Friendship with Jesus: The Heart of the Aspirants’ Spirituality
— Fr. Jake Lopez SDB, page 14
Action in the Face of Global Warming
— H.E. Bishop Broderick Pabillo DD, page 20
A New Hidden Eucharistic Ministry
— Fr. Keith J. Amodia SDB, page 24
A Life of Fulfillment:
— Sr. Virginia C. Limbauan, FMA, page 28
Reflections
Reflections on Aging — Fr. Rene Lagaya SDB, page 10
Passionate about Christ, Dedicated to Young People
— Fr. Remo Bati, SDB, page 34
News
Salesian Youth Synod: an experience with the voice of all young people, page 42
ASC-FIN Convention 2024: Exploring Spirituality in the Age of Artificial Intelligence, — Ms. Susan Liwanag, page 52
VDB Hold Week of Spirituality in Cebu, page 54
Celebrating Commitment: The Rite of Promise for New Damas Salesianas in the Philippines — DS Gene Hilado, page 56
Celebrating the Salesian Brothers: Highlights from the 8th EAO Congress Br. John Raymond Montejo SDB, page 60
SDB First Religious Profession , page 64
Obituary To Meet Her Beloved Spouse + Sr. Geraldine Rubia, FMA page 68
This issue of St. John Bosco Today carries the theme of the 29th General Chapter of the Salesians of Don Bosco: “Passionate about Jesus Christ, Dedicated to Young People.”
As we are reminded of the importance of returning to the heart of our Christ-centered Salesian consecrated identity, the pages of this issue illustrate how our journey has begun.
Fr. Joel Camaya’s reflection on the theme from a biblical perspective invites us to revisit St. Paul’s message to Timothy: “Rekindle the flame!” This call extends not only to the Salesians of Don Bosco but to all members of the Salesian Family. It reminds us that our mission begins with a deep, personal connection to Christ. Without this passion, our work risks becoming routine rather than a true witness of God’s love in the world.
Fr. Rene Lagaya’s reflection on aging highlights the importance of a personal life plan. His words urge us to plan our lives with intention and purpose, particularly as we age. His parting message resonates deeply: “But when you reach old age, may you bask in the splendor of a reconciled, renounced, and wise love that will bring ego-integrity to your lives.” This is not just a wish but a profound call to live with the integrity that comes from a life rooted in love and wisdom.
In his contribution, Fr. Jake Lopez emphasizes the importance of forming a life of interiority within each aspirant. He observes that many challenges in ministry, especially during ongoing formation, stem from issues in human formation rather than a lack of skills. When formation focuses solely on external conformity, there is a risk that the human aspect of the person is not fully integrated into their spiritual life. True formation must therefore cultivate a deep friendship with Jesus that shapes the whole person.
Bishop Broderick Pabillo of the Apostolic Vicariate of Taytay brings this passion for Jesus into the realm of environmental stewardship, highlighting the concrete actions being taken in Taytay, Palawan to combat global warming. His message is a powerful reminder that our love for Christ must also manifest in our care for creation. His initiatives invite us to see our commitment to the environment as a vital expression of our faith.
Fr. Keith Amodia reflects on how the passion for Jesus has found new expression in the digital age through the creative ministry of streaming Masses online. This hidden yet crucial service ensures that the Eucharist remains accessible to many, particularly in times of crisis. It is a testament to how our dedication to the Eucharist can find new and innovative forms of expression.
Finally, Fr. Remo Bati offers a compelling vision of what it means to be passionate about Jesus. His reflection challenges us to live out Christ’s teachings with a deep love for Him and to extend this passion to the youth. Our dedication to guiding and supporting young people in their faith journey is not just a duty but a vital expression of our love for Christ.
As we reflect on these insights, may we all be inspired to rekindle our flame, deepen our passion for Christ, and renew our dedication to the mission entrusted to us. Let us continue to live out our Salesian vocation with enthusiasm, creativity, and a heart full of love for Jesus and for the young people He has entrusted to our care. •
BETWEEN ADMIRATION AND PAIN
Diary of a Happy and Blessed Missionary Day
I cordially greet all Don Bosco’s friends who come to the Salesian Bulletin with interest. This is the instrument of communication that Don Bosco loved so much and that he himself founded so he could inform the world about what was happening in the Salesian houses and the good that was being done in them.
Today, I greet you for the last time from this page of the Salesian Bulletin. As of August 16, the day we commemorate Don Bosco’s birth (August 16, 1815), my service as Rector Major of the Salesians of Don Bosco ends. There’s always a reason to give thanks, always. Thank you! Thank you—to God, above all, to the Congregation and Salesian Family, to so many dear people, and so many friends of Don Bosco’s charism, many of them benefactors.
I also want my greeting to transmit and connect with something I experienced recently. Therein lies the title of this greeting: “Between Admiration and Pain!”, because I’m going to refer to the joy that filled my heart in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, specifically in the region of Goma, nowadays beaten by and immersed in warfare, and the joy and testimony that I received yesterday. I’ll explain.
Last May, I visited the Palabek refugee camp in Uganda. Fortunately, thanks to Salesian work and other help over the years, it has ceased to be a Sudanese refugee camp and has become a place where tens of thousands of people have settled and found new lives.
Crossing through Rwanda, I arrived at the Congo border in the region of Goma. It’s a beautiful land, beautiful and rich—which is the very reason it’s coveted in such a way that weapons “speak.” Sadly, due to armed conflicts in that region, there are more than a million displaced people who’ve had to leave their homes and their
land. We Salesians also had to leave our presence of Sha-Shah because it was occupied militarily.
These million displaced persons have come to Goma. In one of its neighborhoods, Gangi, there’s the Salesian presence named “Don Bosco.” My joy was immense when I saw the good that was done there. Hundreds of boys and girls have their homes there. Several dozen teenagers have been brought off the streets and live in Don Bosco’s house. Right, there is the home for 82 babies—even newborns—and small children who’ve lost their parents or have been “abandoned” because the adults have no way to take care of their own children due to the war.
There, in that other Valdocco, one of the many Valdoccos in the world, a community of three nuns from El Salvador, together with a group of ladies, takes care of those babies and little ones. All of them are supported by the Salesian house with the help that comes, thanks to the generosity of benefactors and of Providence. When I visited them, the sisters dressed everyone for the party, even the babies sleeping in their cribs. How can we not feel our hearts full of joy in the face of this reality of goodness despite the pain that abandonment and war produce?
But my heart was stricken when I met several hundred people who came to greet me during my visit. They’re among the 32,000 displaced people who’ve left their homes and land because of bombs and have come seeking refuge. They’ve found it on the playing fields and grounds of the Don Bosco house in Gangi. They have nothing. They live on a few square meters of land under tarps or cloth. This is their reality. Together, we look for ways to find food every day.
But my heart was stricken when I met several hundred people who came to greet me during my visit. They’re among the 32,000 displaced people who’ve left their homes and land because of bombs and have come seeking refuge.
But, do you know what impressed me the most? When I was with these hundreds of people, who were mostly elderly or mothers with children (most men hadn’t been able to come because of the armed conflict), they hadn’t lost their dignity, their joy, or their smiles. I was amazed even while my heart grieved in the face of so much suffering and poverty, even though we’re doing our bit in the name of the Lord.
I felt even greater joy yesterday when I heard a life testimony that made me think of adolescents and young people in our places and of the very many parents who perhaps read my messages and feel that their children are unmotivated, or bored with life, or hardly have passion for anything.
Among the guests these days at Sacro Cuore, the Salesian generalate in Rome, we had a visit from an extraordinary pianist who has traveled the world giving concerts and who has been part of great philharmonic orchestras. She’s a former student of the Salesians who looked up to a certain Salesian, who has since passed away, as a great reference point and role model.
She wanted to offer us a concert in the atrium of the Basilica of the Sacred Heart as a tribute to Mary Help of Christians, whom she loves very much, in gratitude for her life up to now. I share this because our dear friend, who accompanied her daughter, gave us a wonderful concert, of exceptional quality—and she’s 81 years old! At that age, perhaps an age far past when some of the elders in our families say they no longer feel like planning or doing anything that involves effort, our dear friend, who practices her piano exercises daily, moved her hands with wonderful agility and was immersed in the beauty of the music and its execution.
Time stopped for her in that hour. In her simple way, good music, a generous smile at the end of her performance, and offering some orchids to the Virgin Help of Christians was all we needed on that wonderful morning. My Salesian heart couldn’t help but think of those boys and girls and young people who perhaps haven’t had or no longer have anything to motivate them in their lives. She, our concert pianist friend, 81 years old, lives with a lot of peace and, as she told me, continues to offer the gift that God gave her. Every day, she finds more reasons for it: another life lesson and another testimony that doesn’t leave the heart indifferent.
That’s why, my friends, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the good we’re doing together. No matter how little it is, it helps make our world more human and more beautiful. May the good Lord bless you.•
REKINDLING THE GIFT OF GOD
SDB
Fr. Joel N. Camaya,
Introduction
The upcoming 29th General Chapter (GC 29) of the Salesians of Don Bosco was convoked by the Rector Major, His Eminence Cardinal Angel Fernandez Artime, in Turin on September 24, 2023. The theme he chose for the Chapter is “Passionate about Jesus, dedicated to young people.” It is about “Living our Salesian vocation faithfully and prophetically.”
The letter of convocation presented, together with the main theme, three core areas: animation and care of the true life of each Salesian; Salesians, Salesian Family and lay people together with and for young people, and the governance in the Congregation. The Rector Major then quoted the following Scripture references pertinent to the main theme and the core areas:
• “So they came to him... to be with him and to be sent out to proclaim the message” (Mark 3,14-15)
• “Rekindle the gift of God that you possess” (2 Tim 1:6)
• “One heart and mind” (Act 4:32)
• “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of mind, so that you may discern what is the will of God, good, pleasing and perfect” (Rom 12:2).
