(ANS - Paris) - Following the barbaric attacks in Paris on Friday 13 November 2015, Fr Daniel Federspiel, Provincial of the Salesians of Don Bosco and Sr Genevieve Pelsser, Provincial of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians in France-Belgium South, have sent a message in reply to the many messages they received in the past few days.

Thanks for your messages of solidarity with teachers and educators. Thank you for your prayers for those families violently confronted with the absurd. We cannot do much...

Meanwhile, in the hospitals in Paris, many doctors and members of staff have gone spontaneously to SERVE in the places hit in the hours immediately after the attacks. On Sunday morning, many citizens went to DONATE blood. People have opened the doors of their homes, close to the places affected, to offer ACCOMMODATION. Since Saturday morning teachers in different districts have been TALKING to teenagers, helping them to put the right words on their feelings and to develop their thinking further. Men and women have chosen LIFE because Life deserves to be chosen!

As for us, Salesian educators, we are profoundly challenged in our way of accompanying the younger generation in their human and spiritual education. The challenge is immense, let us not be discouraged! "

Fr Daniel Federspiel, SDB, Provincial of the Salesians of Don Bosco and Sister Genevieve Pelsser, FMA, Provincial of the Salesian Sisters of Don Bosco

17 November 2015

Published 18/11/2015