Tags: Salesians of Don Bosco
Reflection - Baptism of the Lord
Posted: Fri, 5 Jan 2024 13:14
Today we celebrate the feast of Baptism of Jesus, which might seem strange. I remember an old Bishop getting up to preach on this feast when I was at school; "we don't know why Jesus was baptised," he began, "but thank God he was!" Funnily enough I cannot remember anything else about the sermon, but it did make me wonder why the perfect one needed a baptism of forgiveness? In Matthew's account in today's... Read More »
Sunday Reflection - Feast of The Epiphany of the Lord
Posted: Fri, 5 Jan 2024 11:26
Today we remember Matthew's reflections on bringing the Gospel message to a broader world through the visit of "the three kings". On Christmas Day, Luke presented the story of the poor shepherds visiting Jesus as they followed the instructions of the angels, the messengers from God. Today we see that "social bubble" of Jesus expanding to include these non-Jewish foreigners - an indication of the universal... Read More »
Brothers in formation Youth Ministry Weekend
Posted: Thu, 4 Jan 2024 09:36
Over the Christmas period, the SDB Brothers in Formation gathered at Savio House for a Youth Ministry training session. The session was led by Salesian Sisters, Sr Anne Frances McNamee FMA, Sr Gill McCambridge FMA, and Sr Bernadette Cassidy FMA. Also joining the group were two Vietnamese sisters that have recently arrived in the GBR Province. Fr Bob Gardner SDB and Fr Joe Tran SDB also accompanied... Read More »
New Years' Message from Fr Gerry, Provincial of the Salesians in GBR Province
Posted: Tue, 2 Jan 2024 09:23
The Dream that makes you dream
'Happy are those who dream dreams and are ready to pay the price to make them come true'.
This is a quote from Cardinal Suenens, a great leader of the post war Belgian church whose vision helped to guide the second Vatican council.
He is also reputed to have said
'Hope is not a dream but a way of making dreams become reality'.
The new strenna for the Salesian family in 2024... Read More »
New Years' Message from Sr Pauline, Provincial of the Salesian Sisters in GBR Province
Posted: Tue, 2 Jan 2024 09:12
Happy New Year to you all!
I hope that this new year will be one of new life and great joy to you all.
For us as members of the Salesian Family, this is a special year in which we will remember, re-read, and reflect much on that famous dream that Don Bosco had 200 years ago at the age of 9. A dream that he didn't really understand at that point in his life, but which became the signpost for his life... Read More »
Reflection - Midnight Mass
Posted: Fri, 15 Dec 2023 14:56
Tonight, we come together to celebrate the gift of the Messiah coming fully into our world. The God we worship is a God who cares and who is involved, a God who listens and talks to us, a God who is there for us in those most difficult of times, a God prepared to take the suffering of humanity on his shoulders, a God prepared to die for us. However, all of this compassion begins tonight as God fully... Read More »
Reflection - Christmas Day Mass
Posted: Fri, 15 Dec 2023 11:09
I wish you, your family and your loved ones, a very happy and holy Christmas. Today our pilgrimage through Advent is over and we have entered the season of Christmas-though I would guess we have been in the festive mood for some weeks now. Given the year we have endured so far, this time of levity and joy is a needed tonic. As we light the Christmas candle in the centre of the Advent Wreath, we are... Read More »
Sunday Reflection - 4th Sunday of Advent (Year B)
Posted: Thu, 14 Dec 2023 15:20
Well, here we are, ready to light the fourth candle; this day is that opportunity to complete your needed last-minute shop—but hurry as today is also Christmas Eve. In previous years, your parish might have had a Christingle Service, or a nativity play with the children. This has been a rushed Advent as we have had to squeeze so much in. I will miss the traditional carol service at the local... Read More »
Congratulations Fr Joe!
Posted: Wed, 13 Dec 2023 12:03
Over the past 18 months, Fr Joe Tran SDB has been studying a Masters degree in Youth and Community Work at London Metropolitan University.
And recently he received his certificate to prove that he has passed his Masters degree with Merit!
Congratulations Fr Joe!
Here he is with his certificate on a recent visit to the Bolton Community.
Image: SalesianLink/DEARDEN
Sunday Reflection - 3rd Sunday of Advent (Year B)
Posted: Wed, 13 Dec 2023 09:50
The Prophet Isaiah gives us the theme for reflection today: "In my God is the joy of my soul." When that is true in our lives, we are walking the road and we know the truth of these words from the same Prophet: "He has sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor, to heal the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and release to the prisoners, to announce a year of favour from the Lord."... Read More »