Homily for 14th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Homily for the
14th Sunday of Ordinary Time

July 5, 2026
Zech 9: 9-10
Matt 11: 25-30
Villa Maria, Bronx
Our Lady of the Assumption, Bronx
St. Francis Xavier, Bronx

Jesus enters Jerusalem (Giotto)

“Shout for joy, O daughter Jerusalem!  See, your king shall come to you; … meek, and riding on an ass…” (Zech 9: 9).

If you stand at the southeast corner of Central Park, you’ll see a majestic statue of Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman astride a mighty horse.  Along Riverside Drive you can find Joan of Arc on horseback, wielding her sword.  In Jackson Square in front of New Orleans’ cathedral, Gen. Andrew Jackson’s waves his military hat astride a rearing stallion.  I don’t know how many generals perched on their horses you can find at Gettysburg or other battlefields.

No one depicts a mighty general ambling along on a donkey.

That would depict meekness, mildness, peaceableness, amiability.  And that’s the picture the prophet Zechariah presents to us of Israel’s king entering Jerusalem:  no more war chariots or warrior’s bows.  He shall rule a vast dominion in peace.

Jesus consciously adopted that image on Palm Sunday.  He images “the Lord gracious and merciful, slow to anger and of great kindness, good to all and compassionate toward all his works” (Ps 145:8-9).  Recognizing that, the crowd on that Sunday hailed him:  “Hosanna to the Son of David; blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord” (Matt 21:9).

The crowd, as we know from the events of Good Friday, didn’t really grasp who Jesus is.  “No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him” (Matt 11:27).  No one sees this revelation except the “little ones” (11:25) whose hearts and minds are open to a meek, mild, peaceable Savior; to those humble enuf to take up his yoke and learn from him, to accept the burden of his teachings (11:29-30).  The Lord’s way isn’t the way of the warrior, the way of power, the way of worldly wisdom; it’s the lowly way of service, of forgiveness, of care for the poor and downtrodden.  It’s the way of listening to Jesus’ Gospel, to his words whispered in our hearts.

God the Father used “the abasement of [his] Son” to “raise up a fallen world” (Collect).  The Son had to be brought low—right down into the world of the dead (“he descended into hell”)—in order that the Father could raise him up, and with him all death’s victims:  “the one who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also, thru his Spirit that dwells in you” (Rom 8:11).  Jesus’ abasement was the living out of his meekness and humility of heart (Matt 11:29).  He shows us the path to the “eternal gladness” the Father has in mind for us (Collect).

Hope Takes Shape amid the Rubble

Hope Takes Shape amid the Rubble

(ANS – Caracas – July 2, 2026) – As Venezuela continues to face the devastating consequences of powerful earthquakes, the country’s Salesians and young people of the Salesian Youth Movement (SYM) have mobilized to bring relief, comfort, and hope to those most affected.

Earlier this year, international attention was focused on Venezuela’s political developments. Today the country is once again making headlines following a natural disaster. Two powerful earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude, struck the north-central region and the capital, Caracas, causing widespread destruction.

Among the hardest-hit areas is the state of La Guaira, about 13 miles from Caracas. According to official figures released by the Ministry of People’s Power for Communication, the disaster has claimed 1,943 lives [ed. note: since updated to at least 2,700], injured more than 10,500 people, directly affected over 22,000 residents, and left hundreds of buildings destroyed or severely damaged.

A nationwide network of solidarity

In response to the emergency, the Salesians and members of the Salesian Youth Movement have organized an extensive solidarity campaign, supported by Salesian schools, educational communities, and works thruout the country.

On July 1, volunteers began delivering assistance to the most severely affected communities. Before setting out, they gathered at the provincial house for a moment of Eucharistic adoration, praying for those who lost their lives, the injured, and the many families whose lives have been turned upside down by the earthquake.

