by SrDeniseSickinger | Jun 27, 2023 | a current event, Accompaniment, Rector Major, RIP - Requiescat in pace
27 June 2023 (ANS – Luanco) – “This Eucharist is a thanksgiving to God for my mother, in whom we celebrate life.” This is how Fr Ángel Fernández Artime, Rector Major of the Salesians, began the homily at the Requiem Mass for his mother, Isabel Artime, 87, who died on Saturday, 24 June 2023. The Mass was celebrated on Monday 26 June in the parish church at Luanco, a fishing village in Asturias in northern Spain, the place of origin of the Rector Major’s family, where the Isabel lived. The Rector Major and his family were accompanied by the members of the General Council, who came from Turin, the Provincial Council of Spain’s St James the Greater Province (SSM), his Province of origin, and some 80 Salesians, as well as many friends, neighbours, local inhabitants and close relatives. “I am convinced that our loved ones are with God, and I want to give this testimony of faith. This certainty gives us profound peace, it gives meaning to our life”, said Fr Á.F. Artime in an emotional homily in which he recalled his mother Isabel, “who, together with my father, always sat in this church, near the altar of Our Lady...
by SrDeniseSickinger | Jun 26, 2023 | a current event, Accompaniment, Rector Major, RIP - Requiescat in pace
24 June 2023 (ANS – Rome) – Today, 24 June, the feast of St John the Baptist and the monthly commemoration of Mary Help of Christians, in the early hours of the morning, Isabel Artime Garcia, the mother of the Rector Major, Fr Ángel Fernández Artime, returned to the Father’s house after long months of silent suffering. Born on 15 March 1936 in Luanco (Asturias) in Spain, she passed away after 87 years of life. On this day when the Congregation celebrates the name feast of St John Bosco’s name day and the feast of the Rector Major, she passed away gently in serenity and peace. The Rector Major and his sister, who were very deeply attached to the mother, had accompanied her in her suffering, for more than a year. This morning, the Rector Major, after receiving the news of his mother’s death, wrote this letter, sharing his thoughts and sentiments: “To my Salesian brothers sdb, to the Salesian Family, To the many lay people and young people who are always close to us My dear salesian brothers and sisters and to all friends, I write these lines because my mother, Elisabeth, has gone today to meet the Lord,...
by SrDeniseSickinger | Apr 28, 2023 | Accompaniment, Ad maiorem Dei gloriam and the salvation of souls!, Consecrated Life, Prayer Intentions, Vocations
On April 30th, we will celebrate Good Shepherd Sunday and it is World Day of Prayer for Vocations. We decided to start a simple and prayerful monthly Rosary to pray for Salesian vocations. It is open to family and friends of the Salesian Sisters and women in initial formation. The first session will be Good Shepherd Sunday, April 30th at 7:30pm EST. We are planning to hold it every last Sunday of every month through Zoom at 7:30pm EST. I ask that you please extend this invitation and RSVP to me at happynun@salesiansisters.org if you plan to attend. You will receive the Zoom link and more information. Here is a brief summary about Lu-Monferatto: https://40horas.org/en/the-example-of-lu-monferrato/ Thank you so much for your support in this endeavor for vocations! “Let us ask God for vocations by incessant prayer and by our own joyful and constant fidelity.” C.73 Entrusting you to Mary, our Help and Guide, Sr. Elfie,...
by SrDeniseSickinger | Jan 23, 2023 | Accompaniment, Ad maiorem Dei gloriam and the salvation of souls!, Don Bosco, Salesian Spirituality
20 January 2023 Immagine a cura di Severino Baraldi, per “Don Bosco ti ha sognato” (Vol. 1) – Elledici, 2013 (ANS – Rome) – “We are children of a dreamer” is an expression often used by his successors to refer to the Founder of the Salesian Congregation and Family. And this is not only because of his ability to see far beyond his contemporaries, foreshadowing developments and realities that would be openly manifested only much later; but also because of that mystical ability of his to have as it were “supernatural visions” capable of directing his own path and that of those who followed him. Countless were the dreams reported by Don Bosco, some certainly more significant and relevant than others. The 9-year dream, whose Bicentennial will be celebrated next year, 2024, constitutes among all of them not only the chronological leader, but also the load-bearing lintel of the entire life and action of the Saint of the Young. In the great skein of dreams dreamed by Don Bosco, today we want to recall in particular the one known by the name of the “bower of roses.” It is, among all, a dream that helps to bring the figure of...