inFIN
FINProvince'sNews&Trends
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March25,2023--TheSalesiansofDonBosco ofthePhilippines--NorthProvince(FIN), gatheredattheDiocesanShrineofMaryHelp ofChristianstocelebratetheSolemnityofthe AnnunciationtoourLady,butalsotoofficially launchandcommunicatethedocumentsof theProvincialChapter(PC)2022andtheFIN ProvinceDirectives
Intheprogram,thePC2022Secretariat providedthetimelineoftheFINProvince journeyasfarbackasAugust2021,whenthe ProvincialChapterwasconvened Toaccess thePCtimelineandthevideocompilation, pleasevisitpc2022.sdb.org.ph/post-chapter orclickhere.
Fr GerardoMartin,FINProvincialSuperior,gave individualcopiestotheconfrereswhowere presentduringtheevent
www.sdb.org.ph/fin/ @DonBoscoFIN P h o t o s b y C S C o m N e w s S e r v i c e
Fr.GerardoMartinconveystotheconfreres thesalientpointsofthePC2022Document.
New FIN Postno
AlongsidethelaunchoftheProvincialChapter 2022documentslastMarch25,Fr.Gerardo Martin,FINProvincialSuperiorinstalledFr.Jose FavieFaldas,SDB(left),andFr.EligioCruz,SDB (right)asViceProvincialandRectorofthePost NovitiateCommunity,respectively.
EDITORIAL TEAM
isamonthlypublicationproducedby theCommissiononSocialCommunication ofthePhilippines--NorthProvince(FIN)
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OwnerSalesianSocietyofSt.JohnBosco Editor-in-ChiefFr DonnieDuchinDuya,SDB
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NewlyinstalledViceProvincialFr.Faldas professestheFaithbeforeFr.Martin.
MESSAGE OF THE RECTOR MAJOR
Don Ángel Fernández Artime, SDB
Yesterday,February1,thedayafterthegreat solemnityofSaintJohnBosco,wasavery specialmorning.Ihadobtainedthe necessarypermitstoentertheFerrantiAporti PenitentiaryInstituteforMinors(IPM)inTurin, atonetimecalledtheGenerala.Thoseofus whoknowabouttheearlyyearsoftheyoung priestJohnBoscoknowallthathisvisitsto thisprisoninthecompanyofhisspiritual teacherFatherCafassomeant.Theimpactof suchvisitsonhissoulwassosignificantthat hepromisedtheLordthathe’ddoeverything possiblesothatboyswouldnotendupin thatplace.ThisishowtheOratoryandthe PreventiveSystemwereborn.
Iwasinthatveryplacewithagroupof youngpeople.Isteppedintothegallerythat lookedjustasitdidinDonBosco’stime, unchangedandverywellpreserved.Thereis alargeplaqueononeofthewallsthat commemorateshisvisitstotheimprisoned youngmen.
FatherSilvano,aSalesianofDonBoscoand chaplainofthecenter,hadarrangedforall thepermitsnecessaryandwaswaitingfor me.AlltheSalesiannovicescametoo.
Undertheguidanceofthemasterofnovices,this year,they’repreparingfortheirfirstreligious professionasSalesians.Thisgroupof18young mengoeseveryweektomeetwiththeyoung inmatesoftheIPMtocarryoutaninitiativethey call“theplaygroundbehindbars.”Allthe “residents”aremuchyoungerthanthenovices DonBoscokeeps(Iliketosayitthatway!),and mostdon’thaveaclosefamily.Indeed,thisis verysimilartowhatDonBoscoexperienced.
Alsopresentweretheteacherswho accompaniedtheseyoungpeopleeachday. WhenIarrived,severalwereinthecorridor,and otherswereinaroomusedforartactivities.I greetedeachonepersonally Igreetedthosewho camefromtheArabandMuslimworldwiththeir usualsalutation,“salammalecum”(thoughthe correctexpressioninArabicis“As-Salaamaleikum,”Peacebewithyou),towhichthey respondedinArabic,asisusual,“malecum salam.”IalsogreetedsomeItaliansandother youngEuropeans.
