St. John Bosco Today • March–May 2015 by St. John Bosco Today

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EDITOR’S TABLE OF CONTENTS ST. JOHN BOSCO TODAY |THE SALESIAN FAMILY MAGAZINE | PHILIPPINES March - May 2015 | Volume 44 • Number 4

COVER STORY ENTRUSTMENT OF THE HOME TO MARY

Leading the Family to Jesus through Mary By Rheena Lim

FEATURES

SpecialFEATURES

DON BOSCO AND FAMILY

Children Drink from the Life of their Parents

By Fr. Dennis Paez,SDB

By Fr. Caesar Dizon, SDB SALESIAN PERSPECTIVE

The 2014 Synod on the Family By Fr. Joel Camaya, SDB

A New Leader to Move Us Ahead 19 By Fr. Randy Figuracion, SDB

SALESIANITY 101 | DON BOSCO AND THE FAMILY

The Role of the Family in Don Bosco’s Thought and Practice

FIS NEW PROVINCIAL

PAPAL VISIT

The “Mess” that Lolo Kiko Left Us

Beware of the New Ideological Colonization

Mercy and Compassion

By Fr. Vitaliano Dimaranan, SDB

By Cl. Juvelan Paul Samia, SDB

PARTNERS: HOME AND SCHOOL

Family Ministry in FMA Schools 12 By Sr. Pinky Garza, FMA

Being Bosconian... Being Marian By Nolan Angeles

REGULARS EDITOR’S NOTE

To Jesus, through Mary By Fr. Bernard P. Nolasco, SDB MESSAGE OF THE RECTOR MAJOR

Mamma Margaret Fr. Angel Fernandez Artime,SDB FIN-FIS NEWS

3 25

Magazine of Information and Religious Culture of the Salesian Family in the Philippines

Owner Salesian Society of St. John Bosco Printer Don Bosco Press, Inc. EDITORIAL BOARD Publisher Don Bosco Press, Inc. | Editor Fr. Bernard P. Nolasco, SDB | Copy Editor Cl. Donnie Duchin-Duya, SDB | Coordinators Fr. Randy Figuracion, SDB FIS; Sr. Maria Socorro Bacani, FMA FMA & FMA Past Pupils; Sr. Sophia Akiko Oshita, SCG SCG; Brenda Ramirez ASC; Dr. Victor B. Endriga DBAPNF; Maria Junifer Maliglig ADMA; Evangeline Dolliente FADS | Art Director Early Macabales|Circulation Commission on Social Communication For subscription contact ST. JOHN BOSCO TODAY Commission on Social Communication 3/F Don Bosco Provincial Ofﬁce, Don Bosco Compound, C. Roces Ave. cor. A. Arnaiz Ave. 1264 Makati City, Philippines Tel (02) 893-8227 loc. 114 • Telefax (02) 892-8174

To Jesus, through Mary

“T

he Christian family constitutes a speciﬁc revelation and realization of ecclesial communion, and for this reason it can and should be called a Domestic Church.” It is a community of faith, hope, and charity; it assumes singular importance in the Church, as is evident in the New Testament.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, #2204) St. John Bosco lived his life with this conviction. No wonder, he called his group of consecrated and lay collaborators as ‘family’. Getting the cue from the founder, the members of the Salesian family gives special attention to the families of the young people in their respective ministries. In this issue of St. John Bosco Today, we highlight how the Salesian family reaches out to the young and their families through formal and informal interventions. The aim is clear: to assist the young in appreciating the beauty of the family even amidst all its imperfections and shortcomings; to help the young be witnesses of the faith right in their own respective homes; and to make families be aware of their mission in building the Kingdom of God in their homes and in the communities they belong. Providentially, this year 2015, as the Salesian Family celebrates the bicentenary of Don Bosco’s birth, the Salesian family also joins the Church in commemorating the 200th Anniversary of the Declaration of Pius VII for the 24th of May as the Solemn Feast Day of Mary Help of Christians. The devotion to Mary Help of Christians occupies a special place in our hearts as members of the Salesian family. The editor, therefore, decided to have her image as this issue’s cover. The cover features three main images: Mary Help of Christians, Don Bosco, and the Church. The message is clear: the Salesian family serves the Church in Don Bosco’s way, that is, to Jesus through Mary under the title of Help of Christians. Advanced happy feast day of Mary Help of Christians!

Annual subscription (4 issues) P200.00

Fr. Bernard P. Nolasco, SDB

Mamma

Margaret, MOTHER AND TEACHER OF DON BOSCO Taken from the Commentary on the 2015 Strenna

MESSAGE OF THE

RECTOR MAJOR

would not want to finish this commentary on the Strenna in this Bicentenary Year of the birth of Don Bosco, which has as its core his educative and pastoral approach without referring to her who was his mother and teacher. To ignore or be silent about his mother, Mamma Margaret, is to ignore the fact that so many of the natural gifts that we recognize in Don Bosco have their origin, certainly in God, but through the human mediation of his family and in a special way of his mother. This is the reason for this simple reflection.

In May 1887 Don Bosco went to Rome - and it was for the last time - for the consecration of the Church of the Sacred Heart the permanent monument to his love for the Pope. He was almost at the end of a long laborious life, On Sunday, the 8th of May, a reception was held in his honour that was participated by both Italian and foreign Church and Civil authorities. At the end of that reception, many of the guests spoke in a variety of languages. Someone asked out of curiosity what was the language that Don Bosco liked best. Smiling he replied: The language I like best is that taught to me by my mother because I can express my ideas with little effort; and again I don’t forget it as easily as other languages. Don Bosco always acknowledged the great values that he had acquired in his family: the peasant’s wisdom, a healthy astuteness, a spirit of work, a true appreciation of what was important, readiness to work hard when something was needed to be done, optimism under all trials, resilience in times of misfortune, the ability to start again after set-backs, cheerfulness always and everywhere, a spirit of solidarity, a lively faith, genuine and deep affection, a readiness to welcome and to be hospitable; all virtues that he had found at home and that had formed him. He was so marked by these experiences that when he thought about setting up an educational establishment for his boys, he did not want any other name for it than house; and he described the spirit that it ought to have as a family spirit. In order to give it this proper tone, he asked Mamma Margaret, already elderly and reluctant to leave the tranquillity of her home in the hillside, to come down to the city and to look after the boys he had taken from the streets, those boys who would cause her no little heartache and grief. But she went to help Don Bosco and to become the Mamma to those who no longer had family or affection. It was precisely the presence of Mamma Margaret at Valdocco during the last ten years of her life that had its influence in no small way on that family spirit that we all consider as being at the heart of the Salesian charism. In fact, that decade was no ordinary one but the first during which the foundations were laid for that atmosphere that was to pass into history as the atmosphere of Valdocco. It was spurred on by a very practical need that Don Bosco had invited his Mother. In fact, in God’s plans this presence was to rise far above the limits of a practical necessity to become a providential collaboration in a charism just coming to birth. The “most simple thing” that Mamma Margaret continues to repeat through the example of her life is this: that holiness is within reach, it is for everyone and it is achieved in faithful obedience to the particular vocation that the Lord has entrusted to each one of us.

The language I like best is that taught to me by my mother because I can express my ideas with little effort; and again I don’t forget it as easily as other languages. — Don Bosco

Fr. Angel Fernandez Artime, SDB Rector Major

MARCH-MAY 2015 ST. JOHN BOSCO TODAY

F E A T U R E | The Foundation of the Family

Children

drink from the

What is common in the family situations below: 1.

Jayson is 16 years old and has been comatose for the past five months.

Allan, in senior high school, candidate for valedictorian, core commander, band player, guard in the school varsity, voted prom king and is anorexic. His doctors have given him only two weeks after which the effects would be irreversible.

Jojo is grade three and all the twelve sheets of paper his parent showed are blackened sheets where he virtually consumes all his crayons until the whole page is black and then repeats the process.

Life of their

Parents FR. DENNIS Y. PAEZ, SDB

n all situations the parents are having marital problems. The parents of Jason (all names are fictional but not the cases) have been sleeping apart in the same house and Jason stays with his mother. The burden of being a parent catcher is too much for him, or even for any child no matter the age. The parents of Allan are determined to separate and they are pressuring him to decide with whom he was going to stay. He opted to commit slow suicide by not eating. They broke down his bedroom door and kept it that way because he was texting his friends farewell notes. When I asked little Jojo’s parents if they had any marital difficulties, the wife just broke into quiet tears. That “there is no youth ministry without family ministry,” has been asserted by both GC 26 and GC 27 (Salesian General Chapter documents).

ST. JOHN BOSCO TODAY MARCH-MAY 2015

Who we are is not only the result of how our parents treated us, but more so and in fact primarily, how our parents treated each other. A VISION OF FAMILY MINISTRY Often exasperated and desperate parents come asking what they must have done wrong that their children should become dysfunctional. After listening to their litany of sacrifices and hard work, I tell them that their parenting is not fail proof. There are ten effective rules to parenting, just ten easy to remember namely: 1. Love your spouse. 2. Love your spouse. 3. Love your spouse… and yes, until the tenth, it is “Love your spouse.” And this applies regardless whether couples are living together, separated, annulled, or dead.

emotional and psychological maturation. On the other hand, children should be made to see the affection between their parents.Yes, parents should engage into PDA – publicly display of affection -- even if they have to fake it (!). Contrary to what parents think, children busy with computer, with homework, with texting away are really sensitive to the parents’ reaction to each other. When parents love each other their children grow up to be self confident (versus scared all the time), socially well adjusted (versus angry), wise (versus only intelligent) and healthy (versus always sick with something). The “WHAT” of family ministry—the evangelization of the future generations.

