5419(II)_How do the Past Pupils of Don Bosco communicate?
DB Past Pupils Magazines and Newsletters
July 13, 2020
By EXDB
EAO Region, 12 July 2020 -- The 150th Jubilee Year (24 June 2020-2021) of the Past Pupils of Don Bosco offers a good opportunity to get to know the largest but actually not as well-known group of the Salesian Family better. While the Italian version of their magazine 'Voci Fraterne' (Fraternal voices) celebrates 100 years of history, probably the most consistent Past Pupils newspaper (semestral edition, no. 128) is about to celebrate some 50 years: 'A Friend' (벗) published by the South Korea, Gwangju Salesian School Association of our Past Pupils, or perhaps it is the Macau 'Instituto Salesiano' newsletter (no. 220).
At world level the quarterly digital publication 'Newsflash' in 5 languages (English, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese and French) will soon celebrate its 10th year.
What are the communications media?
Almost all local centres, country or province federations have their own Facebook page or website:
ASIA AND OCEANIA
EUROPE
What can we learn from reading Past Pupil newsletters, magazines or their websites?
Probably the first lesson is knowing WHO our Past Pupils are: it is not only about Don Bosco/Salesian school graduates, but about any person that treasures the gift of Don Bosco from the education they have received. In Slovakia there is only one TVET (Vocation training centre) but there are no fewer than 14 local Past Pupil centres, with 700 registered members. In many cases they are our former Oratory - Youth Centre leaders or volunteers.
A second attractive element - the various initiatives of individual Past Pupils or groups of Past Pupils - their mission - for the benefit of their Alma Mater, for poor young people, in the field of education or a variety of solidarity actions. Besides advertising their meetings, home-comings, celebrations - more mission-oriented activities have been growing recently.
But probably the most striking discovery from the communication media used by the Past Pupèils of Don Bosco is their growing networking: You may be surprised by the inter-continental (Europe - Colombia - Thailand - Kenya) coffee business network, their growing international business platforms with creative solidarity activities.
Our hope is that during the Jubilee Year (24 June 2020 - 24 June 2021) many more Salesians of Don Bosco and more members of the Salesian Family will come to a better knowledge of the 150 year-old and largest group of the Salesian Family!
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