(ANS - Rome)- Following the example of Don Bosco "we utilize as God’s gift the great possibilities which social communication offers us for education and evangelization"(Cons 43). Various provinces, regions and Salesian groups have recently developed new networking initiatives. Here are the latest:

The Interamerican Region has developed a website entitled "Preferential Option", which aims to publicize various initiatives undertaken by the Salesians of America on behalf of young people at risk or in a situation of social unrest.

In all the provinces of the region there are works dedicated to young people at risk, offering them opportunities for improvement in education, training and work. With this site the Provinces plan to coordinate the variety of initiatives to strengthen this joint effort and to work in harmony. The networking site is an opportunity to bring together people of good will who want to join this great continent-wide project. Information is available on http://opcionpreferencialinteramerica.org.

On 31 January, the Feast of St. John Bosco, the new site of the Salesian Youth Movement in Austria: www.donbosco4youth.at was also launched. This virtual presence shows that Don Bosco is always there where young people are.

The SYM offers young people a space on the net where there will be suggestions to help them live their lives in the style of Don Bosco: meetings, travel, training, proposals for animation, pilgrimages ... The new site is equipped with the latest technologies, for example, it can be enjoyed even by smart phone. "We are very pleased to have made ​​this leap,” said Peter Rinderer SDB, the Project Coordinator.  “Now with the internet we can put into practice our resolution to live the Salesian Youth Spirituality."

An interesting innovation is the Gute Nacht Wort service which can be accessed at http://gutenachtwort.tumblr.com. Drawing on the Salesian tradition of the Goodnight, a thought for the week will be published every Friday.

Already on 17 January, which was Provincial Community Day, the Salesian Province of Panjim launched its new website: www.donboscopanjim.com.

The site has three main sections: News and Info, Maps, and Commissions. The first section contains news items and updates, the second gives the geographical location of the Salesian houses and information about each community, while the third presents the different commissions, their duties and their work. The Provincial Secretary, Fr Joaquim Lobo, explains that the site will be finalized in the coming weeks. For the present, it relies on the good will of all the members of the Province.

Published 07/02/2014