Winter 2013

This Month’s Child

included 316 malnourishedchildren and 20 newbornbabies.

Conditions at the Don BoscoCenter were understandablymiserable – families crampedinto tight spaces, a limited sup-ply of food and water, and ahigh level of anxiety as towhether or not they could everreturn to their homes.But throughout the terrifying

ordeal, the Salesians were ableto maintain an element of calmfueled by loving support, strongfaith, and hope that peace wouldprevail.

While the situation in Gomaremains unstable, residents nowknow they can rely on theSalesians – backed by caringfriends like you – to guide themthrough their darkest hours.

Please visit the video link belowto learn more about our work inthe Democratic Republic of Congo:www.salesianmissions.org/Congo

Don Bosco School in Goma BecomesAn Emergency Home for Refugees

Name: Smita

Age: 13 Years Old

Home: Mumbai, India

As war and violence eruptedin the Democratic Republic ofCongo, thousands of familieswere forced to flee their homes,fearing for their safety andtheir lives.

Within hours, the Don BoscoEducational Center Ngangiof Goma was transformed into arefugee center for those whohad nowhere else to turn.Salesian missionaries and vol-unteers counted a total of 2,578adults – mostly mothers – plus anadditional 4,962 children.

“The refugees were shelteredin the big hall, in the classrooms,in tents on the basketball court andin all available spaces,” explainedFr. Piero Gavioli, the director ofthe Center.

Those who made it safely tothe Center were the fortunate ones.Sadly, stray bullets claimed thelives of two people close to theSalesians, including the secretaryof the Christian community and

For most of her young life,Smita had been held captive in anabusive household with a mentallyill mother. Unable to bear the crueltyany longer, the petite girl escapedand began living on the streets.

That’s when she met the out-reach staff from Don BoscoBalprafulta. But her path to freedomand a better life would take anotheryear.

The city’s Child WelfareCommittee decided to return Smitato the care of her mother, withpromises that the child wouldreceive better treatment.

But the Salesians who got toknow Smita remained concerned

about her wellbeing and safety. So,they scheduled regular visits to thegirl’s home, where they discoveredunusual behavior. As it turns out,Smita had not been allowed to stepoutside her house for 10 months.

Determined to rescue the littlegirl, the Salesians engaged localpolice, neighbors and relatives. Itwas a long and challengingordeal, but eventually the motherwas checked into a hospital andSmita was sent to live with hergrandmother.

Today, Smita is a vibrant andhappy child – grateful for her freedomand thankful to the caring Salesianswho wouldn’t give up on her.

Prepared Exclusively for Special Friends of Salesian MissionsA Written Testimony Of How You Bring God-Saving Grace To A Troubled World

This Month’s Call For PrayerPlease pray for the safety and wellbeing of all children -- particularly those mostvulnerable to hunger, disease, violence and abuse. Your thoughts and prayers willgive them the strength to overcome adversity and the hope that better days lie ahead.

the child of a teacher at the Center.In one day alone, dozens of chil-dren were gravely wounded fromgunshots and mortar blasts.

This recent crisis is just oneexample of how the Salesians goabove and beyond their everydayservice in order to provide victimswith emergency help whenever itis needed.

In Goma, the Salesians workedaround the clock for three weeksto ensure that everyone undertheir roof received proper careand support. The most needy

In Peru.. In Colombia... In Haiti...

Missionary of the Month: Fr. Arthur Lorini

You Are Their Savior!

In December, Fr. ArthurLorini accepted the Gold Medalof Civic Merit at Milan CityHall in Italy. It was a fittingtribute to the 73-year-old Salesianpriest who has devoted his life tohelping the poor and needy.

Early in his vocation, Fr.Lorini developed an innovativeprogram that has enabled30,000 youngsters to travelduring their school vacationsin order to help other children

in forgotten and impoverishedplaces around the world.

Then in 1989, Fr. Lorini startedwhat is now known as the“Distance Adoptions Project” toconnect caring and generousfriends like you with impoverishedchildren and families in desperateneed of food and other essentials.

In reflecting on the impact ofhis program, Fr. Lorini says withgreat satisfaction, “Every year Ivisit these kids and find them

increasingly healthy, serene andsmiling, just because they havea guaranteed meal every day.”

Dear Friend,You are responsible for the

wellbeing and bright futures for somany poor and needy children andfamilies.

Without caring people like youby our side, we wouldn’t have theability to open our doors torefugees fleeing from violence andwar. We couldn’t look after abusedand neglected children like Smita.And we wouldn’t have the

resources to open and operateschools that give suffering young-sters a path out of poverty.

Your acts of kindness go a longway – and it’s with great satisfactionand appreciation that I share thestories featured in each issue of theWorld Bulletin and on our websiteat: www.salesianmissions.org

Thank you from the bottom of myheart for everything you do to ease pain

Ninety people who were toopoor to afford medical care are nowfeeling much better thanks to arecent Health Campaign organizedby the Salesians in Peru.

The campaign recruits caringdoctors who are willing to volunteertheir efforts in order to treat painfulailments that require delicate surgery– such as removing tumors andrepairing hernias.

This year’s Health Campaigntargeted remote settlements in thePeruvian Amazonian forest andother areas typically without anyaccess to healthcare. It also reachedneedy residents in Pisco who are alsostruggling to recover from a cata-strophic earthquake five years ago.

The Salesian Health Campaigncontinues to add doctors, thus allow-ing many more children and adults tobe relieved of their pain and suffer-ing. It is a cooperative effort that’smaking a big difference in every lifeit touches.

and suffering in so many neglected andforgotten places around the world.You truly are a savior to so many!

God bless you for your continuedcompassion and generosity.

Three years after the devastatingearthquake in January 2010, thereare signs of hope despite manychallenges that still lie ahead onthe path toward recovery.

On a positive note, more than 3million children have returned toschool, including 20,000 studentsat Salesian locations. Eleven millioncubic meters of rubble have beenremoved. One million people haveleft camps for the displaced. Andsoon, 600,000 people will haveaccess to electricity.

But the immense sufferingcontinues, and recent catastropheshave made the situation evenworse. An urgent food and healthcrisis has arisen in the wake of a severedrought followed by devastatingcyclones Isaac and Sandy.

The Salesians – and all thechildren, families and communitieswe serve – are determined to pushforward … and are hopeful thatbetter days lie ahead.

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TEL: (914) 633-8344 Visit our Website: www.salesianmissions.org

The El Sufragio School inMedellin, Colombia, was recentlyhonored by city officials for its out-standing educational quality.

At a ceremony held in theMedellin Metropolitan Theatre, theschool accepted two awards in thecategories of “Significant Experience”and “Educational Progress.” Inaddition, the school received a totalof $28,000 in prize money so it cancontinue the programs for whichthey were recognized.

The first award celebrated aschool project entitled “Philosophywith Feeling” while the secondhonor credited El Sufragio withbeing the “best private educationalinstitution for improving academicand educational processes.”

The success of the El SufragioSchool is a wonderful example ofhow your gifts to the Salesians areproviding impressive results.

Please visit the video link belowto learn more about our work inColombia:www.salesianmissions.org/Colombia