Itoldthemaboutmyself,mybackground,and mynationality.“I’mSpanish;IwasborninGalicia, thesonofafisherman.I’vestudiedtheologyand philosophy,butIknowmuchmoreaboutfishing becausemyfathertaughtme Forty-threeyears ago,IchosetobecomeaSalesian.
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THAT DAY I UNDERSTOOD A LITTLE BETTER WHAT DON BOSCO MUST HAVE FELT
Ihadwantedtobeadoctor,butthenI understoodthatDonBoscowascalling metohealthesoulsoftheyoung.”
Iaskedthemabouttheirnationalities Sometoldme,andIsharedwiththemwhat Iknewabouteachone’scountryandwhen I’dvisitedthere.Ifeltthatcommunication waspossible.Beforeourmeeting,thethree noviceshadputonforthemaskittaken fromasceneofDonBosco’slife.Thenthey gavemethefloor.Followingthat,theygave theyoungpeopletheopportunitytoask methreeorfourquestions That’showit went.TheyaskedmewhoDonBoscowas forme;whyIwasaSalesian;whatmy personalexperiencesfeltlike;andwhyI’d visitthem
Regardingthislastquestion,Itoldthem I’dhavelikeditmuchmoreif,insteadof myhavingcometovisitthem,theyhad beentheoneswho,underdifferent circumstances,wouldhavecome yesterdayafternoontoDonBosco’sfeast dayandwouldhavecelebratedabeautiful gatheringintheplaygroundandshared somepizza.Itoldthemthatthistimeit hadn’tbeenpossiblebutthatnothing preventsitfromhappeninginthefuture.
Followingthisconversation,theteachers invitedustosittogetherforlunch(aslice ofpizza)inalargerroom.Weallheaded there,youngsters,teachers,novices,and theSalesianswhowerewiththem.Wetook severalphotographsbecausetheboys requestedthem(naturallyfor“internal use,”assouvenirsforthem);oneofthe youngmengavemeasportsshirtthat he’dscreen-printed.Hedoesscreen printingverywell.Itoldhimthathe’d haveafutureinthatbusinesssinceit’s afieldthatisalwaysgrowing
Atonepoint,ayoungmanaskedwhether hecouldposeaquestiontomethathe didn’twanttoaskinpublic
I saidyes,butatthatpoint,Iwasinterrupted severaltimes.WhenIlookedforhim,hewasno longerthere
AssoonasIwasfree,Ilookedaroundtheroom forhim;Ispottedhim,approachedhim,and askedwhetherIcouldanswerhisquestion
Wemovedawayalittledistancefromthelarge grouptomakeitclearthattheyshouldn’t interruptus,andIspoketohimsincerely.His questionwas:"What’stheuseofbeinghere?"
Itoldhim:“Isincerelybelieve‘fornothingandfor alot’becausejail,andinternment,can’tbea goalordestination,butonlyapassageway
But,Iadded,Ithinkitwillhelpyoualottomake thedecisionthatyoudon’twanttoreturnhere, thatyouhavepossibilitiesforabetterfuture,that afterafewmonthsherethereisthepossibilityof goingtooneofthereceptioncommunitiesthat weSalesianshave,forexampleinnearbyCasale.
AssoonasIsaidthat,theyoungmanadded withoutlettingmefinish:“Iwantthat.Ineedthat becauseI’vebeeninthewrongplaceandwith thewrongpeople”
Iaskedhimwhetherhe’dpermitmetotellthe chaplainthatwehadtobeginthinkingabouthis futureandthatoftheothers Hesaid,“Yes”That’s whatIdid.Wetalked.Theytalked.Irealizedhow validareDonBosco’swords,thatintheheartof everyyoungperson,therearealwaysseedsof goodness
Thatyoungman,andmanyothersImet,are totally“reclaimable”ifhegetsadecentchance aftermakingmistakes
AndIalsounderstoodbetterthaneverwhatDon Boscocouldhavefeltinhisyouthfuland passionateheartwhenhesawthoseyoungmen lockedupintheGenerala.