Who we are is not only the result of how our parents treated us, but more so and in fact primarily, how our parents treated each other. In the series of talks I give to a gym full of parents of our schools I immediately ask how many of them sexually abuse their children, and to raise their hands if they do. The reaction almost always is one of silent horror and gasped unbelief. For further shock I repeat the question in Filipino. More audible groans of dismay follow. Every time a parent disparages, demeans, belittles his/her spouse before his/ her children this is sexual abuse--not genital sexual abuse--but with the same shaming and devastating effect. Every time a parent colludes with a child over a secret versus a spouse, that too is sexual abuse because in both cases that parent is making the child a spouse. Children are not partners, not best friends, not soul mates, not therapists, not confidants over their parents’ marital problems. Doing so undermines their self confidence and derails their

A MISSION OF FAMILY MINISTRY It is with these considerations that I see what ministering to families entails. It is not that dealing with troublesome teens, unmotivated boys and suicidal children are unimportant concerns. But then again children will go through various problems as part and parcel of every person’s journey to wholeness, and their parents will always be the best choice for their accompaniment and empowerment. “Christian spouse and parents are qualified to offer their unique and irreplaceable contribution to the elaboration of an authentic evangelical discernment” (Familiaris Consortio #15). When I was transferred from Don Bosco Tarlac to Paranaque in 1993, from a school setting to that of a parish, I determined to be equipped for marriage and family interventions. I was motivated by the desire to continue journeying with the boys pass their high school and very soon entering

into another more important phase in their life. Gut level interpretation of experiences is not enough, nor fair. I needed the mentoring and accompaniment of others to fairly process my own experience of family and be of effective service. “Parents are the ones who must create a family atmosphere animated by love and respect for God and man, in which the well rounded personal and social education of children is fostered” (Gravissimum Educationis, #12). If healthy spouses make healthy children, then it is adamant that these spouses are adequately prepared to enter a partnered life. Not that this preparation will forestall or guarantee a problem-free marriage. But it will certainly equip them with the right attitudes and mind sets to hurdle the inevitable difficulties. Already intervening where it all begins is more effective than repairing when it is in the danger of ending. And this intervention already starts long before these children have even thought of marrying. Familiaris Consortio urges the remote, proximate, and immediate preparation for marriage. “Experience teaches that young people who have been well prepared for family life generally succeed better than others” (FC#66). Heads turned in the recent synod on the family when Archbishop Zbignev Stankevicks of Riga, Latvia, reported that whereas Latvia has the highest divorce rate in Europe at 86%, only 16% of Catholic marriages end in separation (CAN, October 17, 2014). He attributes it to the obligatory course on marriage, because “people, who have faith do not resign when they meet difficulties.” The “HOW” of family ministry – the sanctification of the spouses.

MARCH-MAY 2015 ST. JOHN BOSCO TODAY

F E A T U R E | The Family Foundation Ministry of the Family A PASSION OF FAMILY MINISTRY In my years ministering to couples, I have come to the conviction that for two people of different backgrounds, different personalities, different outlooks in life, even different eating and sleeping habits, for them to live together forever is not difficult. It is impossible, impossible without God. Invariably, the work of family ministry is to enable couples to focus on God. That is because “their bond of love is the image and the symbol of the covenant which unites God and His people” (FC #24). Thus, the closer each of them is individually closer to Him, the closer they become to each other. In short, a lively relationship with the Lord is no longer just optional for married people. The most intimate moment in their life as a couple is when their souls unite as one in prayer. “The dignity and responsibility of the Christian family as the domestic church can be achieved only with God, which will surely be granted if it is humbly and trustingly petitioned in prayer” (FC#150). A genuine family ministry hopes to enable the spouses to give the best gift to each other – holiness. The “WHY” of family ministry – the Christification of all God’s people.

“Parents are the ones who must create a family atmosphere animated by love and respect for God and man, in which the well rounded personal and social education of children is fostered.” When both the parents of Jason told him they were going to work on their marriage and that he would not have to care for their relationship anymore, Jayson dutifully passed on the very next day. Allan was not able to catch up in his studies and had to take special acceleration classes to graduate. But he started to regain his appetite when his parents made arrangements for him to spend time with both of them. Little Jojo started to draw trees and birds on the fourth week of his parents’ marriage counseling. Conclusion: “Children drink from the life of their parents.”

ST. JOHN BOSCO TODAY MARCH-MAY 2015

Familiaris Consortio (FC), the pastoral exhortation of John Paul II on the family, begins by immediately stating that forces have been seeking to “destroy” and to “deform” the family “perhaps more than other institutions” (FC #1). Although promulgated in 1981, its assessment of the situation of the family with its lights and shadows is still very much in evidence today: positive – an appreciation of personal freedom, interpersonal relationship, responsible procreation, education; negative – mistaken view of independence, authority, transmission of values, abortion, divorce, contraception, poverty (FC#16). Added to these are the now adverse consequences of the phenomenon of migrant families and single parent homes. There are far too many researches made, articles written, documentaries done decrying the allpervading effects of growing up with a single parent here and in many parts of the world. It has radically changed the concept and practice of parenting.

Don Bosco and the Family | S A L E S I A N I T Y 101

The Role of the Family

in Don

Bosco’s

Thought and Practice BY FR. CAESAR DIZON, SDB

he Life of Dominic Savio is probably the best known of the biographies that Don Bosco wrote for the edification of young people. Together with the llife stories of Michael Magone and Francis Besucco, they make up a trilogy of exemplary young people. Perhaps as a counterpoint, Don Bosco also wrote the biographies of three other young people. Their lives were not exemplary but Don Bosco all the same penned them, probably because he hoped that his readers, especially the parents, might profit from their sad stories. These are the live stories of Severino, Peter and Valentino. Allow me, for this Salesianity 101 column, to highlight one of them: the story of Valentino. The complete title of Valentino’s biography was “Valentino or a Vocation Obstructed.” The protagonist was the only child of a couple who were somewhat advanced in age and wealthy. The mother was a good Christian woman who was intent on giving her Valentino a Christian upbringing. Osnero, the father, was “a courteous and upright individual who did good to anybody he could and evil to no one, but he did have one seriously erroneous idea in his head. He believed he could make his son a virtuous and upright

Recently Pope Francis made a categorical statement that affirms this conviction: “Children deserve to be raised by a father and mother.” MARCH-MAY 2015 ST. JOHN BOSCO TODAY

S A L E S I A N I T Y 101 | Don Bosco and the Family citizen without being first of all a good Christian.” Tragedy struck when his mother died from a serious illness.Valentino was barely twelve years old then. But Osnero didn’t have much time for his son’s upbringing. Running his business, markets, fairs, plus his celebrations at cafes and inns took up most of his time. Since Valentino had already finished his elementary schooling and since there was no high school in their town, his father decided to send him to a boarding school.Valentino readily agreed to this proposal. Certain things at the boarding school caused him anguish. There was no meditation or spiritual reading; prayers were said in common but only once a day, with everyone standing, and they were said hurriedly. The pupils only attended Mass on Sundays, and Confession was offered once a year at Easter time. This was not how his mother raised him! When his father came to visit him,Valentino voiced his concerns. But his father pooh-poohed them and instead, advised him to be more open-minded. Heeding his father’s words, Valentino became “open-minded.” He

read all sorts of reading materials, and mixed with all kinds of friends. He neglected Confession and Communion. His studies suffered, too. There was one thing, however, that he couldn’t keep off his mind—his mother’s counsels. And yet, he continued on in his sorry behavior. When Valentino went home for the holidays, his father noticed the change in his son. In just ten months his erstwhile religious, obedient and affectionate son learned to answer back, lost interest in anything pertaining to religion, and even resorted to stealing. He broached the idea of paying a visit to their parish priest. But Valentino gave a flimsy excuse not to go. His father was surprised for his son had been fond of this priest. Unable to stand it any longer, Osnero confronted him one day: “Valentino, my son, what has happened to you?” The boy replied, “You told me not to have any scruples, and to be more open-minded, and so I have obeyed.” His father quipped, “But I did not mean...” Valentino was firm, “That’s what I understood. If you don’t want me here, then I can go somewhere else.” Osnero had to admit that the boarding school probably had something to do with the change in his son. He resolved to bring him to another

“Valentino, my son, what has happened to you?” The boy replied, “You told me not to have any scruples, and to be more open-minded, and so I have obeyed.” boarding school where religion was properly taught, recommended and practiced. So one day he broached the matter to his son: “Valentino, before your mother died she had told me about a boarding school that she had really wanted for you. There you can study. But most of all, there you can carry out all the practices of piety that

