Living the Dream

COMPANION

SANGATI

Konkan Salesian Bulletin Province of Panjim (INP)

July - Sept 2015 | Volume - 08 | Issue 03

Bicentenary Issue

Living the Dream Father and Teacher of Young to Holiness of Life

A birthday gift for Don Bosco

Don Bosco’s Spirituality Today

Editorial Editor Joaquim Lobo, sdb Editorial Team Francis Xavier, sdb Ralin De Souza, sdb Local Communication Delegates Layout & Cover Design Joaquim Lobo Consultants Ian Figueiredo, sdb (Provincial) Paul D’Souza, sdb (Vice Provincial) Allwyn D’Souza, sdb (Economer) Distribution Lazar Vaz Printed at Rajhuns, Kolhapur Published by Boskon Communications Don Bosco Provincial House Odxel, Goa University P.O. Goa 403206 sangatidonbosco@gmail.com

August 16, 2015. The Salesians were systematically preparing for this great day for the last three years - the 200th birthday of Don Bosco, ‘the Father and Teacher of the Young.’

The whole Salesian world - thousands of Salesians, millions of Salesian Family members, and scores of well wishers, benefactors and beneficiaries in 132 countries - have been celebrating Don Bosco. Some countries, recognizing the contribution of the man to their country, have made it a national celebration.

Inviting people to write for this bulletin their views, thoughts, reflections on Don Bosco, the person and institutions, the affection for him and his works have just poured in from inside the Salesian Family and outside it. The pages of this issue are doubled.

Himself born at a Biglione farm house at Becchi, where his family was working as tenants, experiencing the hardships a poor family has to go through, struggling all his childhood to get educated, recognizing the contribution of his benefactors on the way to his priesthood, Don Bosco made his life’s plan to help every youngster in need. And what a success he had in building up societies of the world!

The origin of the expanse of the Salesian works is attributed to his ‘friends’, Jesus and Mary, whom he was devoted to and depended on all his life. He saw the need and boldly plunged to eleviate it as if it was his duty to do so. He ‘dirtied’ his hands and his friends aided him in the rest.

The works of the province are regularly published on the website www.donboscopanjim.com

What will I offer Don Bosco on his birthday? There are lots of suggestions and insights in this bulletin.

Our online id

Don Bosco has been a symbol of hope to the youngsters all over the world through his Salesians, Salesian Family members and benefactors. In what way could I live the dream of Don Bosco - in making youngsters honest citizens and good people? Like John Cagliero we could say, “Monk or no monk, I live with Don Bosco.”

donboscoinp for Facebook Tweeter G+ Gmail

‘Happy Birthday to you, Don Bosco!’

Joaquim Lobo, sdb This is a Salesian Province Bulletin, and is directed towards the Salesian works in the regions of Sindhudurg, Goa and Karnataka.

For private circulation only.

DEAR SALESIAN FAMILY Fr Ángel Fernández Artime, RM

The Whole World Salesian Family at Valdocco

The General Superiors of male and female Congregations of our Salesian Family, the persons responsible for the Institutes of Consecrated Life, the World Presidents and Coordinators of all the members of our male and female Salesian Family, have lived together an unprecedented historic moment.

The information was offered in simultaneous communication in those days (January 31 and February 1 of the present year). Here I only wish to underline the SINGULAR and HISTORIC value of this encounter.

Called together were the ‘responsible generals’ of the 30 groups of the Salesian Family to which we all belong juridically, in order to live together, with Don Bosco in the Salesian sites of Valdocco and Becchi, our being the sons and daughters of the same charismatic Father.

We wanted to be united and in communion, to pray together and to express in many ways, our belonging to this great tree that is our Salesian Family, with a common trunk: Don Bosco and the Salesian Charism.

Our sharing was very beautiful. We were able to visit together our ‘Salesian holy places’ at Becchi, Colle Don Bosco, Chieri, Valdocco. We renewed our commitment and mission on behalf of the young, the young of the world, especially of the poorest, abandoned and neglected; it was a “Christian-Salesian profession of Faith” before the Lord, before our Mother Help of Christians, before Don Bosco (and Mother Mazzarello and Dominic Savio in the Basilica), and all the Blessed of our Salesian Family in Heaven.

Among all those present, the presence of the Rector Major Emeritus, Fr. Pacual Chávez, who accepted pleasantly my invitation as he always does, was a beautiful and meaningful expression of communion and continuity in the task of animation in our Salesian Family.

Undoubtedly those of us who lived these moments have returned happy to our homes, but especially our COMMUNION AS A SALESIAN FAMILY has had a lively expression of its very reality. We thank God for it.

July - Sept 2015

I would like to share some good news of all that the Lord allows us to do as the Salesian Family in the world on behalf of those in greatest need. They are, quite simply, good news that fill the heart with joy and contentment because, even if I am convinced that simplicity and humility have to be our distinctive mode of being and doing in favor of the others, and in our way to show ourselves in public, I am also convinced, as Don Bosco used to do himself that we have to let know the good that is being done.

And just for the record I highlight, as an example: 1. The marvelous service of acceptance of refugees and safeguarding of life and health which between the SDB’s, FMA’s, and another congregation of our Salesian Family, we are offering to more than two thousand refugees in the area of our mentioned communities at JUBA – South Sudan.

