During the evening of 16th August 1815, our founder, St John Bosco, was brought into the world, in the small village of Becchi in the Italian Province of Asti. Francesco Bosco, a widower with a young son, and his second wife, Margherita Occhiena, already had a son together, making John the youngest of three boys in this family of farm workers.
“Give us days of peace, watch over our journey, let us see your Son, filled with the joy of Heaven”
On 15th August, we mark the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, when her body was taken up into Heaven with her soul. But we also think of the end of her earthly life, and we think of her coronation as Queen of Heaven. These scenes have been depicted in Christian art in connection with the Assumption for centuries.
In the Summer issue of Don Bosco Today, the UK's Salesian Bulletin, we look back at the amazing Flame 2017 gathering of young Catholics. Our Province is a major supporter of Flame, and the hundreds of young people from Salesian schools and projects attended with their teachers, chaplains, youth leaders, Salesian Sisters and SDBs.
A Catholic youth gathering and a Salesian cardinal both trending on Twitter on the same day. Who’d have thought? Well, to those of us at the SSE Arena at Wembley on Saturday 11th March for Flame 2017, it wasn’t much of a surprise.
Theresa, Theo, Moses and Chloe
A group of four sixth form students formed the very first cohort of the Salesians' Young Adult Programme, designed to offer a taste of life as a volunteer on the Savio retreat team, and an introduction to the skills they’d use and to the Salesian spirituality that underpins it all. They loved their week so much, they stayed on to support the second Phoenix Summer Camp!
Theresa, Chloe, Theo and Moses, who are all about to enter their final year of sixth form, spent a week experiencing Savio House from behind the scenes. The new programme ran alongside this year’s RISE Young Leaders' project and the first week of the Phoenix Summer Camps, to provide them with a taster of the activities they may encounter on the Savio Team.
Fr Kieran Anderson SDB put our (relatively!) new Provincial in the Q&A hot seat for the latest issue of Don Bosco Today, the UK edition of the Salesian Bulletin. Photo (ANS): Fr Gerry with the Rector Major, Fr Ángel Fernández Artime
Q: Can you tell us something about your background: where you grew up, your family, your interests?
A: I grew up in central Scotland, the second eldest of eight children. I am lucky enough to have three brothers and four sisters as well as fourteen nephews and nieces and one grandniece! Family was and is very important to me. I am blessed still to have my parents and enjoyed the security when I was growing up of having grandparents and uncles and aunts around me.
On 5th August 1872, the first fifteen Salesian Sisters were clothed in their religous garments, and eleven of them (including St Mary Mazzarello) made their first professions. Don Bosco and the Bishop of Acqui were present on this joyful occasion at Mornese, Italy. Mother Mazzarello, who had worked with Don Bosco to establish the new society, was elected as their first superior on the same day. 
Last Thursday, I spent a day with the first of the Phoenix Summer Camp groups, as they took a trip to the banks of the River Mersey, near Stockport, for a day of exciting outdoor activities.
At 10:30 on the dot, minibuses arrived at Burnage Rugby Club bringing Year 7 pupils from Thornleigh Salesian College, Bolton; Our Lady's Catholic College, Lancaster; and St James' Catholic High School, Cheadle. Unfortunatley, at 10:35, the blazing sun hid and the rain came down, but the high spirits of the youngsters could not be dampened!
Out this week, the latest book from Don Bosco Publications is a retelling of the life of Don Bosco especially for children aged 7 - 12, written by Rosa Navarro Durán, beautifully illustrated by Jordi Vila Delclòs, and translated from the original Spanish by Josie Bland.
Rise and shine at Crosby beach
Br Greg Echegwo SDB tells us about this year's Rise Young Leaders' programme:
What a stunning and very elevating Rise Summer Camp of 2017 took place in Savio House between 24th to 28th of July!
They were six young people between the age of 14 to 17 that participated in this year phenomenal summer programme, planned to empower and inspire our young people to cultivate and foster the Salesian leadership skills. This thereby brings them closer to the Salesian family.
On 2nd August, we celebrate Blessed Augustus Czartoryski. Born a prince in Paris on this day in 1858, where his family lived in exile from Poland, he felt God's call to a simpler life, and against the wishes of his family, became a Salesian priest.
Summer 2017
Salesians of Don Bosco UK 2015
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