BeforetheimageofSt.JohnBosco, Fr.VesterCasaclang,SDBchallengesthe youngpeopleofDonBoscoTondoto"help DonBoscosavelivesonesoulatatime.”
Hedeliveredthismessageduringthewreath layingatDonBoscoParkon29January.
OnthecoldmorningofJanuary6,2023,the youthvolunteersofVocToksetoutfortheir spiritualretreat.
Forthreedays,theystayedimmersedinthe calmnessandblissfulsilenceoftheSalesian HouseinBaguioCity.
AnchoredontheverseoftheHealingofthe BlindMan,Luke18:35-43,togetherthey venturedondisconnecting,reconnecting, andseeingGodintheirjourneyasateam
Throughtheseriesofactivitiespreparedby theirretreatfacilitator,PaoloRomero,the24 participantswereabletobuildanopen spacewherecamaraderie,appreciation, andcommunionwerefostered.
Toconclude,afestivalnighttookplacewhere theyoungpeopledancedandsangtheir heartsout,sharingthenighttogetherasone ministryandafamily.
The
inFINity isamonthlypublicationproducedbythe
CommissiononSocialCommunicationofthePhilippines-NorthProvince(FIN).Itcomesouteverylastdayofthe monthasanhonortoSt.JohnBosco,thetitularpatronof theFINProvince.
Tocontribute,pleasesendusanemailviacscom@onebosco.org.
TheSalesianBrothersofthe FINProvincehadtheirfirst gatheringfortheFormation Year2022-2023attheDon BoscoAspirantateand PrenovitiateFormation HouseinCanlubang, CalambaCitywiththe theme"PastoralCareforthe SalesianBrother."Itwasheld on21January2023.
Br.RonnelTiugavethetalk tothebrothers,whichwasa re-echoingofthetalkgiven byBro.BoscoHai,in-charge oftheEAOBrothers.
Afterthetalk,therewasa briefdiscussionaboutthe jointFIN-FISSalesian BrothersGatheringinApril
Additionalreportprovided
Caspellan,thesenior Brotherswhowerepresent, sharedtheirexperiences andinsightonhowtheysaw theaccompanimentofthe SalesianBrothers.
Onhispart,Br.RojMallari, theyoungestoftheSalesian Brothers,answeredwhyhe choseandwhatinspired himtobeaSalesianBrother,
Weareinvitingyoung peopletoanONLINE VocationDiscernment Sessiononeverylast Fridayofthemonth!
Makitambay, makipagkwentuhan, punong-puno ngusapang makabuluhanwith theSalesians!
Youngpeopleage 15-35,maleorfemale, whoareinterested in,ordiscerningpriestly andreligiouslifeare welcome tojoin!
Sendusamessage attheSalesianVocation -FINFacebookpage fortheZoomMeeting details!
Theongoingformationofthequinquennial priestandbrotherswasheldlastJanuary 5-7,2023atDonBoscoTechnicalCollege inMandaluyong.
ItwasattendedbySalesianbrothersand priestswhoareintheirfirstfiveyearsof perpetualprofessionandordination.Itwas organizedbytheformationcommissionof theprovinceasameansofsupportand continuousgrowthanddevelopmentof theyoungerconfreres.Thetopicforthe formativeencounterwastheBasicsof SchoolLeadership.
January5,2023-SchoolLeadershipina CatholicSchoolfromaperspectiveofan expertgivenbyDr.ErnestGriofromUA&P
January6,2023-SchoolLeadershipfroma perspectiveofaLayPrincipalgivenbyMr AlfredLozantafromDBTIMakati-Senior HighSchoolDepartment
January7,2023-SchoolLeadershipfroma perspectiveofaSalesiangivenbyBro CarmeloMartinez,SDBwhoisin-chargeof BasicEducationoftheDonBosco EducationalCenters
Aspartofthisformativeprogram;Ialways lookforwardtothesegatheringsmainlyto bewithmybrothersintheapostolate.Itis alwaysanavenueforustocatchupwith eachother,tosharestoriesaboutour experiencesofwork,joys,anddifficulties. Likewise,theseformativegatherings becomelikeatimeofffromourusualdaily dealingsandroutines.Itislikeatimeoff fromthedailygrindbutnotjusttotakea dayoffbuttolookandlearnhowtobetter ourworkintheapostolate.