2. Our 15 Salesian Brothers at Sierra Leone did not doubt one minute to remain with their people from December 8th, day of the Immaculate, after a conference via Skype I had with them, with the blessing of Mary Help of Christians, they set in motion the reality of receiving sites for orphans who have lost their parents to Ebola.

In a short few weeks we have transformed two schools into receiving-homes for youngsters who will be with us for many years.

3. In the Philippines with the help of everyone, of the Rector Major in his day, the missionary procures and

SANGATI

3

DEAR SALESIAN FAMILY Fr Ángel Fernández Artime, RM other groups, has been possible to rebuild more than 3000 simple houses and 11 educational centers all devastated by typhoon Haiyan.

4. In Odessa our FMA sisters and our SDB brothers work generously to attend to the needs of so many families of refugees that have urgent need of sustainment, initiative and service in which many Christian families are involved within the same city of Odessa.

5. At Colombia the program for formation for work and human development in Salesian Family works has received recognition from the whole country.

6. Syria is a continuous concern for us. It has become a very hard war reality for our brothers, sisters and houses of the Near East. In concrete at Aleppo (Syria) young men from our houses risk permanently the danger of the bullets in order to give, as it may be possible, a semblance of normality to the oratories and youth centers of our houses, wishing that life will continue normally.

7.Nepal.

The consoling and effectively solidary presence of the Salesians, SDB’s and FMA’s, in the middle of our brothers who suffered the devastating earthquake at Nepal is a reason for a heartfelt thanksgiving to God, in spite of the drama and suffering. One more time Don

8.Yemen The courage and strong motivation of our four confreres from the province of Bangalore, who live and work there, brought relief in the midst of that very dramatic war situation. They did everything to remain there with their people.

9.Pakistan We have received news about the witness of our 19-year-old young alumnus martyr, Akash Bashir, who sacrificed his life at the entrance of the Saint John of Lahore, protecting his community from a suicidebomber.

10. Significant media attention has captured the campaign undertaken by the “Misiones Salesianas” in the Madrid-Spain missionary procure, against the sale of minors. The documentary: “I am not up for sale”, has brought up to the public attention a complex reality, invisible and alarming, which has received great public attention.

11.Finally a very beautiful reality, which I keep coming up against again and again in the world is the many presences in which, as brothers and sisters we have always united our strength on behalf of our charges: may this serve as an example, Papua-New Guinea, where FMA’s and SDB’s work on behalf of the boys and girls with two houses they take in boys and girls who would not be able to study without the opportunity we offer them, because they live in far away places in the interior of the country.

And I conclude with a profound sense of gratitude to the Lord for all I have communicated so far. Much good is done in each one of our Institutions and as the Salesian Family, and this should be a deep cause of joy and encourage us to attend always MORE in fidelity to the mission and in fidelity to those we serve, who are the object of our mission. Thanks, on this occasion for the beautiful reality of the Salesian Family referred to above.

Bosco gave tangible proof that globalized charity and solidarity are truly possible. And this is accomplished because we do not abandon our people, nor our young people, counting on the good work of the Salesian international networks.

Thanks, lastly, for the gift of our respective vocations.

A first duty we all have is precisely, to help each other to be “vocationally in shape” (using a sports metaphor).

That is to say, full of motivation and desire to live with authentic passion for Jesus the Lord and for the Kingdom.

4 SANGATI

July - Sept 2015

COVER STORY Fr Joaquim D’Souza, SDB

Saint John Bosco: Father and Teacher of the Young to Holiness of Life After the three years of preparation for the Bicentenary celebration of the birth of Don Bosco, it is time now to attempt a response to the fundamental question: What is the secret of the extraordinary sanctity and marvellous spiritual fecundity of Don Bosco? It is indeed a fundamental question because it compels us to enter into his interior life and discover the hidden flame that nourished his spirituality. For us, Sons and Daughters of Don Bosco and members of the Salesian Family, it is crucial to discover his secret in order to follow in his footsteps and to continue his mission.

A first answer might be suggested by looking in the direction of Pope St. John Paul’s Apostolic Letter, Iuvenum Patris.The Pope says: «In this letter I want especially to consider in Don Bosco the fact that he realised his personal holiness through an educative commitment lived with zeal and an apostolic heart, and that at the same time he knew how to propose holiness as the practical objective of his pedagogy. An interchange between “education” and “sanctity” is indeed the characteristic aspect of his personality: he was a “holy educator”, he drew his inspiration from a “holy model” – Francis de Sales –, he was the disciple of a “holy spiritual director” – Joseph Cafasso –, and he was able to form from among his boys a “holy pupil” – Dominic Savio».

Don Bosco’s was an apostolic sanctity generative of saints, forged in the interaction between the appeal of young people for the fullness of life and happiness, and Don Bosco’s own heroic effort to respond totally to that appeal.

Don Bosco: a Saint with and for the young, in order to save their souls

singular boast when he declared in the introduction to The Companion of Youth: «My dear boys, I love you with all my heart, and it is enough that you are young for me to love you very much. I can assure you that you will find many books written for you by persons far more virtuous and learned than I, but with difficulty will you be able to find anyone who loves you more than I do in Jesus Christ, and who more than I desires your true happiness.» This predilection for the young was for him a matter of a calling, which he perceived from a very tender age and which remained constant with him right to the last moments of his life as an urgent summons, to which he could not but wholeheartedly submit.

