'We Can Still Contribute"

By Fr. Tim Zak, SDB, Provincial

Dear Salesian Family,

During Lent, the province appealed to the communities to show particular concern for the poor and to strengthen our solidary with the People of God throughout the world.

Our Province Day Solidarity collection focused on Belle Glade and Venezuela. Each year, the SDB communities make a contribution to the province to be used to further the Salesian mission of education and evangelization. This year the contributions were divided between our Salesian home mission, St. Philip Benizi Parish in Belle Glade, FL, and the Salesian mission in Venezuela. These needs remain.

The Salesians in Belle Glade already have begun an afterschool program three days a week. With contributions from the province, this program will be able to expand next school year to two tutors, five days a week, include a snack, and provide transportation.

Regarding the Salesian mission in Venezuela, Fr. Tim Ploch reports that in Caracas they have no water; the situation is critical.  The little food the children receive at school they save and take home for the rest of the family.

As brothers and sisters in the same Salesian Family, surely we can help. Thanks to everyone who has already contributed to these needs. Additional contributions can be sent to Fr. Dennis Donovan in the province treasurer’s office in New Rochelle, or to Fr. Mark Hyde at Salesian Missions in New Rochelle.

Missionary Solidarity: Book Drive for Formation Houses in Chennai

I am happy to invite you all to contribute in another way to a province project—our support of the formation of Salesians in the Chennai province by helping to expand the libraries in their houses of philosophy and theology. We plan to fill a container with books, especially philosophy, theology, spirituality, education, and Salesian studies, and with the help of Salesian Missions, New Rochelle, ship them to Chennai. Please bring the books to Salesian Missions at your earliest convenience. Here is a great opportunity to see that our personal book collections, and maybe some of the community library, can be used for the formation of another generation of Salesians.

As we have been drawing closer to Christ during the Lenten and Easter seasons, we are naturally drawn closer to each other. Our love for Jesus is expressed in our solidarity with those living in poverty.

God bless you during this month of the Mother of our Savior, the Help of Christians.

Fr. Tim Zak

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PRAYERS OF THE FAITHFUL

For world leaders and for those who hold the future of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Sudan in their hands, that on this Day of Prayer and Fasting for Peace, they would respond to the Lord’s invitation to conversion and transformation of heart: we pray to the Lord…

For the peoples of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Sudan, that the Holy Spirit would stir in their hearts a desire to work for true peace, mercy, and reconciliation: we pray to the Lord…

PRAYER FOR PEACE IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, SOUTH SUDAN, AND ALL THE WORLD

Heavenly Father,

you tell of a time when the lion and lamb will lie down together,

and swords will be turned into plowshares,

a time when all divisions will be healed.

Be with the people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Sudan

in their hour of suffering.

May your Spirit of Love comfort them and kindle in their hearts

a hope for true peace, mercy, and reconciliation.

Be with those leaders who hold the future of these countries in their hands.

Open their minds and hearts to your Spirit of Peace

so that they may work to build societies that respect the rights of all.

Ever-living God, may our heartfelt prayer and fasting

help bring peace and justice

to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan, and to all the world.

We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.