Thesemeetingswillalwayshavelaughter,sharing,andprayerwithit;these dayscannotbewithoutlaughterwhenwe reminisceaboutourtimestogetherinthe formationhouses.Thesedayswerealso filledwithsharingofourpersonaljourneys, newfoundfriendships,newlearnings,and interests Lastly,thesedayslikewisearea timeofprayingtogetherandbreaking breadphysicallybesideeachother.
WearethankfultotheProvinceforthese organizedinteractionsandinterventions forus.Wearealsogratefultothe communityofDBTCforthewarmwelcome, itwasindeedahomeforusandforevery Salesian.
Manila,Philippines TheSalesianFamilyMakati DistrictoftheNorthProvinceheadedbyFr. FavieFaldasorganizedaRecollectionto presenttheStrennaoftheRectorMajortothe SalesianFamily MakatiDistrict.
The2023StrennaoftheRectorMajoris“Asthe Yeastintoday’shumanfamily–Thelay dimensionintheFamilyofDonBosco”
TherecollectionwasheldonJanuary14,2023, attheBoscoHallofDonBoscoTechnical Institute.
Registeredweresome 62laymissionpartners, whichcomprisesSanIldefonsoParishand SaintJohnBoscomembersoftheADMAand AssociationofLayCooperatorsandPast Pupils.Alsopresentweretherepresentativesof ADMAfromtheMary,ComforteroftheAfflicted Parish,Maricaban,PasayCity.
TheinvitedSpeaker,Fr.DonnieDuchinDuya, expoundedontheStrennaoftheRectorMajor for2023.
Afterthetalk,abriefadorationofthe BlessedSacramentfollowed,and simultaneously,theSDBsmade themselvesavailablefortheSacrament ofPenance.
AconcelebratedMasswiththeSDBsof theProvincialHousewasthelastactivity oftheRecollection
AspartoftheFellowship,asumptuous lunchwassharedintheMigrantsHallof DBTIcampus.
Adynamicshortgamewasfacilitated byFr BernardNolasco,SDBofwhichthe prizeswereabundantlysharedbythe WordandLifePublicationsandDon BoscoPress,tothedelightofall.
Andnowthechallengetobe“Yeast” begins,totheyoungandoldalike.
SixteengroupsoftheSalesianFamily(SF)at theRegionallevelgatheredtocelebratethe 41stSalesianFamilySpiritualityDays(SFSD)EastAsiaOceaniafromJanuary13to142023
Theparticipantswereledtoadeeper understandingofthisyear’sStrennabythe RectorMajor–“AstheYeastintoday’sHuman Family,”throughaseriesofpre-recorded videospreparedbythedifferentgroupsofthe SalesianFamily Thisyear’sstrennaisan invitationtorediscoverthelaydimension properoftheSalesianFamily
Theanimationoftheeventwasentrustedto theVocationteamofthePhilippineNorth provinceandwaslive-streamedthrough YouTubewhichwastranslatedinto8 languagestocatertothedifferentcountries present
Aroundtablediscussion,answeringthe question‘Howtobecometrueleaven?’and ‘Howtobecomeyeastwiththeyoung?’was participatedbythemembersoftheSFfrom theprovincesofAustralia,Thailand,China, Japan,Korea,Vietnam,andPapuaNewGuinea
TheGoodnighttalkofBr.ObetNarvaez becameoneofthehighlightsofthefirstdayof theSFSD,ashenarratesaboutthemiraculous healingofhisbrother,throughtheintercession ofSaintBrotherZatti.
A‘Mixedgroupsharing’followedthetwo-hour sessionofDay1andDay2wherethe participantswereabletodiscusstheirstirrings andinsights,usingZoom’sbreakoutrooms.