ST. JOHN BOSCO TODAY MARCH-MAY 2015

your mother taught you. I think it would please your mother very much if you were to go there.” Hearing that it was his mother’s wish, he said yes because he really loved her. Months passed by, and when Valentino returned home for the holidays, his father could not believe his eyes, for his son had reverted to his former good self.Valentino even persuaded his father to return to those religious practices from which he easily excused himself. The secret of Valentino’s transformation was really no secret. It was all due to the continuing influence of his mother and the fact that in the new boarding school of Valentino religion was taught, recommended and practiced. The years passed quickly. Towards the end of the fifth and last year, Valentino began seriously thinking about his vocation. With the help of his confessor and the director of the school, he finally came to the conclusion that God was calling him to the priesthood. He wrote his father telling him about this and asked for his permission. That came as a shock, for he wanted his son to take up a career in the world. He wanted him to be his support in his old age, take over the family fortune and continue the family line. Nevertheless, he wrote back and promised his son that they would talk about it again during the holidays. But he already had some sinister plan in mind. When Valentino returned home for the holidays, Osnero introduced him to a family friend by the name of Mari. He was an elderly individual who had wasted his life on vice. Osnero begged him to make Valentino change his mind. The two went on a trip, ostensibly for Valentino to see the world and thus be in a better position to make a decision about his vocation. What Mari did was to bring him to places of ill-repute. He accustomed Valentino to bad talk and to perverse reading.Valentino felt uncomfortable at first, but after six months of dissolute living, it was all normal to him. It was then that Mari brought Valentino back to his father. Valentino, to the delight of his father, declared that he was not going to be a priest anymore. He simply had

Parents exercise a lasting influence on the child whether for good or for ill. lost interest. Osnero thought that now everything would be alright. But he was badly mistaken. Valentino suddenly became a nightmare. He took up bad reading, gambling, drinking and other vices. When his father refused to give him any more money to support his dissolute life,Valentino turned to pawning valuable items at home. He even broke into his father’s safe and stole the money inside. He also began accumulating debts which his father was forced to pay to keep his son from jail. If that was not enough, Valentino began mixing with criminal types. Unfortunately, they were caught and thrown into jail. What happened to his son was too much for him. Given his old age and weak heart, Osnero collapsed into the arms of a friend. He became delirious and with a violent shudder, died. Nothing was left of Valentino’s inheritance. Creditors had to be paid and what remained went to the internal revenue office to pay legal costs and to indemnify the people that Valentino had caused serious harm. Meanwhile Valentino and his criminal friends were locked up in jail on trial for murder. Through this biography, what did Don Bosco wish to tell his readers about the family and about the rearing of a child to become an upright citizen and honest Christian? First of all, Don Bosco taught that parents remain paramount in rearing a child. They exercise a lasting influence on the child whether for good or for ill. Thus, we saw how Valentino’s mother even after her death continued to influence him. Unfortunately, Valentino’s father neutralized the positive influence exerted by his wife over their son. In this way, Don Bosco convincingly pointed out to his readers the danger of parents not being of one mind in the rearing of their child. Unless they are in agreement, they might end up confusing the child. Second, the religious formation of children falls squarely on the

shoulders of the parents. Valentino’s mother modeled how this is done. She instructed him and brought him to Mass and other religious celebrations. She was involved in preparing him for his First Confession and First Holy Communion. She did not hesitate to reproach him should he forget to carry out her advice. “She knew how to temper piety at the right moment with good fun. Games, walks, presents, toys, sweets and other eats were things the good mother used to encourage and reward her son’s good behavior.” In this,Valentino’s mother and Don Bosco were in agreement. Religion and fun can and do go together. Third, the choice of school comes within the purview of the parents. And it is a decision that parents should not take lightly. We saw how the first boarding school failed to provide an environment that supported the training that Valentino had received from his mother at home. The result was Valentino turning from good to bad. On the other hand, the second school had an educative environment that allowed Valentino to change and grow. Don Bosco dedicated an entire chapter of the biography to show how religion was properly taught, recommended and practiced in this school. Although not identified, the school was probably the Oratory and the director, Don Bosco himself. Fourth, parenting requires “wasting” time. Osnero left the raising of their son to his wife because he had no time. Don Bosco noted in the biography that “running his business, markets, fairs, his celebrations at cafes and inns did not allow him to take up the matter of his son’s upbringing.” That was a grievous fault on the part of Osnero, for it is the responsibility of mother AND father to bring up their child. Recently Pope Francis made a categorical statement that affirms this conviction: “Children deserve to be raised by a father and mother.”

Although the Pope was speaking in an inter-religious conference to highlight traditional marriage in opposition to gay marriage, the importance of both parents in the rearing of a child is implicit. Finally, we come to the issue of bad companions. Don Bosco used to warn his boys to flee from bad companions as they would from a poisonous snake. In the first boarding school,Valentino witnessed how “His new classmates were very free in their language, tolerated any kind of jokes and things had even reached a stage where dirty books and papers were being freely swapped amongst the pupils.” In such a situation made worse by a father who saw nothing to worry about,Valentino’s finally giving up being good should not come as a surprise. And if that was not bad enough, Osnero purposely placed his son under the tutelage of the wicked Mari who ruined his son so completely that as he lay dying, Osnero shouted at Mari: “Cursed Mari, you have ruined me and my son!” Parents should, therefore, be vigilant about the friends that their child keeps. Unlike fairy tales, the story of Valentino did not end with “and he lived happily ever after.” You probably felt sorry for him, especially because his story had a promising beginning, thanks to his mother. And you probably would have wished a different ending to his story. And I think that was the point of Don Bosco. He was implicitly telling his readers, especially the parents, that if they want an ending for their own children different from Valentino’s, they must learn from the good sense of his mother and from the mistakes of his father. And then perhaps the ending to their own story would be “and they lived happily ever after.”

MARCH-MAY 2015 ST. JOHN BOSCO TODAY

F E A T U R E | The Salesian Perspective

The 2014 Synod on the Family BY FR. JOEL N.

CAMAYA, SDB

“T

here can be no real youth ministry without a ministry to families.” This is perhaps the most quoted line from the presentation of the Strenna of 2014, the last one from the Rector Major Emeritus Fr. Pascual Chavez. The letter, dated as early as June 3, 2013 was meant to elaborate the meaning of the Strenna of 2014: “Let us draw upon Don Bosco’s experience, so we can walk in holiness according to our specific vocation.” This particular statement comes just as a little portion of the whole message on the Strenna. According to the letter, this greater awareness of the importance of the ministry to families has come in more recent times and therefore bids us to ask “what Salesian family spirituality we need to develop and offer.” Fr. Chavez affirms that Don Bosco himself is the inspiration of some family experiences. A focus on this will help us develop our mission not only for the people in general but our mission to the young as well. This statement on the importance of family ministry in our mission was therefore in our minds as members of the Salesian Family as we entered the third and final year of preparation for the bicentenary of the birth of Saint John Bosco. The spiritual legacy of Don Bosco has been our collective focus, and the presence of the concept

of family is apt, for in Don Bosco’s spirituality the family spirit finds itself as a component. In the same year, from October 5-19 some 253 bishops and other participants gathered for the 2014 Synod on the Family. Pope Francis convoked this Extraordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops as a preparation for another one on October of this year. The Church, which is always in dialogue with the times, gathered together bishops from all over the world to discuss the “Pastoral Challenges of the Family in the Context of Evangelization,” which was precisely the theme of the Synod. Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster, who was among the

There is the challenge to remain faithful in conjugal love in the midst of the fragility of faith, individualism, the indifference to true values, and the crises in marriage. bishops present, described the Synod as true to its name—a “journey together,” which explored the problems facing the family today: “from the effects of war, immigration, domestic violence, polygamy, inter-religious marriages, to cohabitation, the breakdown of marriage, divorce and the situation of

ST. JOHN BOSCO TODAY MARCH-MAY 2015

those who have ended a valid marriage and entered another union, another marriage.” Secular media, ready to lap up whatever was controversial, was all eyes and ears, but a poor mouthpiece when it came to what was really more important. To confirm this, Pope Francis would later on say, about two months after the Synod, that no one at the extraordinary Synod called into question the fundamental truths about the sacrament of marriage: its indissolubility, unity, fidelity and openness to life.” At the end of the assembly, the Synod Fathers gave a beautiful message to all the families of the different continents. They recalled the time of preparation for the Synod which was an opportunity to listen to the experience of many families. This aura of listening continued all throughout the celebration of the Synod. And to all this, the Bishops would, as a conclusion, recount the challenges that the family faces in these times. There is the challenge to remain faithful in conjugal love in the midst of the fragility of faith, individualism, the indifference to true values, and the crises in marriage. There is the reality of suffering in its different forms—those that can arise with a child with special needs, those brought about by grave illness, by deterioration of old age, or by the death of a loved one. There are also difficulties caused by economic systems: unemployed parents, poor families, refugees, persecuted members, victims of the brutality of war and oppression. It is in these times, too,

The role of the family is irreplaceable and inalienable and comes before the educational role of anyone else.