The prayer service also served as a moment of spiritual preparation for those about to serve amid such suffering. At its conclusion, Fr. Jorge Elias Ghazal, provincial of the Salesians in Venezuela, encouraged the volunteers with words of faith and hope.

Discovering hope in the midst of suffering

Reflecting on the mystery of suffering, Fr. Ghazal acknowledged that some events remain beyond human understanding. “There are things for which we will never have an answer. Here we simply see the cross.”

At the same time, he urged the young volunteers not to be overwhelmed by pain, but to recognize God’s presence even in the darkest moments. “In the midst of all this, let us look to the future with hope. I am convinced that something good will come from this. From the  cross, God gave us the life of the resurrection. God wants to tell us something at this moment.”

The provincial also highlighted the extraordinary solidarity that has emerged thruout Venezuela during the emergency, with countless civic, ecclesial, and institutional initiatives supporting those in need. “Look at how much solidarity there is.”

Addressing the volunteers directly, he encouraged them to live this mission as a genuine encounter with God thru service to those who suffer. “Live this moment as an experience of God in the midst of pain. He is beside us, even when God seems silent.”

Recalling the Gospel account of Jesus calming the storm, he added: “God is with us in the midst of this difficult trial.”

Finally, he reminded the young people where the strength to persevere comes from: “He is the source of life, peace, and serenity. It is God who will give you the strength to live this experience.”

Hope becomes service

Following the prayer, the volunteers sorted and prepared donations received from Salesian schools and communities across the country before setting out in teams to different assistance centers. They distributed hot meals, medicine, drinking water, and essential supplies to families who had lost everything.

As Fr. Ghazal observed, this response reflects a twofold expression of solidarity: the generous mobilization of thousands of Venezuelans helping their fellow citizens, and the support received from international organizations and friends around the world.

Thru this commitment, the young people of the Salesian Youth Movement and the Salesians of Venezuela once again give concrete expression to Don Bosco’s charism by standing alongside young people and the most vulnerable, offering companionship, relief, and hope.

Amid rubble, grief, and uncertainty, their witness remains clear: hope stays alive when it is transformed into service. Sustained by faith, they continue their mission with the certainty that God walks with his people, even in their darkest hour.

Click here to join hands with the Salesians for the relief works in Venezuela.

Homily for Independence Day

Homily for Independence Day
Saturday, Week 13 of Ordinary Time

July 4, 2026
Proper Prayers
Amos 9: 11-15
Matt 9: 14-17
Provincial House, New Rochelle, N.Y.

Writing to his wife Abigail, John Adams predicted that Americans would celebrate the day in perpetuity

as the great Anniversary Festival.  It ought to be commemorated, as the day of deliverance by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty.  It ought to be solemnized with pomp, shews, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations, from one end of the continent to the other, from this time forward forever.^[1]

He was half right, because he was writing of July 2, the day on which the Second Continental Congress voted independence.  The cut-and-dried resolution of July 2, tho, was fleshed out and given immortal voice by Jefferson’s verbal, philosophical justification for it, the Declaration adopted on July 4 after much debate and amendment (see 1776), tho not signed except by John Hancock and the secretary, Charles Thomson, till a month later and beyond.

There’s an old saying that God looks after orphans, drunks, and the U.S.A.  No one’s sure of its origin.  Perhaps it sounds cynical.  But believers certainly may see God’s Providence in our history from colonial times—not only in the unlikely survival of Jamestown, Plymouth, St. Augustine, and the California missions but also in consideration of various failures like North Carolina’s Lost Colony, short-lived Spanish colonies in Georgia and South Carolina, and the Pueblo uprising in New Mexico—thru our Revolutionary War, which in military calculation we had no business winning, thru Civil War, and thru all the turmoil that you and I have lived thru:  the Cold War, the 60s, terrorism, economic confusion, Covid, etc.

