Most of you probably do not know this, but the Salesians have a strong presence at the UN in working with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and the Department of Public Information (DPI). The Salesian Sisters help run VIDES which stands for “Volunteers International for Development Education and Service”. They have done much good working with the Salesian Sisters is many third-world countries and a while back they were approved as a Non-Government Organization (NGO) in special consultative status for the UN’s ECOSOC and DPI.
On January 22 the Salesians of Don Bosco (the male branch of the Salesian religious family) were approved for the same, after two years of working closely with member States of the UN. Commenting on this achievement, the Rector Major (Don Bosco’s successor as head of the Salesian Family) wrote:
“For us it represents a great opportunity to be part of the UN, looking always - like Don Bosco – to the Glory of God and the salvation of the youngsters. I think the fact that we were accepted as Salesians is also a success. Now we have to try to work in a very sinergetic way with the other Congregations also present in the United Nations”.
Currently the Provincial of the Salesian Sisters for the Eastern Province, Sr Phyllis Neves, is hosting visitors from UN. She is very busy and it will be interesting to see what the fruit of these meetings shall be.
Sister Phyllis
The Salesians of Don Bosco also run the Salesian Lay Missionaries who work hand in hand with the Salesians of Don Bosco in the poorer areas of the US and around the world. They have a strong presence in Sierra Leone and I have been blessed to meet a number of these generous men and women.
News stories like these are always encouraging for me to read because it shows me that the Salesians do not just claim a dedication to the young and the poor, but they actively live it and pursue new ways to expand their work.