that families are deeply affected by the realities of women suffering from violence and exploitation, human trafficking, and children abused. But on the other side, the Synod Fathers also tell us the good news, what they call “the evening light behind the windowpanes.” They speak of the love between spouses, the fertility and generativity of marriage—not only in the procreation of children but also the gift of divine life in baptism, catechesis, and education. There is the happy reality of the family praying together that attests to its vocation as the authentic domestic Church. There is the possibility for Christian spouses of becoming teachers of faith and love for young couples as well. The family is also the locus for charity, for giving, and for nearness. Then the family is nourished by the Word and Sacrament in the Sunday Eucharist. From the conclusion of the 2014 gathering, the Church moves onward to the conclusions of the Synod next year, whose theme will be “Jesus Christ reveals the mystery and vocation of the family.” This is therefore, as of the moment, still a work in progress. Pope Francis puts it clearly in his speech at the conclusion of the Synod: “… now we still have one year to mature, with true spiritual discernment, the proposed ideas and to find concrete solutions to so many difficulties and innumerable challenges that families must confront; to give answers to the

many discouragements that surround and suffocate families.” As the Church works on this one year of maturing process, we see that our work as Salesians towards this endeavor is indeed timely. For who has a close encounter with these problems that face the family but we who work for young people? We are in touch with these in our pastoral ministry— some of which we even call new frontiers. When those of us who are priests hear confessions, much of what is laid bare before us are weaknesses that have great effect on family life. When we celebrate the Eucharist, we bring together the prayers of different members of the family—of parents for their children, of children for their parents and for their siblings. When we solemnize weddings, with the whole assembly we pray for the perseverance of the union. When we work with migrants, we realize that the main issue is the breaking apart of families. And when we work directly with young people—in schools and training centers, in youth centers, in boarding houses, we will always be in contact with the reality of their families. Like the Synod Fathers, we also as Salesians affirm: we grew up in a family, from a great variety of backgrounds and experiences. Their words are also ours: as priests and brothers, “we have lived alongside families who have spoken to us and show us the saga of joys and their difficulties.” Thus it was in the time of Don Bosco whose family was the seedbed of his vocation. Whenever it was possible, he was in contact with the families of the youngsters under his care. Here is when we see that family ministry is indispensable in youth ministry. Prior to the Synod, Salesians from all over the world met in Rome for the 27th General Chapter of the Congregation. The ministry for families

found its place in many of the articles in the Chapter documents. In one part it is said: “It is our young people and their families in particular who question us on our spiritual roots and vocational motivation, reawakening in us our identity as consecrated persons and our educative and pastoral mission” (CG 27, art. 3). The same document reiterates the words of Fr. Chavez that family ministry, an “emerging apostolic front,” needs to be considered in close connection with youth ministry, and this flows into the practical recommendations of the Chapter. Another document of the Congregation, Salesian Youth Ministry: Frame of Reference, by the Salesian Youth Ministry Department (Rome 2014; based on the experiences of Salesian Youth Ministry from all over the world), underscores that the family is the primary and indispensable educational community. Together with it we can reaffirm: “the role of the family is irreplaceable and inalienable and comes before the educational role of anyone else.” With this said, what more can we add? We have always spoken of “family spirit,” and our works having the criterion of the Oratory at Valdocco as a “home that welcomes.” We look into the reality of the family and we can affirm that we can speak of our works in this manner only through continual dialogue with the family, in our ministry with the family. The Synod in 2014 concluded with Jesus as our model for family ministry: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will enter his house and dine with him, and he with me” (Rev 3:20). Jesus’ ministry went to homes of people and touched not only individuals but families, and we as ministers to the young find this indispensable.

MARCH-MAY 2015 ST. JOHN BOSCO TODAY

F E A T U R E | Partners: Home and School

Family Ministry in FMA Schools BY SR. PINKY R. GARZA, FMA

n the Guidelines for the Educational Mission (G.E.M.) of the FMA, the family is beautifully described as “the place where one first learns the alphabet of communication and of relationships.” (GEM n. 88) Lumen Gentium calls it the ‘domestic Church’ because it is the place where people first learn to live their faith. Many of today’s young people, however, are immersed in family situations that hardly mirror these truths. While there are still many good families that are seedbeds of Gospel values and which nurture the best in their members, there is also the increasing number of families who struggle with broken relationships, lack of communication, disintegration, violence, and even with new and irregular forms of unions.These are realities which easily breed insecurity, hostility, confusion and other anti-social attitudes in children and adolescents alike. At times, these even pose some problems and obstacles in their spiritual journey. In the schools of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (FMA) in the Philippine-Papua New Guinea (FILPNG) Province, true to their mission of education through evangelization and evangelization through education, these issues confronting the family are addressed not just through programs and initiatives for students but also for families.

A common “Provincial Family Ministry Plan” drafted by a core group of parents, lay mission partners, young people and FMA Sisters from the different FMA presences in the Philippines guide the schools in this undertaking. The plan outlines the specific needs, pastoral strategies and appropriate programmes necessary to reach out to and involve the families – specifically the parents -- in the education of the young. This is because the parents are considered “the first and principal persons responsible for the education of their children.” (GEM n. 65) Their active involvement in the life of the educating community is considered vital for a truly relevant and more holistic formation of the young. Hence, great importance is placed in bringing parents together in groups, associations and activities not just for the sake of the young, but for their wholistic formation as well – in view of their families. This finds resonance in words of the Rector Major Emeritus, Fr. Pascual Chavez, SDB in the 2014 Strenna which underscores the conviction that, for the Salesian Family, “there is no real youth ministry without a ministry to families.” At the Mary Help of Christians College – Salesian Sisters, Inc. (MHCC) in Canlubang, Calamba City, Laguna, the parents’ involvement in the life of the school range from attendance in quarterly formation sessions given during card-giving days and in spiritual recollections and retreats during

ST. JOHN BOSCO TODAY MARCH-MAY MARCH-MAY2015 2015

During each visit, there is a short sharing and catechesis about Mary and how the title Help of Christians came about. It also became an opportunity for us to teach the children (and even some adults) to pray the rosary. special liturgical seasons like Advent and Lent, participation in religious, cultural and outreach activities organized by the school, attending parent-teacher conferences and parentchild encounters, giving Good Day talks to the students on Fridays, and welcoming teachers or the guidance office personnel who conduct home visitations. Some parents also get to participate directly in the FMA mission as volunteer catechists who go to nearby public schools every Thursday for catechism classes and preparation of public school children for their 1st Holy Communion. The school’s Educating Community Core Group (ECCG) composed mostly of parents, the school directress and principal and some faculty and student representatives play a significant role in the planning and

implementation of initiatives to carry out the family ministry plan according to the needs of the MHCC families and in ensuring the active participation of as many families as possible in the educating community. A particular group of families given special attention by the school are those with one or both parents working as overseas workers. For some years now, the MHCC Guidance Center works in partnership with UGAT Foundation, an NGO which has a program called PANATAG specifically for children of OFW parents. Through

Hopefully, through our untiring efforts of bringing Mary to more homes and families, we may in turn bring more families to build God’s home here on earth.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF SR. PINKY R. GARZA,FMA

their ANAK Workshop and Youth Camp, these young people are helped to deal with the pains of separation from their parents, and strengthened through healing and empowerment. The Guidance Center also provides counselling sessions for parents and provides referrals to other service providers when necessary. All these may be little steps, but MHCC families take them to heart and find help and support in them as they face the challenges of everyday life. Hopefully, these also open for them opportunities to send a ripple effect of the good they receive to other families around them. As Pope Francis reiterated at his Meeting with Families during the recently-concluded Papal Visit in the Philippines, “Our world needs good and strong families to overcome these threats! The Philippines needs holy and loving families to protect the beauty and truth of the family in God’s plan and to be a support and example for other families.” MARCH-MAY 2015 ST. JOHN BOSCO TODAY

C O V E R S T O R Y |Entrustment of the Home to Mary

Leading the

Family to Jesus through ary BY RHEENA MAY LIM

ST. JOHN BOSCO TODAY MARCH-MAY 2015

Hopefully, through our untiring efforts of bringing Mary to more homes and families, we may in turn bring more families to build God’s home here on earth.

“Pagbababa ng Mahal na birhen.” “Home visitation.” “House hopping.” “Block rosary.”

hese are just some of the terms used to refer to one of the activities we do to introduce Mary under the title Help of Christians. The members of the Association of Mary Help of Christians (ADMA) gather and bring a statue or picture of Mary Help of Christians to members of their community. For the duration of the image’s stay in the house, the family is asked to pray the rosary and the “Entrustment of the Home to Mary Help of Christians. For some, such endeavor is received with a little apprehension. Some thought that they need to prepare food to feed those who will pray with them. However, for those who are already familiar with this kind of activity, they feel that it is a privilege for them to be “visited” by the Mother of God. I remember the first few times that we have done this, the families would rather have us lead the prayers. Reasons cited range from being shy to being unfamiliar with praying the rosary. This went on for some time and with several families until we were able to encourage them to lead the prayers themselves since it is in their home that we are doing it--and it is their family that Mary is visiting!I It also helped that there is a printed booklet or prayer guide.

During each visit, there is a short sharing and catechesis about Mary and how the title Help of Christians came about. It also became an opportunity for us to teach the children (and even some adults) to pray the rosary. As more and more families become familiar with this activity, they become comfortable and more family members join in praying. Some even invite their relatives and neighbors! They also begin to volunteer to lead the prayers and at times we hear testimonies of answered petitions. It is common to see women lead the prayers and so it is truly encouraging when the man of the

During each visit, there is a short sharing and catechesis about Mary and how the title Help of Christians came about. It also became an opportunity for us to teach the children (and even some adults) to pray the rosary. house is the one leading the family in prayers. It inspires the children to be more attentive and participative. A proof that a family has developed a filial affection and confidence in Mary is when they would request for

Mary’s statue to be brought to their home because they would either be celebrating an important occasion or because they are in need of a particular favor. I have received numerous requests of this kind in my own community. One way of showing their anticipation and appreciation of Mary’s visit is they prepare bouquet of flowers for their makeshift altars. This is aside from cleaning their house and preparing a special nook where they can honor Mary’s image. Someone even carved a wooden scepter to replace the one that got lost from the statue of Mary Help of Christians that was brought to his home. After each visit, we leave the families with copies of the “Entrustment of the Home to Mary Help of Christians.” This prayer has been well received and recited over and over especially these days when calamities seem to hit our country every so often. It is good to know that more and more people are now praying this entrustment on a daily basis. It is never amiss to remind the families that more than praying the rosary and other prayers to Mary, it is important that they attend the Sunday Eucharistic celebrations and receive the sacraments of reconciliation and communion. Hopefully, through our untiring efforts of bringing Mary to more homes and families, we may in turn bring more families to build God’s home here on earth.