Truly,withallthepresentationsandtestimonies heardfromthemembersoftheSalesian Familyaroundtheworld,allgratitudeand admirationfilltheair;thankingtheLordforthe beautifulgiftofbelongingtothisbeautifuland ever-growingfamily.
Ms.LeaDasigan
OnJanuary22,2023,thecelebrationofthe “SundayoftheWordofGod,”PopeFrancis conferredtheministriesoflectorand catechiston10laymenandwomencoming fromdifferentpartsoftheworld.
ThecelebrationtookplaceinSt.Peter’s Basilica,wheretheHolyFatherinstallednew catechistscomingfromItaly,Congo,Mexico, theUnitedKingdom,andthePhilippines.
TwocatechistsfromtheCatechetical FoundationoftheArchdioceseofManila (CFAM)weresentasrepresentativestothis veryspecialoccasion.OneofthemisMs. NormaRamos,acatechistfromSt.John BoscoParish-Tondo,andavolunteerservant ofTheLord’sFlockCatholicCharismatic Community.Shehasbeenaheadcatechist atCFAMsince2009.
Mr.LeonAsuncionistheothercatechistsent toRomeforthesaidevent. Mr.Asuncionhas beenpartofCFAMsince1992,andservedasa catechistuntil2000 HealsoservesasCFAM’s catecheticalcoordinatorsince2019.Heand hiswife,Juliefer,havebeenmembersofthe CouplesforChristsince2008.
In2021,PopeFrancisinstitutedtheministry ofcatechistthroughhisApostolicLetter “AntiquumMinisterium”Heaffirmedthat “recognitionshouldbegiventothoselaymen andwomenwhofeelcalledbyvirtueoftheir baptismtocooperateintheworkof catechesis.”
Today,thepresenceofourlaycatechists ismoreurgentlyneededinresponsetothe “increasingawarenessoftheneedfor evangelization”inourworld.
TheSalesianFamilyinthePhilippinesisvery muchhappyandproudofMs NormaRamos whohasbeensentasoneofthe representativestoreceivethisconferraltothe ministryofcatechistfromPopeFrancis.
Weareoneinprayingthatthisexperiencewill affirmallthemorethesignificantroleoflay catechistsinformingthefaithofouryoung people.Welookforwardtobecomingallthe moreblessedbyhercontinuingpresenceand activeserviceintheChurchasalay catechist,leadingtoinspiremorepeople tolivetheirbaptismalcallbycommitting toserveinthecatecheticalministry.
About80youthfromthedifferent organizationsinNSMHPhadawonderful movietreatfromtheHolyNameSocietyMHCP. ThelaunchofYOUTHFLIXisaFREE screeningofquality-producedfilmsto developspiritual,moral,social,andcultural valuesinouryouth Itisamonthlyevent slatedevery3rdSaturdayofthemonth.
Likewise,organizerstakethisopportunityto introduceandpromotethedevotiontothe HolyNameofJesus.Hopefully,membership alsogrowsforthe Jr.HolyNameSocietyMHCP
HolyNameSociety(HNS)-MHCPadaptedthe LegionofMary's"BookBarrows"tobe instrumentsofevangelization.
Theconceptistogiveawaypreviouslyowned, preferablyreligiousbooks.Thefreebooksare availableeverysecondSundayofeachmonth which,tocoincidewiththeHNS'smonthly meetings.Thisendeavorrunsuntilthebook inventoryisdepleted.
Anofferofafreebookmarkgoesalongwithit, bearingthemonogramandshortPrayertothe HolyNameofJesus
Parishionersoutsideourorganizationsare encouragedtohelpcontributebooksthatwill feedthesoul.
AnumberofladiesfromourMarian Commissionrecentlywentonpilgrimage, visitingdifferentVirgenCoronadastoinvite themtoparticipateintheplannedexhibit atourMarianCenterinMayofthisyear. Likewise,theladiespromotedthedevotion toMaryHelpofChristians.
Anexchangeofsouvenirstranspired betweenthehostsandourpromotersof devotiontoMaryHelpofChristians.