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" ... in the heart of every young person, there are always seeds of goodness"
Igreetedtheyoungpeopleagain,oneby one.Ourexchangeswereverycordial. Theirfaceswereopen,theirsmilesthesmiles ofyoungpeoplewho’dbeenhithardbylife, who’ddonewrongatsomepoint,butstill thoseofyoungpeoplefulloflife
Isensedintheirteachersthattheyhada greatvocationalunderstandingoftheirjob, whichIliked
Attheendofthetimeagreedupon,Isaid goodbye.Thensomeoneapproachedme andasked,“Whenareyoucomingback?”
Iwasmoved.Ismiledathimandtoldhim: “Thenexttimeyouinviteme,you’llhaveme here.Meanwhile,I’llwaitforyou,likeDon Bosco,atValdocco.”
Thiswasmyexperienceyesterday Friends oftheSalesianBulletin,friendsofDonBosco’s charism,justasinDonBosco’sday,it’s possiblealsotodaytoreachtheheartof everyyoungperson.Eveninthemidstofthe greatestdifficulties,theycanimprove;it’s possibleforthemtochangetheirwayssoas tolivehonestly.DonBoscoknewthisandhe wascommittedtoitforhisentirelife.
DB Press Welcomes SHS Bosconians
DonBoscoPresswelcomedtheArts andDesignStudentsofDonBosco TechnicalInstituteofMakatilastMarch 28.
PartneringwithDBPress,thegrade11 studentsweretogainrelevantand practicalskillsinvisualandmediaarts undertheguidanceofindustryexperts andworkers
Thestudentswereacquaintedwiththe processofproducingtextbooksand magazines
Theirexposuretotheworkplacealso ledthemtogaininsighttoworkethics, goodworkhabits,appreciation,and respectforworkinthecreative industries.
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"Even in the midst of the greatest difficulties, they can improve; it’s possible for them to change their ways so as to live honestly"Isendyoumycordialgreetingsandbest wishes. DonAngel
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DonBosco PampangaSeekers (Bacolorand Mabalacat-first batch)finishedtheir JuanNightactivity withtheirSalesians.
Renzhadhisthreedayorientationin Canlubanglast March10-12.Heisa vocationcandidate fromtheProvincial Housecommunity.
Anovernight encounterand bondingofDB Tarlac'svocation prospectswiththe Salesians
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P h o t o b y B r . J e r i c k M a g s i n o , S D B P h o t o b y F r . J a r m y R o x a s , S D B
P h o t o b y C S C o m N e w s S e r v i c e
Salesian Brothers and Clerics Hold Vocation Promotion in DB Makati
ByCl LorenzoGabrielT Estrella,SDB
28March2023-TheclericsofSeminaryong DonBoscoandtheSalesianbrothersofthe SandorFormationHousewenttoDonBosco TechnicalInstituteMakatitoholdavocation promotioncampaignaspartofthe institution’sVocationMonthcelebration themed"SendMe."
Inthemorning,theywereintroducedinthe respectiveassembliesoftheElementary, SeniorHighSchoolandTVETDepartments. Followingthiswastheclassroomencounter withthem,wheretheSalesianssharedtheir experiencesandentertainedquestions.
Duringthemorningandlunchbreaks,the formeralsomadethemselvespresentand spenttimeplayingandconversingwiththe students
Atthesametime,someoftheSalesians playedbasketballwithselectTVETstudents atthegymnasium,withthelatteremerging victoriouswithathree-pointlead.
Thiswasconcludedintheafternoon,wherein theSalesianbrothersandclericsencountered theTVETstudentsintheirChristianLiving class.
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TheVocTokTeamhaditsliveproductionatthe BragaAuditoriumfeaturingFr LonxsEleosida, Cl AnthonyRodriguez,andCl PauloCalderon
MHC Nat'l Shrine Holds Lenten Recollection
ByMs.JoyceBustamante
LastMarch4,aLentenrecollectionon "StewardshipandSynodalChurch," heldat theNationalShrineofMaryHelpofChristians Parish,renownedmotivationalspeaker, author,andalumnusMr.ArunGogna stressedtheneedtobekindsothatpeople closetousandaroundusgettoknowthat theyarelovedbyGod.
Gognaremindedtheaudience,"AsaChurch, asChristians,ourjobisnottojudge.Itisnot ourjobtochangethem;ItisGod’s.Itisourjob tolovethem.”HealsonotedthatChurch volunteerstendtobeexclusiveratherthan inclusive.