MARCH-MAY 2015 ST. JOHN BOSCO TODAY

AF EPART EUVRIEE WI Bosconian I STRENNATreasure 2015

Being Being Bosconian… Bosconian… Being Being Marian Marian MR. NOLAN V.

1978. Don Bosco Technical College, Mandaluyong. Old Chapel, in a corner of the historic old building. Every morning before classes would begin, I would drop by the chapel. I would always visit her. I don’t know but I just love seeing her beautiful face. I remember always kneeling and praying while invoking her name and title – Mary Help of Christians, pray for us. Every time I would look at her, she seemed to talk to me. She seemed to tell me something. She seemed to have something in store for me. But I couldn’t understand. I don’t know what it was. I was in grade one and I was only 7 years old then.

ST. JOHN BOSCO TODAY MARCH-MAY 2015

ANGELES

2012. Upon the invitation of friends, it was in December when I went to Manila to see for myself the famous annual Intramuros Grand Marian Procession (IGMP). My friends were right, it was the biggest and most colorful Marian gathering in the country. Thousands of people, some even coming from provinces, were there to see more than 100 images of the various titles of the Blessed Virgin Mary coming from various parts of the country. The walled city was filled with delegations, congregations and Marian devotees. As the procession took off at the grand stage in front of the Manila Cathedral, I was awed by the beauty of each

I accepted the challenge. Exhibits after exhibits, processions after processions, sige lang ng sige maipakilala ko lang si Mary Help of Christians sa mas nakararami.

… PHOTOS COURTESY OF NOLAN V. ANGELES PHOTOS COURTESY OF NOLAN V. ANGELES

of the images and carozas. One by one, the images paraded in front of me. I was looking for a particular image yet could not find her. So I decided to walk against the flow of the procession until I found myself inside the Fort Santiago which was the assigned assembly area of the carozas.Yet, I still could not find the image I was looking for. I was in front of the last caroza when I decided to quickly go again and see all the carozas just to be sure that I didn’t miss the image I was looking for. It was getting dark and the evening was about to set in so I already decided to leave Intramuros with a heavy heart. She was not there, I did not find her from the more than 100 images of the Blessed Mother in Intramuros there was no image of …Mary Help of Christians. As I went home, I told myself that I will go back to Intramuros next year with a promise: “Ipakikilala ko sa kanilang lahat kung sino ang “nanay” naming mga Bosconians, ipakikilala ko sa kanila kung sino si Mary Help of Christians.” (I shall introduce them who isto the mother of Bosconians, I shall make known to all who Mary Help of Christians is.)

2013. It was probably Mama Mary’s will. January found myself, closing a deal with the sculptor who would do the image of Mary Help of Christians. I was discussing the plans for her vestment. I was talking to suppliers for the crown, the 12 stars, the scepter and the like. By May of 2013, the image was ready. She debuted with a nine-day novena Masses and simple ceremonies at the Saint Dominic Savio Parish Church in Mandaluyong City. In May 24, 2013 on her very feast day, she had her first procession in the streets of the local parish community.

The months that followed did not come in easy. With the help from friends who had been in the ‘santo world,” I started joining my new image of Mary Help of Christians in Marian exhibits and processions in the metro. I had to talk to organizers and even convince them just to include Mary Help of Christians in their activities. Organizers were then adamant to allow my image to join since they didn’t know that there was a Mary Help of Christians title. I remember even being given the most undesirable locations within the exhibit hall just to accommodate my request. Painful as the experience maybe, I didn’t complain. What was important for me was for the image to be known to more people. What made matters worse was that in all of those activities, people would always tell me: “Ang ganda po ng birhen, sino po siya?” How could they not know my mother, our mother – Mary Help of Christians? But it was then that I realized that the challenge of making her known to many now rest on my shoulders. I accepted the challenge. Exhibits after exhibits, processions after processions, sige lang ng sige maipakilala ko lang si Mary Helpof Christians sa mas nakararami (I went on and on just to introduce Mary Help of Christians to many people.)

SEPTEMBER 2013 when I formally filed her application at the IGMP. After a month and series of interviews and investigation, the good news came. They approved the image of MHC in IGMP 2013. The exhibits and processions continued. I even remembered having to go through three straight nights of procession just to be able to make her known to more

people - from a procession in Caloocan on a Friday night to a procession in Pasig the following Saturday evening and to another procession in Tondo on a very rainy Sunday evening. The following day, I was so tired yet so fulfilled. As I look at her image, she seemed to be smiling at me while trying to tell me something.

DECEMBER 2013 when I went back to Intramuros, confident of the promise that I made to her. Mary Help of Christians was now included in the official list and has been assigned #21 in the procession. After 34 years of the IGMP, it was only then that an image of Mary Help of Christians joined the prestigious procession. Fr. Chito Dimaranan, then Rector of the National Shrine of Mary Help of Christians in Paranaque was present. Fr. Eli Cruz, then Provincial Superior, Fr. Drans Nolasco and other Salesian priests came to usher her caroza. With more than 1,000 student delegations and parishioners from various Don Bosco schools (mostly from Don Bosco Mandaluyong), our delegation was credited as one of the top 5 biggest delegations for that year. And what a blessing that the guest of honor that day was no less than Archbishop Charles Bo from Yangoon, Myanmar – a Salesian bishop. Truly, Mary Help of Christians made it sure that her debut at the IGMP will be greeted by the people with her sons. But 2014 was her year. After her much talked about debut at the IGMP, the image was again invited to more exhibits and processions. Unlike in 2013, however, I didn’t have to talk to the organizers anymore. I didn’t have to convince them. To introduce to them

MARCH-MAY 2015 ST. JOHN BOSCO TODAY

I STRENNATreasure 2015 FA EPART UE VRIEE WI Bosconian who MHC is was no longer necessary. This time, it was they who would ask for my approval; who would persuade me to let the image join their activity. This time around she was given the most beautiful area in the exhibit. There was no stopping me now. I accepted all invitations. I took all opportunities. For me, this would be a great way to make her title known to more people. And lo and behold, Mary Help of Christians was in all major processions and exhibits all over Metro Manila and even in nearby provinces, in churches, city halls, schools and even in overcrowded malls. But I had my mind set for December 2014. Anticipating the celebration of the 200th birth anniversary of Don Bosco, I commissioned a popular sculpture in Bataan to do an image of Saint John Bosco. I was already planning to include the image in the 2014 IGMP. I told myself, if the public knows Mary Help of Christians then they must also know our father and patron saint. This was my simple way of being grateful to him for the Salesian upbringing I was privileged to have.

DECEMBER 7, 2014, Mary Help of Christians went back to Intramuros, this time with Saint John Bosco. And then again she surprised me. From

number 21 the other year, she was moved to # 73 or the last 20 images in the procession. She was already levelled with the venerated and canonically crowned Marian images. Such an honor was given to her by the organizers. As expected, more than 2,000 Bosconians joined the procession, exceeding the number of the previous year. It was sort of a reunion for the different schools. Bosconian-students from Don Bosco Mandaluyong, Tondo, Makati and parishioners from Paranaque, Makati and Laguna were all present to join the festivities. Fr. Remo Bati, Fr. Chito Dimaranan, Fr. Dennis Meim, Fr. Drans Nolasco were just some of the Salesian priests present to lead the other Salesian brothers and seminarians. As the caroza of Mary Help of Christians and Saint John Bosco approached the grand stage, a standing ovation was accorded to them by the organizers. Thunderous clapping and cheering from the multitude of people and audience greeted the images. It was a night of celebration. It was Mary Help of Christians’ year. She was indeed one of the most awaited and anticipated images of the event. The Salesian priests and brothers always taught us Don Bosco’s conviction: “Have devotion to Mary Help of Christians and you will see what

ST. JOHN BOSCO TODAY MARCH-MAY 2015

MAY 2015. Don Bosco Mandaluyong, Old Chapel. Before the start of her nine-day novena leading to her feast day, I will again visit her. I will again kneel and pray to her. I will again look at her lovely face. But this time around, I will already ask her: Mother, what else do you want me to do for you? Where else would you want me to bring you? I may not immediately get the answers but I am certain that she will lead me to them in due time.

POSTCRIPT This January 2015, the same sculptor who did the image of Saint John Bosco will start carving a new image that will soon join Mary Help of Christians and Saint John Bosco in their caroza. The image will be included in the caroza for the 36th Intramuros Grand Marian Procession on December 6, 2015. It will be the image of Saint Dominic Savio. See you in Intramuros!

PHOTOS COURTESY OF NOLAN V. ANGELES PHOTOS COURTESY OF NOLAN V. ANGELES

NOLAN V. ANGELES is an alumnus of Don Bosco Technical College Mandaluyong. He graduated from Elementary in 1983 and High School in 1987. He was responsible in the preparations for the visit of the relic of Saint John Bosco at the Mandaluyong City Hall in 2011. He is a Board Member of the Don Bosco Mandaluyong Alumni Association. At present he is the Cultural Affairs and Tourism Officer of the City of Mandaluyong. In his personal capacity, he is propagating the devotion to Mary Help of Christians and Saint John Bosco.

miracles are.” Now more than ever, I understand this conviction. In fact, I have experienced miracles several times and I know I will still experience miracles through Mary Help of Christians for the rest of my life.