The debate over the Declaration was most heated about slavery.  To keep the 13 colonies on the path to statehood, united, that had to be compromised—left for another day, continued division, and a long, bloody war.  Our prayers today acknowledge that “work still remains” to be done to make “us from many people to be one nation” and to “share [God’s] blessings with all the peoples of the earth” (Collect).

“The Lord proclaims peace to his people,” and “glory dwells in our land.”  Justice already walks here before the Lord (Ps 85:9,10,14), more than is found in most places on earth.  That’s why Lady Liberty’s torch still burns as a beacon calling people here from 4 continents, just as she summoned our parents and grandparents.  Here we can “pour new wine into fresh wineskins” (Matt 9:17), the new wine of freedom to worship God, to speak, to protest, to vote, to hold our rulers accountable as the Second Continental Congress did in July 1776.

It wasn’t easy to make the statement of independence a reality.  Later that summer, Washington’s army was almost destroyed on Long Island, escaping by a miracle of sorts, and it nearly withered away in Pennsylvania, saved by a surprise victory across the Delaware.  Later, the army nearly froze at Valley Forge and Morristown, narrowly escaped betrayal by our most brilliant general, but finally won with the help of France and Spain—and, as the Declaration itself states, “with a firm Reliance on the Protection of divine Providence.”

The British surrender at Yorktown
(Jonathan Trumbull)

That same trust gives us hope to work that Amos’s vision for Israel may be fulfilled among us:  abundance, restoration, rebuilding, security, peace and unity.  Christ’s “message lives on in our midst as our task for today and a promise for tomorrow” (Preface I).  We pray that “the unity and joy” of Christ’s people may “deepen our unity and intensify our joy, that all who believe in [God our Creator] may work together to build the city of lasting peace” (Postcommunion).

In his message to all Americans for this special anniversary, Pope Leo has challenged us:

For two and a half centuries, generations of Americans have worked together to carry [the] principles [of the Declaration] forward – through sacrifice, service, innovation and civic participation. This anniversary stands as an invitation not only to celebrate the nation’s remarkable journey, but also to reflect upon the responsibilities that the sons and daughters of this country bear to one another, and to the generations who will inherit the nation that is being shaped today.[2]

The Pope singled out human dignity, including this paragraph

Defending human life also includes welcoming, protecting and assisting immigrants, whose hopes, sacrifices and contribution have formed part of the history of this country from its very beginning. In every generation, those who have arrived seeking freedom, opportunity and a place to belong have helped to shape the nation’s character. To receive them with compassion and generosity is not only an act of charity, but also a recognition of the dignity that belongs to every human person.

Love Is an Action
(Daniel Glass in South Sudan)

That’s not unlike what Jefferson wrote:  “We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness,” and people establish governments to secure those rights.

We, “drawn from the peoples of many lands” (Prayer over Gifts), want to secure the rights and dignity of all the brothers and sisters whom the Creator has given us.

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[1] Letter from John Adams to Abigail Adams, 3 July 1776, “Had a Declaration...” [electronic edition]. Adams Family Papers: An Electronic Archive. Massachusetts Historical Society. http://www.masshist.org/digitaladams/

[2] Letter of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV on the 250th Anniversary of the Founding of the United States of America.

New Phase for Salesian Representation at the U.N.

New Phase for the Salesian Representation at the U.N.

(ANS – Rome/New York – June 30, 2026) – In continuity with the Salesian Congregation’s commitment to advocacy for young people, especially those who are poorest and most vulnerable, Angelica “Vivi” Iglesias is the first layperson to be entrusted with the responsibilities of main representative of the Salesians of Don Bosco at the United Nations in New York. She takes forward the service previously carried out by Fr. Mathew Thomas Panamkattu, Fr. Thomas Pallithanam, and Fr. Thomas Brennan, who previously served in this role and helped develop the Salesian presence within the United Nations system in New York.

This handover marks both continuity and renewal in a mission that connects the experience of Salesian works on the ground with international reflection and decision-making on the rights, dignity, and future of young people.

