A Salesian group has been spending this week in Rome as part of the Catholic Youth Ministry Federation Synod Conference.
Last weekend marked a very important event in the history of the Salesian Province of Great Britain, as we came together in Battersea to celebrate 125 years since the consecration of Sacred Heart church, Battersea, and its significance for the development of our province.
As the Rector Major was kept in Rome because of the Synod, his Vicar, Fr Francesco Cereda SDB, attended the Mass on Sunday in his place.
Fr Marco Villani SDB, our Justice and Peace Delegate, attended the recent annual Mass and talk for Aid to the Church in Need.
The annual Aid To The Church In Need (ACN) event took place on Saturday October 13th 2018 starting with Solemn Mass in Westminster, presided over by Canon Tuckwell. His Grace Archbishop Angaelos, first Coptic Orthodox Archbishop of London was also a guest on the sanctuary. The first reading was read by Mr. Martin Bashir, Religious Affairs Correspondent for the BBC, whilst the homily was given by Fr. Emmanuel Yousaf representing the National Justice and Peace Commission of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Pakistan.
Paul Dunne, Headteacher at St John Bosco College, writes about the blessing of the new Resource Base at the college, by Fr Francesco Cereda SDB, Salesian Vicar General.
Whilst the Sacred Heart Parish in Battersea celebrated their 125th anniversary on Sunday 14 October a new chapter in the history of Salesian Education in Battersea began with the formal blessing of St John Bosco College’s new resource base provision for children with Autism and additional mental health needs.
Salesian Vicar General, Fr Francesco Cereda, visiting London for the parish celebrations took time out of his hectic schedule to join Provincial Gerry Briody, School Governor Nick Potter, Headteacher Paul Dunne, Deputy Headteacher Maria Bud, Chaplain Fr Saju, Base Lead Louise Power and pupils from the school to bless the new Devereux resource base. Named after Sean Devereux, a pupil at Farnborough and teacher at Chertsey who dedicated his short life to the service of others, the base will open at the beginning of November and will provide support for vulnerable young people who would not otherwise be able to access mainstream education.
Fr Cereda in his homily urged those present to use their gifts to help and support those less fortunate than themselves following in the footsteps of Don Bosco – just as Sean did.
Fr Andrew Ebrahim SDB writes about a new initiative among Salesian schools in the South.
In an attempt to build Salesian Ethos between the Salesian schools in the south a Salesian Leadership Workshop was held on 12th October for Year 11 Prefects and Leaders.
On 13th October, we remember Blessed Alexandrina Maria da Costa, a Salesian Cooperator and mystic who lived in tremendous pain for over thirty years, finding happiness in her suffering, and managing to care about the troubles of others despite her own situation. At the age of 14, she severly injured her spine jumping from a window to escape from an attempted rape, and by the age of 21, she was totally paralysed. After praying for a cure at first, she came to see her vocation as a 'victim soul', and received the grace to bear her suffering, offering it 'for the salvation of the young' and for peace in the world.
The Mission statement of Savio House talks about the Community celebrating God’s presence in all people – particularly the young . . .
Sunday 7th October, 2018 saw the coming together of the Savio House Community for their annual Mass of Commitment, the spiritual beginnings of their time together at Savio House, for the school year 2018-2019.
The Mass was celebrated by Fr Gerry Briody SDB, Provincial – and in the presence of the Rector, Fr Martin Coyle SDB and the Salesian Community, family and friends the prayer of commitment was read by the entire group.
Fr Gerry, whilst offering the new Team Leader, Jonny Dearden every blessing and good wish for the year, took the opportunity to present him with a signed copy of the Savio House Mission statement.
After the Service, an excellent buffet was offered to all by the House.
The work of Savio House is of great importance in the Salesian Mission of the British Province, and we send them our thoughts and prayers on this special occasion.
Please keep the Savio community and the young people they will serve this year in your prayers too.
The seventh volume in the Pocketbook series from Don Bosco Publications looks at the remarkable life of Slovakian Salesian, Titus Zeman.
Find our more and order from our bookstore.
From Fr Marco Villani SDB, Chaplain at Salesian School Chertsey
On Tuesday October 9th 2018, I took two students, Ella Mcloughlin and Juan Campos Olcina, both from Year 13, to embark on the first of three CAFOD Youth Leadership training sessions.
The venue was Oaklands Catholic School and Sixth Form College, Waterlooville, Hampshire. Our students joined fifty-six students from various schools across the South, including our cousins from Salesian College Farnborough.
After arrivals and registration, the group was addressed by Sarah Burrows (CAFOD Youth Leadership Co-ordinator) and Jo Lewry (CAFOD Community Participation Co-ordinator, Portsmouth Diocese). Students participated in various learning activities to understand better the history, nature, purpose and goal of CAFOD.
A Salesian group from our Province is setting off for Rome to hear more about the Synod discussions. The Catholic Youth Ministry Federation (CYMFed) has arranged a conference in Rome next week for members to gain insights into the progress of the Synod on Young People, the Faith and Vocational Discernment.
The Salesian delegates represent most branches of our work, including Youth Ministry, Cooperators and BOVA. They will hear from a range of speakers, some of whom are taking part in the Synod, and will attend Mass at the English College.
Summer 2018
%20200x285_Page_01.jpg)
Salesians of Don Bosco UK 2015
Salesians of Don Bosco UK is a Registered Charity 233779
Charity Registered in Scotland SC039294
VAT No: 175 1710 16
Website by