The three most important convictions of Don Bosco, on the basis of which he built his own sanctity and formulated the proposal of holiness of life for young people, are:

1) The Father gives every human being a sublime vocation The most vital and deepest perception of Don Bosco concerned the reality of salvation offered to every human person. Don Bosco strongly believed in God’s plan for the salvation of all mankind. «See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are.» (1Jn 3,1) Every person is called to the freedom of the children of God, to a loving dialogue with him, and to eternal happiness in the beatific vision.

Every person is touched in the depths of his being by the redemptive grace of Christ, whereby he becomes our «brother for whose sake Christ died,» (1Cor 8, 11) enters into the salvific sphere of the Church, house of salvation, and is placed under the protection of Mary his mother.

He was a saint of the young with the gift of an extraordinary predilection for them in view of the salvation of their souls. He himself laid claim to this

July - Sept 2015

SANGATI

5

2) The one more deprived of the means to attain his supernatural vocation deserves greater help In our world, innumerable persons are unable to realize their stupendous vocation, and are not even aware of it. Don Bosco’s heart was moved at this tragic situation considered in the light of the Gospels: «Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.» (Mt 18, 14) With complete generosity, he dedicated himself to the least favoured, the most deprived, the ones who had most need of being saved. In concrete, he turned towards three types of the “poor”: youth abandoned and at risk; the popular classes of society, at that time ignorant and depressed; the peoples deprived of the Gospel. There is in Don Bosco an immediate and spontaneous reaction of compassion, which could only proceed from the heart of God and of Christ, to give the whole of himself to succour the needs of others in view of their eternal salvation.

3) It is a divine thing to help a brother realize his vocation The third basic conviction of Don Bosco was the need for urgency in putting himself out to help a person in distress. «By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.» (1Jn 3, 16) Don Bosco took these words of John as an urgent appeal. The charity of Christ urges us and provokes us to come

to the aid of our needy brethren without delay. «No sacrifice is so pleasing to the Lord as the zeal for the salvation of souls,» said Don Bosco in his homily on St Philip Neri. His apostolic zeal betrayed a note of urgency – an echo of the divine urgency manifested in the ministry of Jesus, – which propelled Don Bosco to always go beyond the call of duty, to open up new frontiers, to create new initiatives – all aimed at the salvation of souls. The splendid testimony of his first Successor, Michael Rua, at the beatification and canonization process of Don Bosco captures accurately the moving force behind Don Bosco’s zeal: «He took no step, he said no word, he took up no task that was not directed to the saving of the young… Truly the only concern of his heart was for souls.»

Don Bosco’s pedagogical proposal of youthful sanctity Faithful to his motto, “Give me souls, take away the rest”, which was both a constant prayer of union with God in his saving mission, and a programme of apostolic action transposed into an educative key of forming “honest citizens and good Christians”, Don Bosco became a saint with and for the young, gaining their confidence and offering them his friendship. Based on the experience of his own formative years, he offered them a simple and practical proposal of sanctity comprising of “piety, cheerfulness and study,” and exhorting them to win their companions to a good life. For this purpose, he encouraged the setting up of sodalities of an

6 SANGATI

July - Sept 2015

COVER STORY Fr Joaquim D’Souza, SDB

apostolic nature. The best fruit of these sodalities was the one founded by St Dominic Savio, the Sodality of the Immaculate Conception, nine of whose members later formed the original nucleus of the Salesian Society of Don Bosco. The essential traits of the project of youthful sanctity of the Sodality passed into and continues as the permanent element in the Constitutions of the twin religious Societies of the Salesians of Don Bosco and of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians. This project of youthful sanctity unites educators and educands in one unique pedagogical and spiritual experience called the “Preventive System,” in which the human, social and transcendent dimensions are perfectly integrated in an integral Christian humanism.

Don Bosco and the Young: a shared sanctity

It is true that Don Bosco moulded the sanctity of Dominic Savio and his companions, but it is likewise true that Dominic and his friends profoundly influenced the sanctity of Don Bosco to form in him the “father and teacher of youth”. The fact that Don Bosco wrote the three biographies of his pupils shows, as Aldo Giraudo insightfully observes, that Don Bosco found in recounting their stories a confirmation of the validity of his educative project of youthful sanctity. Writes Giraudo: «Through them [the three biographies] we can be introduced into his interior world, have access to his vision and his preoccupations, understand how much confidence he placed in the resources of the youthful spirit…» In other words, in the journey of sanctity of Dominic Savio and other young boys of the Oratory of Valdocco, we see a mirror-image of the sanctity of Don Bosco – that which resulted from the mutual influence, and we might say, the spiritual inter-fecundation between the educator and the educands.