Ms. Iglesias brings to this responsibility significant experience in Catholic advocacy, partnership-building, community engagement, and mission-driven leadership. She has worked with Catholic Relief Services, accompanying national partners, supporting advocacy initiatives, and coordinating campaigns in favor of vulnerable communities. Her previous service in the diocese of St. Petersburg, Fla., especially in Hispanic ministry and in support of diocesan leadership, has also given her broad experience in ecclesial coordination, intercultural communication, and pastoral service.

A Salesian Cooperator with long-standing links to the Salesian mission and to youth ministry, Ms. Iglesias will support the Salesian presence at the U.N. in New York thru relationship-building, networking, documentation, continuity, and collaboration with partners in the U.N. environment. Vivi joins the Salesians’ central advocacy team within the Youth Ministry Department under the guidance of the general councilor Fr. Rafael Bejarano, working thru Salesian Missions, the Congregation’s representative agency at the U.N., led by Fr. Michael Conway.

The Salesian presence at the U.N. in New York is one expression of a broader commitment that also includes engagement with the U.N. in Geneva, Vienna, and Nairobi, as well as with the European institutions in Brussels and UNESCO in Paris. Thru these presences, the Congregation seeks to bring the voices and experiences of young people, especially those most affected by poverty, exclusion, migration, conflict, lack of education, and social vulnerability, into dialog with institutions and partners working for the common good.

As this new phase begins, the Youth Ministry Department expresses gratitude to Fr. Panamkattu for his years of generous service in this field and welcomes Ms. Iglesias as she takes up this responsibility. The handover renews the commitment to make the Salesian voice present wherever the dignity, rights, and future of young people are at stake.

Salesian Sister Smerilli Appointed Prefect in the Roman Curia

Salesian Sister Smerilli Appointed Prefect of the Dicastery for Integral Human Development

(ANS – Vatican – June 30, 2026) – Pope Leo XIV has appointed Sister Alessandra Smerilli, FMA, the new prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development (DSSUI). Previously secretary of the same curial body, the Salesian sister takes on the post previously held by Cardinal Michael Czerny, who will turn 80 on July 18.

Pope Leo had said in the only interview he has given during the first year of his pontificate, with journalist Elise Allen, that he wished to “follow in the footsteps of Francis by appointing women to certain leadership roles at various levels within the life of the Church.” The Holy Father has reaffirmed this approach by appointing another woman to head a dicastery of the Roman Curia.

Third Female Prefect in the Roman Curia

This is Leo’s 2d appointment of a woman to a top-level role, following that of the prefect of the Dicastery for Communication, the young laywoman Montse Alvarado. Sr. Smerilli is the third female prefect in the Curia, however, following the appointment by Pope Francis of Sr. Simona Brambilla, who has been head of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life, since January 6, 2025. At the time, Francis accompanied this appointment with that of Cardinal Angel Fernández Artime, SDB, as pro-prefect of the Dicastery.

The same is now happening with Cardinal Fabio Baggio who – again according to today’s bulletin from the Holy See Press Office – is moving from the role of undersecretary for Integral Human Development to that of pro-prefect of the Dicastery, with special responsibility for the Laudato si’ Center for Higher Education. Baggio will therefore work alongside Prefect Smerilli. Both will take up their posts on September 1.

Work at the Vatican

An economist, academic, and lecturer at the Auxilium in Milan, committed to issues of social justice, the civil economy, and inclusion, Sr. Smerilli – born in Vasto, a graduate of Roma Tre University, and holder of a PhD in Economics from the United Kingdom – has been a Salesian sister (Daughter of Mary Help of Christians) since 1997 and has from the outset held positions of great importance within the Vatican’s extensive organizational structure. This began in 2019, when she was appointed councilor of the Vatican City State, and continued in 2020 when she was called upon to coordinate the economics section of the Vatican’s Covid-19 Task Force – the body established by the Pope to respond promptly and comprehensively to the health and socio-economic crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The commission was established and operated within the DSSUI, where Sr. Alessandra became undersecretary for the Faith and Development sector in 2021 and, a few months later, ad interim secretary; finally, in 2022, she was definitively appointed “secretary” (and not “female secretary,” as she has always been keen to point out).