While each of these passages—plus others proposed by the Council of the Presidency of the Salesian Biblical Association is good material for reflection for all Salesians of Don Bosco around the world, I will focus on the passage that comes closest to the theme of GC 29, “Passionate about Jesus, dedicated to young people.” This article will focus on 2 Tim 1:6 as key to a Scriptural reflection on the Chapter.
“Rekindle the gift of God that you possess” (2 Tim 1:6)
We draw the short passage from the following text (2 Tim 1:3-7):
3I am grateful to God, whom I worship with a clear conscience as my ancestors did, as I remember you constantly in my prayers, night and day. 4I yearn to see you again, recalling your tears, so that I may be filled with joy, 5 as I recall your sincere faith that first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and that I am confident lives also in you. 6 For this reason, I remind you to stir into flame the gift of God that you have through the imposition of my hands. 7 For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self control.
In v. 3, Paul expresses his gratitude to God, noting that he serves with a clear conscience, just as his ancestors did. He emphasizes his continuous prayers for Timothy, demonstrating
his deep spiritual concern and affection. In v. 4, Paul recalls Timothy’s tears, which might refer to their last parting or Timothy’s struggles, and expresses his desire to see him again to be filled with joy. This illustrates the close and affectiona relationship between Paul and Timothy. In the following verse (v. 5), Paul praises Timothy’s sincere faith, which he attribut to the influence of his grandmother Lois, and his mother Eunice. This highlights the significance of a heritage of faith and the impact of family on spiritual growth.
Then, in v. 6, we find the verse, “Rekindle the gift of God that you possess.” Paul encourages Timothy to “fan into flame the gift of God,” reminding him to actively nurture and develop the spiritual gifts he received. “through the imposition of my hands” could refer to a specific moment when Timothy was commissioned for ministry.
Then, in v. 7, Paul calls Timothy towards courage and confidence in exercising his ministry, relying on the strength and qualities given by the Holy Spirit.
To Stir into Flame: Rekindling the Passion
In presenting the preceding Scriptural passage for reflection for GC 29, the Rector Major asked us to rekindle our passion for Jesus Christ and our dedication to young people.
Before the end of 2023, social media in the Philippines was flooded with words about “alab ng puso”—the fervor in one’s heart expressed in love. In that context, it was about love for the country, for it was about the film Gomburza. There was a call to keep that fervor, passion, and love.
This is Paul’s message to Timothy: “For this reason, I remind you to stir into flame the gift of God that you have through the imposition of my hands.” In the context of GC 29, we are asked: Are our hearts still burning for Jesus? for t young?
2024: This is the year when we look once again at the Dream at Nine. It was the spark that moved the heart of the young John Bosco. He had that flame: when he saw the boys swearing, he raised his voice and swung his fists. It was the same fire that burned all his life—to work tirelessly for young people, to gather them for the festive Oratory, to give many of them a home, to give them an education, to teach them a trade, to beg for the sustenance of the boys, to build churches and houses, to found a congregation… to give his life, as towards the end his doctor would announce: he was like a worn out machine.
Here I would like to call to mind another dream of Don Bosco—a rather sad one— of which he wrote 140 years ago: in 1884. It was that dream recounted in the Letter from Rome, where he saw the Oratory: no more joyful shouts and singing but a weary boredom, surliness, suspicion, listlessness. The recreation was apathetic. There was coldness in the reception of the sacraments; prayers were neglected. When Don Bosco asked the guide in the dream—a past pupil—as to what led to this scene, the answer was, “Where are the Salesians?” The answer was in what Don Bosco then saw: fewer Salesians joined in the recreation, where the superior was no longer the heart and soul. They were assisting from afar and paid so little attention to the young people. There was no more fire. In the letter, Don Bosco, through the lips of the past pupil, suggested several things, but they can all be summarized into the phrase from Paul’s letter to Timothy: “Rekindle the flame!”
Paul’s message to Timothy is a reminder not only to the Salesians of Don Bosco but also to all the members of the Salesian Family. Rekindle the flame! •
Reflections on Aging: Reconciliation,
Renunciation, and the Pursuit of Virtue
Fr. Rene Lagaya, SDB
A Good Night Talk should leave people with something worthwhile to think about before bed. The demand for a personal life plan has triggered this good night talk.
For us Salesians in our senior years, this should not be elaborated on. After all, the reality we are preparing for is our encounter with the Lord in death. In the normal course of life, our years are already counted. So, the personal plan of life for us is how to grow in love.
The developmental psychologist Erik Erickson plotted human life according to the eight ages of growth in love. The eighth and last age is Old Age, for all those who are sixty-five years old and beyond. The developmental task for this age is Ego Integrity. The frightening threat is Despair. Ego Integrity is the epitome of wisdom fully realized. Ego Integrity is the attainment of virtue at its best.
The Protestant theologian Stanley Hauerwas taught that virtue has three qualities.
The first is vision. A person without vision, without his way of seeing the world from the Gospel standpoint, is not virtuous.
The second is character. It is the courageous self-determination to live his vision. The third is story. A virtuous person has a story to tell. A virtuous life has an interesting story to tell. An interesting story is not one made up only of good things. A life filled only with good things might make a boring documentary film, but definitely not a good movie.
William Shakespeare has put into his plays a protagonist and an antagonist. The movement of the story subsists on the interaction of the protagonist and the antagonist. In our personal lives, the positivities comprise
the protagonist, and the negativities comprise the antagonist. In other words, a virtuous person is not one who has never done anything wrong in life. A person of virtue is one who has learned from his mistakes, errors, and sins and has made these as stepping stones for growth and progress. An ego-integrated person has put all the negativities and all the positivities in his life into a harmonious whole.
When ego integrity is reached, three things are clear. First, there is reconciliation. Reconciliation means that he has managed all his inevitable conflicts. He has reconciled with others and with himself.
Secondly, there is renunciation. An egointegrated person has become detached from all undue attachments. In fact, he approaches death with joy, able to renounce this earthly life.
Thirdly, there is wisdom. Wisdom is a matter of focus on essentials. A person in old age shows those younger than him the truly important things in life.
Wisdom enshrines a person’s dreams. In old age, a person’s dreams are either fully realized or are still vibrantly alive. Last 26 April 2023, my novitiate batch celebrated our Golden Jubilee of the Salesian religious profession. We are Fr. George Atok, Fr. Renato de Guzman, Fr. Philip Lazatin, Fr. Renato Molina, Fr. Larry Tan, and myself (Fr. Rene Lagaya). We could not agree on what to do or on where to go. My batch is well-traveled. In the end, everyone had to fend for himself. I decided to go on a Missionary Adventure.
With my Provincial’s permission and my Community’s consent, I expressed to Bishop Broderick Pabillo my desire to stay fortnight at his place, the Apostolic Vicariate of Taytay (Palawan). The bishop welcomed me and asked me to prepare a Lenten Recollection Talk on the Year of Prayer 2024. I arrived at the Lio Airport of El Nido, Palawan, on 18 March 2024. The bishop sent me to a different place daily for the Lenten Talk, Mass, and Confessions. I have to admit that the places I went to were challenging. Places like Sibaltan, Tumarbong, and Caruray had no electricity. No electricity meant not even an electric fan. The heat was almost unbearable at times. The bishop asked me once: Kaya pa ba? Of course, I said: Oo naman!
Although not clearly articulated, I dreamt as a young religious to work for the poorest poor. Thus, I was grateful for being assigned to Senden Home, to Joriz, to Tenement, to Upper Bicutan, and to Sitio Bagong Silang.
At 50 years of religious life and 70 years of age, I somehow wanted to see if I still had it in me to go to challenging places. My beautiful stay at the Apostolic Vicariate of Taytay proved that my dream was still alive and that I was living the wisdom of old age.
Now, the personal plan of life calls for control or a gauge of achievement. For us in old age - but maybe for others as wellthis is confession and spiritual direction. I am happy that I have found the Somascan Fr. Luigi Cucci to whom I go practically on a monthly basis.
Many of you are young and are still far from old age. But when you reach old age, may you bask in the splendor of the reconciled, renounced, and wise love that will bring ego-integrity to your lives. This is also our wish, we who are already in old age. Lord, grant that we may be able to attain it. Amen. •
The bishop asked me once: Kaya pa ba?
Of course, I said: Oo naman!
Friendship with Jesus: The Heart of the Aspirants’ Spirituality
Fr. Jake Lopez, SDB Rector, Don Bosco Aspirantate
One day, a young aspirant asked me: “Father, what is the most important thing about Don Bosco that I should imitate?” Sensing his seriousness in asking this question, I told myself I must tell him what is the most important for Don Bosco. As I tried to think of the best answer, I suddenly remembered the prayer we pray every morning, that is, the Act of Entrustment to Mary Help of Christians: “You were Don Bosco’s teacher; show us how to imitate his virtues, especially his union with God . . . .” Therefore, I told the aspirant: “The most important for Don Bosco, which you should imitate is union with God.” Lex orandi, lex credendi —this principle in liturgy gives me the assurance that that must be the best answer.
For Don Bosco, as enumerated by the Salesian prayer, purity, humility, poverty, love for work and for temperance, kindness, wholehearted service of others, and loyalty to the Pope and to the Bishops of the Church—they all come after union with God. Everything a Salesian does, in imitation of Don Bosco, should be an overflow of his union with God.
In the Don Bosco Aspirantate Formation House, Canlubang, Laguna, this central value of union with God is at the heart of the spiritual formation of the aspirants, and our Salesian Youth Spirituality calls it “Friendship with Jesus.”