Chávez, made the theme of his first Circular l e t t e r : “Salesians, be saints!” With felicitous intuition, his S u c c e s s o r, Fr Ángel Fe r n á n d e z A r t i m e , proposed as the first Strenna of his mandate, the theme: “Like Don Bosco, with the young, for the young”. Joining together the two themes that span 12 years of renewal of the Congregation and two General Chapters, 26 and 27, in view of the Bicentenary of Don Bosco’s birth, we have before us a remarkable programme of life and action that expresses the kernel of Don Bosco’s sanctity and our charismatic identity: “Salesians, be saints like Don Bosco, with the young and for the young!”

Get Ready for...

Don Bosco’s sanctity, formed in the midst of and for the sake of the young leading them to holiness, is thus the model of Salesian sanctity to be renewed and relaunched as a programme of action in this Bicentennial of Don Bosco’s birth. At the beginning of his mandate, the then Rector Major, Fr Pascual

July - Sept 2015

SANGATI

August

15 8th 20

Venues: Don Bosco, Fatorda Don Bosco, Panjim

7

SPIRITUALITY Fr Ivo Coelho, SDB (General Counsellor-Formation)

Don Bosco’s Spirituality Today At our recent Retreat at the monastery of Vallombrosa near Florence, Aldo Giraudo, one of our outstanding Salesian scholars, was quoting passages from the not-sowell-known life of Luigi Comollo written by Don Bosco while still a seminarian. One of these went like this: “[Comollo] loved Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and as well as frequent visits or spiritual communion, he took advantage of any occasion for spiritual communion to the great edification of those who were nearby. He would fast for a day in honour of Mary most holy before receiving Communion. After Confession he did not want to speak about anything except the greatness, goodness and love of Jesus whom he was going to receive the following day. When it was time for him to approach the sacred table I saw him taken up with the most lofty and devout thoughts. With full composure, walking slowly and deliberately with his eyes cast down, and at times trembling with emotion, he would approach the Holy of Holies. When he had returned quickly to his place he seemed beside himself, deeply moved and fully taken up in devotion. He prayed, but his prayer was interrupted by sobs, groans and tears; he could not quieten his rapture of affectionate piety until Mass was over and the morning hymn began. He was often warned to curb his external show of emotion since it might offend others: ‘I feel so full of affection and so happy of heart,’ he told me ‘that if I can’t express it I feel I will suffocate.’ ‘On the day I go to Communion,’ he said at other times, ‘I feel so full of joy and goodness that I cannot understand or explain it.’” (Fonti Salesiane 1001-2)

True, Don Bosco himself was not prone to Comollo’s kind of emotional expressiveness. Still, what was he trying to say by the fact that he published the life of his friend more than once? And what are we to make of similar passages in the Giovane Provveduto and the lives of Savio, Magone and Besucco? Even more telling are certain biographies of young Salesians who had died while Don Bosco was still alive. These biographies were written, at Don Bosco’s instance, by Giulio Barberis and others, but Don Bosco put his name to them, and so they become a statement of his spirituality, of the model of religious life he was holding up to his Salesians.

The surprising thing is that we find them full of long

periods of prayer, intense emotions towards the Blessed Sacrament, and even episodes of nocturnal prayer. When I read some of these stories with a group of theology students in Ratisbonne some years ago, some of them reacted rather strongly: “This is not Salesian – even if Don Bosco put his name to them.” Here are some excerpts from these interesting biographies: Antonio Vallega (died in 1876 at the age of 18): “How admirable was his recollection at prayer! With head bowed, hands joined at the breast, silent and still, he was more like an angel in heaven than a man on earth.

If at all he raised his eyes, often full of tears, it was only to fix them on the beloved tabernacle that held Jesus, the delight and yearning of his soul.”

Giovanni Arata (died at Lanzo in 1878): “He was seen becoming red at the moment of the Elevation, praying strongly, and, sometimes, prostrating with face to the ground, remaining in that position up to the time for receiving communion…. He said to one of his companions that he would willingly pass entire days before the Blessed Sacrament; and he would pass the whole night of Holy Thursday on his knees before the Altar of Repose, and would have gladly passed many other nights in like manner if it had been permitted him.”

Cesare Peloso “used to pray fervently, make frequent visits to the Blessed Sacrament during the time of recreation, and would happily have passed the whole day in church if obedience or some duty had not impeded him.” And Giacomo Vigliocco, who Don Bosco called a ‘precious cleric,’ “was seen many times in his adolescence praying at night, and even for a long time.”

What then can we say about the kind of spirituality that emerges from these writings of Don Bosco? We could easily dismiss them as excessive and exaggerated. Or else we could allow ourselves to be challenged by Don Bosco, keeping ourselves open to change certain ideas that we have received about his spirituality. This much is certainly clear: at the core of everything that Don Bosco writes there is a passion for God in Jesus. This is what

8 SANGATI

July - Sept 2015

SPIRITUALITY Fr Ivo Coelho, SDB our recent Salesian magisterium has begun to call the primacy of God. It is what the Jesuit Francesco Rossi de Gasperis means when he talks of Jesus as the first principle of our being. ‘First principle’ means that which influences and conditions everything in us. While it is impossible to reduce this to formulas, rules of behaviour, examples to be followed, propositions and principles, or an ideal or a system of values, it does not mean that the influence is something vague or indeterminate. It is rather a love that conquers me, a conditioning that emanates from a person who loves me and who I love in return, who desires me and who I desire in return, to whom I want to belong and who wants to belong to me – like Jonathan whose soul “was knit” to the soul of David, so that he loved him as he loved his own soul (1 Sam 18,1). Here is a person who I know from within, who I esteem and revere, who fascinates me and with whom I am madly in love, who seduces me and I allow myself to be seduced (cf. Jer 20,7). “This is a being in love that is analogous to the most intense and passionate human love, but that nonetheless transcends in intensity and permanence every love of a creature, because my belonging in this case is without conditions and limits.