FIS New Provincial | FS EP AE TC UI AR LE

A New PHOTO COURTESY OF FR. RANDY FIGURACION, SDB PHOTO COURTESY OF FR. RANDY FIGURACION, SDB

LEADER to Move Us

Ahead

BY FR. RANDY

FIGURACION, SDB

he Mary Help of Christians – South Province (FIS) has a new leader in the person of Fr. Godofredo Atienza, SDB. Fr. Godo, as he is fondly called, is a native of Hagonoy, Bulacan. After his novitiate in Canlubang, this 57-year old Salesian made his First Religious Profession on April 1, 1978. During the centennial celebration of Don Bosco’s death, he was among those ordained to the priesthood on January 31, 1988. He assumed different responsibilities in the Province particularly as Rector of Don Bosco Missionary Seminary Lawaan, Director of Novices for two terms and Provincial Councillor. He is the current Rector of Don Bosco Technical Institute,Victorias and at the same time Vice Provincial when the Rector Major, Fr. Angel Fernandez Artime, SDB appointed him as the new Provincial. It was on the Friday of January 9, 2015 that the Rector Major made his first attempts to break the obedience to Fr. Godo. His phone, however, was in silent mode since he was giving his “Good Night Talk” to the confreres and the boarders of DBTI. Realizing that he had four missed calls from an unfamiliar number that starts with +39, he didn’t know where it was coming from. As he checked his email that night, the news got through him through Fr. Klement instructing him to open his phone. The call never came because the Rector Major was already on his way to Spain. The confirmation from the Rector Major finally came two days later while Fr. Godo was in his office preparing the list of boys who would be having their search-in at Don Bosco Formation Center. He heard the faint voice of Fr. Angel at the other side of the line speaking in Italian. Fr. Klement took over to translate what had been said. Fr. Godo gave his ﬁat to the Rector Major in response to his call. As the conversation was ending, he asked the Rector Major for his blessing as well as for the South Province. He becomes the 5th Provincial of the Philippine South. When he received the news, he could not describe his feelings. Surges of questions lingered in his mind. He felt he was not deserving of such a big responsibility. He felt weak and limited in many ways. Instinctively he turned to prayer. He went to the Carmelite Monastery that Sunday morning for solitude and silence in order to put all things in proper perspective. The will of God was begging to be accomplished. He was ready for the challenge. Fr. Godo will start his ministry of animation and governance of the South Province on April 11, 2015. When asked on what direction he will lead the Province forward, he simply says he will continue to work on the plans and programs already at hand. As we welcome, pray and encourage our new Provincial for his new task ahead, the South Province wish to thank the outgoing Provincial, Fr. George Militante, SDB. The service of authority had been a journey characterized by great personal sacrifice. It entailed a lot of listening and learning to build up a fraternal community in Christ where God is searched for and loved. For all the good will, good examples and genuine solicitude for all the confreres, thank you very much Fr. George! MARCH-MAY 2015 ST. JOHN BOSCO TODAY

S P E C I A L| F E AT U R E

Papal Visit 2015

The “Mess” “Mess” that that The

Lolo Kiko Left Left Us Us!!

BY FR. VITALIANO “CHITO”

DIMARANAN,

he sun was supposed to be setting by the time the biggest Sunday Mass gathering in the world was about to end in the early dusk of January 18, 2015 in Manila, Philippines. But the fabled sunset at Manila Bay, acclaimed for the longest time as the best in the world, was not to be witnessed by the more than 6 million people, who were at one and the same time, excitedly huddled, hushed and humbled by the presence of an altogether different light, whose brilliance outshone the sunset that, for almost four days in a row, receded from the scene. Not that the crowds cared. They knew they were in the midst of a storm – the same storm that came to Samar and Leyte the day before … the same fluke of a weather disturbance that failed to dampen the spirits of hundreds of thousands who camped out all night, lined the streets all day, and kept otherwise laidback Leyte up on its feet. People knew they would be drenched. Authorities were sure there was going to be abundant rains everywhere. But people came all the same despite – and, more precisely, because of – a different storm and a distinct light that came, tarried, lingered, and up till now, stays in our hearts.

MOVE OVER AMANG! MAKE WAY FOR LOLO KIKO!

The people’s Pope was in town. The young people’s “lolo” (Abuelo in Spanish, or Nonno in Italian) was rousing up his own brand of storm all over the country – and beyond. Lolo Kiko was making a “mess” in the world that was his parish. And the young people whom he counseled to make the same “mess” in their own parishes and communities, were there to support him in his cause. Isn’t it providential that the storm called “Amang” (an endearing term in Tagalog for Daddy) was overshadowed by “Lolo” (an endearing term for Grandpa in Tagalog)?

RAGING STORM; ROUSING QUESTIONS The youth filled him

with more than just energy that defies his 78 years. Using a Salesian prism to reflect on what he did, said and showed for the five days he was here, there are certain points I would like the world to realize. For one, he was not afraid of the storm brought about by the very real questions of young people. He did not flinch one bit when asked by the young girl as to why children have to suffer so much? He faced it headlong, like the crowds braved the raging storm. And he

ST. JOHN BOSCO TODAY MARCH-MAY 2015

SDB

answered, not with the head, but with the heart. He showed what compassion (cum patire in Latin, which means “suffering with”) is really all about: “As I said, the heart of your question has no reply. Only when we too can cry about the things you said can we come close to answering that question.Why do children suffer so much? Why do children suffer? When the heart is able to ask itself and weep, then we can understand something.” Second, Lolo Kiko showed a lot of empathy – the kind that counselors the world over all need to have. A pastor through and through, he showed that he knew that the questions of the young are not meant to seek for “head” answers as much as “heart” answers. And Lolo Kiko listened, and he listened empathically, sincerely, truly. Only a father, only a loving, doting Lolo could really give an answer as powerful and as authentic as this: “This is the ﬁrst thing I want to say: let us learn how to weep as she has shown us today and let us not forget this lesson.The great question of why so many children suffer, she did this in tears.The response that we can make today is: let us really learn how to weep.”

A PREACHER, A PASTOR AND A PROPHET ALL ROLLED INTO ONE But there

is a third, and most important trait that

PHOTOS BY PAUL QUIAMBAO PHOTOS BY PAUL QUIAMBAO

Lolo Kiko came to bring – his own brand of “storm” and his own kind of “mess.” He was empathic and compassionate, but he told people like it is. As a prophet, he used “images” to color his thoughts. He employed “figures of speech.” And he did not hesitate, pardon the term, to use the “r” word – yes … rabbits! He spoke about a difficult topic – responsible parenthood, but couched it in something eminently positive and patently human – the capacity for people to rise above baser instincts through the use of freedom and responsibility even in sexual relations in the context of marriage.

SECURE IN LOVE; CERTAIN AND FIRM IN THE TRUTH

I reserve the best for last. As a Salesian, I must confess I heard faint echoes of the unmistakable Salesian ethos left us by Don Bosco our Father. He spoke of love in a very Salesian fashion, and I cannot let this pass without quoting what he said in his native Spanish. He spoke about the three languages of love, that of the mind, that of the heart, and that of the hands: “los tres lenguajes, el lenguaje de la mente, el lenguaje del corazón y el lenguaje de las manos … Who among us cannot but be reminded of what Don Bosco said? “Education is a matter of the heart.” But we know that this pastoral love is

shown in giving them a trade to live on (the hands), even as we show them the truth about God and the world (head). He spoke, too, about the need to allow oneself to be loved. “El verdadero amor es amar y dejarme amar… El verdadero amor es abrirse a ese amor que está primero y que nos provoca una sorpresa.” Again, who among us cannot recall what Don Bosco taught us: “Love what the young love and they will love what you love.” “Strive to make yourself loved.” Once one is secure in love, one will then be in a position to be certain and firm in the truth. The storm that was Lolo Kiko (no longer Amang) came. He tarried only five days. But he stays in our hearts and his teachings are there to remain. For always!

A POSTSCRIPT AND A PRAYER AFTER THE STORM We prayed hard for good weather. We begged the Lord for the grace of favorable climate. He did not grant it to anyone of us, despite our pleadings. I was disappointed, but only for a short while. Now I know He has given us more grace upon grace, blessing upon blessing - gifts that are infinitely more than clear skies. He rained down upon us a torrent of love, a deluge of hope, and an abundant dose of His mercy and compassion. I

thought the speech of Archbishop Villegas was a joke. He talked about the sunset - the world’s best that is found only in Manila Bay. It didn’t take long for me to realize that that is no longer what Manila - and the people of the Philippines for that matter - will be known for the world over. “A light shone upon us! A child was given to us” at the Luneta on the Feast of the Holy Child 2015. The Philippines will still be poor after our sunshine has set down on the horizon of Philippine society and political climate. The traffic will still be clogged, and our people will continue to slug it out in sweatshops the world over. But that light that shone on the firmament of the nation’s best dreams will never fade, will never grow dull. For on that rainy and cold day, amidst dark and lowering clouds of human uncertainty, the firm and solid certainty of God’s love, mercy and compassion overshadowed and obliterated any doubt about the power of faith, hope and love that is stronger than rain, and greater than any calamity, natural or man-made! We have long suffered as a people. We have long been given a raw deal by those we look up to for leadership and governance. From the human plane, we should have given up hope a long, long time ago. But hold on, we still do. Believe, we still do, despite all indications to the contrary. Right from day one, I chose to just be “one of the crowds” - even in the final Mass.Yesterday, me and my fellow priests from DBTC were granted precisely that - the experience of waiting for hours like the millions did under the rain in Tacloban and Manila. But the sunrise came much before the sunset for me. This light in my heart, I am resolved to do, should never fade. Pope Francis will be gone shortly but his message will never fade in the hearts of us Filipinos, warmed through his presence with the purifying flames of God’s mercy and compassion. Thank you, God Father of us all. Thank you for sending us Lolo Kiko. Thank you for the great example of so much faith and hope from a people who ought to have given those up a long time ago! Thanks, but no thanks now for the beautiful sunset at Manila Bay. Thank you for the sunrise! Thank you for the light! To you be glory and praise forever and ever!

