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. Mariel Demata, FMA & FMA Past Pupils; Sr. Sophia Akiko Oshita, SCG; Brenda Ramirez ASC; Dr. Victor B. Endriga DBAPNF; Maria Junifer Maliglig ADMA; Evangeline Dolliente FADS Art Director Early Macabales Graphics & Design Studio DBPI-Multimedia Section Circulation Commission on Social Communication
C O N T E N T S ST. JOHN BOSCO TODAY |THE SALESIAN FAMILY MAGAZINE | PHILIPPINES | SEPTEMBER-NOVEMBER 2015 | VOLUME 45 • NUMBER 2
FEATURES
5 Cover Stor y The Sale s of Don
10 The Big Salesian Family Around the World At A Glance 12 The Association of Salesian Cooperators (ASC) A Practical Way of Contributing to Public Morality 15
The Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (FMA) Salesian Mornesian Sanctity
ian Bosco ( s SDB)
and the Good of Civil Society
REGULARS
3 4
MESSAGE OF THE RECTOR MAJOR
The Salesian Family, Don Bosco’s Living Legacy
EDITOR’S NOTE
Called to the Holiness of Life
NEWS 30 FIN Don Bosco Exhibits at the Ayala Malls Formally Opens
18 The Caritas Sisters of Jesus (SCG) Trust in the Love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus 20
The Volunteer of Don Bosco (VDB) A Living Memorial of Christ’s Presence in the World
Where Compassion Freely Flows
The Association of Mary Help of Christians (ADMA) A Mission to be Faithful to Jesus Like Mary
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Asociacion Damas Salesianas (ADS) Evangelization through Human Promotion
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The Salesian Family,, Don Bosco’s Family Living Legacy
MESSAGE OF THE
RECTOR MAJOR
EXCERPTS FROM THE MESSAGE OF THE RECTOR MAJOR DURING THE BICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION IN TURIN.
Dearest Salesian Family Around the World,
T
his bicentenary is an opportunity for a genuine spiritual and pastoral renewal of our family, a chance to make it live the Salesian charism and make Don Bosco always alive as always, especially for young people. Today, we thank God for his marvelous intervention in history, and even more specifically, in this story that began in the hills of Becchi. We commemorated around the world that the Salesian charism is a gift that God, through Don Bosco, has given to the Church and to the world. We are here today as the Family of Don Bosco, the Salesian Family, to thank the Lord for this year, for all the grace that He gave us, and for the life that is renewed as a fitting fruit and gift of this Bicentenary. The bicentenary of the birth of Saint John Bosco was a jubilee year, a “year of grace” lived as a Salesian Family together with the young people of the Salesian world, with a sense of gratitude to the Lord, with a sense of humility but also of great joy, knowing that it was the Lord who blesses us with this beautiful spiritual apostolic movement founded by Don Bosco, and under the guidance of Mary Help of Christians, that we call today “The Salesian Family.” Don Bosco lived the total gift of self to God as a stimulus for the salvation of souls and fidelity to God and to young people in a single act of love. These attitudes led him to “go out” and implement courageous decisions: the decision to devote himself to the poorest young people, with the intention of founding a vast movement of the poor for the poor, with the intention of extending this service beyond the boundaries of language, race, culture and religion, with a missionary zeal. He actualized this project with style of hospitality, joy and sympathy, personally and with the help of other people.” Pope Francis asks the Salesian Family to take brave decisions as Don Bosco did, being practical, giving urgent answers, and with adequate knowledge in facing the crisis and emergency situations in today’s society. We can say that the bicentenary of Don Bosco’s birth is a valuable opportunity for us to look at the past with gratitude, to the present with hope, and to the future with a strong sense of mission, evangelization and education of our Salesian Family. With the strength and renewal from the Gospel, with courage and prophetic vision, we allow the Holy Spirit to guide us to be evangelizers, proclaimers of the Kingdom of Christ. O Mary, Help of Christians, our Mother, who did everything from the outset, help us to be faithful and to give continuity and richness to the work initiated by God 200 years ago; to be like Don Bosco, with the young people and for the young people. Fr. Ángel Fernández Artime, SDB Rector Major
SAINT JOHN BOSCO TODAY SEPTEMBER-NOVEMBER 2015
3
EDITOR’S NOTE
Called to
Holiness of
Life
FOLLOWING CHRIST IN DON BOSCO’S WAY
S
t. John Bosco, seeing that the work he was doing for the poor boys were becoming bigger and bigger, invited some friends to help him. Fr. Cafasso, Fr. Borel, Mama Margaret, and some other people gave generously their time, energy, and even resources to his noble apostolate for the poor boys. Later, he invited some of his senior boys to also give a hand in the smooth running of the oratory. But even with all these support he received, he felt they were not enough. He felt he needed to form groups that are recognized formally by the Church and by civil authorities as groups committed to continue the work which Divine Providence entrusted to him. These groups will continue the work even when he is long gone. Convinced that what he was doing was from God, he seriously took the necessary steps to found a Congregation of priests and brothers who were ready to commit their lives for the poor boys. Don Bosco gave them the name, Salesians. He likewise believed that poor girls needed the same love and care that the poor boys were already receiving. Because of this, he asked the help of Mary Mazzarello to found a Congregation of women who were ready to consecrate their lives in the service of the poor girls. These group of consecrated women became known as the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians.
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SAINT JOHN BOSCO TODAY
SEPTEMBER-NOVEMBER 2015
Without ignoring the power of the laity in being committed to help him in his work, Don Bosco allowed God to inspire him to formally establish a group of lay people whom we now know as Salesian Cooperators. Don Bosco considered these three groups as his family. The poor boys and girls are their children. After Don Bosco’s death, more groups were added to these three groups. At present, the Salesian Family around the world has 30 groups. You will see all these 30 groups on pages 12-14 of this issue. All theses 30 groups that form One Salesian Family have a common goal: to continue the mission that Don Bosco received from Divine Providence in various capacities as they strive to grow in the universal call to holiness. May this September-November Issue help us appreciate better what truly matters in our being members of the big Salesian Family – our following of Christ in Don Bosco’s way. And for those readers who are not members of the Salesian Family, may this issue inspire you to join this big family, inspired by St. John Bosco’s love of God in the poor youth.
Fr. Bernard P. Nolasco, SDB Editor
The
C HOLI NESS OVER RUNS S IN TH TORY E SAL ESIAN FAMI LY
Salesians of
Don Bosco (SDB) (SDB) SANCTITY AMONG THE SALESIANS OF DON BOSCO BY
FR. CAESAR DIZON, SDB
“The Salesian charism is not only capable of pointing the way to sanctity, but also of attaining the objective if fully lived out.”
H
OLINESS. On April 21, 2002 Pope (now Saint) John Paul II issued his message
for the 39th World Day of Prayer for Vocations. The theme was ‘The Vocation to Holiness’. In that message he asserted that “the main task of the Church is to lead Christians along the path of holiness.” He also re-defined holiness in terms that were understandable to ordinary Christians but at the same time challenging to them. He wrote: “The time has come to re-propose wholeheartedly to everyone this high standard of ordinary Christian living.” In his biography of St. Dominic Savio, Don Bosco cited a homily heard by Dominic and which inspired him to take the challenge of that high standard of Christian living. In Salesian parlance it is called the spirituality of daily life. And it is expressed in the maxim, Do your ordinary duties extraordinarily well. On that second Sunday of Lent in 1855, the priest, probably Don Bosco himself, said: “Everyone is called to be a saint. And do you know, it is easy to be a saint? Moreover a great reward is waiting in heaven for those who do become saints.”
HOLINESS IN THE SALESIAN FAMILY. Since then the Salesians of Don Bosco together with the entire Salesian Family have accepted this challenge to holiness. And following the lead of Don Bosco, the result has been something we can be proud of. In just a matter of a hundred and fifty years, we have reached the following numbers: Saints: 9, Blesseds: 117, Venerables: 12, Servants Of God: 28, as of December 2014.