No one, man or woman, could have the right to possess me like this, as he possesses me…”

The Spirit creates a profound sympathy between Jesus and us, so that even the slightest dissonance between him and us becomes unbearable, not out of any sense of duty or an egoistic sense of guilt but because of love. But there is more than just sympathy: the person of Jesus becomes our consciousness, the ‘I’ that is deeper than our deepest selves. This does not mean, however, that I need to copy what he said and did, or repeat his words and actions. On the contrary, following him as his disciple, I finally feel free to be myself. I flower, I bloom, because that is what love does. In Jesus each one becomes truly himself, and the Church flowers like a garden of irreducible personal identities: Simon Peter the fisherman turned pastor, and John, the beloved disciple; Paul, the Pharisee rejected by the Jews for being not devoted enough to the Torah and too open to the Gentiles, and James, the head of the Church of the Circumcision, killed by the Jews for being a relative of Jesus and far too attached to him.

It is the person of Jesus more than his doctrine that is the rule of Anthony of the desert and Pachomius, Basil and Benedict, Augustine and Jerome, Dominic, Francis, Ignatius and Don Bosco, and, we might add, Don Rua, and Don Rinaldi, each one so different from the other.

July - Sept 2015

And how do I reach this kind of primacy, this state where Jesus becomes the first principle of my being?

In prolonged contemplation of the consciousness and the heart of Jesus, grasped in the unitary and unwritten understanding of the New Testament and reached by exposing myself to the light and warmth of the sun that is Christ the Lord.

I have quoted Rossi de Gasperis at length because of the way he unfolds for me the meaning of the primacy of God, and unlocks for me the secret core of all those descriptions of Don Bosco that otherwise seem so excessive and exaggerated. That secret core is a heart that is completely in love with God in Jesus. Don Bosco is not Comollo, but he was certainly passionate by temperament, a little glimpse of which we get in his quite unselfconscious description of his friendship with the Jewish boy Jonah: While I was still a humanities student lodging at John Pianta’s cafe, I got to know a Jewish youngster called Jonah. He was about eighteen, was remarkably good looking, and had an exceptionally fine singing voice.

He was a good billiards player too. We met at Elijah’s bookstore, and he would always ask for me as soon as he came into the shop. I liked him a lot, and he was very attached to me. Every spare minute he had, he spent in my room; we sang together, played the piano, or read.

He liked to hear the thousand little stories I used to tell.

(Memoirs of the Oratory, ch. 10) John Bosco’s great sensibility and enormous capacity for affection was transformed by grace, and it is this transfigured passion that shines through the Lives that Don Bosco wrote.

Don Bosco’s writings certainly bear the imprint of the ‘romantic theology’ of his time. One of our tasks today, at a distance of two hundred years from his birth, is to transpose them into a new language. Benedict XVI has given us a great lead here, and Francis keeps opening up surprisingly fresh directions. God loves us with a love that is agape as well as eros. The Omnipotent one is a beggar before our hearts and longs for our response.

And when we do respond, Jesus “is knit” to our souls till he becomes deeper than our deepest selves, setting us paradoxically free to be our ownmost selves, and to find a thousand ways of expressing our love for him. We will know when that has happened, and so will the young.

Young people, as John Paul II tells us towards the end of Vita Consecrata, will not be deceived. They know very well when we have been touched and transformed, and who it is that possesses our hearts.

SANGATI

9

SALESIAN FUTURE

Fr Ian Figueiredo, SDB

Salesians of Don Bosco – 200 years and beyond!

Salesians have been celebrating milestones with increasing frequency over the past few years, with much external fanfare but also with care not to overlook the spiritual and transformative aspects. In 2009, it was the 150th anniversary of the Congregation’s foundation, with a public renewal of religious vows. Then, there was the well-defined preparation for Don Bosco’s 200th birthday with the mind-blowing visit of the Saint in a relic placed in a replica of his body. We were blessed to have him with us in the Province of Panjim from August 17 to 26, 2010. At the time, not a few salesians honestly declared that his coming served to re-kindle a spark of religious fervor in their otherwise tame lives! Soon after, we launched into the three year preparation that led the whole Salesian Family to rediscover the history (2011-2012), pedagogy (2012-2013) and spirituality (20132014) of the saint from Turin. Its purpose, Fr. Pascual Chavez reminded us at the time, was “not a nostalgic looking back at the past nor a purely parochial event but an opportunity to renew again our commitment to young people as they face the challenges of life. It is a fresh call to the entire Salesian Family to engage in our mission with and for young people”.

The year 2014-2015 erupted in an avalanche of programmes to commemorate the significant step in the journey of the Salesian Society in its ever relevant mission of education to the young. This chain of commemorations, along with Province and local community tributes to Don Bosco, will culminate on 16th August as

we gather together for the civic reception at the Ravindra Bhavan, Margao, to publicly testify to our reverence and appreciation for our Foundersaint! On August 30th, the Salesian Family of the Province will spend some prayerful and family moments at the concluding ceremony.