AccordingtoFr.JessGragacin,ParishPriest ofNuestaSenoradelaMercedinTarlac, thePontificalCoronationoftheirimage, VirgendelaMerced,willbeheldonFebruary 24.LikeMaryHelpofChristians,theVirhen delaMercedparticipatedintheGrand MarianProcessioninIntramuros,Manila, lastDecember2022.
Aninvitationwaslikewiseextendedtothe MarianexhibitofLaPuricimaConception inSantaMariaBulacanonJanuary28.
AlsovisitedwereMaterDolorosainCapiz, Tarlac;VirgendelosRemediosinSanFernando Pampanga;MinorBasilicaoftheImmaculate ConceptioninMalolosBulacan.
Thepilgrimageisayear-roundprogramofour MarianCommission.
ThroughtheeffortsofourMarianCommission, wecanlookforwardtoawonderfulMarian exhibitand,hopefully,astrongerdevotionto MaryHelpofChristiansindifferentpartsofthe Philippines
Fr.AntonioMolavin,SDB
Theprocessstartedfouryearsagowhen ourparishcameupwithaslogan:“Taga SanIldefonso:Santo,Misyonero,TagapangalagangKalikasan Meaning: “ParishionersoftheParishofSanIldefonso strivetobeSaints,Missionaries,and CaretakersofNature.”
Yetinthebeginning,Ireallydidnotknow howtoputitintoreality.
Earlylastyear,ourparishwaschosenbythe EcologicalMinistryofourdiocesetobethe firstparishinthewholeofthePhilippinesto partnerwithPlasticBank.Itwasan answeredprayer.
Togetherwewereabletorecoverallsortsof plasticforrecycling.WeinvolvedtheBasic EcclesialCommunitieswhomadeplastic recyclingtheirmainproject,especially duringtheCovid-19pandemic.
Weencouragedeverybodytogatherall sortsofplasticsfromplasticbags, containers,andevensachetsandofcourse plasticbottles.
Weinstructedthemtowashtheplastics withthesoapwater,theyusetowash theirclothesandthenrinsethemwiththe waterwhichwasusedtorinsetheirclothes
Wehavealsointegratedthisprograminto ourCommunityPantrywhereweask ourbeneficiariestobringcleanplasticin exchangeforthegoodstheyreceive.
Inthisway,weareabletoinstructallthe familiessincewewanteverybodytohavea shareinthiscommunitypantry.
Wearealsoable toworkwiththe localgovernment unitswhohelpin collectingthe plasticsfrom eachhousehold. Wealsoaskour youthwho frequentourdaily andfestive
oratoriestobringwhateverplasticstheyhave athome,insteadofthrowingthemanywhere eveninthetrashcan.
Throughallthese,onegoesthroughan ecologicalconversionwhichIpersonally experienced Collectingtheplasticsinour kitchenhasbecomeahabit.Ihavelearnedto becreativeinsomanyways:tosaveelectricity andwater;notusingthemicrowave,toaster, airconditioner,oreventheelevator,unless necessary
Evenineatingoutorinmeetings, Iwouldaskmyfriendstocollectthe plasticswhichtheyuseandwashthem andgivethemtomesoIcanbringthem homeforrecycling.
Inthisway“SavingMotherEarth”has becomeafrequenttopicofconversation amongfriends,acquaintances,or whereverIgo. Throughit,Ispreadthe messageofPopeFrancisinhisletter “LaudatoSi.”
Thepropermanagementofplasticcan beasourceofecologicalconversionfor everybody:fromgrandparentstograndchildren,fromtherichesttothepoorest, andfromtheeducatedtotheout-ofschoolyouth
Startingwiththesimpleactofsaving MotherEarth,onecanunderstandthe urgentpleaofPopeFranciswhichisacall topersonalconversion.
NatureisGod’sgifttous.Howwecarefor it,isourgifttoGod
Fr.AbnerSantos,SDB
DonBoscoTrainingCenterofNaga,Inc isnow poweredbySolarEnergy.