MARCH-MAY 2015 ST. JOHN BOSCO TODAY

S P E C I A L| F E AT U R E

Papal Visit 2015

Beware of The New Ideological Colonization Pope Francis’ Message to the Filipino Families January 16, 2015, Mall of Asia Arena Dear Families, Dear Friends in Christ,

he Scriptures seldom speak of Saint Joseph, but when they do, we often find him resting, as an angel reveals God’s will to him in his dreams. In the Gospel passage we have just heard, we find Joseph resting not once, but twice. This evening I would like to rest in the Lord with all of you, and to reflect with you on the gift of the family. It is important to dream in the family. All mothers and fathers dream of their sons and daughters in the womb for 9 months. They dream of how they will be. It isn’t possible to have a family without such dreams. When you lose this capacity to dream you lose the capacity to love, the capacity to love is lost. I recommend that at night when you examine your consciences, ask yourself if you dreamed of the future of your sons and daughters. Did you dream of your husband or wife? Did you dream today of your parents, your grandparents who carried forward the family to me? It is so important to dream and especially to dream in the family. Please don’t lose the ability to dream in this way. How many solutions are found to family problems if we take time to reflect, if we think of a husband or wife, and we dream about the good qualities they have. Don’t ever lose the memory of when you were boyfriend or girlfriend. That is very important.

Joseph’s rest revealed God’s will to him. In this moment of rest in the Lord, as we pause from our many daily obligations and activities, God is also speaking to us. He speaks to us in the reading we have just heard, in our prayer and witness, and in the quiet of our hearts. Let us reflect on what the Lord is saying to us, especially in this evening’s Gospel. There are three aspects of this passage which I would ask you to consider: resting in the Lord, rising with Jesus and Mary, and being a prophetic voice.

RESTING IN THE LORD. Rest is so necessary for the health of our minds and bodies, and often so difficult to achieve due to the many demands placed on us. But rest is also essential for our spiritual health, so that we can hear God’s voice and understand what he asks of us. Joseph was chosen by God to be the foster father of Jesus and the husband of Mary. As Christians, you too are called, like Joseph, to make a home for Jesus. You make a home for him in your hearts, your families, your parishes and your communities. To hear and accept God’s call, to make a home for Jesus, you must be able to rest in the Lord. You must make time each day for prayer. But you may say to me: Holy Father, I want to pray, but there is so much work to do! I must care for my children; I have chores in the home; I am too tired even to sleep well. This may be true, but if we do not pray, we will not know the most

ST. JOHN BOSCO TODAY MARCH-MAY 2015

important thing of all: God’s will for us. And for all our activity, our busy-ness, without prayer we will accomplish very little. Resting in prayer is especially important for families. It is in the family that we first learn how to pray. And don’t forget when the family prays together, it remains together. This is important. There we come to know God, to grow into men and women of faith, to see ourselves as members of God’s greater family, the Church. In the family we learn how to love, to forgive, to be generous and open, not closed and selfish. We learn to move beyond our own needs, to encounter others and share our lives with them. That is why it is so important to pray as a family! That is why families are so important in God’s plan for the Church! I would like to tell you something very personal. I like St Joseph very much. He is a strong man of silence. On my desk I have a statue of St Joseph sleeping. While sleeping he looks after the Church. Yes, he can do it! We know that. When I have a problem or a difficulty, I write on a piece of paper and I put it under his statue so he can dream about it. This means please pray to St Joseph for this problem.

NEXT, RISING WITH JESUS AND MARY. Those precious moments of repose, of resting with the Lord in prayer, are moments we might wish to prolong. But like Saint Joseph, once we have heard God’s voice, we

must rise from our slumber; we must get up and act (cf. Rom 13:11). Faith does not remove us from the world, but draws us more deeply into it. Each of us, in fact, has a special role in preparing for the coming of God’s kingdom in our world. Just as the gift of the Holy Family was entrusted to Saint Joseph, so the gift of the family and its place in God’s plan is entrusted to us so we can carry it forward. To each one of you and us because I too am the son of a family. The angel of the Lord revealed to Joseph the dangers which threatened Jesus and Mary, forcing them to flee to Egypt and then to settle in Nazareth. So too, in our time, God calls upon us to recognize the dangers threatening our own families and to protect them from harm. We must be attentive to the new ideological colonization. Beware of the new ideological colonization that tries to destroy the family. It’s not born of the dream that we have from God and prayer – it comes from outside and that’s why I call it a colonization. Let us not lose the freedom to take forward the mission God has given us, the mission of the family. And just as our peoples were able to say in the past “No” to the period of colonization, as families we have to be very wise and strong to say “No” to any attempted ideological colonization that could destroy the family. And to ask the intercession of St Joseph to know when to say “Yes” and when to say “No”. The pressures on family life today

are many. Here in the Philippines, countless families are still suffering from the effects of natural disasters. The economic situation has caused families to be separated by migration and the search for employment, and financial problems strain many households. While all too many people live in dire poverty, others are caught up in materialism and lifestyles which are destructive of family life and the most basic demands of Christian morality. The family is also threatened by growing efforts on the part of some to redefine the very institution of marriage, by relativism, by the culture of the ephemeral, by a lack of openness to life. I think of Blessed Paul VI in the moment of that challenge of population growth, he had the strength to defend openness to life. He knew the difficulties families experience and that’s why in his encyclical (Humanae Vitae) he expressed compassion for specific cases and he taught confessors to be particularly compassionate for particular cases. And he went further, he looked at the people on the earth and he saw that lack (of children) and the problem it could cause families in the future. Paul VI was courageous, a good pastor and he warned his sheep about the wolves that were approaching. And from the heavens he blesses us today. Our world needs good and strong families to overcome these threats! The Philippines needs holy and loving families to protect the beauty and truth of the family in God’s plan and to be a support and example for other families. Every threat to the family is a threat to society itself. The future of humanity, as Saint John Paul II often said, passes through the family (cf. Familiaris Consortio, 85). So protect your families! See in them your country’s greatest treasure and nourish them always by prayer and the grace of the sacraments. Families will always have their trials, but may you never add to them! Instead, be living examples of love, forgiveness and care. Be sanctuaries of respect for life, proclaiming the sacredness of every human life from conception to natural death. What a gift this would be to society, if every Christian family lived fully its noble vocation! So rise with Jesus and Mary, and set out on the path the Lord traces for each of you. Finally, the Gospel we have heard reminds us of our Christian duty

TO BE PROPHETIC VOICES in the midst of our communities. Joseph listened to the angel of the Lord and responded to God’s call to care for Jesus and Mary. In this way he played his part in God’s plan, and became a blessing not only for the Holy Family, but a blessing for all of humanity. With Mary, Joseph served as a model for the boy Jesus as he grew in wisdom, age and grace (cf. Lk 2:52). When families bring children into the world, train them in faith and sound values, and teach them to contribute to society, they become a blessing in our world. God’s love becomes present and active by the way we love and by the good works that we do. We extend Christ’s kingdom in this world. And in doing this, we prove faithful to the prophetic mission which we have received in baptism. During this year which your bishops have set aside as the Year of the Poor, I would ask you, as families, to be especially mindful of our call to be missionary disciples of Jesus. This means being ready to go beyond your homes and to care for our brothers and sisters who are most in need. I ask you especially to show concern for those who do not have a family of their own, in particular those who are elderly and children without parents. Never let them feel isolated, alone and abandoned, but help them to know that God has not forgotten them. I was very moved after the Mass today when I visited that shelter for children with no parents. How many people in the Church work so that that house is a home, family? This is what it means to take forward, prophetically, the meaning of family. You may be poor yourselves in material ways, but you have an abundance of gifts to offer when you offer Christ and the community of his Church. Do not hide your faith, do not hide Jesus, but carry him into the world and offer the witness of your family life! Dear friends in Christ, know that I pray for you always! I pray that the Lord may continue to deepen your love for him, and that this love may manifest itself in your love for one another and for the Church. Pray often and take the fruits of your prayer into the world, that all may know Jesus Christ and his merciful love. Please pray also for me, for I truly need your prayers and will depend on them always!

MARCH-MAY 2015 ST. JOHN BOSCO TODAY

S P E C I A L| F E AT U R E

Papal Visit 2015

While it is true that the Pope came to confirm the faith of the Filipinos, it is equally true that the Filipinos, who came out into the streets by the millions, endured the heat, embraced the difficulties of the situation, and braved the storm, confirmed the faith of their Shepherd as well.