BICENTENARY OF THE BIRTH OF DON BOSCO 1815-2015
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C O V E R S T O R Y
HOLINESS RUNS IN THE SALESIAN FAMILY ST. ST. FRANCIS FRANCIS DE DE SALES SALES
ST. ST. JOSEPH JOSEPH CAFASSO CAFASSO
ST. ST. MARIA MARIA DOMENICA DOMENICA MAZARELLO MAZARELLO
ST. ST. DOMINIC DOMINIC SAVIO SAVIO
MY DEAR SALESIANS, BE SAINTS
In August 2002, the then newly-elected Rector Major, Fr. Pascual Chavez, issued his first circular letter (AGC 379), “My Dear Salesians, Be Saints.” What prompted him to make this the theme of his first letter were two confluent events: the beatification of three members of the Salesian Family and the General Chapter 25 of the Salesians of Don Bosco. The three members of the Salesian Family that were beatified were Br. Artemides Zatti, a Salesian Coadjutor, Sr. Maria Romero, an FMA Sister and Fr. Louis Variara, a Salesian Priest. General Chapter 25 worked on the theme of the renewal of the Salesian Community. One of the sub-themes was the community as the place for daily sanctification. In this letter Fr. Chavez made three simple claims that have far-reaching implications: ■ Holiness is a permanent Salesian heritage. ■ We are educators to holiness. ■ Holiness flourishes in the community. St. John Paul II, in his message at the beginning of GC 25, wrote that the history of the Salesian family “is a history filled with saints, many of them young people.” Later in an audience he gave to the members of GC 25, he once again spoke of “the numerous Saints and
Don Bosco believed in a simple and direct road toward holiness which was not extraordinary or showy, but common, ordinary and perhaps seemingly insignificant.
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SAINT JOHN BOSCO TODAY
SEPTEMBER-NOVEMBER 2015
BL. BL. PHILIP PHILIP RINALDI RINALDI
BL. BL. FEDERICO FEDERICO ALBERT ALBERT
VEN. VEN. MARGHARITA MARGHARITA OCCHIENA OCCHIENA
SOG. SOG. OTTAVIO OTTAVIO ORTIZ ORTIZ
BL. BL. MADELEINE MADELEINE MORANO MORANO
BL. BL. FRANCIS FRANCIS KESY KESY
BL. BL. LUIGI LUIGI VARIARIA VARIARIA
BL. BL. STEFANO STEFANO SANDOR SANDOR
BL. BL. GIUSEPPE GIUSEPPE CALASANZ CALASANZ
BL. BL. CZESLAW CZESLAW JOSWIAK JOSWIAK
VEN. VEN. ANDREA ANDREA BELTRAMI BELTRAMI VEN. VEN. DOROTEA DOROTEA DE DE CHOPITEA CHOPITEA VEN. VEN. ATILLIO ATILLIO GIORDANI GIORDANI
SOG. SOG. MATILDE MATILDE SALEM SALEM
SOG. SOG. IGNAZIO IGNAZIO STUCHLY STUCHLY
SOG. SOG. STEFANO STEFANO FERRANDO FERRANDO
OO
ST. ST. LEONARDO LEONARDO MURIALDO MURIALDO
ST. ST. LOUIS LOUIS GUANELLA GUANELLA
ST. ST. LOUIS LOUIS VERSIGLIA VERSIGLIA
ST. ST. CALLISTO CALLISTO CARAVARIO CARAVARIO
BL. BL. ARTEMIDE ARTEMIDE ZATTI ZATTI
BL. BL. ALBERT ALBERT MARVELLI MARVELLI
BL. BL. EDWARD EDWARD KLINIK KLINIK
BL. BL. BRONISLAW BRONISLAW MARKIEWICZ MARKIEWICZ
BL. BL. MARIA MARIA ROMERO ROMERO MENESES MENESES
BL. BL. JOSEPH JOSEPH KOWALSKI KOWALSKI
VEN. VEN. RODOLFO RODOLFO KOMOREK KOMOREK
VEN. VEN. LAURA LAURA MEOZZI MEOZZI
VEN. VEN. LUIGI LUIGI OLIVARES OLIVARES
VEN. VEN. GIUSEPPE GIUSEPPE QUADRIO QUADRIO
BL. BL. MICHAEL MICHAEL RUA RUA
BL. BL. EUSEBIA EUSEBIA PALOMINO PALOMINO BL BL AUGUSTO AUGUSTO CZARTORYSKI CZARTORYSKI BL. BL. ENRICO ENRICO SAIZ SAIZ APARICIO APARICIO
BL. BL. LAURA LAURA VICUÑA VICUÑA
BL. BL. ALEXANDRINA ALEXANDRINA DA DA COSTA COSTA
BL. BL. ZEFFIRINO ZEFFIRINO NAMUNCURÀ NAMUNCURÀ
BL. BL. MARIA MARIA TRONCATTI TRONCATTI
BL. BL. JAROGNIEW JAROGNIEW WOJCIECHOWSKI WOJCIECHOWSKI
VEN. VEN. VINCENT VINCENT CIMATTI CIMATTI
VEN. VEN. SIMON SIMON SRUGI SRUGI
VEN. VEN. TERESA TERESA VALSE VALSE PANTELLINI PANTELLINI
SOG. SOG. GIUSEPPE GIUSEPPE ARRIBAT ARRIBAT
OTHER SERVANTS OF GOD • JOSEPH VANDOR • CARLO CROCI • GIOVANNI SWIERC AND COMPANIONS • COSTANTINO VENDRAME • TITO ZEMAN SOG. SOG. FRANCESCO FRANCESCO CONVERTINI CONVERTINI
SOG. SOG. CARLO CARLO BRAGA BRAGA
SOG. SOG. AUGUSTO AUGUSTO HLOND HLOND
SOG. SOG. LUSTOSA LUSTOSA DE DE ALMEIDA ALMEIDA
• • • • • •
ORESTE MARENGO ANDREA MAJCEN ANNA MARIA LOZANO CARLO TORRE ANTONIO BAGLIERI ANTONIETTA BOHM
SOG. SOG. ELIA ELIA COMINI COMINI
BICENTENARY OF THE BIRTH OF DON BOSCO 1815-2015
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C O V E R S T O R Y
HOLINESS RUNS IN THE SALESIAN FAMILY
VENERABLE VINCENT CIMATTI, An Example Of Salesian Holiness
EARLY YEARS Blesseds who make up the heavenly host of your protectors.” Behind this fact is an important truth. “The Salesian charism is not only capable of pointing the way to sanctity, but also of attaining the objective if fully lived out.” “Salesian charism” may be understood as the gift given by the Holy Spirit through St. John Bosco for the good of the Church. This gift includes the Salesian Spirituality. It is a way offered by Don Bosco to the Salesian Family to reach that high standard of Christian living. In simple terms, Salesian spirituality is the style of holiness proposed by Don Bosco. This circular letter is significant because the Rector Major enumerates the characteristics of the Salesian spirituality in a non-traditional way and then points to members of the Salesian Family as examples for each characteristic.
■ A spirituality that is able to make a synthesis between work and temperance. Don Rua. ■ A spirituality that stems from pastoral charity, that succeeds in making itself loved and manifests the fatherliness of God. Don Rinaldi. ■ A spirituality that is expressed through humility and hard work. Mother Mary Domenica Mazzarello. ■ A spirituality of daily life and work. Simon Srugi, Artemides Zatti, and Mama Margaret. ■ A spirituality that harmonizes contemplation with activity. Sr. Maria Romero Meneses and Salesian Cooperator Attilio Giordani. ■ A spirituality of relationships and of the family spirit which invests everything with joy and happiness. Fr.Vincent Cimatti. ■ A well-balanced spirituality. Fr. Guiseppe Quadrio ■ A spirituality that takes on the dimension of sacrifice (spirituality of oblation). Fr. Beltrami, Fr. Czartoryski and Fr.Variara (and I add, Salesian Cooperator Alessandrina Maria da Costa). ■ Martyrdom. Salesian martyrs of Spain, recently beatified at the time of writing of the circular letter (and I add, Bishop Versiglia and Fr. Caravario).