Friendship is a reality lived by our Father and Founder, Don Bosco. In his childhood years, he was respected and beloved by his peers because he also related well with them. His mother, Mamma Margaret, was greatly influential in his experience of friendships. Underneath his intimate but short-lived encounter with Don Calosso was friendship. His close association with Seminarian Louis Comollo, wanting to imitate his virtues, was friendship. His
confidence in Don Cafasso, his spiritual director for more than twenty years (←1841 – 1860), was animated by a deep spiritual friendship. It is not surprising then to recognize that friendship has become one of the core elements unique in Don Bosco’s educational system.
As his life was significantly marked by wonderful friendships, considering the practice of the faith, Don Bosco approached the Lord Jesus as a friend, especially in the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. His devotion to the Holy Eucharist, which he surely handed on to his boys and his Salesians, is a spirituality; it is a way of life, a commitment borne of intimacy in friendship.
Don Bosco taught his followers to get young people to love Jesus as a friend. This is to let the young people know and experience, first of all, that Jesus regards them as his friends (cf. Jn.15:14). Thus, Don Bosco encouraged the young to establish friendship with Jesus, who can do so much good for them. He also challenged them to deepen this intimate friendship by proposing to them to frequently receive Him in
Holy Communion and to meet Him in receiving mercy from His Father in the sacrament of Confession.
Referring to the heart-to-heart connection with Jesus, Don Bosco motivated young people to visit their Lord and Friend fervently and frequently in the Blessed Sacrament. He also assured them that Jesus is very good and He will never abandon them.
The aspirants begin their day with an enthusiastic aspiration: “Thanks be to God!” as a response to the Brother Assistant’s invocation, “Let us bless the Lord!” As soon as they proceed to the Diocesan Shrine of Mary Help of Christians (DSMHC), they offer the morning praise. This is definitely not to make them “little priests,” as some might have this kind of impression, and the presence of the lay faithful in the Shrine makes it exceedingly clear that praying the Lauds is rightly a Christian prayer, not exclusive to the clergy. Praying the Liturgy of the Hours is a way of cultivating that closeness with Jesus, who Himself also prayed using the Psalms (cf. Mt.27:46; Mk.15:34; Lk.23:46) .
There was a time when the practice of daily mental prayer was only for the Salesians and the prenovices to make the aspirants’ prayer experience simpler. Still, at one point, the aspirants themselves expressed: “Father, why are we not going for meditation?” Pope Benedict XVI observed: “Some people can no longer stay long in silence. Most young people, who are already born in this state, seem to fill every empty moment with music and images, almost afraid to feel, in fact, this void.”1 I believe what the aspirants expressed was not really a question. That was a deep longing for silence. They are, in effect, making a kind of assertion: we are also capable of silence before the real presence of Jesus, our Divine Friend.
The most important part of the day follows: the celebration of the Holy Eucharist. For a time, the practice in the Formation House is to keep the timetable of the community strictly. The Holy Mass is scheduled for thirty minutes every day, and this is immediately followed by breakfast and chores. In one community meeting, some aspirants respectfully expressed that on occasions of feasts and solemnities, it would be better if the timetable did not limit the quality of the liturgical celebrations. They wanted to sing all service songs that fit the worship. The presence of Jesus, their Friend in the Eucharist, is a heartfelt encounter with the living, resurrected Lord.
Evening practices of piety conclude a day of docility and industriousness. Vespers follows a short spiritual reading about the life of St. John Bosco. After dinner and recreation, the aspirants pray the rosary while walking around the scenic rotunda of Don Bosco Canlubang. The traditional Good Night Talk is preceded by an examination of consciousness, which is finding God in one’s experience and not just finding fault (examination of conscience).
The aspirants’ friendship with the Lord is also deepened through their weekly adoration and benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, monthly recollection with exercise for a happy death, and an annual spiritual retreat, the culmination of all their practices of piety. The aspirants close their ordinary day with a reverent aspiration, “Thanks be to God.” as a response to the Brother Assistant’s invocation, “Now on us, O Lord, have mercy.”
Our spirituality of Friendship with Jesus is directed to form within each aspirant a life of interiority. Many of the problems in the ministry—particularly for those in the ongoing formation—are
1Serra San Bruno, “Pope Benedict: modern life needs silence,” Article on-line, https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/23518/pope-benedict-modern-life-needs-silence [accessed June 14, 2024].
not really due to a lack of skills but concerns in human formation. When the formative experience is reduced to mere external conformity, the human aspect is in danger of not being properly and consistently integrated into the person’s spiritual life.
While the aspirants are being educated in the faith, the practice of the Catholic faith offers them the opportunity to grow in human maturity and live Christian discipleship from a vocational perspective. Don Egidio Viganò referred to the vocational process as “the backbone of the entire journey of faith,” and this is the reason why we strive to create in the Aspirantate a “vocational culture” in a Salesian environment.2
Accompaniment plays a crucial role in the integral formation of the aspirants. In his Apostolic Exhortation Christus Vivit, Pope Francis tells us: “Young people need to be approached with the grammar of love, not by being preached at. The language that young people understand is spoken by those who radiate life, by those who are there for them and with them. And those who, for all their limitations and weaknesses, try to live their faith with integrity” (n.211)
Every formation guide should follow St. John the Baptist, who knows how to point to Jesus as the Friend of the young and facilitate the encounter between the Lord and His disciples. Ultimately, it is Christ who perfectly radiates life; He is there for them and is with them always.•
2 Fr. Miguel Garcia, SDB and Fr. Ivo Coelho, SDB, “The Experience of Salesian Vocational Orientation: A
Action in the Face of Global Warming
His Excellency Bishop Broderick Pabillo
Vicar Apostolic of the Apostolic Vicariate of Taytay, Palawan
We all had a taste of unprecedented heat a few months ago. In March and April this year, the heat in most of the Philippines and other parts of the world was so intense that for some days, classes and work were suspended. Many got heat strokes. Some areas of the country experienced drought. As we speak, these months are the turn of the countries in the temperate zones in the world, as in Europe and North America, to experience the heat.
What is alarming is that many pundits say this will continue and even intensify in the coming years. The experience of El Nido is bound to bring about the La Nina phenomenon. We are cautioned to expect strong typhoons and a lot of rain. Let us pray that these do not bring death-dealing landslides and floods.
These climactic conditions are part of the global warming that is upon us. These conditions do not happen by themselves. Human activities have partly induced them over the last three hundred years. These activities are due to the harmful effects of the socalled “development.” Human activities due to technologies that have resulted from human creativity have also brought much pollution, especially from fossil fuels and other harmful gasses.
As all these climactic changes happen, we cannot just stand by and simply accept things as they come. We humans have contributed to this situation so we should also do something to mitigate it, depending on our situations and capabilities.
I am living in the apostolic vicariate of Taytay in Northern Palawan. Palawan is still known as the Philippines’ Last Frontier of Natural Beauty. This is especially true in Northern Palawan. We still have unspoiled beaches. We have forests. We breathe clean air. The place is not yet densely populated, but the people are generally poor and engaged in subsistence farming and fishing. The Indigenous peoples live on forest products such as honey and the collection of tree raisins and rattan. There is a lot of land, but they are untilled because of the lack of know-how and capital.
In this situation, I see that promoting organic farming is a contribution that we can make both to uplift the people’s livelihood and to protect and promote our natural resources, especially our land.
In organic farming, we do not buy synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, which contributes to the high cost of farming for ordinary people. Instead, people are taught to use the local
materials available to fertilize their lands and avoid and drive out pests.
We are fortunate to have a big piece of land where our cathedral is presently being built and our curia building is located. Since I came to Taytay barely three years ago as its bishop, we have decided to develop our 10-hectare property into an organic integrated farm. The soil is not fertile, but this has not stopped us. We fertilized the soil with garbage wastes from the market by dead seaweeds, which we call kulafo, and bats’ waste, which we call guano. We have a piggery of some 15 heads of pigs from which we get manure. We do vermiculture to get vermicasts. We have some five heads of goats to make use of their waste and also have poultry of about a hundred chickens to gather their waste. After almost three years, we have developed more than a hectare of fertile land. The process is labor and capital-intensive. We can do more if we have more funds. We are already harvesting vegetables and fruits to offset our expenses. All of these we do to make a farm where we can inspire and teach people around us about organic farming.
We hope the government can recognize some of our places as farm schools, but the government’s regulatory agencies constantly change their policies. Anyway, we should not wait for the government to recognize us. We already give training to local farmers and students on how to do organic farming. Those interested come and stay for a few days and work on the farm. Our dedicated technician also offers training to our island parishes in Busuanga, Coron, Cuyo, and other mainland parishes. We are doing something already to spread the practice of organic farming.
We are currently working on a project to set up a nursery of native trees such as ipil, narra, yakal, and some fruit trees so we can plant them in some forests that we are protecting. Our former bishop, though already old, is promoting the replanting of mangroves in his area. We seek funding for our nursery project to pay workers to plant and care for the seedlings.
We have the land and the technology to fertilize the soil for the seedlings, but we do not have the capital to sustain the nursery. But we do not just wait. We are in a climate emergency. We do not have the luxury of waiting. We do what we can, even with the little that we have. In our situation, this is a part that we can play to care for the earth. We do our part; hopefully, others will do what they can. But we must do something to care for our common hope, and NOW! •
Behind and hidden in the sacristy, Clyde focuses his gaze on the screen. Several windows are open on different screens. One shows a live feed from the CCTV cameras, another monitors the bandwidth and network health of the social network, and another is from OBS, an open-source broadcasting software. A laptop sits at his side, showing a slide of lyrics in PowerPoint.
Just as the Mass transitioned from the homily to the offertory, with swift fingers and the dexterity conditioned by experience, he slid his cursor onscreen and clicked in rapid succession, and the screen responded in a whizz of closing and opening windows. In two seconds, he shifted the online stream of the Sunday Mass, changing the CCTV feed, the lyrics, and the overlay. Everything seemed like a blur at the sacristy, but for the online viewer, the transition was smooth, and the prayers went on.
