On Saturday, 17th June 2017, in the Parish Church of Our Lady of Lourdes, East Kilbride, our brother Kevin O’Donnell SDB was ordained to the Priesthood by the Right Reverend William Nolan, Bishop of the Diocese of Galloway.
In the presence of his mother, sister and brother, and supported by his Salesian Family, Kevin promised to;
And finally, Kevin promised obedience to those in authority in the Salesian Order.
This joyous occasion was celebrated by many friends, family and parishioners in the congregation (including Fr Tadeusz from Rome), in a church beautifully prepared with displays of flowers.
Bishop Nolan in his sermon reminded Kevin about the care a shepherd needs for his sheep, and that people should not meet a ‘grumpy priest’ even at 2 o’clock in the morning!!
A reverent silence descended on the congregation as the Bishop called for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit as he laid his hands on Kevin’s head. Fifty priests followed the Bishop in laying their hands on Kevin’s head as they prayed for him and his ministry.
Dressed as a deacon, Kevin discarded his stole and was soon presented to the people of God in the robes of an ordained priest much to everyone’s delight.
At the end of the service, the Bishop politely spoke directly to Kevin, offering him “a parish by the sea” if he was ever looking for a new job”!!!
Outside in the sunshine the celebrations continued whilst all were serenaded by the Cubarsi String Quartet.
Fr David O'Malley SDB provides an update on the Signposts decision-making programme for young adults, and the trialling of its 'taster sessions' at last weekend's Spirit in the City Festival in Central London.
Spirit in the city is a project of the West End Catholic Mission based at the French Church of Notre Dame in Leicester Square. It is an annual event. http://www.spiritinthecity.org/
We were there to present taster sessions with a team of eight volunteers including SDBs from the Battersea community.
The workshops ran through the afternoon and touched people of all ages.
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This is an exciting, all-encompassing role, working as a Charity Accountant in a small friendly team. There is scope for the right candidate to progress within the Charity and to lead on the roll-out of computerised accounting across all our locations. On a day-to-day basis, you will ensure the effective administration of finances at the Charity's Head Office and across the Charity as a whole.
Read more and apply on our Job Vacancies page
The next title in the new Pocketbook series from Don Bosco Publications looks at the life of Michael Magone, the former street boy known as 'General Mickey', who was one of the first Don Bosco took into his oratory in Turin.
The Pocketbook series offers little books on great subjects at an affordable £1 each.
The new book is on the printing press, and we'll let you know when it's in stock!
This weekend is a joyful one for the Salesians in Britain, as they gather for the priestly ordination of Br Kevin O'Donnell SDB.
Anita Motha, Coordinator of our overseas volunteer programme, Bosco Volunteer Action (BOVA),was interviewed with fellow members of the Lay Missionary Volunteer Network on Heaven's Road Catholic Radio recently, discussing the privileges and challenges of volunteering with Catholic projects overseas.
~ celebrating 50 years of Ministry and Education
On Saturday the 10th June, people from all across the UK came together to celebrate 50 years of Salesian education in Bootle.
The celebration Mass was led by the Most Reverend Malcolm McMahon OP, Archbishop of Liverpool, in the presence of the Provincial Fr Gerry Briody SDB, members of the Salesian Family, past and present Governors, Staff and pupils.
Our founder, Don Bosco, had a passinate devotion to Mary Help of Christians, so she is very special to us, the Salesian Family, and her feast on 24th May is celebrated by all of our parishes, schools and communities. Here, Cristiana Ferrauti tells us how her parish in Battersea marked the occasion this year.
“She has done everything” Don Bosco used to say, referring to the support and the miracles throughout all his life. From the dream at the age of nine, to the foundation of the Salesians in Turin, everything came from Mary.
'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.
Following torture they were sentenced to hard labour, split up in different prisons for some of the time. They prayed the office daily, said the rosary and made novenas to Don Bosco and Mary Help of Christians. and remained strong and courageous in their faith, cheerfully supporting other prisoners and reassuring their families in notes smuggled out to them.
In 1942, they were returned to their home town, found guilty of high treason, and sentenced to death. They faced this with exemplary faith and courage. In his final letter, Francis wrote: 'My dearest parents, brothers and sisters, the time has come to say goodbye to you on August 24, the day of Mary Help of Christians ... May the Good Lord take me to himself. Don’t have regrets that I am leaving this world so young. I am now in a state of grace. ... I am going to heaven. There I shall pray to God ... Pray sometimes for me ... I’m going now.'
They were guillotined in a prison in Dresden on 24th August 1942. At the time of their deaths, they were aged 19 - 23.
On Sunday we celebrate the feast of the Most Holy Trinity. Salesian Lay Chaplain, Sandy Fairley, reflects on the mystery of the Trinity.
Spring 2017
Salesians of Don Bosco UK 2015
Salesians of Don Bosco UK is a Registered Charity 233779
Charity Registered in Scotland SC039294
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