FromJanuary13to16,2023,10-kilowatt-hourgrid tiesolarpanelswereinstalledattheDonBosco TrainingCenterinNagatoenergizeitsoperation andtechnicaltraining Meanwhile,a5kWhhybrid setupwasaswellinstalledinitsParish OurLady ofMountCarmel
Asignificantamountofthetrainingcostgoesto electricity,withashifttosolarenergy,financial returns,andlowermonthlyutilitybillswillbeits majoradvantages.
Whileitisalsothetrainingcenter’sgoaltocut downenergyconsumptionandcosts,itisan effortofDonBosco-Nagatograduallybecome aGREENTVETinstitution.
DonBosco-Nagarecognizesenvironmental sustainabilityinitsmoveofshiftingtorenewable energy.Thisdevelopmenthasbeenpossible becauseofthegenerosityofabenefactorofthe trainingcenter.
TheaspirantsofDonBoscoAspirantate andPrenovitiateFormationHousein Canlubang,Laguna,hadtheirannual spiritualretreatinSanDamianoCenter ofSpirituality,Tagaytay,Cavite.
Thefour-dayretreatwasfacilitatedby Fr DonnieDuchinDuya Hewasalso accompaniedbyFr.JakeAdrianLopez, Fr.ElmerSicat,andBr.DandrewMatias, therector,catechist,andbrother assistantoftheformationhouse, respectively.
Thethemeoftheretreatwas“Pathways: EncounteringGodthroughPrayer.”Itwas heldfromJanuary10to13.
Duringtheretreat,theaspirantswere givenanabundanceofopportunitiesto quietlyreflectandencountertheLord throughmeditationandprayersessions OneoftheexercisesconductedbyFr. Donniewasmakingtheformands envisionintheirmindsaclearpictureof God,andhavethemrecordthatimage andanyaccompanyingdialogueintheir
Thesurrealbeautyofnatureintheretreat housewastrulyaconcreteexpressionofGod’s loveandcreativity,especiallynowinahighly urbanizedandartificialworld.
This,therefore,becametheperfect environmentforthecommunitytorelaxand unwindwhilealsocontinuingtheirspiritual journeytoChrist.
Inconclusion,thespiritualretreatofthe aspirantswasatrueavenueforthemto encountertheLordinHiscreationandinthe silenceoftheirhearts.Withthedailyreception oftheBlessedSacramentintheHolyEucharist andadailyHolyHour,theformandswerereally abletorelishGod’spresenceatthealtar.
Andmostofall,withthehealingpowerofthe SacramentofReconciliation,theaspirants madeamendswithGodandrenewedtheir relationshipwithJesus,inthespiritofloveand goodworks.
Withalloftheirlearningsandnewinsightson prayer,theyarenowlivingouttheGospelofthe LordandperseveringintheirSalesianLife:Hard, Happy,Holy!
Fr.ArnoldSanico,SDB
AsItrudgeontheroadbeingSalesian, Istumble,Ifumble
AndsometimesIfall.
Andhumbled,Istruggle–
AndstruggleImust
Andtrust!
Forfaithfulnessis
GiftbytheFather’sgrace, Madesureandpure
BytheMother’slove
Untilwiththeyoung
Afterbattlespast, IreachtheSalesianGarden
Atlast.
Asp.NicoloCervantes
Asp.Nicocomposedthisverseduring theirannualretreatheldearlierthis month.
Ayokonangmag-games,nakakapagodkaya
Ayokonangmag-chores,walangkatapusanna
Ayokonanggumisingnangmaaga,nakakatamadkaya
Ayokonangmag-hugasngpinggan,taposhindimopakinainan
Ayokonangsumunodsaformators,naminsanmalabokausap
Ayokonangmagdasal,nangpagkahaba-haba
Ayokonangpumunta,samadilimnabahagingakingisipan
Ayokonangumasa,sakinabukasangwalangkasiguraduhan
Ayokonangkumausap,kapagsadasaltila’yhindinapapakinggan
Pero,higitsalahat,angpinaka-ayokosalahat:
Ayokopa
Ayokopangpumiglas.