What next?

One day our founder exclaimed, “Oh, if I could only keep alive for five hundred years, fifty of our present salesians, they would see what an amazing destiny Providence has reserved for us if we remain faithful.” For that to happen, certain safeguards must be in place without which our Founder’s hopes will remain wishful thinking!

1. A focus on being rather than on doing Religious life arose in the Church as an exclusive search for God. In order to live love of God and neighbour exclusively and with total dedication, men and women left everything.

At no time in the Church

10 SANGATI

July - Sept 2015

SALESIAN FUTURE Fr Ian Figueiredo, SDB

did religious life focus on being a horde of people, a labour force in the Church. Quality, not quantity marked their presence. Religious became prophets, ‘specialists of God’ and were able to guide others to Him (Joan Chittister). It is becoming a widespread practice for religious of the active life to find greater fulfillment in work, sacrificing the demands of religious consecration such as prayer and fraternity. At times, this ‘work’ is a ceaseless, unreflecting activity among youth or an engagement with bricks, money or equipment that has little to do with pastoral work.

Our Holy Father suggests prayer as the source of fruitfulness of the mission, “Let us promote the contemplative dimension, even amid the maelstrom of the pressing and difficult commitments. The more you are called by mission to go to the marginalized, the more united your heart must be to Christ, who is full of mercy and love. The more you join with Jesus and he becomes the centre of your life, the more he takes you out of yourself, decentralizes you and opens you to others.” (‘Letter to religious’, March 2014)

gave a ‘home’ and also a family and became a spiritual father (Fr. Juan Vecchi). If the salesian congregation is to be relevant today, we must gaze “at the social condition of poverty with the eyes of Don Bosco and, on noting how it destroys so many young people, feel ourselves challenged to make our presence among the poor more consistent and incisive” (GC 23, 80). The effectiveness of the Salesian presence in the locality may necessitate the relocation of the province where the needs of young people are most urgent and where our presence is most fruitful (GC 25, 193) – a shift towards new poverties (GC 27, 73#1). For that to happen, we must develop a readiness to move out of our comfort zones and go to those places where the need is greater!

2. A focus on prophetic ministries rather than merely offering traditional services

Prophets are people who, because of their closeness to God, share in His concerns and interests. Like Him, they become aware of the pitiable condition of those whom the world cares least about, they get upset by the injustices that most people learn to accept ‘as the way things are’ and set themselves to do something.

Don Bosco made himself a priest of the street. He left the Temple to go in search of boys where they were to be found. To these, he July - Sept 2015

3. A focus on being with the young rather than managing works

Salesians are becoming increasingly aware that there is a physical, cultural and mental distance, between them and youngsters. Should this situation continue, we will find ourselves unable to address them in a language that is appealing; we will become irrelevant as missionaries of the young!

SANGATI

11

SALESIAN FUTURE Fr Ian Figueiredo, SDB

GC27 declared that ‘the young are our burning bush’. God speaks to us through young people. We will adequately understand them and appropriately respond to their needs and aspirations only if we are capable of ‘wasting time’, of engaging in a friendly way with them, of being ‘salesian assistants’, following the spirituality of the Preventive System. When we become shepherds with ‘the smell of the sheep’, then we can hope to become their true servants.

Furthermore, religious vocations are ordinarily the result of good youth ministry. Does this explain why we do not easily get candidates from our own institutions? Do we have the courage to propose a vocation and guide them in its discernment?

4. A focus on fraternal communion and a guarding against individualism When addressing the GC 27 members, Pope Francis declared, “Thanks be to God you do not live or work as isolated individuals but as community. What is needed is deep communication and authentic relationships”. In the draft of the Salesian Constitutions of 1858, Don Bosco describes the fraternal community thus, “The associates all live together in common, bound only by the bond of brotherly love and the simple vows, which so unite them as to make them one in heart and soul in order to love and serve God”. In the attainment of communion, each confrere must play his part, sharing his plans and projects, taking care of the aged and sick, welcoming and accepting confreres as brothers, seeking the Will of God together, and collaborating in the mission entrusted to the community. Undoubtedly, we

need good leaders who can be the soul of their communities, capable of exercising authority, of guiding to fidelity, of creating fellowship and the family spirit and of formulating together with lay collaborators the educative-pastoral plan.

Gradually, the spirit of individualism is creeping in to the detriment of community life. Freedom is misunderstood as the license to do as one pleases, there is little or no accountability as well as a growing lack of financial transparency.

To speak of communion, is to include relationships of collaboration and openness to lay collaborators and those who form part of the Educative Pastoral Community, without whom we would not be faithful to the salesian style of working! The shared mission between SDBs and lay people is no longer optional!

(Rector Major at the closing of GC27)

Conclusion

The mission to the poor young, the fraternal and apostolic community life, the Salesian spirit and spirituality, the availability through the vowed life and the path to holiness, are a rich legacy that we need to pass on to the next generations. May the “Man of Dreams”, who remains ever young, inspire and guide us in the years ahead to realise the dream of God for ourselves: “You are important to me, I count on you!” and for the young: “What I want is your happiness now and in eternity”. Let us not belie the dream of Don Bosco! Let us be docile to the Spirit’s voice!