Thecallforsynodalityisachallengetoinvite peoplebacktochurch Thosewhohavelost theirway.TorisetothecallofPopeFrancisfor asynodalChurch,weneedtolistenwith understanding,lovewithoutjudgment,and journeytogether So,beingkindshouldbeour nature.
Thecentralthemeof“loving-kindness”inthis LentenRecollectiondrawsusbacktoGod, whorevealedHisloveforusbygivingHisonly Sontoredeemus.
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P h o t o s b y M s . K h a t e d e l R o s a r i o
WithadditionalinfofromSabManzanilla,JulianaJocson
ByMr.RyanGonzales
Incelebrationofthe500yearsof ChristianityinthePhilippinesandas theanswertothePope’sinvitationto fareforourcommonhomethrough hisencyclicalentitled“Laudatosi’,”FIN’s CommissiononSocialConcerns (CSCon),headedbyDonBosco MandaluyongRectorFr.RoniloJavines, hiscompanionsfromDBTC,the InstitutionalAffairsOffice,andBr Lito DelaCruz,handedout30setsofSolar HomeLightingSystemsto30families inSitioAgusandSitioTala,Brgy. Burgos,SanJose,Tarlac.
Foodpackswerealsogiventhe courtesyofDBTarlac’scommunity developmentprogram
CSC-SAVIOaimstoequip500families withrenewablesourcesofenergy.
Theyhavegiven300setsasofpress timeto300familiesalloverLuzon.
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P h o t o s b y M r . R y a n G o n z a l e s
DifferenteventsfortheupcomingDonBoscoAthleticAssociationInter-Personnelsports competitionoftheDonBoscoSchoolsinthePhilippineNorthProvincewillbehostedbyDBTarlac onApril1,2023(Saturday).
TheSalesianBrothersoftheSandorcommunity attendedaseminaronYouthAccompaniment facilitatedbyFr.JakeLopez,SDB,lastMarch17, 2023,inDonBoscoCanlubang.
Fr.Jakesharedsometechniquesforthe spiritualaccompanimentoftheyoungpeople.
Thesekindsofopportunitiesduringthespecific formationoftheSalesianBrothersaregivento equipthemallthemoreinaccompanyingthe young,especiallyintheaspectoftheirspiritual life.
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P h o t o c o u r t e s y o f D B T a r l a c
P h o t o s b y E A O S a l e s i a n B r o t h e r s F o r m a t i o n H o u s e
CourtesyofDBTarlacFBPage
CourtesyofEAOSalesianBrothersFormationHouse
ByMs.JocelBustamante
DidyouknowthatFr.KitHernandez,SDB,used tobeconnectedwiththeEnergyIndustry?As agraduateofChemicalEngineering,he landedajobwiththePhilippineNationalOil Company.However,hefoundhimselfrestless andseekingforsomethingelse.Andthecall topriesthoodatage40becamethepath thatwouldfillhisheartwithmuchjoy.
ItisquiteappropriatethatFr.Kit’s25th anniversaryofpriesthoodfellontheFeastof theAnnunciation.Inhishomily,Fr.Kitlinked thefiatofourBlessedMothertoour respectiveresponsestothewillofourFather. (Likehim),wewillfindjoyinlifebysaying “yes”tothetruevocationwearecalledfor
Itmightcometoourmindsaswellthewords ofSt Augustine,whosaid,"Youhavemadeus foryourself,OLord,andourheartisrestless untilitrestsinyou."
ThejourneyofFr Kitisgreatlyinfluencedby theSalesians,ashomegrownin Mandaluyong Backthen,hewasavolunteer lectorandwouldnaturallybeinconstant interactionwiththeSalesianswho encouragedhimtojointhem.
Throughtheyearsasapriest,noonecan disputethathisholywayoflifeisan inspirationtomany.Evenhisclassmatesfrom SanBedareceivehimeverysingleday,divine inspirations,whiletheparishionersofthe NationalShrineofMaryHelpofChristiansare lookingforwardtoFr.Kit’s“wordsofwisdom” (theever-famouswordoftheday)andhis simplewayssurelymakeusexperience Christinourmidst.