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SAINT JOHN BOSCO TODAY
SEPTEMBER-NOVEMBER 2015
Don Cimatti was born in a family poor in material resources but rich in faith. Don Rinaldi wrote a glowing description of the Cimatti family in 1928: “Both parents (Giacomo and Rosa), although of modest social and economic condition, were very good Christians. They were exemplary in piety, in the practice of religion and in the Christian formation of their children. The townspeople cited the Cimatti family as a model family for their probity, honesty and sincere Christian spirit.” The early childhood of Don Cimatti was similar to Don Bosco. His father died when he was three years old. And from then on, like Mama Margaret, his mother, Rosa, had to raise her three children all by herself. And like Mama Margaret, she raised them well. It seemed that in order to comfort Vincent at the loss of his father, Divine Providence arranged his first encounter with the man who would become his spiritual father. Don Cimatti writes: “On the morning of the 14th, Sunday, Don Bosco celebrated Mass at the cathedral, at the altar of Our Lady of Graces, to whom he enttrusted the Salesian foundation in Faenza. That evening he preached to the boys. I was among them. Mother held me in her arms. I was not yet three years old then. She raised me up and told me: ‘Look, Don Bosco!’ And I looked and I still preserved his image vividly in my mind—although I did not understand anything he said. And from then on, Don Bosco made me his own.” Fr. Crevacore often heard Don Cimatti repeat the expression: “Don Bosco then made me completely his own”, convinced that his Salesian vocation was connected to this encounter.
CHARACTERISTIC VIRTUES LINKED TO SALESIAN SPIRITUALITY
A person whose cause for canonization has been introduced must be shown to have exercised Christian virtues to a heroic degree. That is why Saints have traditionally been looked upon as Christian heroes. Their lives inspire us and move us to imitate them. The virtues practiced by Venerable Cimatti and linked to Salesian spirituality are: obedience, work and temperance, joy and loving kindness. OBEDIENCE. Don Cimatti used to say: “The superiors have decided this way. We might have a different opinion.
Now, since a decision has been made, all of us should be of the same opinion. There should no longer be any discussion.” He practised what he preached. He practiced perfect obedience to all the Superiors. His was a blind obedience in the good sense of the word. WORK AND TEMPERANCE. According to Fr. Simoncelli Carmello, “In my opinion his greatest expression of temperance was daily work. So many times he sought it himself. Toward the end of his life, the community would not assign to him any special work and instead, advised him to rest due to his age. This he could not accept because he couldn’t stand idleness.” According to Don Cimatti, when a Salesian (SDB or FMA) has done his/her work with Jesus, through Jesus and in Jesus, he has also prayed. He expressed this thought with the formula: “Always work with him, through him and in him” or “work always with the Lord and through the Lord.”
Don Bosco believed in a simple and direct road toward holiness which was not extraordinary or showy, but common, ordinary and perhaps seemingly insignificant.
St. Joseph Cafasso, Don Bosco’s confessor and spiritual director, said: “When a person does things well, this is enough to make him holy, whether he is a lay person, a father or mother, or a priest.” Don Bosco, sharing this conviction with Don Cafasso, guided his boys and his Salesians toward holiness along this path. And while Dominic Savio might be the best well-known success story of this path to holiness, Fr. Desramaut believed that you have to give it to Fr. Rua as its best example. Yes, Don Bosco “believed in a simple and direct road toward holiness which was not extraordinary or showy, but common, ordinary and perhaps seemingly insignificant.” But he did not make it any less demanding. For after all, Dominic Savio could not have been proclaimed as Saint and Fr. Michael Rua, a Blessed, unless it has been proven that they have lived the Christian life to a heroic degree. As Pope St. John Paul II has reminded us, holiness is a call to a high standard of Christian living.
BICENTENARY OF THE BIRTH OF DON BOSCO 1815-2015
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F E A T U R E
DAILY HOLINESS
BY SR. MARIEL DEMATA, FMA
D M H C
The aughter of ary elp of hristians (F SALESIAN MORNESIAN SANCTITY
H
ow many saints-in-the-making are there in the Salesian Family? More than 100 members of the Salesian Family are among those who have already been raised to the altars, or are still in the process of being glorified by the Church. Each of them highlights a particular aspect of the Salesian charism as a path to holiness, like a single precious diamond with many facets that brilliantly shine when struck by sunlight. They are but many reflections of just one powerful light! The Daughters of Mary Help of Christians share in the legacy of holiness passed on by St. John Bosco and St. Mary Domenica Mazzarello. The pastoral love of Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd, is the source of such holiness, which is
Through the years, Teresa cultivated a profound spiritual life characterized by a great love for God that made her fervent in prayer, diligent in her scholastic duties, compassionate and generous towards the poor. both the meaning and goal of the Salesian educative mission. Mornese, the cradle of the FMA vocation and mission, was a “school of saints” for both the Sisters and the girls for whom they dedicated their lives. Daily holiness was the atmosphere that they breathed. It was a casual attire, so to say, which they
JOHN BOSCO TODAY 10 SAINT SEPTEMBER-NOVEMBER 2015
wore with simplicity and elegance. Salesian Mornesian sanctity was described by St. Mary Mazzarello herself as consisting in doing one’s duty at the right time and place, and solely for the love of God and the salvation of the young. Nothing more, nothing less, and nothing else! This way of becoming holy is
rs p FMA) Salesian Mornesian sanctity was described by St. Mary Mazzarello herself as consisting in doing oneʼs duty at the right time and place, and solely for the love of God and the salvation of the young. Nothing more, nothing less, and nothing else! accessible to every ordinary Christian from any walk of life. A model of uncompromising commitment to walk this road of holiness is Sr. Teresa Valsé- Pantellini. She irrevocably decided to turn her back on extensive wealth in order to be truly intense in her practice of charity. She chose to become a humble, attentive and discreet presence in the various communities which she served. Born on October 10, 1878 into the upper class of Milanese society, Teresa grew up in a free and happy atmosphere of a good family. She was especially close to her father, Joseph, whose vision of life she gradually shared – a vision rich in human and religious values, especially kindness, generosity and the preferential option for the poor. Through the guidance of her firm and exacting mother, Josephine, Teresa completed her education, blending beauty and refinement with it. After the death of Joseph in 1890, her mother secured the best education in Florentine schools for her three children, Italo, Teresa and Josephine. Through the years, Teresa cultivated a profound spiritual life characterized by a great love for God that made her fervent in prayer, diligent in her scholastic duties, compassionate and generous towards the poor. With a providential meeting with the Salesian Sisters began her quest for the fulfilment of God’s will in her life. She liked what she witnessed among them: a community filled
with simple joy, nourished by prayer, and passionate in its service to poor children. After overcoming various obstacles, she finally entered the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians on February 2, 1901. The Sisters were poor, so Sr. Teresa became resourceful in soliciting material help from wealthy people who had been acquaintances in the past. Her frail health did not prevent her from reaching out to the poorest girls of the oratory in the houses of Bosco Parrasio and Via della Lungara at Trastevere in Rome. She was consistently joyful, radiant and generous in her self-giving. She was dedicated to the cause of the poor and defended the rights of others. She specialized in the language of action, manifesting love in her many deeds of kindness, patience and compassion. Like Don Bosco, she personally attended to the problematic concerns of the young people under her care and worked out ways to help and empower them by improving the quality of their life and culture. She died on September 3, 1907 in the house of Mary Help of Christians in Turin and was declared Venerable on July 12, 1982 by Saint John Paul II. The Lord continues to call us to walk the path of holiness, and the very words of Venerable Teresa ValsePantellini are addressed to every Christian even today, “Become saints soon...why are you delaying so much?” (Fr. Ernico dal Cavolo, SDB Postulator of the Causes of Saints, 2007)