Mercy

“E

UPHORIC!” That’s the word to describe the experience of many of us Filipinos who welcomed the Vicar of Christ on earth, His Holiness, Pope Francis, to our country last January 15-19, 2015. We received him not as an exalted dignitary, but as our beloved father in the faith. We gave him the nickname “Lolo Kiko” (a Tagalog term of endearment which means Grandfather Francis) if only to express in the clearest way our desire to be as near to him as possible.

“MERCY AND COMPASSION” was chosen as the theme for the Apostolic Visit of Pope Francis to the Philippines. I dare say that the Holy Father showed us mercy and compassion all throughout his journey here in this country, but articulated it best when he visited the survivors of Typhoon Yolanda in Tacloban, Leyte. In a moving homily, Pope Francis said, “I’d

ST. JOHN BOSCO TODAY MARCH-MAY 2015

like to tell you something close to my heart. When I saw, from Rome, that catastrophe, I felt that I had to be here. And on those very days, I decided to come here. I am here to be with you... The Holy Father continued saying, “I have come to tell you that Jesus is Lord, that he never lets us down... Jesus is Lord. And he is Lord from the cross... That is why we have a Lord who is capable of crying with us, capable of walking with us in the most difficult moments of life.” In those few but emotionally charged sentences, Pope Francis reminded us that our mercy and compassion find their ultimate source in the mercy and compassion of God made incarnate in Jesus Christ. In his homily at the Manila Cathedral, Pope Francis reminded the clergy and religious that “the poor are at the centre of the Gospel, they are the heart of the Gospel. If we remove them from the Gospel we cannot understand Jesus Christ’s message.” The poor amongst us need to experience the mercy and compassion of the Father.

mpassi mpass In his meeting with the Youth of the Philippines at UST, he challenged them to receive the mercy and compassion of Jesus, to allow Jesus to love them. “The Gospel says that Jesus looked at that young man, and loved him... To learn to receive from the humility of those who help us; to learn to be evangelized by the poor. The people we help – the poor, the sick, orphans – have much to give us. Do I make myself a beggar and ask for that also? Or am I sufficient and am only going to give? You who live giving always, and think you don’t need anything, do you know you are a poor fellow? Do you know that you have much poverty and that you need them to give to you? Do you let yourself be evangelized by the poor, by the sick, by those whom you help?” During those four grace-filled days when the Pope was here, I felt like the whole country was in for a retreat. I myself tried my best to pray and listen to God speaking through Pope Francis. Personally, I was touched by the Pope’s message to the Filipino Youth at UST

FIN-FIS NEWS

DBYC

Fellowship Day 2015 by Cl. Ramil Maranan, SDB

ion

CL. JUVELAN PAUL N. SAMIA, SDB

PHOTO COURTESY OF CL. JUVELAN N. SAMIA, SDB

and felt God inviting me to be humble enough to allow him to love me, show me his great mercy and compassion, and then to allow others, even the poor, to do the same to me. While it is true that the Pope came to confirm the faith of the Filipinos, it is equally true that the Filipinos, who came out into the streets by the millions, endured the heat, embraced the difficulties of the situation, and braved the storm, confirmed the faith of their Shepherd as well. Now that the fanfare is over, it’s time for us to think deeper. Euphoria is good but we don’t need it. What we need is the commitment of everyone to practice daily the faith that they have shown during those five blessed days of the Papal Visit, and to live always and everywhere the message of mercy and compassion that they have heard and seen in Pope Francis. We can truly look with joyful expectation towards the 500th anniversary of Christianization of the Philippines when our euphoria finally develops into spirituality.

As a gift for Don Bosco’s bicentenary of birth, the Salesian seminarians of the Seminaryo ng Don Bosco (SnDB) organized the Don Bosco Youth Center Fellowship Day at the Don Bosco Technical Institute Makati. It was held last January 10, 2015. Approximately 600 young people from eight diﬀerent DBYC settings (SJB, SIP, SnDB, Tondo, Calauan, Parañaque, Savio, Tarlac) were present together with 52 Salesian priests and brothers. The event opened with the Eucharistic celebration presided by Fr. Sonny Arevalo. Just like at Valdocco in the time of Don Bosco, everybody was happily running, jumping, and cheering for each other as if they have already known each other for so many years. It was truly the Bosconian Spirit that made them encounter each other as children of Don Bosco! The event took place in coordination with the DBYC in-charge of the FIN-Province, Fr. Dante Valero, with the help and support of the DBTI Makati Community and San Ildefonso Parish Community. VIVA DON BOSCO!

MARCH-MAY 2015 ST. JOHN BOSCO TODAY

THE FIRST

DON BOSCO

FILM FESTIVAL 2015 1

ST. JOHN BOSCO TODAY MARCH-MAY 2015

10 JANUARY 2015 –The year of Don Bosco’s 200th birth has begun in the FIN Province with an activity that Don Bosco would have surely appreciated and joined in if he were still around: the Awarding Ceremony of the 1st ever Don Bosco Film Festival 2015. This is one of the many activities lined up in the FIN Province to usher in the Bicentennial Celebrations of Don Bosco’s birth. It was held last January 10,2015 at the St. Dominic Savio Auditorium of the Don Bosco Technical College in Mandaluyong City. The film competition, opened to all young people in various Don Bosco settings (school, youth center, parish, and seminary), had three categories: (1) short film, (2) advertisement, and (3) documentary. A panel of judges composed of film industry leaders in the Philippines include Albert Michael Idioma (Film Mixer), Ferdinand Gonzaga (Multi-Media Professor), Ed Lingao (Journalist), Arnold Reodica (Sound Engineer), and Mark Meily (Film & TV Director). The awarding ceremony brought in seven competing Don Bosco settings: Don Bosco Technical Institute (Tarlac), Don Bosco Academy (Pampanga), Don Bosco Technical College (Mandaluyong), Don Bosco School of Printing (Makati), Don Bosco Youth Center (Tondo), Don Bosco Youth Center (Tarlac), Don Bosco College (Canlubang), Don Bosco PreNovitiate Seminary (Canlubang), in a formal event but still marked by warm Salesian family atmosphere. Mr. Ed Lingao, a renowned Filipino broadcast journalist, encouraged Bosconians to continue with what they have begun: Tell their stories through the film medium, by striving to be relevant, and focusing on the message (not on its messenger) and the audience (not on the film maker). Ed Lingao is himself a product of Don Bosco Mandaluyong. Fr. Bernard ‘Drans’ Nolasco, SDB, head of the Commission on Social Communications, highlighted the idea of using the film medium as a vehicle where we could perpetuate what Don Bosco lived for: values which Bosconians themselves learned from their Salesian and lay mentors. Judging from the success and tenor of the 1st Don Bosco Film Festival, FIN Province has made history; but more importantly, Don Bosco’s presence was indeed felt St. John Bosco, Action!

PHOTOS BY BY DBPI-MULTIMEDIA DBPI-MULTIMEDIA SERVICES SERVICES PHOTOS

By Cl. Donnie Duchin Duya, SDB twitter: donnieduchin | blog: http://onapensivemood.wordpress.com | facebook: donnieduchin@gmail.com

FIN-FIS NEWS

Below are the winners in the diﬀerent categories. ONE MINUTE AD CATEGORY ■ Best in Editing: Don Bosco Academy (DBA), “As usual, Unusual” ■ Best Director: Fr. Kim Simbulan, SDB “As usual, Unusual” ■ Best Picture: Don Bosco Academy (DBA), “As usual, Unusual”

Keynote address by Mr. Ed Lingao 1 Welcome Address by Fr. Bernard Nolasco, SDB 2 Pre-Novitiate Seminary Short Film Winner (Actor, Screenplay, Picture): MAC MIC 3 DBC Canlubang Short Film Winner (Cinematography) LIWANAG 4 DBA Mabalacat, One-Minute Ad Winner (Editing, Director, Picture): As Usual, Unusual 5 DBYC Tarlac Special Citation on Documentary Film 6 Best Director for One-min Ad: Fr. Kim Simbulan 7 Best Actor for Short Film: Mark Soriano 8 Best Screenplay for Short Film: Jonas Lacson 9 Best Director for Short Film: John Celestino Miguel 10

DOCUMENTARY FILM CATEGORY Special Citation: Don Bosco Youth Center-Tarlac, “Munting Kayamanan” SHORT FILM CATEGORY ■ Best in Editing: DBYC Tondo’s “Bola” ■ Best in Lights & Sounds: DBYC Tondo’s “Bola” ■ Best in Cinematography: DBYC Tondo’s “Bola” and DB Canlubang’s “Liwanag” ■ Best in Visual Eﬀects: DBYC Tondo’s “Bola” ■ Best in Acting: Pre-Novitiate’s Mark Soriano, “Mac-Mic” ■ Best Screenplay: Pre-Novitiate’s Jonas Lacson, “Mac-Mic” ■ Best Director: DBYC Tondo’s John Celestino, “Bola” ■ Best Picture: Pre-Novitiate’s “Mac-Mic”

DBYC Tondo Short Film Winner (Editing, Lights and Sounds, Cinematography, Visual Eﬀects, Director): BOLA 11 The Organizer (Commission on Social Communications-FIN) with Mr. Ed Lingao 12

MARCH-MAY 2015 ST. JOHN BOSCO TODAY