Fr Kitisstillunstoppable,despitehishealth challenges Theparishionersaregratefulfor hiscomingbacktotheShrineandfervently hopethatGod’sblessingswillcontinueto sustainhimandhismission.
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Page11 P h o t o s & G r a p h i c s c o u r t e s y o f D B T a r l a c MAR2023
ByMr.RonelOtial
Earlyinthemorningof25February2023, Emmaus–thegroupofyoungadultsofSan IldefonsoParishMakati(SIP)gatheredoutside theirparishchurchtotraveldownsouthtothe provinceofLucban,Quezon.Togetherwiththeir youthdirector,Rev Fr AlexGarces,SDB,the12 youngadultsvisitedtheKamayniHesusShrine fortheirLentenPilgrimage.
Armedwithlittlesleepandmanysnacks,the groupventuredupthestepsoftheshrine's StationsoftheCross,takingapicturewitheach station.Abitaftergoingthroughtheuneven stonestepsandintermittentrain,theyfounda quaintlittlegazebotocelebratetheHoly Eucharist,givingthanksforthechancetotravel andenjoy.
Aftersamplingtheprovince'spancithabhab, Lucbanlongganisa,andpinangatforlunch,the groupheadedtothenearbyTaytayFallsof Majayjay,Laguna Carefullygoingdownthe mossyslipperyrocks,theybravedthecoldfresh waterfromMountBanahaw.Someyoungadults alsowenttothemaincatchbasintocatcha closerglimpseoftheragingfallsandtheeven colderwaters
Afterthelongdayandheavytraffic,theyoung adultsreturnedhome Refreshedbytheflowing waters,theLord'sgrace,andfellowshipwith friends,theyexcitedlyrecountedthedaywhile alsoplanningforevenbiggeradventures.
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The Bible Study Group of SIP
ByMs MelenCaraballoOn25February2023,theBibleStudyGroup(BSG) ofSanIldefonsoParishMakati(SIP)helda graduationceremonyfor19NewEvangelizerswho receivedtheircertificatesfromFr.AlexGarces.
TheNewEvangelizershavecompletedtheFive BooksthatserveasguidesintheirBiblestudy facilitatedbyamixofthepreviousbatchof graduates.Therearecurrently87BSGgraduates.
Atpresent,BSGsareheldonweekdayswith separategroupsforadultsandchildren.The presenceoftheBSGintheparishisabighelp inthecontinuedformation,deepening,and strengtheningoftheBasicEcclesialCommunities (BECs)faith.ItalsoencouragestheBECstoliveout theparishslogan–Santo,Misyonero, TagapangalagangKalikasan!
TheBSGwasformedin2020throughthe MissionarySistersServantsoftheWord(HMSP) ledbySr.LeysisNavarro,HMSP,whoagreedwith Fr.AntonioMolavin,SIPParishPriest,toconducta BibleStudyprogramintheparish
HMSPiscurrentlythesecretariatand promoterofBibleStudyunderthe MinistryofBibleApostolateofthe ArchdioceseofManila.
Subsequently,BibleStudyGroupswere formed,facilitatedbyMs.JoySaldia andMs.JovelynPaciainFebruary2020. ItisagreatchallengefortheBECsyet aworthwhileundertakingforpersonal spiritualgrowthandthegreater missionofevangelizationthatfollows.
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ByMs.MyrnaTolentino
AJobEvaluationProgramSeminar-Workshop wasfacilitatedbyFr.EdwinL.UlandaySDBdue totheexpressedneedofallsettingstoreevaluatetheSalaryStructureafterthe pandemicsituation.
TheSalaryStructurereliesontheJobLevels, whichshouldhavebeendiligentlyevaluated accordingtothedegreeofresponsibilities. ItisinadherencetotheCompensationand BenefitsProgrampolicyof“equalworkfor equalpay.”