The Dicastery’s massive undertaking

Over recent years, the nun has worked alongside Card. Czerny on the massive undertaking carried out by the dicastery, which in 2017 saw the merger of the Pontifical Councils Iustitia et Pax, Cor Unum, the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People, and the Pastoral Care of Health Workers, brought together with the sole aim of promoting the human person and the dignity of all. A sort of Ministry of Social Policies, therefore, with responsibilities in social, humanitarian, health, and environmental matters. Indeed, numerous projects have been implemented across the six continents under what is most commonly referred to as “Integral Development,” organized internally into 3 sections based on areas of expertise, in which many highly qualified female staff members work: Listening and Dialogue, Reflection and Research, Communication and Outreach.

Among the challenges and issues addressed by the dicastery – alongside the poor, the environment, humanitarian aid, disarmament, trade, migrants, finance, war, and justice – the issue of Artificial Intelligence has also been added in recent years. The DSSUI is, in fact, a member of the newly formed Inter-Dicasterial Commission for AI, established in May to facilitate the exchange of information and projects on this revolution of our time, to which Pope Leo dedicated the encyclical Magnifica Humanitas.

Source: Vatican News

Fr. Thomas Junis Ordained a Priest

Fr. Thomas Junis Ordained a Priest

Fr. Thomas Scott Junis, SDB, was ordained to the priesthood on Saturday morning, June 27, at St. John Bosco Church in Chicago. The ordaining bishop was Chicago Auxiliary José Maria Garcia-Maldonado.

The evening before, Dcn. Tom enjoyed dinner with his parents
and confreres at the rectory of St. James Church.

Bishop Garcia-Maldonado became an auxiliary only 16 months ago. He happily told the congregation at the end of the ordination liturgy that Fr. Tom was the first priest he’s ordained. That got a round of applause. The bishop was personal in his presiding and preaching, and he was personable, lingering with the parishioners, family, and friends of Fr. Tom long after the liturgy.

More than 30 priests, mostly SDBs, concelebrated the Mass. The nave of the church was full, and more parishioners celebrated from the rear balcony. Salesians and friends came not only from almost all over the U.S. parts of the New Rochelle Province but also from Toronto, Mexico, and even Calcutta, India.

The liturgy was bilingual, and the music was very lively, the entire congregation joining in. Fr. Ky Nguyen served very capably as master of ceremonies.

Father Tom’s Vocation Story

Fr. Tom is the youngest son of Mitch and Margie Junis. He was born in Bloomington, Ill., in 1992. He has two older brothers, James and Charles. Already discerning his vocation as a student at Illinois State University in Bloomington, he was directed by the sisters at campus ministry to check on the Salesians in Champaign, Ill. At the Newman Center there, he was influenced by 2 chaplains the late Fr. Greg Ketcham, a Salesian Cooperator, and Fr. Bill Bucciferro, SDB.  He took St. John Bosco as a patron for his educational efforts and went to Turin in 2015 on a Don Bosco bicentennial pilgrimage. 

Fr. Tom before his Mass of Thanksgiving,
posing in front of St. John Bosco

After earning a degree in early childhood education from Illinois State, Tom entered the Salesians at Orange, N.J., as a candidate on Jan. 1, 2016.  He made his novitiate at the Salesian house in Richmond, Calif., in 2017-2018 and professed on Aug. 16, 2018, at the Marian Shrine in Haverstraw.

Following 2 years of postnovitiate, Bro. Tom did practical training in 2020-2022 at Abp. Shaw HS in Marrero, La., teaching theology to sophomores and juniors, serving as chaplain to the basketball and baseball teams, and developing good relationships with many students outside the classroom.

