Savio Retreat Team's induction - with a difference
Posted: Wed, 18 Nov 2020 17:24
This Monday was the first day of induction with the new team at Savio House for 2020-21. As usual, Sue McDonald, Province Youth Ministry Animator,, began with a teambuilding day full of games and challenges for the team to get to know each other. Unusually - she was in her kitchen while delivering the day! All seemed to go well and there was lots of laughter from the team members - always a sign of... Read More »
Christ the King: 'Young people are the Church of today'
Posted: Wed, 18 Nov 2020 16:53
The Feast of Christ the King is also designated in the Church as National Youth Sunday. Here, Fr Gerry O'Shaughnessy SDB looks at its themes in the context of our young people. (Image: Marcello Cerrato via Qumran2.net)
On this feast of Christ the King, we are invited to look seriously as what true leadership looks like. I suppose that kings are a little bit out of date. But any of us who have grown... Read More »
World Kindness Day - not just a 'Hallmark Holiday'
Posted: Fri, 13 Nov 2020 05:14
These days, we can have all kinds of 'Hallmark Holidays': if you want to remember 'International Left Handers' Day' or 'Happy Cousins' Day', the chances are the the international greeting card company, Hallmark, has a card to match your mood. With Lockdown 2 in place, I have not been able to get to a card shop to see if there any cards available for WORLD KINDNESS DAY which we celebrate today, 13th... Read More »
We are all in this together
Posted: Thu, 12 Nov 2020 14:43
In this week's Catholic Teacher Article, Mike explores the radical idea of unity within Catholic education and the importance of a loving approach to teaching.
In St James Bootle, I always wait until last to receive Holy Communion. The journey towards the Eucharist is my weekly pilgrimage. The beautiful long aisle, the marble altar, the oil paintings of St John Bosco and St James which adorn the sanctuary... Read More »
Remembering formative Salesian years
Posted: Wed, 11 Nov 2020 16:47
A significant birthday and a meeting with an old friend brought back memories of Salesian days for former Brother, Paul Barnes. (Photo: Fr Tom Williams on the left, with Paul)
On Sunday 8th November, my 80th birthday, I had the pleasure of meeting up with Fr Tom Williams SDB, Rector in Battersea. I was in my "Bubble" with my son Alban, his wife Karen and three grandchildren. As a surprise, Alban drove... Read More »
Do you use your talents?
Posted: Wed, 11 Nov 2020 16:45
Fr Gerry O'Shaughnessy SDB reflects on the Gospel for 33rd Sunday of the year. The parable of the talents is one of the best known in the Bible, and has so much to teach us today. (Image from Orthodox Christianity)
Today we hear the second parable in the great Mathew 25 trilogy: the parable of the talents. If I was celebrating a family liturgy today, I'd bring up the children so we could act the story... Read More »
Salesians of Auschwitz Exhibition for schools
Posted: Thu, 05 Nov 2020 18:27
To accompany his forthcoming book on the Salesian Martyrs of Auschwitz, Dr Alasdair Richardson has produced an exhibition, which will be available to schools and parishes. He is also working on a series of resources for RE teachers. Alasdair has many years of experience in religious education, and is now Senior Lecturer in Religious Education at the University of Winchester, specialising in Holocaust... Read More »
New World Delegate for Past Pupils and Salesian Cooperators
Posted: Thu, 05 Nov 2020 17:39
In the latest issue of Ex Allievi Newsflash, the quarterly e-magazine of the World Confederation of Past Pupils of Don Bosco, a warm welcome is given to the new World Delegate for Past Pupils and Friends of Don Bosco, appointed by the Rector Major. Brother Dominic Nguyen Duc Nam SDB is a coadjutor from Vietnam, who will also serve as World Delegate for the Salesian Cooperators. (Photo: ANS Rome)
Br... Read More »
The Courage to Love
Posted: Thu, 05 Nov 2020 14:43
In this week's Catholic Teacher Article, Mike explores the need for courage when teaching the poor and marginalised.
The Franciscan Priest and spiritual master, Fr. Richard Rohr, refers to "falling in love" as counterintuitive. Love, he says, is something we "fall" into as no one would willingly go there, in the knowledge that to love is to open oneself up to vulnerability and the real possibility that... Read More »
Thornleigh Students discuss climate crisis in Countdown TEDx
Posted: Wed, 04 Nov 2020 16:20
As part of the launch of the global 'Countdown' initiative to support solutions to the climate crisis, Salesian Cooperator James Trewby talked to a group of students from Thornleigh Salesian College.
Over the weekend of 10 October 2020,'Countdown' was launched on the TED platform, with presentations from major international figures, including Pope Francis, and a series of 'local' TEDx events. One of... Read More »