Thisseminar-workshopwasattendedbythe Economers,Accountants,andHuman RelationsOfficerswhoshouldhaveacommon understandingofhowsalaryadministration works Therearecertainprinciplesand procedurestoadheretoandnotjustgrantan across-the-boardincrease
Theparticipantsweregratefulenoughforthis enlighteninglearningexperiencethatshall guidethemintheirjobre-evaluation undertakingbeforetheirproposedsalary adjustmentsofthelaymissionpartners (employees)
AftertheHolyRosaryonthe16thofMarch, theinspiringgoodnighttalkwasgivenby theincomingProvincialEconomer,Fr.Eugenio InocentesIII,SDB
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P h o t o b y J a y r u b V i l l a r u z
HavingbeeninthePhilipinesforalmostayear, wecansaythatourexperiencehereinthe Philippinesisindeedablessingandisvery wonderful,eventhoughtheadjustments arenotthateasydealingwithotherpeople usinganotherlanguage,encounteringother foodandculture,andbeingawayfromthe familyandothers.
However,astimepassed,weslowlygotused totheseadjustments.Welearnedmany meaningfullessonsandmanythingsthatwe didn’texpecttofindinourlives.
Themainreasonwecameheretothe PhilippinesistolearnEnglish;however,we learnedmorethanthat.Asstudents,ourskills Englishhasimprovedaswehadmany meaningfulexercisesandactivitiesinclass.
AsThaiaspirants,beingformedinthis formationhouse,welearnedtobegoodleaders oftheyoungandfortheyoungandtobemore generousandlovingtoourco-aspirants
Weexperiencedmanyfunandremarkable eventshere,suchastheaccademia,DonBosco feastdaycelebration,formationindifferentDon Boscosettings,Salesianprofessionand ordination,Christmascaroling,MisaDeGallo, vacation,Lent,andothertravels!
Weevenexperiencedcelebratingourbirthday hereinthePhilippines!Ourstayheremadeus moreopenandgaveusachangedmindsetto bebetterpersons.
Jed,Keng,Chat,andIthanktheFilipino aspirantsintheformationhousewhomwe stayedwithforalmostayearsincethey acceptedusandmadeusfeelliketheirfamily members.
Also,wewouldliketothankallourformators hereinthePre-NovitiateCommunity,the SalesiansinthePhilippineNorthProvince,our teachers,andmanyotherpeoplewemet Withoutthesepeople,wewon’tbethebetter versionofourselvestoday.Wehavelovedthis country,itspeople,food,lifestyle,liturgy,and strongfaith.
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C o n t r i b u t e d p h o t o s
Theauthor(2ndtotheleft)withhisfellowThaiaspirants.
ThaiProvincialFr ThepharatPitisant(3rdfromtheleft) joinshisseminaryformatorsinthisphotoop.
LentenSeasonisajourneywithJesus.Itis whenwejourneywithHimtoprepareforHis celebrationofthePaschalMystery Thatwas preciselywhathappenedwhenthe OratoriansofSt.JohnBoscoParish-Sta. Rosa,throughtheassistanceoftheSalesian Cooperators,organizedalentenpilgrimage tosevennearbychurcheslastMarch18, 2023 TheLentenPilgrimageallowedthese youngpeopletodoself-penanceand moralcontritionwhilecontemplatingthe PaschalMysteryofJesus Thisactivitywas participatedbyaround60youngpeople fromfourchapelsoftheparish.
TheSt.BenedictParishChurch-Westgrove, DiocesanShrineofMaryHelpofChristiansCanlubang,MaryHelpofChristians College-Canlubang,St.JosephtheWorker Parish-Canlubang,DiocesanShrineand ParishofSt.Isidore-Biñan,Blessed SacramentParish-SouthCityHomes,Biñan andtheSto.NiñodeCebuParishSouthwoodswerethechurchestheyvisited.
Theday'sactivityformallystartedwitha7:15am pilgrimageMassattheparish.Afterward,twoof the14prayersthatcontemplatethe14Stations oftheCrosswererecitedineachchurch To conclude,Rev.Fr.RemoBati,SDB,Parochial Vicarandinchargeoftheoratory,leftan insightfulmessagethatchallengedtheyoung peopletocarrythelessonsfromthepilgrimage andsharethemwiththeirfamiliesandother youngpeople
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S J B P a r i s h S t a R o s a c o n t i r b u t e d p h o t o s
ByCl.JogarVillanueva,SDB
Thequinquenniumbrothersandfathershad theirthirdandlastformativeencounterin BaguioandSagadafromMarch20to24.