In 2022, Bro. Tom began theological studies at the Salesian theologate in Tlaquepaque, Mexico.  He learned Spanish there and became proficient.

After his 3d year, the province decided (after long discernment) to have our theology students attend the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago; consequently, Bro. Tom joined the Salesian community in Chicago and completed his theological studies there. In that one year, he had a discernible impact on the Salesian parish of St. John Bosco-St. James the Apostle.

People greeting Fr. Tom after his Mass of
Thanksgiving at St. John Bosco on June 28

The ordination liturgy included the usual rituals: calling the candidate forward; his presentation to the bishop by Fr. Dominic Tran, the provincial; the bishop’s acceptance and the congregation’s approval through loud applause; then the homily.

Bp. Garcia-Maldonado’s Homily (Summary)

God will touch Tom to be not only a prophet, like Jeremiah (Jer 1:4-9), but also a priest of God. Prophets aren’t always welcomed. There are many challenges in society, in families, and in the Church. We’re grateful that Tom has said yes to Jesus Christ.

Jesus asked Peter three times whether he loved him, and each time Peter said yes (John 21:15-17). Jeremiah said yes.  The Virgin Mary said yes. St. John Bosco said yes. Now Tom says yes, in front of all of us. His yes is permanent, like the yes his parents said in marriage, like the yes of all the married people here.

“Yes” isn’t easy because there are so many challenges. We renew our yes every day in the Sacred Heart of Jesus. In Dilexit nos Pope Francis reminded us that Jesus loved us first. Remembering that is, for all of us, a source of renewal and compassion. The Sacred Heart will help us be renewed and transformed, and society too, just as God helped Jeremiah and stood with him even in his trials. Peter was transformed by the love of God when he met Jesus after the resurrection, and he became a missionary disciple of Jesus.

Addressing Deacon Tom directly, the bishop continued: You will be transformed in this Mass by the sacrament of Holy Orders. You will be empowered to act in persona Christi. But you will also experience your humanity and all its sorts of challenges. The Sacred Heart will sustain and renew you in all that.

Every day before you celebrate Mass, hear confessions, or teach in a classroom, remember that Jesus loves you, and say yes to him every day.  Hear his voice in your heart. People will hear his voice and receive his love through you. Love your fellow priests and Salesian brothers. Obey and be humble with your superiors.

The Rite Continued

After the homily, Deacon Tom came forward and, in response to ritual questions, committed himself to faithful priestly service and prayer. Then he prostrated on the floor in front of the sanctuary while the entire congregation chanted the Litany of the Saints, which concluded with a short prayer.

Bishop Garcia-Maldonado imposed hands on Deacon Tom, and then all the priests present did likewise. With the bishop’s prayer of consecration, Deacon Tom became Father Tom. The bishop anointed his hands with sacred chrism, and Fr. Pat Angelucci helped Fr. Tom put on his priestly vestments. The gifts of bread and wine were brought up by Fr. Tom’s family, and these were presented to him as the bishop exhorted him to conform his life to the cross of Christ. The rite concluded with the kiss of peace exchanged by the bishop and the priests with Fr. Tom, and Fr. Tom embracing his parents (to congregational applause).

Fr. Dave Sajdak gives the sign of peace
to Fr. Tom (photo by Fr. Franco Pinto)

Fr. Tom then celebrated his first Eucharistic sacrifice alongside the bishop and the other concelebrants.

Fr. Tom gives his 1st priestly blessing
to Bp. Garcia-Maldonado

The ordination Mass lasted a little over two hours. The parishioners had prepared a grand outdoor reception on the church and youth center grounds, offering food, drink, mariachi music, and an abundance of fellowship.

