1 ADVT 2 May-June 2016 the salesian bulletin the salesian bulletin May-June 2016 3 4 May-June 2016 the salesian bulletin MESSAGE RECTOR MAJOR I DREAM OF A SALESIAN FAMILY THAT CARRIES THE POOREST IN HER HEART Another dream of mine for the Salesian Family and for the friends of Don Bosco all over the world, as the fruit of this Bicentenary we lived as a year of grace of the Lord, is what was the norm of his life: carrying in one’s heart the poorest, especially children, boys and girls, young people, the most destitute, the most disadvantaged. As I am writing to you, I still have in my eyes In Mecanisa, Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), when I and in my heart the eighteen-day visit I lived in met the 500 children who every day at our place Sierra Leone, where I could meet some of our can have a full meal and attend school, and as authentic reasons of deep happiness: the boys I greeted the boys saved from the streets who collected from the streets, the girls set free were learning a profession or the 28 young from the sexual exploitation that enchained people who every day come from the streets them, the youth who have become orphans to eat, stay with their friends and with the because of Ebola. Seeing all of them in the Salesians to decide whether to return to their Salesian house of Freetown, and seeing how wandering life or to be part of the young pupils their lives now had a different horizon, gave of the house, my heart beat in unison with Don me the same joy Don Bosco felt in Valdocco Bosco’s heart who certainly sustained all this and Maria Mazzarello felt in Mornese with go and reach out to the poorest. together with Jesus, who continues to ask us to Visiting the detention home of the capital, in Because of this, dear brothers and sisters of their first youth. an encounter with 10 per cent of the detainees our family and dear friends of Don Bosco, I (160 out of 1.600), of whom over 1200 were once again repeat to you my conviction that young people between 18 and 25 ears of age, I the poorest are the reason for our existence had the same feelings as Don Bosco did at the as Salesian Family, in the Church and that our “Generala” in Turin. dedication to them is the reason of our lives. When in Accra, the capital of Ghana, I met our I am convinced of how precious is the witness FMA sisters with the boys gathered in their of so many confrères who every day donate house and when at “Don Bosco” I saw the their lives with true educative and evangelizing children and youngsters who were victims passion in favour of the young; I am convinced with predilection at the poor. that many are the Salesian presences that look theof human grace astrafficking, Salesian FamilyI could to not be helpa beam being of moved and thanking the Lord who grants us Dear brothers and sisters, “we must go further I give thanks to the Lord for this and I repeat: lightthe salesian in the bulletin midst of so much May-Junedarkness. 2016 5 on, we must go beyond”. We must all have a not to be able to succour every poor boy or girl heart as the one of the Good Shepherd, and the who are in need of us. If our heart has such a one of Don Bosco, as the one of the holy men and women of this religious family that aims at will always be very faithful to the preferential giving the best of herself in favour of the youth. choicefeeling, of we the will poorest always youth. find solutions and we We must unite this commitment of ours to the In Evangelii Gaudium the Pope quotes a father one of all persons of good will. of the Church, St. John Chrysostom, who says: Pope Francis in his message to consecrated “Not to share one’s wealth with the poor is people says: “Wake up the world, illuminate it with your prophetic and countercultural livelihood. It is not our own goods which we witness!” hold,to steal but fromtheirs”. them and to take away their The Pope reminds us of the globalization of illuminate the world in a prophetic and counterculturalI truly think that way the is wellSalesian rooted method in all toof compassion at the outcry of the poor, in a us and in all our houses. Do not have the cultureindifference of prosperity that makes that us deadens incapable us of (EG feeling 54). With great force he calls our attention on the this way, even with no need of words, the “throw away” culture, which we have socially least doubt that by living and working in message rouses questions and carries a great created and in which “the excluded are not the testimonial strength; and do not have any “exploited”, but the outcast, the “leftovers” (EG doubt, that by living in this way you will not 53). us all remember the solid trust of Don Bosco in In the light of this expression that is also a Divinelack the Providence. means to reach out to the poorest. Let fundamental and essential one of our charism, I tell you, dear friends, that in this direction If this is the case, what else is there to do? The we need not worry about the identity of our answer is to continue this journey of ascent until every Salesian, every Daughter of Mary right path! Help of Christians, every lay person of the mission, nor about our fidelity. We are in the Salesian Family of each of the thirty groups that form this great tree sprouted from Don Bosco’s your lives with that fullness that ONLY COMES charism, in the depth of their soul feel regret FROMI bless youHIM. all, that the Lord may continue to fill 6 May-June 2016 the salesian bulletin 10 Q DAVID MARIASELVAM SDB (10 Q with Francis Marcus the Director and I STARTED Producer of the recently released tamil movie ‘Oyee’.) EVERYDAY’S SHOOT 1. How do you evaluate your debut film Oyee? I am very glad that I have proved that I can be WITH CATHOLIC realizing your movie itself is a great success. I a commercial film maker. In today’s context single schedule. PRAYERS have completed this flim just in 45 days, in a 2. Every film teaches some lessons for the film makers, what are the lessons you learnt from ‘Oyee’? for‘Oyee’ the gave right me moment more confidenceis also very for important. my future. Choosing of the well known artist and waiting 3. As Christian do you face challenges in the film industry? I started everyday’s shoot with Catholic prayers, but we cannot avoid other rituals which have almost become unavoidable. 4. You were both producer and the director, do you enjoy doing both? Better not to handle both at the same time because you will end up compromising on your creativity. 8. What is your next project? 5. What is your message for the young film Next will be an entertainer, city based and makers? youth subject 9. Can you say something about your everyday and be ready to discuss your concept production house? withWork professionals. hard and think about your project I have started my production house called 6. How did you get Music Maestro Illayaraja to do the music for your film? documentaries and we also rent our Cameras. Mark Studio in 2011. We do photoshoot, He got impressed with the script and he said 10. How difficult is to make movies today? stubborn person, when it comes to music. okay. He is a very dedicated, firm and even it to the people. Gone are the days when 7. How did your family support this project? Making film is lot more easier than taking Without my family this project would not screened, now we are counting number of theaterspeople counted who will the screen number the of movie.days a filmThe waslife younger brother and sister who helped me to achievehave been this possible. milestone. I thank my Dad, Mom, my the movie is exceptional and has a star value. span of movies is just couple of weeks unless the salesian bulletin May-June 2016 7 BOOK LAUNCH: “WORLD THE PROBLEMS OF STREET Meeting of “Don Bosco CINEMA A CELEBRATION” BY CHILDREN, SEEN THROUGH Communications South RAJ MARIASUSAI THEIR OWN EYES Asia”- Sri Lanka At the General Body meeting of Boscom South Asia the Two young people from “Shelter Don Bosco Boys”, ----------------------------------------------------- A meeting of the “Don Bosco new book ``World Cinema Mariasusai, published by Hay a centre for street children Communications South HouseA Celebration`` was released byby Father Raj in Mumbai, accompanied by Joseph Almeida, Provincial of in a consultation of children in AmongAsia” (BOSCOM) other deliberations, took place Akhil Abraham, SDB, took part on 3rd April, 2016. Present South Asia organized by the reachingon 2/3 Aprila synergy in Sri amongLanka. the Vice Province of Sri Lanka United Nations Committee social communication centres Boscom South Asian Delegates on the Rights of the Child. for the book launch were the for Social Communications decided that Don Bosco Youth along with Father Godfrey place from 4 to 6 April in New Filmfigured Festival prominently. and Writers’It was The consultation, which took D’Souza, Provincial of the Delhi, served to highlight the Forum to be perceived at Salesian Province of Mumbai.