BICENTENARY OF THE BIRTH OF DON BOSCO 1815-2015
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The Big Salesian F SALESIAN FAMILY
FOUNDER
DATE FOUNDED
1. SALESIAN SOCIETY OF SAINT FRANCIS DE SALES - SALESIANS - SDB
St. John Bosco
Turin 18 December 1859
2. INSTITUTE OF THE DAUGHTERS OF MARY HELP OF CHRISTIANS - FMA
St. John Bosco and St. Mary Domenica Mazarello
Mornese 5 August 1872
3. ASSOCIATION OF THE SALESIAN CO-OPERATORS - SSCC Public Association of the Faithful
Saint John Bosco
Turin 9 May 1876
4. WORLD CONFEDERATION OF THE PAST-PUPILS OF DON BOSCO - EX. DB World Civil Association
Blessed Philip Rinaldi
Turin March, 1908
5. WORLD CONFEDERATION OF THE PAST-PUPILS OF FMA - PP FMA World Civil Association
Blessed Philip Rinaldi
Turin March, 1908
6. WOMEN VOLUNTEERS OF DON BOSCO - VDB Secular Institute of Pontifical Right
Blessed Philip Rinaldi
Turin 20 May 1917
7. HIJAS DE LOS SAGRADOS CORAZONES DE JESÚS Y MARIA - HH SS CC DAUGHTERS OF THE SACRED HEARTS OF JESUS AND MARY Religious Congregation of Pontifical Rght
BlessedLuigi Variara
Agua de Dios 7 May 1905
8. SALESIANS OBLATES OF THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS - SOSC Religious Congregation of Pontifical Right
Bishop Giuseppe Cognata
Bova Marina 8 December 1933
9. APOSTLES OF THE HOLY FAMILY - ASF Religious Congregation of Pontifical Right
Cardinal Giuseppe Guarino
Messina 29 June 1889
10. CARITAS SISTERS OF JESUS - CSJ Religious Congregation of Pontifical Right
Fr. Antonio Cavoli
Miyazaki 15 August 1937
JOHN BOSCO TODAY 12 SAINT SEPTEMBER-NOVEMBER 2015
Family SALESIAN FAMILY
FOUNDER
DATE FOUNDED
11. MISSIONARY SISTERS OF MARY HELP OF CHRISTIANS - MSMHC Religious Congregation of Pontifical Right
Servant of God Stefano Ferrando
Guwahati 24 October 1942
12. HIJAS DEL DIVINO SALVADOR - HDS DAUGHTERS OF THE DIVINE SAVIOUR Religious Congregation of Diocesan Right
Bishop Pedro Arnoldo Aparicio
San Vicente (El Salvador) Christmas 1956
13. SISTERS SERVANTS OF THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY - SIHM Religious Congregation of Diocesan Right
Bishop Gaetano Pasotti
Bang Nok Khuek, 7 December 1937
14. RMÃS DE JESUS ADOLESCENTE SISTERS OF JESUS THE ADOLESCENT Religious Congregation of Diocesan Right
Bishop Vicente Priante
Campo Grande 8 December 1938
15. ASOCIACIÓN DAMAS SALESIANAS ADS Private Association of the Faithful
Fr. Miguel González
Turin 13 May 1968
16. ASSOCIATION OF MARY HELP OF CHRISTIANS - ADMA Public Association of the Faithful
Saint John Bosco
18 April 1869
17. CATECHIST SISTERS OF MARY IMMACULATE AND HELP OF CHRISTIANS - SMI Religious Congregation of Diocesan Right
Bishop Louis La Ravoire Morrow
12 December 1948
18. DAUGHTERS OF THE QUEENSHIP OF MARY - DQM Secular Institute of Diocesan Right
Fr. Carlo Della Torre
Bangkok 3 December 1954
19. VOLUNTEERS WITH DON BOSCO VOLONTARI CDB Public Association of the Faithful
Fr. Egidio Viganò
12 September 1994
20. WITNESSES OF THE RISEN LORD TOWARDS 2000 - TR 2000 Ecclesial Movement
Fr. Sabino Palumbieri
8 December 1984
BICENTENARY OF THE BIRTH OF DON BOSCO 1815-2015
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Around the World SALESIAN FAMILY 21. CONGREGATION OF ST. MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL Religious Congregation of Pontifical Right
FOUNDER Blessed Bronislao Markiewicz
DATE FOUNDED Poland 1921
22. CONGREGACIÓN DE HERMANAS DE LA RESURRECCIÓN Religious Congregation of Diocesan Right
Fr. Jorge Puthenpura
Guatemala 15 September 1977
23. SISTERS ANNOUNCERS OF THE LORD Religious Congregation of Diocesan Right
Bishop Ignazio Canazei after the inspiration of St. Luigi Versiglia
Shiu Chow (China) 30 May 1931
24. DISCIPLES (DON BOSCO SECULAR INSTITUTE)
Fr. Joseph D’Souza
India 1973
25. COMUNIDADE DA “CANÇÃO NOVA” COMMUNITY OF “CANÇÃO NOVA” Ecclesial Movement
Fr. Jonas Abib
Cachoeira Paulista Brazil 1978
26. SISTERS OF ST. MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL Religious Congregation of Pontifical Right
Blessed Bronislao Markiewicz and Servants of God Mother Anna Kaworek
22 January 2009
27. SISTERS OF MARIA AUXILIATRIX Religious Congregation of Diocesan Right
Fr. M. C. Antony
Madras 13 May 1976
28. COMMUNITY OF THE MISSION OF DON BOSCO (CMB) Private Association of the Faithful
Bologna 1982
29. THE SISTERS OF THE QUEENSHIP OF MARY IMMACULATE A religious Congregation of Diocesan Right
2011 2012
30. THE VISITATION SISTERS OF DON BOSCO (VSDB) A religious Congregation of Diocesan Right
JOHN BOSCO TODAY 14 SAINT SEPTEMBER-NOVEMBER 2015
Bishop Hubert D’Rosario
Shillong 31 May 1983
The Association
F E A T U R E
LAY PEOPLE WITH A HEART OF DON BOSCO
Salesian Cooperators (A (ASC SC)) SC of
A PRACTICAL WAY OF CONTRIBUTING TO PUBLIC MORALITY AND TO THE GOOD OF CIVIL SOCIETY
D
on Bosco began his work for the young in 1841 in Turin, Italy. At that time industrialization has set in, so many young people left the farms to find work in the cities. They had off on Sundays and Don Bosco brought them to church for Mass and catechism. They also played in vacant lots. Thus, Don Bosco’s oratory was born. Soon hundreds came to him on Sundays. He, therefore, sought the help of the local clergy for the priestly services and the lay people from different social backgrounds to teach catechism, keep the boys happily busy by organizing games, care for the boys, provide for their supplies, help them get jobs and even visit them in their workplace. Don Bosco said: “These co-workers or co-operators constantly support the charitable undertaking entrusted to us by Divine Providence.” Don Bosco soon realized that uniting these co-workers into a group would substantially increase their influence and effectiveness. With the help of Pope Pius IX, who himself was a co-operator, Don Bosco officially formed the Association of Salesian Cooperators on May 9, 1876.
“These co-workers or co-operators constantly support the charitable undertaking entrusted to us by Divine Providence.” BICENTENARY OF THE BIRTH OF DON BOSCO 1815-2015
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F E A T U R E
LAY PEOPLE WITH A HEART OF DON BOSCO
For their guide, Don Bosco prepared a Booklet of Regulations: “Salesian Cooperators: a Practical Way of Contributing to Public Morality and to the Good of Civil Society.” In response to the signs of the times and to the Directives of Vatican Council II, of the General Chapters of the SDB, and of the new Code of Canon Law, the regulations has evolved into the “Rule of Apostolic Life (RAL) in 1986, then into the Project of Apostolic Life (PAL) which was approved by the Holy See in 2013. The Association of Salesian Cooperators is the third branch of the Salesian Family founded by Don Bosco. The association is approved by the Holy See as a public Association of the Faithful and is considered as a Third Order, which has for its principal end, an active life in the exercise of charity towards one’s neighbor especially the youth who are in moral danger. The Salesian Cooperators are referred to as Salesians-in-the-world because they live out their faith in their own secular realities taking inspiration from Don Bosco’s apostolic project. Salesian Cooperators are baptized Christians of legal age from whatever cultural or social realities, single or married lay men and women or diocesan clergy. They are accepted into the Association after initial formation which covers the fundamental points of the Project of Apostolic Life. Membership in the association begins with the pronouncement of the personal Apostolic Promise, by which the aspirant expresses his or her will to live his or her Baptismal commitments in the light of the Project of Apostolic Life (PAL). Generally, each cooperator is affiliated to a Local Center which could be a Salesian school, parish, or youth center. The ASC center is animated by a FMA or SDB, the ASC Local Delegate and the ASC Local Council. Local centers are organized into provinces, animated by the ASC Provincial Council and ASC Provincial SDB and FMA Delegates. The provinces are grouped together into regions animated by the ASC Regional Council and ASC Regional SDB and FMA Delegates. The Rector Major is the Superior of the Association and he avails himself of the ASC World Council in Rome to animate the entire association and to coordinate the various formative and apostolic initiatives.
