games played outside on our Sports Field.
Two of our Senior Boscos volunteered to help: Aleisha and Kieron (Year Ten) had become pretty used to organising the youngsters and had a good rapport with the Year 7 & 8 students. Solemnly, they instructed them on the wearing of sun cream, hats and appropriate shoes and clothing. They marked out three lanes on the field in which the students would be competing.
Come the day, I cast a doubtful look at the sky and said a quick prayer to Mary. She must have had sympathy with me - or she, too, was interested to see what would happen. Our excited but suspicious students changed into their games kit.
‘My knee’s very sore. I don’t think I can compete. I can't run.’ One of them told me dismally. (Really, Kelsey? Who said anything about running?)
‘I don’t think I can come. I’ve got football practice. But I could come at the end. Can I still join in?’ (Certainly, Keira)
I gave instructions. ‘Each race has to take place three times to get a fair result.’ (Liar, Hazel! You just wanted to make sure of the photographs!)
Over 70 representatives from Catholic youth organisations and religious orders attended the launch this week of 'Complex Catholicism', a new study from the Catholic Youth Ministry Federation (CYMFed) and strategy consultancy Camino House, into the shifting dynamics in the faith and life of Catholic young adults in England and Wales. The report and a typology tool to help in applying the research is available to download or purchase.
Matt, Jessica, James and Sue
The Salesian Cooperators is the lay movement of the Salesian Family. They are people who carry Don Bosco's approach to the young into all aspects of their lives and work, and this was highlighted at the latest meeting of members of the Catholic Youth Ministry Federation (CYMFed) in London, when four Cooperators were present, representing the organisations they work for.
Province Coordinator for the Salesian Cooperators, Jessica Wilkinson, is Youth Coordinator for the Diocese of Leeds; James Trewby is Justice and Peace Education worker for the Colomban Missionaries UK, Matt Jeziorski is Schools and Youth Education Officer for Pax Christi UK, and Sue McDonald is Animator for Salesian Youth Ministry UK.
Salesian School, Chertsey, now has an added attraction in its St Francis de Sales Chapel. Last year, Nicola Howie, who is now a Year 8 pupil, came up with the idea of running a stained glass window competition for the school chapel. A number of entries were submitted and passed to the Chaplain, Fr Marco Villani SDB.
'God has given us this cross, and he is giving us the strength to carry it'
The memorial of Polish Salesian martyrs Blesseds Francis Kesy, Edward Klinik, Jarog Wojciechowski, Czeslaw Jozwisk and Edward Kzmierski is celebrated on 12th June.
They attended the Salesian oratory in Poznan, Poland, and were involved in the youth work there. Following the Nazi occupation, Francis took a job in a factory, spending his free time at the oratory, and after the house was taken over by the Nazis as a barracks, the young people gathered in the woods, to continue their prayer and the work of the youth groups. In September 1940, these five young men were arrested, accused of belonging to an illegal organisation - the fear was that Catholic groups like these could form the basis of a resistance movement.
Spring 2018
Salesians of Don Bosco UK 2015
Salesians of Don Bosco UK is a Registered Charity 233779
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