Two Salesian Brothers Installed as Lectors

Two Salesian Brothers Installed as Lectors

On Friday evening, June 26, Bros. Paul Hotovy and Francis Nguyen were installed as lectors by Fr. Dominic Tran, provincial, at St. James Church in Chicago. St. James the Apostle Parish and St. John Bosco Parish were merged 3 years ago to form one parish in the care of the Salesians.

Bros. Paul and Francis have completed one year of theological studies at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. The ministry of lector is one of the stages that may lead up to diaconal and presbyteral ordination.

Assisting Fr. Dominic at the altar was Deacon Tom Junis, who will be ordained a presbyter on Saturday.

Fr. Tim Ploch called the two brother-candidates forward, and Fr. Dominic preached briefly on the Word of God, which all the baptized are called to take to heart and to proclaim. Then he led the congregation in prayer over the candidates and installed each of them with an exhortation to read and meditate upon the sacred Scriptures.

Present for the liturgical rite were confreres of their Chicago community and others from the far corners of the province. The rite took place within Evening Prayer and concluded with a period of Eucharistic adoration and benediction.

The Salesian Cooperators of Chicago prepared a little reception that followed the liturgy.

Fr. Dave Sajdak, director, assisted by his furry little friend Angela,
blessed the food and prayed for good weather tomorrow.

Vicky Weekley of the province youth ministry office took photos on behalf of the province. My few photos are at https://linkit.shutterfly.com/WEbxiB

Deep Concern and Salesian Solidarity after Earthquake

Deep Concern and Salesian Solidarity after the Earthquake

(ANS – Caracas, Venezuela – June 25, 2026) – The Salesian Congregation is following with deep concern and keen apprehension the dramatic situation unfolding in Venezuela following the 2 powerful earthquakes that struck the country on the afternoon of June 24, causing numerous casualties, severe structural damage, and major disruptions to communications and essential services.

The earthquakes and their consequences

According to initial reports, the earthquakes occurred 39 seconds apart at 6:05 p.m., with magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5 on the Richter scale, and had their epicenter in the north of the country, in an area near the Carabobo-Yaracuy axis, at a depth of approximately 6 miles.

Communications with the areas closest to the epicenter are largely disrupted, making direct contact extremely difficult. In many areas, the electricity supply is still cut off or unstable, while rescue teams are working under challenging conditions to reach those affected and assess the extent of the damage. There are reports of collapsed buildings in Caracas and La Guaira, and initial assessments of the disaster indicate dozens of deaths and hundreds of injuries, although these figures are provisional and, sadly, are likely to rise as search operations progress and access to the worst-affected areas becomes possible.

The situation for the Salesian Family

According to the latest report from the Planning and Development Office (PDO) of the Salesian Province in Venezuela, based in Caracas, several Salesian institutions have sustained damage.

The worst affected are the Don Bosco school and church in Sarria, which have sustained serious structural damage. Further damage, albeit less severe, has been reported in Altamira, La Dolorida, Mariches, and the San José secondary school.

Despite the gravity of the situation, information received so far indicates that all the Salesians who have been contacted are safe and there have been no casualties within the Salesian Family. Confirmation has also been received from Ms. Oriana of the PDO in Caracas regarding extensive structural damage in Caracas and La Guaira, with some buildings having completely collapsed.

The newly appointed provincial of Venezuela, Fr. Jorge Elias Ghazal Mora, has already launched an appeal to raise funds for emergency aid and to support the initial relief and reconstruction efforts.

The Rector Major’s solidarity

Rector Major Fr. Fabio Attard immediately expressed his solidarity, saying: “We are following the events in Venezuela with deep concern. I wish to express my personal solidarity, and that of the entire Salesian Congregation, with our confreres, the young people, and the families affected. In this time of great trial, you are not alone: we are united with you in prayer and in concrete solidarity, asking the Lord to sustain the relief and reconstruction efforts.”

