The Rector Major of the Salesians will be visiting the New Rochelle Province next month (Sept. 3-12), and to celebrate the special occasion the province wishes to make him a special gift.
by Fr. Abe Feliciano, SDB
Every year the Salesian Family is gifted by the Rector Major with the strenna, the theme usually being announced during the Northern Hemisphere’s summer
season, followed by the publication of the Rector Major’s commentary on it on New
Year’s Eve.
Inspired by the 2018 Strenna, “‘Lord, give me this water’ (John
4:15): Let Us Cultivate the Art of
Listening and of Accompaniment,” the Salesian Family of North America wishes to
make a lasting gift to the 10th successor of St. John Bosco, Fr. Angel Fernandez
Artime, to commemorate his historic visit. Instead of a small souvenir that
would be distributed to attendees at the various events scheduled for his
visit, we are building lasting souvenirs in honor of the Rector Major that will
benefit poor young people and their families for years to come: lifesaving water
wells in the West African country of Ghana.
The water wells are to be constructed in
one of the three poorest regions within Ghana, where scorching temperatures and
the harsh desert landscape make potable water a scarcity. For the people of these regions,
accessibility to water is a matter of life or death. Pope Francis drew attention to this reality
in his encyclical Laudato Si’:
Water poverty especially affects Africa where large sectors
of the population have no access to safe drinking water or experience droughts
which impede agricultural production. Some countries have areas
rich in water while others endure drastic scarcity.
One particularly serious problem is the quality of
water available to the poor. Every day, unsafe water results in many deaths and
the spread of water-related diseases, including those caused by microorganisms
and chemical substances. Dysentery and cholera, linked to inadequate hygiene
and water supplies, are a significant cause of suffering and of infant
mortality. (Laudato Si’ nos. 28, 29).
The cost of each well is projected to be
$5,871.30, a very small price to pay to save, literally, the lives of thousands
of children and their families. Our goal
as a Salesian Family is to sponsor at least three wells, possibly even four, in
honor of Fr. Angel’s visit. The preparatory
committee for the Rector Major’s visit invites all members of the Salesian
Family – SDB and FMA communities, Cooperators, Volunteers, our ministries, our
youths and young adults, and all friends of Don Bosco – to contribute to this
gift to our Don Bosco of today, by caring for those closest to his heart: young
people and their families who are in dire need.
To make a donation to the Rector Major’s gift fund:
* In Canada: contact Fr. Luc Lantagne, SDB, at
the Don Bosco Mission Office either by phone (514-648-4132) or by email (dbmo-omdb@hotmail.com)
* In the U.S.: contact Salesian Missions and at "Select a program," open the drop-down menu and select "Rector Major Water Project."
Photos: ANS
No comments:
Post a Comment