Clyde is one of the people in charge of streaming Masses online in the parish. He belongs to a ministry born out of the COVID-19 pandemic. When the virus struck, the Church was forced to adapt. People couldn’t come physically for Mass. The Church had to bring the Eucharist to them, even if online. What Clyde and the others throughout the country did was nothing short of heroic. His heroics continue today.
Beside him is a small mixer, a phone with a playlist of songs for the mass, and a wire running here and there in a technological tangle. Anyone older than a millennial would get lost in all these, but not Clyde. He effortlessly breezes through all the buttons and screens, and knobs just to make sure the live streaming goes smoothly.
For many, these operators are invisible. They work at the back. Their primary mission is to bring the mass online so that others can devotionally participate in them: overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in non-Christian countries who find it difficult to go to Church, Filipino migrants in secular nations who wish to taste once more Filipino religiosity, and for many, sick people in their homes who wish to go to Church but cannot.
What was once a band-aid solution to bridge the physical gap between the Eucharist and the faithful found an enduring purpose beyond the pandemic. Clyde and many others like him are young. They must be. The technology and skills used in this ministry are not for the faint-hearted. They don’t have an official name in the Church, nor do they undergo inductions and receive mandates from priests and bishops, but most parishes found their work very important.
Major parishes still stream their masses to reach out to the sick, devotees, and migrants. The Church reiterates that this does not replace physical attendance in the Holy Mass but serves to sustain devotion to the Eucharist for those who cannot come. For those with enough resources, they can have many screens and gadgets, as Clyde has. Others have been resourceful in making the most of the technology they have. It is still a Church that goes out to the peripheries, in this case, virtual.
Those streaming the Mass from the other side of the world will never see Clyde’s face or know of the middleman who made their participation possible. Neither do the people inside the Church, who are vaguely aware of his role, or when he focuses the camera on them. Live stream operators like Clyde are a new breed of ministers of the Eucharist.
They give the Eucharist and the Church a virtual face, even if their own are hidden. •
A Life of Fulfillment: Religious Profession in the Modern World
Sr. Virginia C. Limbauan, FMA
In an increasingly secularized world, religious professions continue to hold significance. They offer a path for those seeking a life of spiritual fulfillment and service. The dedication and faithfulness of a religious vowed to poverty, chastity, and obedience inspire many, and they serve as a cornerstone for religious institutions around the globe.
Women empowered to love courageously present to the people that vows are not restrictions but expressions of a profound commitment.
On May 24, 2024, with praise and thanksgiving to God, the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (Salesian Sisters of Don Bosco) of the Philippines and Papua New Guinea Province joyfully celebrated the Perpetual Profession of Sr. Princess Mae N. Ortiz, FMA, and the Silver Anniversary of Religious Profession of Sr. Sharon B. Algar, FMA, Sr. Charito M. Belino, FMA, Sr. Aleth C. Evangelista, FMA, Sr. Meldred F. Ramas, FMA, Sr. Joralyn G. Selloria, FMA, and Sr. Lyn S. Yap, FMA. The Holy Mass was presided by the Most. Rev. Mylo Hubert C. Vergara, D.D., Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Pasig and Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of San Pablo at the St. John Bosco Parish, Makati City.
As one Salesian Family, they celebrated the Solemnity of Mary Help of Christians, the inspirer, mother, and teacher of this
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Ms. Marice
Isidro
religious family who belongs entirely to her. Don Bosco wanted the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, his daughters, to be “a living monument” of his gratitude to Mary and to extend his thanks throughout all time.
Sr. PRINCESS MAE N. ORTIZ hails from the Mary Help of Christians Parish, Mayapa, Calamba City. She is a past pupil of Sta. Cecilia Catholic School and Mary Help of Christians School. She finished college and obtained a degree in Psychology in 2012 at Collegio de San Juan de Letran, Calamba City.
She worked as a guidance staff at Canossa Academy, Calamba, a life that she enjoyed well. She accompanied young people, built friendships, and enjoyed independence and intense family time. During that year, she held on to her sacramental life, knowing that if the Lord was calling her to religious life, He would make a way.
On May 12, 2013, she was accepted as an Aspirant and made her First Profession on May 23, 2018. From that day onwards and every moment of her life, she would sing: “Totus Tuus, Maria, Ako’y iyong iyo, aking ina! ”.
Sr. SHARON B. ALGAR, presently a missionary in Angola, was from Mary Help of Christians Parish, Mayapa, Calamba City. She is a past pupil of Sta. Cecilia Catholic School where she was an active member of the Marian group and a volunteer catechist in the public school.
Sr. CHARITO M. BELINO, was an active member of the Rondalla group in the Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes in Pun ta Princesa, Cebu City. She is presently assigned at Mary Help of Christians School, Minglanilla, Cebu.
Sr. ALETH C. EVANGELISTA, was from the parish of St. James the Apostle in Betis, Guagua, Pampanga. She was an active mem ber of the Franciscan Youth and a catechist both in the parish and in the public school. Presently, she is a missionary in Mongolia under the Stella Mattutina Province, South Korea.
Sr. MELDRED F. RAMAS, “What you are is God’s gift to you, what you become is your gift to God.” A quote expressing love and gratitude to God pierced the heart. It led Sr. Meldred to enter the FMA Congregation after she graduated from the University of San Jose Recoletos, Cebu. She was an active past pupil of Mary Help of Christians School- Cebu, and is currently a missionary in the Cambodia-Myanmar Province.
Sr. JORALYN G. SELLORIA, born in Negros Occidental, is a past pupil of Mary Help of Christians School-Cebu where she was an SYM leader, volunteer catechist in the public school, and a member of the Legion of Mary in her parish. “I know in whom I place my trust,” are words deeply rooted in her heart as an assurance of God’s fidelity and unconditional love. Currently, she is assigned at Mary Help of Christians College in Canlubang, Laguna.
Sr. LYN S. YAP, is a past pupil of St. Mary Mazzarello School in Victorias, Negros Occidental. She was an active member of the Marian sodality and Junior Missionary Club, an SYM Leader, and a Catechist in the Sunday Oratory. She is currently assigned at Mary Help of Christians School, Pampanga.
Fidelity in religious life is not just a matter of endurance but a constant seeking of God’s will and renewal of faith. The gift of fidelity makes faithful love possible and true. This is what sustained the Sisters in expressing their “yes” to God in the concreteness and ordinariness of everyday life. •
Fidelity in religious life is not just a matter of endurance but a constant seeking of God’s will and renewal of faith. The gift of fidelity makes faithful love possible and true. This is what sustained the Sisters in expressing their “yes” to God in the concreteness and ordinariness of everyday life.
PASSIONATE ABOUT CHRIST, DEDICATED TO YOUNG PEOPLE
Fr. Remo Bati, SDB
Let me begin with an anecdote told by the Rector Major, now Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime, during his visit to St. John Bosco High School in Bellflower, California, in January 2023, where he spent several hours with hundreds of students. During his dialogue with the students, a young person asked a rather intriguing question: “What do I have to do to become Pope? I want to be the Pope.”
The Rector Major, though surprised, managed a smile and candidly admitted that he had never been asked that question before. He explained that among the 1.6 billion Catholics, becoming the Pope is a formidable challenge. Then he gently suggested, “Well, perhaps you could start by becoming a Salesian.” The young man replied, “Well, I will take you up on that because, without a doubt, MY PASSION IS CHRIST.”
This anecdote beautifully illustrates how passion for Christ can inspire and guide our aspirations. Passion is a powerful force that drives us to achieve excellence in various aspects of life. While it is possible to be passionate about many things, passion can become harmful if it is misplaced or overshadows one’s love for the Lord. Jesus encourages us to have passion and cultivate a profound love for God.
To love God with all our heart is to be passionate about His mission. Jesus came to seek and save those who were lost. This is the passion of God—to redeem people for His own glory. Being passionate about Christ means actively participating in His work of redemption and restoration. It involves spreading His message of salvation, caring for the marginalized, advocating for justice, and nurturing others in their faith journey especially the young. This passion fuels our perseverance through challenges and empowers us to remain steadfast in our commitment to God and His purposes.
The theme of GC 29, “PASSIONATE ABOUT
JESUS CHRIST, DEDICATED TO YOUNG PEOPLE,” serves as a reminder of Don Bosco’s enduring legacy—what he taught, lived, and died for. This theme encourages us to deeply contemplate the essence of our Salesian consecrated life. It inspires us to cultivate a fervent passion for guiding young people towards a deeper relationship with Him. In essence, GC 29 revitalizes and reaffirms Don Bosco’s timeless mission.
Even today, this passion for Christ burns brightly in the hearts of many Salesians. I can attest to the pioneering spirit of our Salesian brothers in the Philippines, who arrived in the early 1950s. Many of them dedicated their lives to serving the youth until their last moments. Having lived and worked closely with them since their arrival, I can truly affirm that they are living witnesses of Christ’s love for the young.
My journey as a Salesian led me to the Ministry of Spiritual Liberation and Exorcism. Noticing that about 90% of those sent to us for deliverance prayer and exorcism were young people, ranging from 10 to 40 years old, I was exhilarated to be a part of this new apostolate. Despite my tender age, I realized I was not out of place because this ministry is but a natural extension of the Salesian apostolate for the young.
As a Salesian, I feel deeply fulfilled whenever young people are referred to me. Through the grace of God and Mary’s intercession, they experience healing through this ministry. I witness firsthand the power of
prayer and the transformation of individuals from sinners to “saints.”
