eSalesian Assistance amidst the Pandemic

eSalesian

Assistance amidst the Pandemic

By Mr. Diego Leandro Contreras

Youth centers, schools, chapels – young people had been literally everywhere before the onslaught of COVID-19. Unfortunately, the usual activities that connected the Salesians and youth have been compromised due to the restrictions on social gatherings. In response to this, there were groups of Salesian priests, clerics, and brothers who initiated various online programs, including VocTok:

Usapang Bokasyon at Buhay-buhay, D’Word, SWalk, and

Koyang TV. These programs have been their means to be present online, hence the term “e-Salesian Assistance.” Last September 8, 2020, on the Feast of the Nativity of Mary, the Vocation Team of the Salesians of Don Bosco - Philippine North Province (SDB-FIN) launched the rst episode of VocTok: Usapang Bokasyon at Buhay-buhay or simply dubbed as “VocTok.” VocTok is an online vocation talk show aimed at featuring the stories of various guests from di erent vocations and professions. In its rst season in 2020, comprising a total of 16 episodes, the show was able to feature Salesians, doctors, nuns, couples, a writer, seminarians, ex-seminarians, a teacher, and a celebrity. On top of featuring the stories of amazing persons, VocTok envisions to challenge its viewers, especially the young people, to be salts and light of the world in whatever vocation they are being called for. Hosted by the Vocation Director of SDB-FIN Fr. Jayson B. David, SDB, this program continues to air every Saturday at 6:00 PM via the Facebook Page of Salesian Vocation – FIN.

For some, it has been a Saturday habit to watch D’Word right after watching VocTok. D’Word is also an online livestream program that speci cally aims to expose God’s word and relate it to the life of young people. This online broadcast is mainly hosted by Cl. Paul Aldrin Dungca, SDB, Cl. Jojo Valenzuela, SDB, Sr. Janis Mia Aguirre, FMA, Ferl Angelene Larrosa, and John Paul Almerez and aims to prepare the young people for the Sunday Eucharist and provide a safe and light place for the discussion of life and spirituality. Since their rst airing last September 2020, D’Word continues to livestream through their Facebook Page every Saturday from 8:30 to 9:30 PM.

Even with the pandemic, Salesian assistance has never been a thing of the past. Young people are not gone, but they must be met in the right places where they are present.

In addition to the roster of online programs broadcasted live via Facebook, Koyang TV airs every Friday with a Formation session and every Saturday with a Catechesis. It aims to provide an online oratory where young people, especially Bosconians, can hang-out and spend time through fun activities and substantial formation. This livestream is hosted by Cl. John Paolo Romero, SDB and Br. Daniel Drew Matias, SDB who are dubbed as the show’s “Koyangs,” a Kapampangan term for an older brother or kuya.

Furthermore, on the Feast day of Bl. Laura Vicuña last January 22, 2021, the rst episode of SWalk was premiered. Its name was lifted from “Salesian Walk”, with emphasis to how it motivates Salesian Assistance, a tradition that is ordinarily seen from Salesian Educators and is expected by Salesian youth during breaks in school days. This initiative, led by Cl. Joel Granada, SDB, targets to provide Bosconians a break from their online schoolwork as they engage in casual and youthful discussions brought by the program. Through a distinct, respectful, and youthful language that is patterned after the language of the young today, SWalk presents an interactive and responsive environment that encourages participation from its viewers. Salesian schools and common places for Bosconians and the young are being featured with a ve-minute re ection segment on the Salesian Youth Spirituality and the value of hope. Every episode is broadcasted live via Facebook every Saturday from 4:00 to 5:00 PM. It captures Bosconians as its primary audience, and eventually, the young in general.

Even with the pandemic, Salesian assistance has never been a thing of the past. Young people are not gone, but they must be met in the right places where they are present. Like the four aforementioned online programs of the Salesians, the youth could be encountered in the social media through appropriate ways that never fail to bring them substantial content/ knowledge (reason), spiritual guidance (religion), and humane and youthful atmosphere (loving kindness). Amidst the enduring pandemic, e-Salesian Assistance has made way so that accompaniment may always perdure albeit remotely. These various social media programs are among the Salesians’ way of refusing to lose by default against the perils of idleness due to the situation of the world today.