Italians are famous for many things—their mouthwatering cuisine But as any worldly underwater shooter can attest there’s another talent that a special group of Italians is known for: creating beautiful images of the unusual marine life in their backyard waters One of the principal members of this select club is Domenico Tripodi Growing up on the “toe” of the Italian Peninsula with the island of Sicily opposite and surrounded on all sides by the Mediterranean the young Domy was donning mask and snorkel at the age of five he wasn’t just a technical scuba instructor but had also opened a dive training center just down the road from where he was born Ficarella Diving Club­—which is where you’ll probably still find him on any given day of the week With literally thousands of dives under his weight belt Domy finally invested in a housing for his modest Canon digital compact and decided it would be fun to try taking pictures underwater our self-taught Photographer of the Week has become a true ambassador for underwater imaging in this part of the world current-fed waters of the Strait of Messina and its incredible abundance and diversity of marine creatures For more of Domy’s extraordinary images, follow him on Instagram and Facebook. If you want to dive with Domy, find out more about his dive center—Ficarella Diving Club—in Saline Joniche (ANS - Rome) – 22 July 2022 marked the 50th anniversary of the death of the Servant of God Msgr who died in 1972 in Pellaro (Reggio Calabria the place where the Congregation of the Salesian Oblate Sisters of the Sacred Heart had begun Several celebrations and events took place in Pellaro di Reggio Calabria and in Bova at the parish church Santa Maria del Lume in Pellaro who recalled the last words spoken by Bishop Cognata Among them was the final entrustment to his Oblates: "Well then whose communities are made up of a few members I am thinking of you and am always close to you." This was followed by an evening of music and dance by the associations of Pellaro an intense moment of aggregation and a sign of hope in the name of Bishop Cognata the new musical show "The Holiness of Sweetness," by the "Charmonie Vocal Group" of Tivoli with orchestrations by Giovanni Proietti Modi and with the set design conceived by Pierluigi Pastori and produced by "LabOratorio artistico Don Bosco," the show exalts the charisma and the presence of numerous Salesian Oblate Sisters of the Sacred Heart On the way to the Co-Cathedral of Mary Most Holy of Isodia Metropolitan Archbishop of Reggio Calabria-Bova blessed a plaque dedicating the street leading up to the Co-Cathedral to Msgr Cognata's presence among his people and at the same time the people's esteem and affection for the pastor and apostle to needy populations Speaking at different times during the celebration Morrone highlighted how Bishop Cognata's ordeal was not the result of God's will who sometimes work evil and make people suffer; God does not want suffering and sacrifice Cognata's mission as the founder of a new charism in the Church and in light of the Word of God presented Msgr Cognata as a man of prayer who lived in the presence of God: "Msgr allowing himself to be enlightened by Jesus Christ ANS - “Agenzia iNfo Salesiana” is a on-line almost daily publication the communication agency of the Salesian Congregation enrolled in the Press Register of the Tibunal of Rome as n 153/2007 This site also uses third-party cookies to improve user experience and for statistical purposes By scrolling through this page or by clicking on any of its elements This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page 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coming back to a health centre while COVID-19 is still active in the community," she said. "Other volunteers found their former role was changed due to pandemic restrictions and duties were integrated into the responsibility of full-time staff positions.” Pellaro says one big issue with volunteer recruitment is that many people find it hard to fit volunteering into their busy schedules and that it’s the organization’s job to share the benefits of volunteerism in the hope that people will give their time “We know that when people are passionate about a cause they will find time to support that cause many of our volunteers have had a positive experience at RVH which has impacted their lives in such a significant way they wanted to pay it forward," she said.  Pellaro says volunteer opportunities can’t be a one size fits all “Volunteer engagement professionals need to think of innovative ways to attract various types of volunteers and create opportunities that can fit various levels of commitment," she said.  volunteer recruiters also need to emphasize how important volunteers are to organizations and people in the community and the difference that volunteers truly can make in the lives of other people Pellaro stressed the fact that RVH is the centre of the community and that people who live in the region will likely all require the services of the hospital at some point in their lives “Whether you are a patient or visiting a family member navigating your health-care journey is made much easier having a friendly helpful person to help support while you are here," she said.  