As part of the Ministry of Spiritual Liberation and Exorcism, I have witnessed today’s youth face challenges, including exposure to secular ideologies, sex, drugs, and violence. This pervasive influence can have significant impacts on young people. Constant exposure to secular and often superficial values can confuse identity and self-worth. Instead of finding value in their intrinsic worth as individuals or their relationship with God, youth may seek validation through external means such as social media approval or conforming to societal trends.
I am deeply disturbed to see that an increasing number of young people are delving into occult and esoteric practices or participating in pagan rituals and rites. These practices are not harmless, regardless of how occult practitioners present them. They are the handiwork of Satan, who masquerades as an “angel of light.” What might seem like benign or even beneficial activities can actually open doors to dangerous spiritual influences.
Occult practices such as astral projection, spell craft, and amulets often promise
power, knowledge, or protection, but they can lead individuals away from the true source of light and truth, which is found in God. Satan, in his deception, cloaks these practices in an aura of mystique and enlightenment, drawing people in under false pretenses.
This ultimately leads to spiritual bondage and distance from God’s grace, resulting in serious spiritual and psychological consequences, including oppression, obsession, and even possession. Recognizing these dangers and seeking spiritual discernment is crucial to avoid being ensnared by such deceptive practices.
In numerous cases, individuals who are brought to us for deliverance are already in an advanced stage, necessitating eventual recourse to the rite of exorcism. However, it is reassuring to observe that in most cases, following proper procedures and with the individual’s openness to God for conversion and deliverance, one or two sessions typically lead to complete healing.
Given these realities, guiding youth toward God with vigilance and steadfastness is crucial. Without a strong moral compass, young people may feel unfulfilled and lost in pursuing materialistic goals. As loving
mentors, we provide the wisdom, support, and encouragement they need. This involves more than just teaching them about faith; it requires us to inspire them to live out Christ’s love and teachings in their daily lives.
Encouraging them to participate in community service, prayer, and worship can help them experience the joy and fulfillment that comes from a life devoted to Christ. We need to create and foster environments that nurture their spiritual growth—such as youth groups, retreats, and faith-based activities—we can help them understand the importance of making Christ the center of their lives.
In conclusion, being passionate about Jesus Christ means having a deep love for Him and living out His teachings. This passion extends to dedicating ourselves to the youth, guiding and supporting them in their faith journey. Our enthusiasm for Jesus should inspire us to mentor the next generation, ensuring they grow in faith and develop a strong spiritual foundation. We should not only be passionate about Christ but also help others become passionate about Him
May Mary, Help of Christians, continue to ignite in the hearts of all Salesians a passion
for Her Beloved Son, inspiring them to dedicate themselves fervently to the welfare of the young, including in this ministry, which can be precarious at times because we confront invisible and formidable evil spirits, yet we are assured of God’s protection. He is the Exorcist; we are merely His instruments. We act “...IN JESUS’ NAME.•
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France – 2024 Paris Olympics: at the Don Bosco school, educate by playing, play by educating
ANS News • July 24, 2024
(ANS – Paris) – Sport, a place of self-improvement and encounter with others, has a central place (together with the artistic disciplines and music) in Salesian houses. Sports figures, sports sections, values and educational principles: in Salesian houses, sport is everywhere. The opening of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, which will take place in a few days in France, is an opportunity to take stock of the situation.
Last May, three Salesians – Xavier, Pierre and Luc – participated in the French cycling championships for clerics in Arles. A few days later, a true basketball fan – a great supporter of Paris Saint-German – Sister Anne-Flore professed her perpetual vows among the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians. Religious as sports people? Or sport-minded religious? Will it be a recent trend, in line with a society in which 68% of French and Belgians claim to practise a sport (+14% in ten years)?
Not exactly. The followers of Don Bosco have always practised sport and, above all, have always encouraged young people to exercise, play and test themselves.
At Don Bosco, sport is everywhere. Because education is not just teaching. Educating means awakening, stimulating, promoting and helping to grow. For this reason, the Salesian educational system leaves ample room for artistic and sports disciplines. And both the courtyard and the sports fields play an important role in the life of the house.
Some of the young people who attend the Salesian houses in the Saint Francis de Sales Province of France and Southern Belgium (FRB) even make it a profession. The names of the cycling champions Axel Merckx, son of Eddy and himself a victorious professional, who was a pupil of the Salesians in Brussels; or Miguel Indurain, raised by the Salesians in Pamplona; the footballer and current coach of Real Madrid, Carlo Ancellotti, a former pupil of the Salesians in Parma; and the late swimmer Camille Muffat (Nice), riders Didier de Radiguès and Thierry Boutsen (Brussels Woluwé-Saint-Lambert) and the karateka Christophe Pinna (Nice), who trained at the Star Academy, have long been mentioned in the Salesian Family.
Among the young athletes today who "have passed through Don Bosco" are Clément Champoussin, rider of the Arkéa-B&B Hotels cycling team (Nice), Arnaud Gérald, freediving world champion (Marseille), Alizés Lassus, French mountain bike champion (Marseille), Lissandru Bertini, under-21 enduro cycling world champion (Nice)... Or, given that PSG was mentioned at the beginning of this article, Spanish footballer Carlos Soler (Sevilla).
In France, two Salesian associations have even set up facilities to accommodate high-level athletes: the Don Bosco school complex in Nice and the Saint-Louis-Saint-Bruno secondary school in Lyon, which joined the network of Salesian works a few years ago and entered into a partnership with Olympique Lyonnais as early as 1988. Samuel Umtiti, Alexandre Lacazette, Corentin Tolisso, Delphine Cascarino, Maxence Caqueret and many others studied there. In total, 53 partners were signed up with sports clubs, covering 17 different disciplines.
On the other side of the Pyrenees, the Salesians in Spain have been organising the annual "National Day of Salesian Educational Sport" for some years now. This year, the Superior of the Province of St James the Greater, Spain, Fr Fernando García, stressed the importance of Salesian sport as an educational and pastoral tool, recalling the motto: "they play, we educate". He also stressed the role of the Salesian courtyard as a place of evangelisation and encounter and listed the values that sport can transmit: the value of regular work (as opposed to the desire for immediacy), the importance of the rules, the sense of belonging, but also personal development.
This is how the Real Madrid Foundation and the Salesians decided, 15 years ago, to join forces in a common project to help the most
disadvantaged children and young people around the world. The result is the "Socio-Sport Schools" project, which takes place in many Salesian schools and which, in addition to sport, provides academic reinforcement, nutritional support and health and psychological care. The collaboration between the two organisations, funded in particular by the organisation of charity matches, has helped more than 20,000 children (children, adolescents and vulnerable young people) in Africa, America and Europe. Started in 2010 in Senegal, with the Tambacounda school, the project continued shortly after in America, with the first socio-sports school in a slum, at the Jacarezinho school, near Rio de Janeiro (Brazil). And since 2012, Europe has also been involved, with the socio-sports schools of Manique and Funchal in Portugal. Today, this joint effort includes 21 projects in 14 countries, helping nearly 4,000 children.
Sport "is involvement and respect for others, it is commitment and determination, team spirit, ability to relate and face defeats," says Fiona May, former Italian long jump world champion and ambassador of the Salesian Mission Office in Turin, "Missioni Don Bosco". On his first missionary trip, the athlete went to Mekanissa, a Salesian mission in the poor neighbourhood of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. There, at the Don Bosco Centre, a home for over 400 street children, Fiona May played with dozens of children from the centre and taught them the basics of long jumping.
How to summarise in a few words what the "Salesian" label can be in this sector? Kim Gevaert, European champion of the 100 and 200 meters in Gothenburg in 2006, and former student of the Don Bosco Institute in Haacht, Belgium, gives us her answer: "When I was a student here, attention was paid to the complete development of a child. The school tried to bring out our talents and we could perfect what interested us most. I saw it clearly. I still remember when I was the weakest link on the volleyball team at school (or so I felt). Then I became one of the best athletes in the national relay, and yet I was very empathetic with those who made mistakes or did not give their best. I never pointed the finger at anyone because I understood how they felt. Well, I acquired this empathy and humility here.” •
Salesian, Fr. Xavier Ernst, among Catholic Chaplains in the 2024 Paris Olympic Village
ANS News • July 22, 2024
(ANS – Paris) – While from all over the world the best athletes of all disciplines are converging on France, and on Paris in particular, the Olympic village dedicated to welcoming them, in the Saint-Denis area, is already ready. It includes houses, shops and a large park with 9,000 trees and shrubs that have been specially planted. But not only that: inside there is also a multi-religious centre in the form of a tent, similar to the "tent of meetings" that young people from Salesian circles have known in the Campobosco experience. Within this space there is a reception area and five different prayer rooms, which house the chaplains of the five main religions (Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu and Buddhist). Specifically for the Christian chaplaincy, there will be Catholic chaplains – including Salesian Fr Xavier Ernst – as well as Protestants and Orthodox.
Since their resumption in modern times, under the guidance of Baron Pierre de Coubertin, the Olympic Games have included a significant spiritual dimension. “For a long time now, there has been a spiritual presence at the heart of the Olympic Games, as this is a request from the International Olympic Committee (IOC). It is precisely the one who calls for an interfaith space in the Olympic Village,” François Morinière of “Holy Games” explained.
About thirty Catholic chaplains were chosen by the Catholic Church in France to be present at specific time slots, depending on their availability (with hours of service from 7 am to 11 pm). They are priests, men and women religious and lay people, all united by two things: love for sport and the experience of spiritual guidance. Among them is Fr Xavier Ernst, Salesian of Don Bosco, parish priest of St John Bosco parish, in the 20th
arrondissement of Paris and Delegate for Youth Ministry in the St Francis de Sales Province of France and Southern Belgium (FRB).