Ayokopangmawalasapilingngakingtagapagligtas
Ayokopangmawalasakanlugnangwalangwakas
Ayokongangisipinnahindikonaibigayanglahat
Ayokongangisangaraw,pagsisihankoanglahat
Ayokongangtumigilhanggangkinakayakopa
Ayokonganghumintohabangnagmamahalpasakanya
Fr SalvatorePutzu,SDBwasdiagnosedwith cancerinSeptember2022,anditwas alreadyinanadvancedstage.Ashe receivedhisLifetimeAchievementAward bestowedonhimbytheAsianCatholic CommunicationsInc (ACCI)duringthe16th CardinalSinCatholicBookAwardson September15,2022,hedidn'tknowthathe wasbeingpreparedfortheeternalreward. Wepraythatheisreceivingitnow.
Fr.SalwasbornonOctober12,1938,in Sardinia,Italy Hemadehisfirstprofession asaSalesianofDonBoscoonOctober27, 1963,andwasordainedaprieston September7,1974.
Helivedaveryfruitfulandgrace-filledlife asatruesonofDonBosco,thepatronsaint ofpublishersandtheCatholicpress
Hewillalwaysberememberedassomeone whohaschampionedthefieldof CatechesisandNewEvangelization;asa Salesianpriestwhoalwayshaveagentle andcaringheartforthepoorandthemost inneed;andasagreatdevoteeofthe SacredHeartofJesusasseeninmostofhis writings
Fr.Salhasspentthelast40yearsofhis missionarylifeinthePhilippinesinthefield ofCatechesis.In1989,hefoundedtheWord AndLifePublications(WLP)intheserviceof CatechesisandNewEvangelization.
Hepioneeredthenowverypopular“Study Edition”ofofficialChurchdocumentslike thePapalEncyclicals,Apostolic Exhortations,theDirectoryforCatechesis, etc
Underhisguidanceaseditor-in-chief,WLP receivedthePublisheroftheYearAward onSeptember11,1995.WLPalsoreceived twoCatholicMassMediaHallofFame Awardsforitsflagshipyouthmagazine, theWord&LifeMagazine(CMMAHallof FameawardeeforBestYouth-oriented Magazine).
WordandLifePublicationsisnowinits33rd year
HeservedasExecutiveSecretaryofthe EpiscopalCommissiononCatechesisand CatholicEducation(ECCCE)foralmosttwo decades(1993-2001).
DuringhisstintatECCCE,hewasactivein publishingDOCETE,aquarterlycatechetical review Hewasthebrainbehindthe1990 NationalCatecheticalYearinthe Philippines.
Hehascontributedmuchtothesuccess ofthemanycatecheticalconventionsand catecheticalforainthecountrywhile servingatECCCE.
Hehasbeenanexemplaryinstrumentinthe productionoftheNationalCatechetical DirectoryofthePhilippines(NCDP)andthe widerexpansionandcirculationofthe CatechismoftheCatholicChurch(CCC),and theCatechismfortheFilipinoCatholics(CFC)
HehasbeenrecognizedbyseveralawardgivingbodiesliketheCatholicAuthorsAwards bytheAsianCatholicPublishers,Inc.,The CatholicMassMediaAward,asanoutstanding CatholicPublisherforhiscontinuing contributiontothePropagationoftheChristian Faiththroughtheprintmediaandradiomedia.
LastSeptember15,2022,AsianCatholic CommunicationsInc.(ACCI)awardedFr.Sal withtheLifetimeAchievementAwardduring the16thCardinalSinCatholicBookAwards.
ThisLifetimeAchievementAwardisgiven toaCatholicwriterwhoselifeworkrepresents acontinuingcontributiontothepropagation oftheChristianFaiththroughtheprintmedia, inrecognitionoftheexemplaryCatholiclife andapostoliczealasreflectedintheChristian valuesandidealscontainedinhis/herwritings.