Andrea Fernandes, Past Pupil, Panjim

12 SANGATI

I made some of the finest friends at DB HSS Panjim. I’ll always be close to them and those really cool teachers! DB made me strengthen my convictions that, I always have to be the best, just as God made me. I’ll always cherish the time I spent there and I look forward to doing a lot more for Don Bosco – because once a Salesian, always a Salesian!

July - Sept 2015

SON OF DON BOSCO Fr Felix Fernandes, SDB

Salesian and Cheerful!

Way back in 1975 when I first encountered the Salesians of Don Bosco, what struck me most about them was their tangible spirit of joy and cheerfulness. They seemed to be always happy. What is more, they were always with us pupils, always present to us, no matter what activity we were involved in. Games, music and drama seemed to be the stuff with which they educated the young. It wasn’t very long before I heard from them the Italian word ‘allegria’, meaning cheerfulness. Salesian education and cheerfulness were meant to go hand in hand.

It took me some time to realize that this cheerfulness was grounded in a deeper reality: the conviction that one is loved and treasured deeply by a God who is Abba, Father. This was what Dominic Savio learnt from Don Bosco who always insisted that in a Salesian house “sanctity consists in being cheerful.” It is a cheerfulness and joy that issues forth from a heart that feels loved, accepted and honoured. No wonder Don Bosco would repeat to his Salesians, “It is not enough that we love the young; the young must know that they are loved.” It is only in the sure knowledge that we are loved that we experience deep peace and joy in our hearts.

Only recently did Pope Francis remind us that “fear is not a Christian attitude.” He went on to counter the spirit of fear with his understanding of the spirit of joy. “Christian joy is not simply enjoyment, is not a fleeting cheerfulness,” he explained. “Christian joy is a gift, it is a gift of the Holy Spirit. And having a heart that is always joyful because the Lord has triumphed, the Lord reigns, the Lord is at the right hand of the Father, the Lord has looked upon me and called me and has given me His grace, and has made

July - Sept 2015

me a Son of the Father… That is Christian joy. A Christian lives in joy.” He went on to say that lack of joy in Christian communities also caused them to become sick. He called on the faithful to pray to the Lord to “raise our spirit” and to “take away our every fear.”

Tellingly, speaking on the occasion of completion of the second year of Pope Francis’ papacy, Salesian Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga affirmed that the Pope was a “bearer of joy,” and that “Sadness has nothing to do with the Christian faith.”

As we celebrate Don Bosco’s 200th birthday, we acknowledge that in establishing the Oratory he founded the “Society of Joy,” with the express intention of organizing activities and games such that they contributed to everyone’s joy. In Don Bosco’s Oratory, one played, sang, prepared operettas, got in the band.

Happily, this tradition is always alive in Salesian environments.

In his manual on Christian formation Don Bosco wrote evocatively, “There are two main deceits with which the devil usually distances young people from virtue. The first is to make come to their mind that to serve the Lord consists in a melancholic life far from any amusement and pleasure.

It’s not so, dear youths. I want to teach you a Christian method of life which is at the same time joyful and happy, pointing you to what are the true amusements and the true pleasures. Such, in fact, is the purpose of this booklet, to serve the Lord and to be always joyful.”

Notably, in his letter “Gaudete in Domino,” Pope Paul VI mentioned him among the “Saints of Christian joy.” It is fitting then that we mull over Don Bosco’s words from the famous Letter from Rome of 1884: “I have only one desire, that of seeing you happy in time and in eternity.” Don Bosco repeats this message to every young person today.

SANGATI

13

SALESIAN MISSION Fr Ralin De Souza, SDB

New Wine in Old Wine Skins Reflections on our Salesian mission today

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” This quote of Margaret Mead gives us the encouragement we desire to change. However small group of convinced members we are, we still have the potential. Don Bosco’s influence in his time is enumerated on thousands of pages, besides the thousands of lives that felt it. In 2015, 200 years later we can’t just be living in that glory. Like Don Bosco, we can make the difference. We need to be cautious of mistakes done in the past. We cannot put new wine in old wineskins or vice-versa. Salesian mission is still relevant today.

Salesian Purpose We all need a reason to live in order to live purposefully. Charisms grow as responses to needs that arise in moments of history. Don Bosco is one such charism that responded to a situation of the

industrial revolution of his time. While industry gave its own contribution to development of society, that innumerable painful issues it ignored: immigration, monotony of work, economic divide, child labour, exploitation of the weak, etc. Don Bosco was able to pinpoint one category that was the most effected and most vulnerable: Youth!

Every initiative he began was clearly focused on tackling the damages it did to the young, giving them, values, purpose, skill, occupation, livelihood, LIFE. We all know, that Don Bosco being a priest and dedicated in his mission for the young had one sole purpose – ‘Salvation of the Young’. We can translate this today in many ways such as: fostering a faith life among the young, bringing them closer to God, giving them meaning in Life, giving the young a sense of the spiritual, to bring God to them, etc.