"Our service is to be present. Athletes know that in the Olympic Village there is this space, a place for listening, sharing and relationship. Our environment is furnished with icons, symbolic furnishings and the Bible" Fr Ernst explains. "Every morning there will be a moment of Lectio Divina, of reading and sharing the Gospel, a moment that will be ecumenical. And every day we will celebrate the Eucharist, not in the multi-religious centre, but in the church next to the village."
"Will we have 1 visitor per day, 10, 50 or 100? Obviously we don't know! But the important thing is not the number, it is our being at the service of the athletes," the Salesian says.
During the Paris 2024 Olympic Games (26 July-11 August 2024), the Salesian Family will be active in offering its spiritual service to the many athletes, coaches, members of delegations and fans who will crowd Paris for the occasion. For example, in the church of Saint-Sulpice, for a week, from Thursday 25 July to Friday 2 August, the Salesian Youth Movement (SYM) over 17 section will propose a series of activities and animations – reception, games, listening, times for prayer... in addition to two highlights entrusted to it by the organising committee: the ecumenical prayer vigil on Tuesday 30 July, with Mark Gangloff, two-time Olympic swimming champion, and the Mass on 31 July, chaired by Monsignor Emmanuel Gobillard, Delegate of the Church for the Olympics in Paris. •
Salesian Youth Synod: an experience with the voice of all young people
ANS News • August 11, 2024
The much-anticipated Salesian Youth Synod opened today, 11 August 2024, in Valdocco, with an atmosphere of joy, prayer, and eager anticipation. This significant gathering brings together 376 participants, including 292 young people from around the world, along with numerous Salesians and Daughters of Mary Help of Christians.
The Synod coincides with the bicentenary of Don Bosco's famous "Dream at Nine," a pivotal moment that would inspire the Salesian charism. In his heartfelt welcome, Fr. Jose Lorbeth, the Chief coordinator of the Synod emphasized that this dream is the very reason they have gathered at Valdocco - a powerful testament to the enduring influence of dreams when they align with God's will.
Fr. Jose highlighted the symbolic significance of the Synod's logo, explaining that the event is designed as an immersive experience of prayer, community, reflection, and dialogue. The Synod honors both the dream of young Johnny Bosco and the aspirations of today's Salesian youth. It embodies the Salesian spirit of synodality, uniting young people under the protective mantle of Mary, symbolized by the color blue in the logo. This imagery reflects their journey of discernment and prayer, guiding them toward Christ, the Good Shepherd.
The preparations for this Synod began much before the participants arrived in Valdocco. Over the past year, young people from across the Salesian world engaged in deep reflection and dreaming. A significant outcome of this preparatory phase was the collection of 211 dreams from youth in 94 countries, compiled into a special book. Additionally, a comprehensive questionnaire was distributed to provinces, inviting youth to share their aspirations for themselves, the Church, society, and the Salesian Youth Movement. These responses laid the foundation for the Synod's Instrumentum Laboris, which will guide discussions and deliberations throughout the week.
The Synod honors both the dream of young Johnny Bosco and the aspirations of today's Salesian youth.
Delegates from the Philippines pose before the statue of Don Bosco at
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Valdocco.
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The Synod is organized around three key stages: the pre-synodal phase, the celebration in Valdocco and Colle Don Bosco, and the post-synodal implementation phase. Each day of the Synod explores a different aspect of Don Bosco's dream at nine, with the first day focusing on "Watch the Dream."
The inaugural ceremony set the tone with a modern video portrayal of the dream, capturing the participants' imaginations. This was followed by a solemn procession of the Word of God into the theatre, underscoring the centrality of God's presence in the Synod. After a moment of prayer, participants engaged in a lively Kahoot game, testing their knowledge of Salesian history and spirituality. The opening ceremony concluded with the presentation of the working document to representatives from five language groups: English, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, and French.
Following the formalities, participants embarked on guided tours of Valdocco, immersing themselves in the rich history and legacy of Don Bosco. This experiential learning was designed to help young delegates not only understand Don Bosco's life but also to witness how his
dream has continued to bear fruit across generations and continents. Fr. Jose Lorbeth encouraged the participants to seize this rare opportunity to connect deeply with one another, urging them to meet and learn about 10-20 new people each day, fostering a spirit of global Salesian unity.
The theme "Watch the Dream" guided participants in their reflections, reminding them that they are part of a larger, divine dream - a dream that began with a nine-year-old Johnny Bosco and continues to inspire millions worldwide. The Salesian Youth Synod 2024 is more than an event; it is a movement, a celebration, and a testament to the power of dreams aligned with God's vision. As the Synod progresses, participants will dive deeper into the significance of Don Bosco's dream, exploring its relevance today and discovering how they, too, can shape the future in the "Shape of His Dream." •
“Shaping Tomorrow”: How can the Catholic Church better understand the digital transformation taking place in the modern world?
ANS News • July 24, 2024
"What is the story we want to start building now?" This is the question that Andy Stalman, entrepreneur, writer and lecturer, invited us to reflect on in his conference entitled "How can the Catholic Church better understand the digital transformation taking place in the modern world?", held in the main hall of the Pontifical Salesian University in Rome on the afternoon of Tuesday 6 August, as part of the World Conference on Social Communication "Shaping Tomorrow".
With an impassioned speech the speaker recalled that, despite the countless digital options currently available on the market, the human being always remains at the centre of everything, and that, if communication is able to connect people, it manages to transcend every border in the best possible way. The best way to overcome borders, therefore, is precisely communication, and this is concretely achieved in real life.
Digital tools are still tools, they are the means, while the end is people, he stressed again, before offering an assumption to keep in mind to avoid any immobility: "Changing is difficult, but not changing is fatal". Then, taking up a phrase from Saint Francis de Sales, he again encouraged his listeners: "Do not lose heart in the midst of difficulties, changes are necessary to grow".
Citing some data later, he observed that "It is incredible that we spend an average of 7 hours connected to a device, fixed in front of a screen, when we could use the same time to reach our audience and be really ‘connected with them’".
Finally, before concluding, Stalman stressed the priority phase of communication, which is not the expression of the content, but listening, and reiterated the recipe for establishing true relationships: "People want to be heard, while we are experiencing the pandemic of loneliness; yet this is precisely why we need to be connected even more". •
Don Bosco School Manila and Salesian Sisters: A Haven in the Flood
Sr. Virgie Limbauan, FMA
Manila, the Philippines (July 24-25, 2024) – When the relentless southwest monsoon rains and Typhoon Carina unleashed catastrophic floods, inundating homes and even reaching the second floor of the houses, Don Bosco School Manila and the Salesian Sisters emerged as a beacon of hope. On July 24, the school opened its doors to shelter 394 displaced residents from Barangays 598, 599, 601, and 602 Sta. Mesa, Manila. On July 25, the President of the Philippines put Metro Manila in a state of calamity.
The Salesian Sisters and lay mission partners swiftly mobilized to provide essential relief services. Hot meals were prepared and distributed to the evacuees, which included elderly individuals, adults, young professionals, children, and even a five-day-old infant. As the number of evacuees continues to rise, so does the outpouring of support from the Don Bosco School Educating community. Parents, alumni, and generous individuals have steadily provided essential donations such as sacks of rice, canned goods, water, clothing, and blankets.
Their unwavering compassion and generosity have aided those affected by the floods. On the morning of July 25, hot meals continued to be offered as some families began cleaning up their
flood-damaged homes. To ensure the safety of their children, many parents left them at the school while they attended to their homes.
Amidst the chaos and fear, the Salesian Sisters also provided immediate medical attention to an evacuee who had fallen into a manhole, sustaining multiple bruises.
One father expressed his profound gratitude, sharing, “We were lost and terrified in the flood when the Salesian Sisters welcomed us without hesitation. They provided us with a haven for my family.”
A relief operation was launched to address the immediate needs of the affected families, distributing essential supplies to approximately 300 households. Each family received 5 kilograms of rice, ten canned goods, five noodles, clothes, blankets, and biscuits. Recognizing the urgent needs of those whose homes were thoroughly washed away, some of the school’s tarpaulins were given to serve as makeshift shelters.
The outpouring of gratitude from the evacuees was overwhelming. With many having lost their belongings to the flood, clothing distribution provided much-needed comfort and dignity.
Don Bosco School Manila Educating Community and the Salesian Sisters—Philippines & Papua New Guinea Province remain committed to supporting the affected communities in their recovery journey. Ongoing assessments are being conducted to determine additional needs and plan for future relief initiatives.•
ASC-FIN Convention 2024:
Exploring Spirituality in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
Ms. Susan Liwanag, ASC-Tarlac
Another milestone in the history of the ASCFIN members took place on May 11, 2024, as the Association of Salesian Cooperators held their annual Convention & Provincial Congress at the National Shrine of Mary Help of Christians in Better Living Subdivision in Parañaque City.
The day began early, with participants arriving before 8:00 a.m. to register and exchange greetings before settling in for the day’s proceedings.
At 9:00 a.m., the concelebrated Mass commenced with Fr. Bobby Roxas, SDB, presiding. The Mass included the induction of 25 new members and the renewal of Rites of Promise for all cooperators present. Special recognition was given to the Provincial House (PH) Sta. Mesa, which is now the 17th established center of ASCFIN.
The event continued with awards and acknowledgments, celebrating dedicated Salesian Cooperators who have faithfully served for 15 years and beyond. Congratulations to all recipients!
By 10:00 a.m., the convention and congress officially began, setting a vibrant atmosphere with its timely theme, “Spirituality in the Use of Artificial Intelligence.”
Fr. Donnie Duchin Duya, SDB, the erstwhile FIN Delegate for Social Communication, delivered the keynote speech.
Fr. Donnie started his address with a compelling video presentation and engaged the audience by asking, “Who among you maintains a social media account?” The discussion delved into various aspects of Artificial Intelligence (AI), emphasizing its impact on society and the ethical considerations surrounding its use.
