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By World Confederation of Don Bosco Past Pupils
and Friends of Don Bosco

World, 3 January 2023 -- Good news from the 'World Confederation of Don Bosco Past Pupils and Friends of Don Bosco' (Newsflash magazine no. 48) reached us with unfailing precise delivery in 4 languages in time for Christmas. The 68 digital page quarterly magazine brings us from the 2022 to the 2023 Strenna 'As the Yeast in the Human Family'. The Christmas issue covers a large diversity of 'our' Past Pupils life and mission mainly in 18 countries of Europe, the Americas and Asia - with a few news items from Africa and Oceania this time: France, Italy, Malta, Portugal, San Marino, Slovakia and Ukraine (Europe); East Timor, India, Korea and Pakistan (Asia) and Brazil, Colombia, Uruguay and USA (America) and finally Burundi, Nigeria and DB Tech-Africa.

The dynamic animation of the 'sleeping giant' as the Don Bosco Past Pupils used to be called, is pretty much visible in this issue. Also the message of the President, Mr Bryan Magro is short but mission-focused:

"...As past pupils and friends of Don Bosco, it is our role to promote solidarity in action especially with the young people in the Salesian spirit. In the Strategic Plan, we have prioritised our strategic objectives to focus on journeying together (synodality), mission, spirituality, and solidarity. These four dimensions are our focus that will guide us in these years to come.

When we come to an end of the year, we tend to reflect on our past year, evaluate our present and plan for the future. As an organisation, we are undergoing a process in which we ask the question: What kind of past pupil and friend of Don Bosco we want to be for the 21st century? We are living in a changing world. Change is happening around us all the time and as an organisation, we also need to change, to be effective in the world that we live. Change is a challenge. Challenges will help us grow. Let us journey together to embrace the changes that are necessary but ensure the guiding principles and values which we have inherited. I invite everyone to join us in our journey together and contribute to the renewal of our worldwide organisation.

Christmas is a time of giving – a time when we show solidarity to people in need. As past pupils and friends of Don Bosco, it is our responsibility to support children and young people. When Don Bosco spoke to Carlo Gastini regarding the forming the association, Don Bosco asked Gastini that the past pupils should help the young people in the Salesian work.

During this year, the World Confederation has worked on three social projects: Helping Ukrainian Orphans living in Salesian Houses, Helping a Salesian School in Haiti to set up new IT Laboratory and Helping poor Street Children in Burundi. There are many Federations and Local Unions who are reaching out to children and young people through various solidarity projects. Christmas is a time when we renew our energy to commit ourselves in supporting the work with young people as asked of us by Don Bosco."

We can only wish that many more 'Bosconians' who received a Salesian, Don Bosco education are able to read, to be inspired by the multiple activities, events, mission and solidarity of their fellow 'companions' in other countries and continents. Saint John Bosco, Pray for us!

Just in this Christmas days we are also happy to share the gentle and beautiful version of 'Don Bosco Past Pupils Prayer and Promise' uploaded on YouTube by the Korean Federation in bi-lingual form (Korean and English).

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