ROME:  13th May 2005 --  As a follow-up to the recent austraLasia on the Salesian Bulletin there has been a flood of response, positive, one hastens to add!  Clearly the SB touches the core of Salesian efforts to affect the lives of the young and ordinary people through a publishing venture.

    Some changes to the information provided have been noted and are reproduced here for the benefit of all: 

- the new SB director in Korea is Fr John Ro. 

- In the Eastern US province, Fr Mike Mendl has assumed the SB directorship, returning, actually to a publications scene at New Rochelle which will also see the printing of a renewed edition of the Memoirs of the Oratory. 

- There have been other changes to SB directors elsewhere: in France, Fr Vincent Grodziski has taken over from Fr Jean-Noel Charmoille, and in Belgium Fr Mark Den Haerynck has taken over from Fr Jos Claes.  For those following online editions, it is worth noting that Central America SB is back online after a year's absence.

 

    Japan is giving serious thought to a digital version of SB, perhaps pioneering a publishing venture in new technology.

    The meeting of SB directors scheduled for 4-10 September in Rome (at Sacro Cuore) is one to which it is hoped all provinces of EAO with or without an SB, will consider attendance.  It is intended to be both a nuts-and-bolts gathering and an effort to look at how the SB can best meet the new needs of those for whom it is most intended - the ordinary faithful and all forces for good, even beyond the normal Church communities.

    Fr Vito Orlando of UPS, who has the task of conducting the Rome meeting and who has aleady gathered information worldwide on the state of the SB today, has set the following broad themes for the meeting's agenda: (1) The Salesian Social Communications System - a frame of reference for social communications in the Congregation, published in February of this year (2) The SB in today's context (society, congregation, church..): what are the consequences and directions for putting the SB together? (3) Some common approaches to publishing the SB (4) essentials for both the effectiveness and quality of the SB (5) organisation and working together.

    Currently, half of the worldwide group of SB directors has registered for the September conference.  New registrations are arriving daily.  Closing date for registration is May 31st.