He underscored the importance of guiding the youth through the digital landscape and cautioned against the potential pitfalls of AI dependency.
Echoing Pope Francis, Fr. Donnie advocated for a balanced approach that integrates human wisdom and spirituality to navigate the complexities of AI technology.
The session concluded with panel reactions and a communal lunch, fostering lively discussions among attendees. A raffle drawing added a touch of excitement to the gathering, leading up to the highlight of the day—the election of ASC-PC 2024 - 2027. Eight new leaders emerged, promising a bright future ahead for ASCFIN.
As the clock struck 3:00 p.m., participants bid farewell, reflecting on a day filled with insights, camaraderie, and renewed commitment to their shared mission.•
Volunteers
of Don Bosco (VDB)
Hold Week of Spirituality in Cebu
Lawaan, Talisay City, Cebu – The Filippine-Australia (FILA) Region of the Volunteers of Don Bosco (VDB) gathered for their Week of Spirituality from July 14-22 at the Don Bosco Retreat House. This annual event aims to deepen the members’ spiritual life and commitment through reflection, prayer, and communion of life.
The week commenced with a session on revisiting the VDB Regulations, specifically focusing on the “Life in the Institute.” This session covered essential topics, including Apostolic Mission, Vows, Life of Prayer, and Formation, setting the tone for the days to come.
From the second day, the retreat shifted into a period of intense reflection, marked by strict observance of both interior and exterior silence.
The Ecclesiastical Assistants (EA) of the Local Groups shared their reflections on various Salesian topics which enriched this contemplative atmosphere: Fr. Martin Macasaet (Metro Manila) on Consecration in Secularity, Fr. Donnie Duchin Duya (Canlubang) on Prayer Life, Fr. Godofredo Atienza (Cebu) on Formation and Communion of Life, and Fr. Eligio Santos (Victorias-Negros Occidental) on Salesianity and Mission The EAs’ insights provided spiritual nourishment and guidance to the members who came from different parts of the country and overseas.
The retreat also offered opportunities for confessions, spiritual direction, rendiconto (a VDB annual talk with the Regional Responsible concerning one’s spiritual journey and her fidelity to her consecrated Salesian secular vocation), and daily Eucharistic Adoration. A special Mass was held on July 18 to honor the memory of deceased VDB members and departed ecclesiastical assistants, fostering a sense of community and remembrance.
A highlight of the Week of Spirituality was the visit of the VDB Central Councilor for the English-speaking countries, Ms. Maria Encarnación Gallego, who hails from Madrid, Spain. She was one of the resource speakers during the “Updating and Formation of Ecclesiastical Assistants” on July 20. She elaborated on the topic, “The Style of Collaboration of the EAs with the VDB: Fidelity to the Salesian Spirit.” Meanwhile, the Regional Ecclesiastical Assistant (REA), Fr. Roneldo Vilbar shared on “The EA’s Identity and Mission.” Both speakers provided formative inputs and updates, enriching the retreat’s educational and spiritual dimensions.
The Week of Spirituality capped off with a 2-day Formation of Formators centered on the theme: “Holiness and Wholeness: The Essentials of the VDB Spiritual Accompaniment.”
The Volunteers of Don Bosco, a Secular Institute within the Salesian Family, was founded by Don Philip Rinaldi in 1917. The Institute welcomed its first seven consecrated women in 1919 and was later recognized as a Secular Institute of Pontifical Right in 1978.
The VDB continues to thrive, offering a unique path of consecrated secular life for women dedicated to the mission of Don Bosco.
If you know of single women, 40 years old and below, whom you think could be part of the Volunteers of Don Bosco, please contact the Volunteers of Don Bosco (VDB) email < vdb.fila2426@gmail.com > or message 09171055478 or 099577847.
Celebrating Commitment: The Rite of Promise for New Damas Salesianas in the Philippines
DS Gene Hilado
Four Aspirants of the Familia Asociacion Damas Salesianas (FADS) Philippines, from Lourdes Center Cebu and Mama Margarita Center Paranaque City, took the Rite of Promise on May 11 and May 13, 2024, as they commemorated and celebrated the 56th Foundation Anniversary of Asociacion Damas Salesianas (ADS) International.
The four new Promised Damas Salesianas have demonstrated their vocation, interest, and capacity, embracing the IDEARIO as their life project and fulfilling the requirements of spiritual development, Christian and Salesian formations, and engagement in social actions.
The ADS Promise is not a religious vow or consecration but a pledge of honor, akin to how Christians reaffirm their baptismal commitment to God. It signifies a gesture of fidelity to the Lord Jesus Christ, embraced freely and responsibly as a way of life.
The Rite of Promise for FADS Lourdes Center took place at the Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Cebu City, during the 6 p.m. Holy Eucharist on May 11, 2024, officiated by Fr. Jerome Dublois, SDB, the Spiritual Counselor of FADS Lourdes Center. The Rite of Promise for FADS Mama Margarita Center was held at the National Shrine of Mary Help of Christians Parish, Better Living Subdivision, Paranaque City, Metro Manila, during the 6:30 p.m. Holy Eucharist on May 13, 2024, presided over by Fr. Joel Camaya, SDB, the FADS National Spiritual Counselor.
We joyfully present the new Promised Damas Salesianas: DS Letecia Sagario and DS Hermela Capangpangan from Lourdes Center, and DS Eufrocina Lirio and DS Gina Mamaril from Mama Margarita Center.
In the photos, alongside Fr. Jerome Dublois, SDB, are Fr. John Vernel Lopez, SDB, Assistant Parish Priest of the Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Fr. Godofredo Atienza, SDB, FIS Salesian Family Delegate, and members of Lourdes Center. Also present are DS Mely Mendoza, National President,
DS Gene Hilado, National Formation Counselor, and International Regional Counselor for ADS Philippines, representing the FADS National Board from Metro Manila, witnessing and leading the Rite of Promise.
The Mama Margarita Center’s Rite of Promise was attended by MMC members, National Board Officers and Counselors, and Fr. Joel Camaya, SDB, who served as the main celebrant for the Mass, marking both the Promised Damas Salesianas and a Thanksgiving for ADS International’s 56th Anniversary.
Asociacion Damas Salesianas (ADS) International was officially founded on May 13, 1968, in Caracas, Venezuela, on the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima and St. Maria Domenica Mazzarello, coFoundress of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians with Don Bosco.
We express profound gratitude for the rich and concrete history of ADS throughout the years, as we are called to respond faithfully and creatively to contemporary challenges. Our vocational response involves a robust spiritual life, comprehensive human formation, and sanctification through daily activities, work, and service as lay missionaries and apostles of the new evangelization.
The Asociacion Damas Salesianas (ADS International) turned 56th last May 13, 2024. It was founded on May 13, 1968, the Feast of our Lady of Fatima and of St. Maria Domenica Mazarello, co-Founder of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians with Don Bosco. •
Celebrating the Salesian Brothers: Highlights from the 8th EAO Congress
Br. John Raymond Montejo, SDB
Jakarta, Indonesia, 12 August 2024 -- The 8th EAO Salesian Brothers Congress, organized by the Salesian Province of Indonesia (INA), took place from 4-8 August 2024, at the Puspas Samadi Pastoral Center in Klender, East Jakarta. With the theme “Living Don Bosco’s Dream for the Young of Today in the Footsteps of St. Artemide Zatti, Venerable Simon Srugi, and Blessed Stephen Sandor,” the Congress aimed to deepen the vocation of the Salesian Brotherhood and share best practices across provinces.
BoscoLink
Over a hundred Salesian Brothers, along with some Salesian priests from all Salesian Provinces in the region, attended the event. Fr. Nguyen Thinh Phuoc Joseph, SDB, the Regional Councilor for EAO, and representatives from the Central Council welcomed the participants and conveyed the Rector Major’s message of support and prayer for the Congress’s success.
The attendance of a sizable number of young Salesian Brothers, most of whom have just finished their specific formation, was noteworthy and quite impressive, having come from different provinces. This is a clear indication that the Salesian Brother vocation is flourishing in the region despite the reality of declining numbers of brothers overall. Their strong bond and fraternity are a testament to the dynamism and thriving nature of the Salesian Congregation.
This year’s Congress saw not only Salesians but also members of the Salesian Family, including Salesian Cooperators (ASC), Salesian Sisters (FMA), and young people, actively involved in organizing and managing the event, strengthening the needed workforce among the organizers. They warmly welcomed participants, guided them to their accommodations, and assisted with activities, ensuring everyone felt at home. The remarkable collaboration among the Salesian Family highlighted the importance of fostering such unity across all Salesian Provinces.
As the formal discussions began, Bro. Jean Paul Muller, SDB, the Congregation’s Economer General, addressed the assembly with a keynote speech outlining key issues and concerns facing the congregation. He emphasized that to effectively tackle these challenges, Salesian Brothers need to actively contribute and prepare themselves with essential skills and formal education— essentially, to professionalize - to meet the demands of the mission.
Fr. Ivo Coelho, the Councillor for Formation, shared the life of holiness of Venerable Simon Srugi and invited everyone present to focus their attention on him as an Icon of Fraternity. Bro. Nádudvari Géza introduced the group to the life and example of Blessed Stephen Sandor amid the challenges of the communist regime in Hungary. Central to his sharing was the spirituality and professionalism of Blessed Sandor in the daily living of his vocation as a Salesian Brother, who did not achieve any extraordinary accomplishments but was an example of consistency and simplicity in conducting his mission and being a witness to the people around him. With the testimony of Bro. Fernando Saade, the assembly was led to reflect on the life of St Artemides Zatti, who, despite the trials of sickness and being transferred away from a familiar place, managed to continue his works of charity with responsible and creative professionalism, bringing Christ to those who were sick and suffering and becoming a brother to all he met.