In these hours of grief and uncertainty, the Salesian Family thruout the world wishes to express its practical and spiritual solidarity with our confreres, young people, and all those affected, and is following the unfolding situation with close attention and concern, while mobilizing in solidarity to support relief and assistance efforts.

Salesians and Rise Against Hunger Partner to Feed 20,000

Salesians and Rise Against Hunger Partner to Provide Better Nutrition for More than 20,000 People

(ANS – Juba, South Sudan – June 22, 2026) – More than 20,000 people who are part of the Don Bosco Mission in South Sudan had access to better nutrition through 2 shipments that arrived in the first quarter of 2026. The food shipment was the result of a partnership between Salesian Missions of New Rochelle and Rise Against Hunger, a nonprofit that helps underserved people worldwide achieve food security and resilience.

The Don Bosco Mission supports primary schools with about 7,000 children, 3 secondary schools accommodating around 1,800 students, and approximately 5,900 internally displaced persons living in the Don Bosco Camp. The mission also includes 5 parishes where many vulnerable and low-income families reside. The fortified rice meals played a crucial role in addressing immediate food needs, especially among children, students, displaced families, and the poorest members of the surrounding community.

Among the recipients are those internally displaced with the Don Bosco Mission Juba, students with Don Bosco Mission at Maridi, vocational students with Don Bosco Mission at Wau, and Don Bosco Mission at Kuajok, children living on the streets and neighborhood families with Don Bosco Mission at Tonj, and students in primary and secondary school as well as parishioners with Don Bosco Mission at Morobo. The rice is being utilized for daily school feedings, a monthly ration for those displaced living in the Don Bosco Camp in Gumbo, Juba, and as timely support for poor families in the parish and neighborhoods.

 One of those supported is Sunday, who lives in the Don Bosco Camp. She noted that every day is a struggle to find food and a sense of safety. She said, “Some days we would eat only once, and sometimes not even a single meal. Our parents and guardians worried constantly about how to find food as many donors had pulled out of supporting us; therefore many of us relied on irregular support, and when supplies ran out, it created tension and fear in the community.”

Sunday added, “When the rice finally arrived and was distributed, it made a real difference. For a time, families didn’t have to worry as much about their next meal. In my own home, we are able to eat regularly, and this has brought a sense of relief and dignity.” 

Another recipient, Mary, is a student at the Don Bosco Primary School in Gumbo. Being internally displaced has made life challenging, but Mary still has hope for the future. She’d like to be a teacher one day. She said, “Even with challenges, going to school gives me hope. It is a place where I can learn, play with my friends, and feel safe. But many days, I would come to school without eating anything. It was hard to concentrate in class, and sometimes I felt too weak to participate fully. I know many of my classmates had the same problem, and it affected our learning.”

 Mary noted, “Now that the project is being implemented, it has made a big difference in my life. Every school day, we are given rice for breakfast. This simple meal has helped me so much. I feel stronger, more focused and ready to learn. It has reduced the hunger I used to feel in the mornings, and I can now pay attention in class and enjoy my studies since I am assured of a meal at both school and home. This has impacted my friends too. One of my friends said that before she sometimes stayed home because she was too hungry, but now she comes to school every day. Another friend mentioned that the rice has helped his younger siblings, too, when food is shared at home. We all agreed that it has brought positive changes, even though we still hope for more support.”

Salesian missionaries in South Sudan are dedicated to providing programs and services across the country. Salesian missionaries provide education, social development services, nutrition programs, and health clinics for poor youths and their families. For some, the education offered at Salesian schools is the only opportunity to gain an education and the skills necessary for future employment. 

South Sudan gained its independence from Sudan in 2011 but has faced an ongoing civil war that started in December 2013 and continues today. This has resulted in a dire humanitarian crisis. According to the United States Institute of Peace, more than 10 million people have been forced from their homes. The war has also triggered the world’s worst hunger crisis with more than 18 million Sudanese living in acute food insecurity.

Source: Mission Newswire