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According to PAL Chapter II Art.7, the Salesian Cooperator, being rooted in Christ and aware that all baptized people are called to the perfection of love, lives and gives witness to: ■ a life lived according to the Holy Spirit, as the source of joy, peace and forgiveness; ■ freedom, in obedience to God’s plan, directing this, above all, to the service of persons; ■ Gospel poverty, administering the goods entrusted to them using the criteria of temperance and sharing, in view of the common good; ■ a sexuality according to a Gospel vision of chastity, marked by delicacy and a joyful married or celibate life, lived with integrity and based on love; ■ that mercy which opens one’s heart to all material and moral miseries and urges one to work with pastoral charity; ■ justice to build a more fraternal world that recognizes and promotes the rights of all, especially the weakest; ■ and a firm will to be a builder of peace in a world agitated by violence and class hatred. This way of love for God and for others, accompanied by God’s abundant graces, is a sure path towards sanctity. It is with humble gratitude to God that members of the Salesian Cooperators are among those venerated by the faithful as among the holy men and women of the Church. May everyone be inspired to walk the path to holiness by the exemplary lives of these Salesian Cooperators who are now on the way to sainthood.
BLESSED ALEXANDRINA MARIA DA COSTA
Beatified by Pope John Paul II on April 25, 2004 Born in 1904 in Balasar, Portugal and died on October 13, 1955, Maria da Costa was a lively affectionate 14 year- old girl from Balasar, Portugal. Three men broke into her home to violate her chastity; but she fled by jumping out of the window. The fall eventually left her totally paralyzed and bedridden. She accepted this affliction as God’s will for her to offer herself as a victim soul for the conversion of sinners. She had no food or drink for 13 years other than the Holy Eucharist. For three and a half years, she received the mystical gift of experiencing every Friday the pains of Christ on the cross. When she became a cooperator, she offered her suffering especially for the salvation of the young.
VENERABLE MAMA MARGARITA OCCHIENA
Declared Venerable by Pope Benedict XVI on November 17, 2006 Born on April 1, 1788 in Capriglio, Asti and died on November 25, 1856, Mama Margaret, as she is fondly called by the Salesians, is the mother of St. John Bosco. She is a woman of clear ideas and great faith who raised her three children with the holy fear of God. She was 58 years old when she decided to leave her quiet town to join his son in his mission in Turin. She eventually turned the oratory into a family. She was the principal cooperator of Don Bosco and she gave her maternal presence to the Preventive System.
VENERABLE DOROTEA CHOPITEA
Declared Venerable by Pope John Paul II on June 9, 1983
Currently, there are about 30,000 Salesian Cooperators throughout the world. The Church will continue to elevate more Salesian Copperators to the altar of sanctity if cooperators will remain faithful to their Baptismal vows and live their Apostolic Promise as Association of Salesian Cooperators. Inspired by the holy Salesian cooperators, they are deeply challenged: ■ To be a faithful disciple of Christ in the Catholic Church. ■ To work in God’s kingdom, especially for the advancement and salvation of the young. ■ To deepen and give witness to the Salesian spirit. ■ To collaborate, in Family communion, in the apostolic initiatives of the local Church.
Born on June 5, 1816 in Santiago, Chile and died on April 3, 1891, Dorotea Chopitea came from a rich family and was well educated. She was energetic, lively and enterprising but with a heart of gold, the poor being her priority. Because of this, she was called God’s almsgiver. She married a banker and businessman and their marriage lasted for 50 years. They remained happily and faithfully married and had six children. Several months after she got widowed, she wrote Don Bosco to express her desire to work for the young workers in Barcelona. Don Bosco accepted her request and she became a Salesian Cooperator. She was responsible for thirty foundations of a religious nature that included churches, colleges, hospitals, hostels and oratories on behalf of about 10 congregations even giving to charity the money that she was keeping for her own old age. Thus, she died poor.
VENERABLE ATTILIO GIORDANI
Declared Venerable by Pope Francis on October 9, 2013.
Born on February 3, 1913 in Milan, Italy and died on December 8, 1972, Attilio Giordani, father of three boys, was an exemplary family man. He was a soldier and also worked in an industrial enterprise. He was a missionary catechist and an outstanding animator of the oratory with his kindness, firmness, cheerfulness and enthusiasm.
The Salesian Cooperators are referred to as Salesians-in-theworld because they live out their faith in their own secular realities taking inspiration from Don Boscoʼs apostolic project. BICENTENARY OF THE BIRTH OF DON BOSCO 1815-2015
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F E A T U R E
THE RHYTHM OF DON BOSCO
The
Volunteer o
A A LIVING LIVING MEMORIAL MEMORIAL OF OF CHRIST’S CHRIST’S PRESE PRES
I
n the Church and within the Church, in all the Institutes of Consecrated Life and the Salesian Family, there seems to be a desire to put “spirituality back at the center, as a source of communion for the mission.” Putting spirituality back at the center can also be expressed through the notion of returning to the source and the foundation, which Pope Benedict XVI describe as “Being a Christian is not an ethical choice or a lofty idea, but the result of an encounter with an event, with a Person, which sets a new horizon and thus a decisive direction.” (Deus Caritas Est, 1) The Volunteer of Don Bosco or VDB is a committed Christian woman. Her life has a decisive direction - CHRIST. It is a life of daily loving expressed in selfless service lived with only one rhythm – the RHYTHM OF DON BOSCO. The VDB is a living memorial of Christ in the midst of the world. She is a committed Christian woman with a consecrated secular Salesian identity. “As consecrated persons in the Church, they are a living memory in their being and living in Jesus.” (Vita Consecrata 22). As secular women, they have a profound passion for the world. They are immersed in the world like leaven in the dough like one of Don Bosco Volunteers named Zitta. Few years ago, Zitta’s country experienced political, social, economic and educational upheaval. As a teacher, she was supported by the union of educational workers. Their school’s union participated in a nationwide protest to request for better working conditions and salary increase for teachers and non-teaching personnel. Their families were affected. During those days of union battle with their government, the public teachers felt very discouraged and disheartened because the government had no intention of having dialogue with them. So they decide to set up a permanent tent in front of their Congress Building in order for the government leaders to see them at least since they do not want to listen to them.
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of Don Bosco (VDB)
ENCE IN SENCE IN THE THE WORLD WORLD
BY WILMA MILITANTE
As consecrated secular Salesian women, the VDB live their consecration in secularity both as a path to Christian perfection and as a way to fulfill their apostolate.
As a VDB, she quietly dialogued with the union leaders, sharing with them the social teachings of the Church. She was calm in listening to their grievances and she sought dialogue with government authorities with calmness and conviction. She led prayer exercises and through her presence she brought Christ in the midst of those strikers. Through her patience and intervention she was able to arrange a dialogue between the government education officials and their union leaders. It was a fruitful dialogue in the sense that both parties agreed to cooperate and to collaborate. As consecrated secular Salesian women, the VDB live their consecration in secularity both as a path to Christian perfection and as a way to fulfill their apostolate. Thus their life itself is a mission and their living chaste, poor and obedient becomes the more effective way of being salt, light and leaven in the world. Marien, another VDB whose life is worth sharing, was a principal of a school when she encountered Don Bosco through a book on the Preventive System that a certain Salesian priest gave her. After reading the book, she began to practice the Preventive System at once in her school. Always surrounded by youngsters, she realized that youngsters are not the recipients of the Salesian vocation but they are the Salesian charism itself. And so from that realization grew her zeal for the da mihi animas cetera tolle. Don Bosco’s style of education enabled her to experience that closeness with the students even if she was their school principal. She lived out her VDB vocation happily in their midst. The students sensed her sincere love for each one of them. She gave them a listening ear and a listening heart. With them she tried to build a community. The life of a VDB is a prayer in action. Following the example of Blessed Philip Rinaldi, the founder of the Volunteers of Don Bosco, every VDB is a contemplative in action.
