(ANS - Rome) – Today, 11 November, anniversary of Don Bosco’s  first missionary expedition, the Department for Social Communication is publshing the poster for the 2015 strenna: "Like Don Bosco, with young people, for young people." "Perhaps this is how the Dream of Don Bosco at the age of nine would look today," says the man who designed the poster, Fr Bruno Ferrero, Director of the Italian Salesian Bulletin.

The poster of the strenna for the Bicentenary Year of Don Bosco is now available in seven different languages: Italian, English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Polish and German. It can be downloaded from the website sdb.org, either as a complete file (jpg version) or as editable files (psd version, with special font), and two different quality levels (high level for the press, and medium level for other uses).

In launching it Fr Bruno Ferrero had this to say: "Perhaps this is how the Dream of Don Bosco at the age of nine would look today. With young people poised between heaven and earth, suspended in unstable equilibrium and with no secure foothold, it offers a point of stability that gives that little bit of confidence that is necessary if the young are to begin to live.

The question of our time is: Where are the adults? Holed up in the hoard of privileges they have won for themselves. They are  tired and pessimistic, with  little or nothing to pass on to the younger generation.

Children and young people have to 'make do' with their own DIY morality that they find and share on Facebook. With no past and no future, they are  really poor and abandoned.

There are children and adolescents who believe that they can never please their parents no matter what they do. Subconsciously they reject the adult world and its 'stupid' values.

'Look,' Mary said to young John Bosco. 'Here is your field, this is where you have to work'. John was not afraid. He was used to walking on a tightrope between heaven and earth. He alone knows how to reach young people where they are. He goes there, where the young people are. He says to each one: 'Do you want just any old life or do you want to change the world? You can count on me. I am with you. Life is a wonderful adventure and together we can make it '.

And to educators he says: 'You have to show by example,  not just teach!'  And also 'The young people know what they want, but do not know what is really necessary for them. These young people need a friendly hand, that will take care of them, guide them  and help them to grow... '"

The poster for the 2015 Strenna says "With young people, for young people." There is another reason for this. When the idea of the poster was first conceived and the first sketches produced - with the help of the Salesian Brother Luigi Zonta of Turin - the graphics were developed by a young artist, Luca Pontassuglia, a twenty year-old animator at the Salesian oratory of Vasto. Luca grew up as a member of the "Friends of Dominic Savio" group.  He graduated from the "B. Jacovitti "Art School in Termoli. Even though he is still young, he already has many fine works of art to his credit. In November 2012 he gained recognition for his many paintings and sculptures, through the Alfiere del Lavoro award, conferred by the President of the Italian Republic, Giorgio Napolitano.

Finally, we acknowledge the contribution of the editors of the Salesian Info Agency, in terms of coordination, language translation and adaptation of the graphics, done by Bro. Andres Felipe Loaiza.

In its paper version the poster will be distributed all over the world with the October issue of ANSFoto.

Published 11/11/2014