(ANS – New York) – For the Bicentenary of the birth of Don Bosco (1815-2015), the Salesians have organized an event at the United Nations Headquarters in New York to highlight the Salesian contribution to the work of the UN throughout the world. The Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to the United Nations and the Permanent Mission of Honduras to the United Nations were generous partners in having this event take place.

“Empowering Youth to be Agents of Change in Eradicating Poverty” will feature Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga, SDB, Archbishop of Tegucigalpa and President of Caritas Internationalis and Bro. Jean Paul Muller, SDB, Economer General of the Salesians of Don Bosco.

The event takes place on September 24, 2012 with the President of Honduras, Porfirio Pepe Lobo, and Archbishop Mamberti, the Holy See's secretary for Relations with States, the honored guests. Ambassador Elizabeth Flores of Honduras, Ambassador Jorge Valero of Venezuela and Archbishop Francis Chullikatt, the Permanent Representative of the Holy See to the United Nations will speak at the beginning of the event providing words of welcome and introducing the theme. Ambassador Valero is an alumnus of a Salesian School in Venezuela and will also provide some reflections on his appreciation for the education he received there.

Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez, SDB and Bro. Jean Paul Muller, SDB will offer reflections on the empowerment of youth and creating an enabling environment for young people to contribute to the transformations of their societies from a Salesian perspective.

The event will be taped and will be made available to the communities in the near future. Missioni Don Bosco in Turin will be preparing the DVDs for distribution.

The Salesians are extremely grateful to Mr. Miguel Rimarachin, a UN staff member who has been a wonderful colleague over the years and who facilitated so many of the details of the event.

Published 21/09/2012