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F E A T U R E
CENTERED IN THE HEART OF CHRIST
BY SR. LEOWELA SAGUN, SCG
O
The
TRUST IN IN THE THE LOVE LOVE OF OF THE THE SACRED SACRED HEA HEA TRUST
ur congregation, Suore della Carita di Gesu (SCG) or Caritas Sisters of Jesus in English, was born in the province of Japan called Miyazaki. We were founded by two of the first Salesian Missionaries in Japan, Fr.Vincent Cimatti. SDB and Fr. Antonio Cavoli, SDB. The former, superior of SDB in Japan during the pre-war period, thought of sustaining the apostolic work they had started. He asked Fr. Cavoli to head the foundation of this congregation of women. After a long hard work, Rome finally recognized our congregation on August 15, 1937. The first to profess their faith were a couple of sisters, one of whom became the first mother general, Sr. Maria Osafune Taki. In 2009, the original name Caritas Sisters of Miyazaki was changed to Caritas Sisters of Jesus. What was retained in the name identifies our congregation very well. Caritas is a Latin word, defined in English as charity or Christian love. As Caritas Sisters of
“Through suffering we had developed a higher charity and faith.”
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Sis Caritas Sist
Jesus, apostles of the Most Sacred Heart, we offer ourselves generously in the service of God through the poor and the suffering, showing them the compassionate act of love flowing from the heart of Jesus. We are apostolic in nature living in a community and vow to be obedient, poor and chaste disciples of Jesus, always in communion with the Father. Our religious and apostolic life is guided by our spirituality and charism leading us to the way of holiness. The best explanation of this is the life lived by our sisters then and now. The first apostolic work of the congregation was continuing the efforts started by a few ladies in the parish of Miyazaki. They took care of the poor and sick people in the vicinity. They also gathered and looked after the needs of abandoned infants, children and teens. They were sheltered in a place called “Kyugoin” “ (refuge house) which served as their home. Fr. Cavoli asked for donations among his friends and benefactors in Italy to support the needs of Kyugoin. When war broke in 1941, receiving and sending letters in Japan was prohibited. As a result of the lack in finances, life in Kyugoin became very difficult. Foreigners were also restricted to move around the different places freely. Fr. Cavoli requested for the
sters ters of Jesus (SCG)
ART OF OF JESUS JESUS WHERE WHERE COMPASSION COMPASSION FREELY FREELY FLOWS FLOWS ART
As Caritas Sisters of Jesus, apostles of the Most Sacred Heart, we offer ourselves generously in the service of God through the poor and the suffering, showing them the compassionate act of love flowing from the heart of Jesus. assistance of Sr. Osafune, the sisters, novices and aspirants to support the livelihood of Kyugoin. They bought a seven-hectare farm with a house. Without the aid of machines, the aspirants pulled the weeds and tilled the land from early dawn up to sunset. They were doing all these hard work with very little food even with empty stomachs and often with only prayers on their lips. They grew vegetables to sell and domesticated cows to produce milk for the babies. The aspirants and novices had to bring the cows to the grasslands to feed. There were about two hundred people in Kyugoin but there was never a day these people were left unfed. They survived because of the ceaseless hard work and selfless sacrifices of the sisters, novices and aspirants. They persevered during the shivering coldness of winter, the scorching heat of the sun in summer and the strong wind and rain during rainy season. They labored from early dawn until midnight without forgetting to entrust all their effort to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Always uttered in their lips, all this for the love of God. Before the war ended, six sisters and a novice died due to tuberculosis, fatigue and poverty. After the war in 1945, there were 18 professed sisters and 5 novices. Their situation worsened when a devastating typhoon hit Kyugoin right after the declaration of the end of the war leaving the congregation with nothing. Starting from scratch did not lead them to any
disappointment. They faced the challenge instead with great faith saying, “Through suffering we had developed a higher charity and faith.” The spirit of work, selflessness and sacrifice made our hearts humble and simply believing everything is the Will of God. This is the spirit that made our congregation spread throughout 15 countries around the world. These life witnesses of our sisters keep our strength to trust in the love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus from where compassion freely flows, the same love we can share to the infants and children in the orphanages, preschool and high school, sick people in the hospitals, old people in the home for the aged and people in the parishes with whom we are currently doing our apostolic charity. All of these had become possible because of the spiritual guidance the sisters received from Fr.Vincent Cimatti, SDB, whose beatification is in process; as well as the hard work and sacrifices of Fr. Antonio Cavoli, SDB who spent all his effort and energy providing the material and spiritual needs of the congregation. The sacrifices, hard work, joy, optimism and holiness shown by our founders gave much inspiration for the sisters who knew them to follow in their footsteps and to faithfully pass on to the present generation the same spirit and charism that is rooted in the love of Sacred Heart of Jesus.
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F E A T U R E
TO JESUS THROUGH MARY
The Associa of Mary He
of Christians
BY RHEENA
MAY LIM
A MISSION TO BE FAITHFUL TO JESU
P
eople are never wrong when they say that ADMA or the Association of Mary Help of Christians is a Marian organization. It is indeed a Marian group…and more! A year after the Basilica dedicated to our Lady Help of Christians was built in Turin, Italy, St. John Bosco founded the Association of the Clients of Mary help of Christians. He wanted the association to be a special instrument to “promote veneration of the Blessed Sacrament and devotion to Mary under the title of Help of Christians.” The ADMA offers a path that leads to: 1. Holiness – Foremost in every member’s commitment is frequent communion and presence in the Holy Mass. Don Bosco intended for each member to approach the Sacrament of confession once a fortnight or once a month and assist at daily Mass if one’s duty permits. A suitable brief prayer in the morning and evening is also recommended. ADMA members strive to continue these practices even in these modern days when one can’t help but be “too busy” with other concerns. The elder members are blessed to be able to participate in the Holy Mass every day while the younger ones take every opportunity they have to be able to partake in the Eucharist. It is a given that they are in their respective parishes leading the novena to Mary Help of Christians and spearheading the celebrations in her honor. The 24th of the month is always a special day. 2.The Salesian Apostolate – when I was younger, our spiritual animator, the late Fr. Dominic Curto SDB, would
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send us to remote barangays to assist during mass. He encouraged us to be there way ahead of the start of the mass so we could go around the barangay and call on young children and encourage them to attend mass. We would play with them, sing (and sometimes dance) with them and in our limited capacity as high school students, we taught them simple prayers and catechism. Little did I know then that Grandpa (Fr. Dominic) was already opening our hearts and minds to the Salesian apostolate for the young. Those kids we encountered were not cute. They we not even clean but they were children of God! They are beautiful in the eyes of Don Bosco and we eventually found them loveable too! In line with Don Bosco’s mission to people, the young in particular and especially in the aspects of fostering and defending the Christian faith, quite a number of ADMA members are catechists, some are educators while still some others are active in socio-civic groups. Even young ADMA members have a share in the Salesian apostolate for the young by being a good friend and example to their peers. ADMA members continue to be Don Bosco’s means of propagating devotion to Mary Help of Christians - giving out novena leaflets, printed copies of the Entrustment of the Home to Mary Help of Christians, pins and medals and copies of the Blessing of Mary Help of Christians. And more importantly, the ADMA members speak about Mary’s intercession in daily life. ADMA is present not just in Salesian parishes and schools but in different dioceses as well. And wherever there is an ADMA, the parish is assured of a group of men and women collaborators rendering various services in the Church. One can also rely on ADMA members to support and
ation
elp s (ADMA)
US LIKE MARY Don Bosco wanted the Association of Mary Help of Christians to be the concrete sign of his gratitude to the Blessed Mother of God, for her motherly presence in his life and work; and as to be a form of Christian life centered on the knowledge, love, and imitation of the Virgin Mary. pray for vocations - whether lay, religious or ministerial vocations in the church and in the Salesian family. Don Bosco wanted the Association of Mary Help of Christians to be the concrete sign of his gratitude to the Blessed Mother of God, for her motherly presence in his life and work; and as a form of Christian life centered on the knowledge, love and imitation of the Virgin Mary. And so every ADMA member all over the world strive daily to live, to love and to serve like Mama Mary, for the salvation of souls and for the greater glory of God. Simply put, the ADMA in the Church and in the Salesian family has the mission to lead the faithful walk through the path to Jesus thru Mary. To this date, we have no known ADMA member who has been proclaimed saint by the Church nor is there anyone in the process of sainthood. But I believe that all ADMA members who have gone ahead of us and who have remained faithful to their ADMA promise “to bear fruitful witness to Christ in daily life� are enjoying the presence of the Lord Jesus together with Mary, the Help of Christians.