Pellaro says volunteering at RVH offers the opportunity to make a real difference in patients’ lives and also a way to stay connected to your community “Whether you’re a high school student wanting to get your foot in the door to learn about the working world or a newcomer to Barrie wanting to gain a sense of community we endeavour to offer various types of volunteer opportunities that everyone can enjoy," she said.  who is the director of program support and volunteer services at IOOF Seniors Homes said the long-term care provider has been facing similar challenges that other non-profit organizations are experiencing with volunteer recruitment we are currently developing new strategies and engagement tools to recruit young adults and newly retired community members," Damas said She says the main recruitment challenge has been to remind the community of the volunteer needs in the long-term care industry “There are tremendous opportunities available that touch and transform lives in a positive way on both sides of the volunteering relationship," Damas told BarrieToday Strategies to restore previous volunteering levels, Damas said should consider that volunteers were mainly seniors prior to the pandemic and therefore “We need to rethink our recruitment strategies to engage youth and to share the important stories from the pandemic while educating about the ways volunteers contribute in a positive way to enrich the lives of seniors," she said.  there has never been a more poignant time to reconnect with seniors at IOOF have experienced isolation and looking to reconnect with their communities," she said.  Damas believes that volunteering enriches lives within the community and as anyone who has volunteered can attest to Areas of need at the IOOF’s long-term care home include friendly visiting and assistance at mealtimes and recreation programs “We have both direct contact volunteer positions as well as behind-the-scenes tasks and administrative roles available,” Damas said Joanne Oblin, volunteer co-ordinator at the child protection agency Simcoe Muskoka Family Connexions (SMFC) has also noticed a drop in volunteers when the pandemic hit “There is a strong focus on recruitment efforts now to increase our roster and get the word out that we are in need of volunteers particularly volunteer drivers," Oblin told BarrieToday Oblin explained that volunteer drivers use their own vehicles to provide an invaluable service by assisting staff and foster families with the transportation needs of children in the care of SMFC “Volunteer drivers transport children and their families to various appointments such as access visits medical appointments and schools throughout Muskoka Simcoe County and other areas throughout Ontario as requested by the agency,” she said Oblin also says it’s been a challenge not having the opportunity to meet people in person such as at volunteer fairs to recruit volunteers we have had great success when attending volunteer fairs and having the opportunity to meet our community face-to-face and explain our volunteer needs,” she said SMFC is planning on attending more in-person events Other volunteer roles currently needed at SMFC include parent assistants who provide a parent/guardian with emotional support guidance and practical skills; tutors to provide children with assistance on their homework; and mentors who assist a child that needs extra support and encouragement and who will benefit from regular Oblin pointed out that time is currently a challenge for many people trying to balance work she says SMFC can work with its volunteers’ schedules “Our volunteer roles offer flexibility to potential volunteers with time constraints If a person can only volunteer one to two days a week we can work with them to help meet the volunteer’s needs and SMFC’s needs," she said.  For more information on volunteer opportunities with the above organizations, contact:  Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre: 705-739-5650 or [email protected] IOOF Seniors Homes Inc.: Gaja Damas at [email protected] or 705-728-2389, ext. 338, www.IOOF.com Simcoe Muskoka Family Connexions: Joanne Oblin at [email protected], www.familyconnexions.ca/gi-volunteer/ This story was made possible by our Community Leaders Program partner. Learn more (ANS - Vatican City) - The Postulator General for the Causes of Saints of the Salesian Family has transmitted to the Bishop of Tivoli-Palestrina and to the Superior General of the Salesian Oblates of the Sacred Heart the news that the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints in its Ordinary Congress of Jan gave juridical validity to the diocesan inquiry for the Cause of Beatification and Canonization of the Servant of God Giuseppe Cognata (Agrigento Oct Founder of the Institute of the Salesian Oblates of the Sacred Heart This follows the verification carried out regarding the formal aspects of the procedural Acts and the consistency of the evidentiary apparatus: number and quality of witnesses The Postulator General emphasizes that "this is a great achievement the result of the work done with passion and competence since the day of the communication of the consent given by the Holy Father Francis to the opening of the Cause of Beatification of Bishop Cognata on April 15 Special thanks to the members of the Diocesan Tribunal and to those who have contributed especially the Historical Commission and the Theological Censors." The Postulator General will now ask the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints to appoint a Relator who will guide in the preparation of the "Positio super vita virtutibus et fama sanctitatis" of the Servant of God After an intense year full of us celebrations on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the death of the Servant of God and the closing of the Diocesan Inquiry this news is a source of great joy and an incentive to continue in the animation and promotion of the Cause of Beatification and Canonization of Bishop Giuseppe Cognata in his funeral commemoration in October 1972 thus remembered him "His life remains a book of exceptional value and interest If we know how to read it with an intellect of love we cannot but feel stimulated to become more good On every page we find reflected an angle of his humanity and of his spirituality: enlightened and open mind fine sensitivity to the needs of the times imitator of Don Bosco; we find especially in him the martyr of silence.. had the strength to choose heroism: tirelessly who knows the times and moments of trial and reward