CommissiononSocialCommunication
DelegateFr.DonnieDuchinDuyawasa resourceintacklingtheevangelizationand youthministry,guidelines,andformative aspectsofsocialmedia.
Thesessionsallowedtheparticipantstoshare andlearnfromeachother'sexperiences,given thattheycomefromvariouscontexts. They alsorecognizetheneedtobedeliberateabout usingsocialmediaintheministry.
MovingtoSagadafromBaguio,theparticipants hadthechancetoreconnectwiththeirfoster families,whowelcomedthemfiveyearsago whentheyhadtheirimmersionintheplace.
Theparticipantsthanktheirrespective communitiesforallowingthemtohavethis much-awaitedencounter.Theirgratitudealso goestoFr.Eluforarrangingthelogistics, finances,andallthesmalldetailswithitto makethishappen.
Thesessionsallowedtheparticipantstoshare andlearnfromeachother'sexperiences,given thattheycomefromvariouscontexts. They alsorecognizetheneedtobedeliberateabout usingsocialmediaintheministry.
MovingtoSagadafromBaguio,theparticipants hadthechancetoreconnectwiththeirfoster families,whowelcomedthemfiveyearsago whentheyhadtheirimmersionintheplace.
Thequinquenniumformationisofferedto youngSalesianBrothersandPriestsintheirfirst fiveyearsofPerpetualProfessionand Ordination,respectively
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Our Lenten Penance
ByCSComStaff
TheLentenseasonisasacredandsolemn timeforChristiansallaroundtheworld, markedbypenance,sacrifice,and almsgiving Asthefaithfulprepareforthe celebrationofEaster,Salesianstoochoose toobservethistimethroughfasting,prayer, andsharing.IntheFIN,lentenpenancesare observedtohelpdeepenthefaithand religiouslifeofthecommunityandto expresssolidaritywiththepoor.
TheLentenpenancesobservedbythe SalesianHousesofthePhilippineNorth ProvinceserveasareminderofDonBosco's teachingsonpenance.AccordingtoDon Bosco,penanceshouldnotbeviewedasa formofpunishmentbutratherasan expressionoflovetowardsGod.Hebelieved thatpenancesshouldbeundertaken joyfully,withaspiritofgratitudeandnot merelyoutofasenseofdutyorobligation
PrayerisanessentialpenancethatSalesian HousesobserveduringLent.Manycommit todailycommunityEucharisticAdoration andweeklycommunitycomplineprayer Notably,somecommunitiesalsopractice weeklypersonalrecollectiontoreflecton theirrelationshipwithGodanddeepentheir faith
Fastingisanotherpopularformofsacrifice duringLent.Thisyear,someSalesianHouses committoeatingonlyoneviandpermealand nopurchaseofsnacks,whilegivingupsoft drinks,desserts,junkfood,beers,wines,and ice-cream.Themoneysavedfromthese sacrificesisgiventothepoor,expressing solidarityandsupportforthoseinneed.
Inadditiontofasting,someSalesianHouses alsocommittouniquesacrifices,suchasnoair conditioninginthechapelandspringcleaning. Othercommunitieswentspecificbychoosing tobuycheapertypesoffish,withthesavings giventocharity.
Almsgivingcanbeanexpressionoffruitofthe lentenpenancesdone.Itisamusingthata SalesianHouseshowtheircommitmentto charitybypayingoffthedebtsoftheirpoorer studentsfromcommunitysavings
Throughthesepenances,theSalesianHouses aimtopreparethemselvesforthecelebration ofEasterandtogrowclosertoGod.TheLenten seasonprovidesanopportunityforevery Salesiantodeepentheirfaith,reflectontheir relationshipwithGod,anddemonstrate solidaritywiththepoor.Moreso,itreminds themoftheonlyreasonfortheirvocation:Jesus Christ,noless.
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G r a p h i c s : C a t h o l i c N e w m a n C e n t e r
Wereachedouttotherectorsofourhouses.Ofthe25settings,wereceivedaresponse fromsixrectors.Wearesharingwithyousomeinsightsfromthedatawegathered.
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