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F E A T U R E
LAY EVANGELIZATION
Asociacio Asociaci
Damas Sal
EVANGELIZATION THROUGH H
FOUNDER AND FOUNDATION
The Founder, Fr. Miguel Gonzalez, SDB was born in Spain. He was ordained priest in San Salvador, Central America, on November 14, 1954. As a young man, he experienced difficult times in postwar Europe, socio-economic upheavals in Central America, and the Cuban Revolution. The Asociacion Damas Salesianas (ADS) arose from a concrete historical fact: the founder was expelled from Cuba. He arrived in Venezuela in 1961. The construction of the National Shrine of Don Bosco in Altamira, Caracas (long dreamt-of and planned by the SDBs in Venezuela) presented an opportunity to our founder. It was 75 years since the arrival of the SDBs in Venezuela, and there could be no better way to celebrate the anniversary. So the Don Bosco Social Centre, known today as the Mother House of the Asociacion Damas Salesianas, was built alongside the Shrine. On December 3, 1967, some women who were already involved in Don Bosco’s social works as co-promoters, decided to form an autonomous group to implement the social aspirations of the Centre. It was this group which became a new Christian and Salesian association called the Damas Salesianas. Guiding the Damas Salesianas, Fr. Miguel Gonzalez, emphasized what they had in common with the Salesian Family: vocation, mission to the youth, the spirit, the charism, and the education method of Don Bosco. From the beginning he stated: We are an apostolic movement for human promotion and evangelization, giving vitality and inspiration to a great lay undertaking. The ADS was officially founded on May 13, 1968, the feast of Our Lady of Fatima and of St. Maria Domenica Mazzarello. This marked the foundation of a private association of the faithful, freely established by a specific group of lay people. On December 29, 1988, the Rector Major Fr. Egidio Vigano and his council officially recognized ADS as a new group in the Salesian Family. As the years went by, Fr. Miguel instituted the groups of people helping the ADS into formal organizations with their own Ideario/Constitution. They are the Benefactors
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Solidarias (the benefactors group), the Caballeros de Don Bosco (the men’s group) and the Generacion de Relevo (the youth group). Thus, the umbrella organization - Familia Asociacion Damas Salesianas (FADS) was born to put an organizational structure to include all who believe in the ADS Mission: men, youth, and benefactors. The main mission of the ADS is evangelization through human promotion seeking for the entire formation of the person. The ADS aims to involve women today (without distinction of class) in social work, human promotion, and evangelization. Human Promotion is the process by which men and women reach full development, they discover and satisfy their needs, are able to know their human duties and rights and by means of their personal work and participation in society, they in turn help in the building of the common good. The ADS bind themselves to the fulfillment of the mission in such a way that the mission becomes the project for life in every member, seeking the Kingdom of God and its justice as a first priority.
IDENTITY
The ADS is a group of committed Catholic lay women in the Christian Community and involved as Christians in civil society, who constitute a private association of the faithful. ADS promote legitimate secular autonomy and work for the transformation of society in accordance with the teaching of the Gospel. The members look to Don Bosco as guide and model. They share in the Salesian Spirit based on pastoral charity, family spirit, optimism, simple and vital prayer, esteem for the sacraments and devotion to Mary Help of Christians.
VOCATION:
To be a member of ADS is a vocation to sanctify one’s life through everyday activities, and to offer oneself for the transformation of the world in Christ. The pastoral charity is more than just to give something. It is a giving of oneself. To
ion
lesianas (ADS) alesianas
HUMAN PROMOTION
To God all the Praise and Glory, To us Damas Salesianas the work!
give something is easy; the gift of oneself is a challenge. In ADS charity is expressed as the gift of oneself. ADS are called to conquer the world in the Damasalesiana style thru action, in concrete endeavors, as women in the world, living different kinds of lives, in the secular day-by-day realities of family, marriage, work, social life, the academe and the professional world.
SPIRITUALITY:
The Damas Salesianas live their spirituality through action, through giving, through sacriďŹ ce, through generous commitment to the service of others. The Damasalesiana assumes her daily tasks with love and surrender, expressed in her service to the beneďŹ ciaries by which she gives testimony of Christ in all situations of her everyday life, in a simple
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LAY EVANGELIZATION
way to grow to perfection in charity and to become one with Christ. The Formation is a continuous personal process carried within the ADS community. The Formation Program is encompassing the whole being of the lay Christian and the Damasalesiana woman. The integral formation should lead to an attitude and a process of conversion, of constant renewal, and a demand for personal growth in fidelity to the Dama Salesiana vocation.
CHARISM:
We forsake our “I” and embrace the “We” to give ourselves to all. way, lived in damasalesiana way in Christ. This spirituality is nourished through prayer, the Eucharist and devotion to Mary Help of Christians, Don Bosco and St. Michael. The spirituality of ADS is a road for conversion and continuous growth based on the faith. The desire of belonging to ADS implies a different way of thinking and thus a new way to face life, organizing this life in the service of Christ and the brethren. Being a Damasalesiana moves persons to go from being passive Christian women to become proactive Christian women.
FORMATION:
In ADS, Formation is an obligation and it becomes the most important element that gives sense to being a Dama Salesiana. The call from God demands a renewed process of discernment and formation for the mission. Formation is a
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The Holy Spirit offers our institution to the Church, to society and to women today, for the work of integral human development and evangelization sowing hope in the minds and hearts of the people we meet, sensitive to the signs of the times, by means of our feminine sensitivity, social volunteerism, entrepreneurial spirit, methods and structures. The Damasalesianas manage its operation and mission in a business-like spirit: managerial skill in the areas of planning, organizing, implementing, resource utilization and evaluation, pursuit of excellence in our work, seeking alliances/partnership with other institutions to maximize human and financial resources, sanctified by prayer and union with God. Women, children and youth are the beneficiaries of our missions of love. The marginalized, those who are outside the formal education system, those who are disadvantaged materially, physically and spiritually, especially the most needy, are our priority. Our missions of love includes: health care for the needy, livelihood instructions and support programs for women and mothers, job training, and integral human development programs for children, youth and women/mothers, training of women for motherhood, advancement of indigenous women, care of women in prison, and micro projects. We consider ourselves as lay missionaries: apostles in a time of new evangelization, socially committed, social volunteers through natural inclination and through a vocation to service, entrepreneurs who organize human and religious commitment as an enterprise of the Kingdom of God. We are also Marian, living as women, mothers and wives in imitation of Mary - with feminine sensitivity and with a woman’s enthusiasm, intuition, and generosity. When we respond to the vocation Dama Salesiana Promise, we give to the Lord our definite yes. We forsake our “I” and embrace the “We” to give ourselves to all. The Promise is more than a commitment. It is a gift from God, which He invites us to embrace in our life. We accept the governing body of the ADS and the fraternal organization of our Project Enterprise as efficient means to discover every day the will of God for us.
