Salesian Bulletin
Editors Convention in Rome
by Fr. Steve Whelan, SDB
|
|
| Some of the editors of the Salesian Bulletin intent on the presentations. There is at least one familiar face, and the most colorful. | Center: Very Rev. Fr. Juan Edmundo Vecchi, SDB, Rector Major of the Salesians of Don Bosco (SDB) addressing the editors of the Salesian Bulletin, flanked by Fr. Antonio Martinelli (l), councilor for the Salesian Family and Social Communication and Fr. Vito Orlando (r), of the Social Communication Department, in charge of the Salesian News Agency, the renewal of the Salesian Bulletin and chairman of the Salesian Bulletin Convention. |
A special meeting of 40 Salesian Bulletin editors from around the world was held in Rome, Italy, from November 26 to December 5, 1998. This was to satisfy a call from the Salesian world, specifically the social communication department of the Salesian General Council.
This convention kicked off a program of consolidating, unifying the resources and magazine, and relaunching the Salesian Bulletin in the various provinces around the globe. The effects of this effort were evident in the Winter 1999 issue of the San Francisco Province's Salesian Bulletin.
It was a typically cold and on-and-off rainy nine days during a Roman winter-not unbearable, though. However, the days were jammed with work. Starting the day at 7 a.m. with Mass, the participants began work at 9 a.m. and continued till noon, with appropriate breaks. Lunch was at 1 p.m. with a break till 3:00, when work resumed until 7:30 p.m. The "work" was mostly listening to presentations from various Salesian leaders like Fr. Juan Vecchi, Rector Major, experts in the publishing field, Q & A sessions and group discussions based on common language. The work was facilitated by simultaneous translations in English, French, Italian and Spanish.
Your fearless editor was privileged to attend. Having been in Rome before, I was not put out about not having much time to sightsee. Besides, many of the religious sights were covered in scaffolding and netting as things are being cleaned up for the 2000 Holy Year. Rome is expecting 35 million visitors in 2000! The greatest advantage for me was viewing and comparing some 40 Salesian Bulletins from around the world and sharing tips and insights, problems and complaints with the other editors.
Several improvements are being contemplated for up-coming issues, especially for the year 2000. We are striving to include greater international news and more substantive articles on Salesian spirituality, Salesian education, family and parenting insights, and news from the Salesian headquarters in Rome.
| Come on! Join us! You can help Salesian Priests, Brothers and Sisters carry on the work of St. John Bosco. For information on joining the Salesian Team, contact:
|
|
| Vocation Office P. O. Box 1639 Rosemead, CA 91770 |
(626) 280-2574 |