This Congress plays a vital role in deepening fraternal communion among the Salesian Brothers of the EAO Region. It immerses everyone in the spirit and mission of the Salesian Brothers, aligning efforts with the example set by the Three Holy Brothers.
Through this shared experience, we are inspired and encouraged to embody and disseminate the charism of Don Bosco, adapting his vision to meet the needs of today’s youth. The Congress not only strengthens our bonds but also renews our commitment to the Salesian mission, fostering a united and dynamic approach to addressing contemporary challenges in our ministry. For the PGS Province, we established that a key challenge we need to address is to make known and foster greater appreciation for the Salesian Brother vocation within and outside the walls of our schools. We have formulated several achievable actions to reach this end:
Active promotion of the vocation through talks and conferences in various gatherings organized by our own (e.g., Salesian Family Gatherings, Wantok Bosco Camp, SYM Camp, Good Morning Talks during the feast days and memorials of the Holy Salesian Brothers)
Utilization of different media, websites, social media, and the Salesian Bulletin in promotion activities
Inspiring witness of the Salesian Brothers in the PGS Province through their lives in the community and the practice of professionalism in their conduct of the mission
In conclusion, the 8th EAO Salesian Brothers Congress has been a resounding success, showcasing the vitality and unity of the Salesian Brotherhood across the region. The event not only celebrated the legacy of Don Bosco and the exemplary lives of the three Holy Brothers but also invigorated our commitment to the Salesian mission.
As we move forward, the insights gained and the bonds forged during the Congress will drive our efforts to promote and enhance the Salesian Brother vocation, ensuring its continued relevance and impact in our communities and beyond. •
Photos from BoscoLink
First Religious Profession
Lawaan, Cebu, The Philippines, 20 August 2024—On August 15 2024, the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven, at 10:00 AM Philippine Standard Time in the Shrine of St John Bosco the Dreamer, Don Bosco Formation Center, Lawaan, the Salesian Congregation celebrated the public profession of evangelical vows by eight Salesian novices who were formally welcomed as members of the Society of Saint Francis de Sales. The novices are Emmanuel Almeria, Wilson Alo II, Matthew Espino, Madelon Gaddao, and Ruel Gonzales from the Philippine North Province, as well as Peter Kamara, Noah Bisam, and Sisto Oge from the Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands Province.
Cleric Ruel Gonzalez SDB
Photos by Jan Odivilas
The vows of Obedience, Poverty, and Chastity were professed in front of Rev. Fr Joseph Nguyen Thinh Phuoc, SDB, who represented the Rector Major, currently in Cebu for his Extraordinary Visitation to the Salesian Houses of the Philippine South Province. A solemn investiture of the cassock followed, with the parents of the newly professed Salesians assisting their sons in donning their cassocks. Fr Joseph then presented them with the Salesian Constitutions and a commemorative medal of St John Bosco.
A fellowship with the Salesian Family took place at the DBFC Pilgrim Hall to celebrate the momentous event and to foster the family spirit of Don Bosco. •
To Meet Her Beloved
Spouse
+ SR. MARIA
GERALDINA RUBIA, FMA
Sr. Geraldina (or Sr. Geraldine) was the sixth of the seven children of Pedro Rubia+ and Sotera Gimenez+. Geraldine was very grateful for the gift of faith she received from her family. She said, “In our family, warm affection, trust in God, and love for Mary, particularly for Our Lady of Lourdes, who was invoked daily with the praying of the holy Rosary, were strongly experienced.” She received both the Sacraments of Baptism (July 4,1959) and Confirmation (February 12, 1961) at the Parish of Our Lady of Lourdes, which is located near her home.
Her elementary years of schooling were spent at the University of the Visayas. Her high school and college studies were completed at the University of San Carlos, where she graduated with a degree in Bachelor of Secondary Education Major in Religious Education. She first met the Salesians of Don Bosco in the Don Bosco Youth Center (DBYC) of Our Lady of Lourdes parish. The joyful witness and loving-kindness of the Salesian Fathers towards the children and the youth had attracted her since she was 15. She joined the Legion of Mary and became a member of the Chiro Youth Movement, a catechist, and a full-fledged Young Salesian Cooperator. She worked with the Salesians in the DBYC oratory and the Accounting Office of the Don Bosco Technical High School for three years.
In 1981, when the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (Salesian Sisters of Don Bosco) arrived in Punta Princesa to work with the Salesian Fathers, Geraldine had the chance to meet Sr. Corazon Beboso, the late Sr. Helen Carcallas (+) and Sr. Florida Hedriana (+). She felt a strong desire to get to know the Sisters better and together with her friends, she started to visit them. The joyful spirit of the Salesian Sisters and their simplicity, humility, and kindness won her over. These visits made her aware of God’s call to religious life. She carefully nourished her vocation with prayer, the Sacraments, and a great love for and devotion to our Blessed Mother.
Sr. Geraldine became actively involved in the apostolate of the Salesian Sisters. She joined them in their mission of catechesis in the public and private schools, as well as in the Oratory Youth Center. The joy of giving herself in the catechetical ministry strengthened her desire to give her life completely to God. Heeding the advice of the late Msgr. Jose Bosch, SDB (+), she approached the community animator, Sr. Helen Carcallas, FMA (+), and expressed her desire to join the Institute. She was asked to join the community every Sunday and experience life with them. With her parents’ blessing, on May 6, 1984, at the age of 25, Sr. Geraldine entered the Congregation of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians. She was admitted to the postulancy on July 24, 1985, and on May 24, 1986, to the novitiate. On May 23, 1988, she made her first profession, and together with her companions of profession, chose Ps. 16,5: “You are my portion and my cup” to be the Word of God to guide them in their journey, and the chalice to be their batch symbol.
In 1993, as a young temporarily professed Sister, sr. Geraldine was diagnosed with a heart condition that led to an open-heart surgery. Her heart bypass did not stop her from giving her best in the apostolate all those years. She was a Religion teacher from Kindergarten to High School. She also served as animator of the Oratory, the Catechetical Ministry, the Salesian Youth Movement, the Junior Missionary Club, the Knights of the Altar, and the Mother’s Club. She was also an economer, assistant to the boarders, and a Parish Council member.
The Sisters, the young and lay mission partners, remember Sr. Geraldine as a cheerful, simple, and carefree person, a bearer of joy to the community. She was fun and easy to be with. She loved to tell jokes and funny stories, even if she seemed serious. These kept the atmosphere of the community light and happy. An early riser, she prepared the breakfast table for the community. Gifted with a simple heart, she lived simplicity and gratitude. She did not have many needs and was content with what she had. She always had a heartfelt “thank you” for everything she received. An artist, Sr. Geraldine shared her creativity and initiatives with the community and was always ready to lend a hand.
An outstanding characteristic of hers as a Daughter of Mary Help of Christians was her presence in the playground, where she was an ever-willing and joyful Salesian assistant. All the children and their parents saw Sr. Geraldine always near the gate, welcoming their children with a smile before the assembly started and at dismissal time. As a Christian Living Education (CLE) teacher, catechist, and Oratory-in-charge, she trained “altar boys” at the Mary Help of Christians School-Cebu and at Don Bosco SchoolManila. Her Salesian prayer and constant accompaniment inspired these boys to choose to become good persons. She even helped some of them to discover God’s call for them; one of them, in fact, is now a Salesian priest. Indeed, Sr. Geraldine’s zeal for souls and passion for the da mihi animas are truly admirable. These last two months were Sr. Geraldine’s greatest suffering since she was in and out of the hospital due to bleeding. She was happy to come home to the provincial house on the day she was
discharged to prepare for a medical procedure on Saturday, June 1. However, in the early hours of the morning of May 31, she was rushed to the Makati Medical Center due to difficulty in breathing. All her vital signs were down when she arrived at the emergency room. The doctors did their best to revive her, but after a few hours, her heart could not take it anymore. She slipped into the Father’s house peacefully due to congestive heart failure and blood cancer.
Despite her physical weakness, she was consistent in exemplifying the motto of Bl. Laura Vicuña “to suffer silently and smile always.” She maintained a cheerful disposition up to the last moment. Last May 22, she shared her joy in receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation from Rev. Fr. Wilfredo del Parto, SVD, and the Last Sacrament from Fr. Nestor Impelido, SDB. She told me, “I am well blessed, and these blessings are what I share with you by putting all my intentions for you and the Province, especially for our new Sisters. Thank you so much, and I appreciate all the love and care you have shown me.”
Thank you, Sr. Geraldine, for your faith, your simplicity, and your kindness. Thank you for your joyful witness of God’s love for the young, the community, the province, and the Institute. We ask for your intercession for all the young people entrusted to our care and for vocations in our province and the Institute. •
The Sisters, the young and lay mission partners, remember Sr. Geraldine as a cheerful, simple, and carefree person, a bearer of joy to the community. She was fun and easy to be with. She loved to tell jokes and funny stories, even if she seemed serious.
The Commission on Social Communication of the FIN Province held a global screening of “Don Bosco’s Dream at 9” on August 16, celebrating the 209th birthday of St. John Bosco and marking the 200th anniversary of the Dream at 9.
This video beautifully brings to life St. John Bosco’s “Dream at Nine,” a vision that has inspired the Salesian mission worldwide. Filmed entirely in the Philippines, the production skillfully combines real-life footage with detailed computer-generated imagery (CGI) to faithfully represent the rich Salesian heritage.
Every detail, from the setting to the animation, was crafted with precision and care to honor our Founder’s legacy and to inspire a new generation.
The production was led by Mr. Redentor “Dondie” Bernardino, along with the members of the DB Tondo Senakulo Production Team. The script was written by Ms. Lea Dasigan.
Post-production work and audio engineering were handled by Narra Post Production Studios by Wildsound. •