Don Bosco: God’s Gift to the
S P E C I A L F E A T U R E
DB 200
Young BY CL. JUVELAN SAMIA, SDB
FIN CELEBRATES DB200
“How is Don Bosco really a gift to the young?” I am convinced that ultimately it is because he showed to the youth the way to God, and because he developed this “way to holiness” into a system of education – the Preventive System.
“I
f you want to be truly happy,” says Don Bosco “love Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament with all your hearts.” For our beloved Father and Founder, Jesus is an intimate friend who accompanies us in our journey, and He is especially present in the most holy Eucharist. Don Bosco was convinced that in the Eucharist, we meet the true and living presence of Jesus Christ, the Risen Lord, under the appearance of bread and wine. The real presence of Jesus in the Eucharistic species and the chance of meeting Him in a very personal way are perhaps some of the reasons why he considered Holy Communion, together with Confession, as the “pillars which must support the edifice of education.” BICENTENARY OF THE BIRTH OF DON BOSCO 1815-2015
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It comes as no surprise that the Salesian Philippine-North Province made the decision to celebrate the Bicentenary of Don Bosco’s birth with a Holy Mass. On August 16, 2015, close to 4,000 people representing the different members of the Salesian Family gathered at the Ynares Sports Arena, Pasig City for the grand Eucharistic celebration presided by His Eminence Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, DD, Archbishop of Manila, who was joined by His Excellency Bishop Patricio Buzon, SDB, DD, Bishop of Kabangkalan, Fr. Anthony Paul Bicomong, Provincial of the Philippines-North, and over a hundred Salesian priests. The theme of the celebration was “Don Bosco: God’s Gift to the Young.” In the Holy Mass, the Salesian Family glorified God for His great and wondrous deeds and thanked Him for giving Don Bosco as a gift to the young people and to the Church. We may ask, “How is Don Bosco a gift?” We know that during his lifetime, he devoted himself totally to the education and evangelization of the youth, especially the poorest. He taught them trade skills, gave them quality education, provided them shelter, catechized them and guided their moral and spiritual lives. On his death, even the secular press showered him praise for his work for the poor and marginalized youth. Several high-ranking ministers of the supposedly anti-clerical Italian government expressed signs of approval and gratitude for his works. But is that really it? I’d like us to think again, “How is Don Bosco really a gift to the young?” I am convinced that ultimately it is because he showed to the youth the way to God, and because he developed this “way to holiness” into a system of education – the Preventive System. The Eucharistic celebration last August 16, 2015 was truly a grateful celebration because of Don Bosco who showed the way to Jesus and to God and developed a system by which even the poorest youth could become saints. In his homily, His Eminence, Cardinal Tagle, lauded Don Bosco as God’s gift to humanity. He explained that the figure of Don Bosco incarnated the love of God, who revealed Himself as the true Shepherd of Israel in Ezekiel and the Good Shepherd in John, in the tumultuous socio-political milieu of 19th century Italy. According to the Cardinal, Don Bosco’s unique contribution in the field of education – the Preventive System – is still very much relevant today. Cardinal Tagle asked the youth present at the celebration, “What is the best gift that you could give to Don Bosco on his birthday?”
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FIN CELEBRATES DB200 1. Cardinal Tagle, expressing his reflections on Don Bosco during his inspiring homily 2. Bishop Mylo Vergara of the Diocese of Pasig, welcoming the Salesian Family to his diocese 3. Salesian Bishop Pat Buzon of the Diocese of Kabankalan, sharing light moments with Cardinal Tagle 4. Fr. Paul Bicomong, giving his Opening Remarks during the program 5. FIN Salesian Family at the Ynares Sports Arena 6. Golden Jubilarians of Religious Profession (Fr. Vic Cervania, Fr. Dan Torres, Fr. Emil Santos, Fr. Larry Tamonan) 7. Some of the Silver Jubilarians of Priesthood (Fr. Marty Macasaet, Fr. Rey Dela Cruz, Fr. Arnold Sanico, Fr. Greg Bicomong) 8. Mrs. Otilia Gustilo, Special Recognition as the oldest living member of the Salesian Family (ASC). 9. The SJB Parish Chorale 10. The Savio Parish Chorale 11. The Lighter Side Movement Chorale 12. The DBTI Makati Boscorale 13. The Post-Novices song and dance number
The Salesian Family broke into thunderous applause when the Cardinal exclaimed “Be Salesians! Be missionaries of God’s love to the young.” A musical program dubbed as “Tribute of the Youth to the Father of Youth” followed. The brothers from the Sacred Heart Postnovitiate community began the tribute with a dance number which also served as an icebreaker. Different groups took turns in singing songs and performing dances that depicted the development of Don Bosco’s mission to the young. Among those who performed were the DBTI Boscorale, SJB Chorale, St. Dominic Savio Choir, Lighter Side Movement Chorale and selected cast of the Don Bosco Musicale – Coetera Tolle. We have concluded our celebrations and ended the Holy Mass, but the challenge to live Eucharistic lives goes on! Our thanksgiving to God for the gift of Don Bosco must impel us to a greater commitment to the mission that was entrusted by God to our Father and which we, members of the Salesian Family, continue for the youth of today.
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Don Bosco Exhibits at the Ayala Malls Formally Opens Trinoma, Quezon City. The Don Bosco Exhibit entitled “God’s Gift to the Young” was formally opened and blessed last August 1, 2015 at 1:30pm at the Trinoma Ayala Mall, Level 4. The event is in line with the celebration of the 200th Birth Anniversary of St. John Bosco, the founder of the Salesians of Don Bosco, who was born on August 16, 1815 in Turin, Italy. He is hailed by the Catholic Church as the Patron Saint of the Youth. He is well-known as the Father and Teacher of Youth. The centerpiece of this exhibit are the Top 20 Artworks of young people who joined the Nationwide Don Bosco Art Contest early this year. Aside from these artworks, exhibit boards presenting some basic information about St. John Bosco, the Salesians of Don Bosco and their works, and the Salesian Family are also featured. Word & Life Publications and Don Bosco Technical College, Mandaluyong City are likewise featured in this Trinoma exhibit. The opening event began with the awarding of the top three winners of the art contest. They are: John Michael Cortez of Nagcarlan, Laguna, Christian Dinglasan of Rosario, Batangas, and Marvin Taras of Maburao, Occidental Mindoro. Inspired by the life of St. Bosco who dedicated his whole life in uplifting the welfare of the poor young people of his time,
Mrs. Rowena Tomeldan, the COO of Ayala Malls cuts the ribbon that formally opens the Don Bosco Exhibits - Ayala Mall Tour. Behind her (from left to right) are Fr. Demetrio Carmona, SDB., Fr. Bernard Nolasco, SDB., Fr. John Tamayo SDB., Mr. Nolan Angeles, Fr. Salvatore Putzu, SDB., and Fr. Paul Bicomong, SDB.
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these young artists expressed their admiration to this saint and their sense of hope and fulfillment in life using their God-given talents in drawing. They received their cash prizes and trophies from Mrs. Rowena Tomeldan, the COO of Ayala Malls, Ms. Maan Paras, the General Manager of Trinoma, and from Fr. Paul Bicomong, SDB., the Provincial Superior of the Salesians of Don Bosco Philippine North Province. The blessing of the exhibit by Fr. Bicomong and the ceremonial cutting of the ribbon by Mrs. Tomeldan immediately followed the awarding ceremony that signaled the formal opening of the Don Bosco Mall Tour Exhibit. The organizers are inviting everyone to come and visit this exhibit at the different Ayala Malls: Trinoma, QC (August 1-7), Glorietta 4, Makati City (August 12-19), Market! Market!, Taguig City (August 22-30), ATC Alabang (September 3-9), Ayala Center – Cebu City (September 22-28), Abreeza – Davao City (October 1-7), Centrio – Cagayan De Oro City (October 10-16), Marquee Mall, Angeles City (January 5-11), Harbour Point, Subic (January 13-19), Bonifacio High Street, Taguig City (January 25-31), and The District, Imus Cavite (February 8-14)— Fr. Drans Nolasco, SDB.
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People pass by the Gallery of the Don Bosco Exhibit and take their time appreciating the Top Twenty artworks of young people who joined the Don Bosco Art Contest Nationwide.
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