With the opinion we have of youth today, or what is so often projected by the media, research, and modern trends the challenge today is greater than before.

Changing Generations We all know times are changing and so are the mentalities among youth. For those of us who are so involved in taking ‘life skill’ and ‘value-based’ sessions for school/college children and parish youth, we will have surely realised the change in response we get from one age group to another.

Working youth find college youth acting so weird, and the college youth find it difficult to believe the way Higher Secondary youngster behave in society. Why go further, when you interact with the higher secondary students, they will term their Juniors as revolutionary!

14 SANGATI

July - Sept 2015

SALESIAN MISSION Fr Ralin De Souza, SDB

The fact of the matter is that modern day media in its various forms is exposing us to issues and behaviours we never would have imagined, and as we grow, it makes us partners or rebels. We have our own opinions and make our own choices. Don Bosco would have surely faced this changing trend, no wonder ‘Reason’ was an important element in his preventive system. Working with the young today needs a fair amount of reason that we need to utilise. We need to develop a keen knowledge of issues and ‘why’ of things, even if it is something very obvious.

It’s not uncommon to see little children use their own logic and argue their way out to comply or not to, to what is asked of them. Times are changing.

Don Bosco and Family Spirit The marvel of Don Bosco’s system is the Family Spirit. The challenge to the Salesian today, even as the family tradition seems to break, is to maintain this family spirit where through friendship, and strong bonds of familiarity, the youngster learns, grows, and learns to make mature decisions. It is very easy to demand and force our way through as we work with the young, but not many of these youngsters will have a sincere attachment to us or the institution. Infact, they will long to get away and be free, so to say.

For those who have really experienced even a bit of this typical family spirit, every moment of getting back is cherished and lived with so much joy. I know of many who even when they are well on in years, just long to be in the salesian campus, sit peacefully in any corner and cherish the glorious past.

July - Sept 2015

Don Bosco’s legacy of the family, makes us rebuild our family atmosphere in the real and true sense.

Social media is utilising the same principles giving hope to millions of building a family when its actually not. Facebook, google+, twitter, and host of others use the digital family terms like groups, circles, acquaintances, family, friends, followers, etc. terms that give the illusion of belonging. I say illusion cause its digital after all.

Life is REAL not Digital! Social media gives the opportunity to exchange data, mobile numbers and meet, and that’s when the real begins. At times, what ensues is indeed horrific (though this may not be always the case). The said part of today’s salesian interpretation, is that we are still left with the old, traditional, we prefer to call them typically salesian, when we don’t realise that our so called typical is old and outdated! No matter what the age and era, the Family Spirit that Don Bosco envisaged cannot be ruled out. Family Spirit in the REAL sense of the word.

I was reflecting on my childhood days in the little village of St. Cruz, 5 kms off the city of Panjim, and after our regular afternoon study, all the neighbourhood children would gather around in the open spaces to play (boys and girls together) around 5 pm. And on any given day we would be around 15 to 20 of us! Today, in that same locality, there are many more families (extended and migrant) and yet to see a couple or handful playing around is a miracle.

Gathering around in virtual worlds is very convenient today. The salesian challenge is to enter the virtual world and to get them in the real world to make a REAL difference.

Salesian Youthful Spirituality Don Bosco’s concept of spirituality has always been revolutionary. Who would have imagined then a saint as small as Dominic Savio, Mickey Magone, Besucco, etc. Yet for Don Bosco, sanctity was within the reach of mere children. Unfortunately

SANGATI

15

SALESIAN MISSION Fr Ralin De Souza, SDB

even today, many (even salesians) don’t believe this. We have made taboos out of the sanctity we live. We still stick on to our rites and rituals as steps to grow in sanctity.

To meet God in the community we live in, is an age old apostolic tradition. Agape is gathering together in a meal. The breaking of the Bread is again a gathering together in a meal. The Eucharist is again a meal shared spiritually in a community of faith. It was the spirit of togetherness that gave rise to such memorable experiences of faith that enriched the lives of the apostles and the saints.

Now many are more obsessed with the rubrics rather than the spirit behind the celebrations.

Salesian spirituality is lively yet simple, it’s cheerful and at the same time holy. Don Bosco realised that to be Holy one need not participate in adverse sacrifices, long religious practices or hours of meditation. A life simply lived in cheerfulness and a true, sincere, honest concern for the wellbeing of the other, will have its own challenges and trials, and lead to heights of sanctity. This experience of service and a common interest of doing good has no age barriers. The formation of the ‘Cheerful Society’ of which Dominic Savio was a part, or the sodality of ‘Mary Help of Christians’ were sincere attempts of youngsters to assist other youngsters in their academic, social and spiritual needs.

Today, its so difficult to see youngsters correcting their peers, or even adults to give a friendly warning to children. We rather let them be with the excuse of freedom. I see it as a virtual attitude in the real world. It’s unspiritual.

Just reflect on the traits of a salesian spirituality and you will realise how active, dynamic and satisfying it is: • Simplicity of Life.

• Sincere practice of love and gentleness of heart.

• Kindness and peace.

• Cheerfulness and good humour.

• Sense of the Divine in creation.

• God’s loving presence around us.

• Sacraments that build our relationships and bonds: Holy Eucharist, Confession.

• Prayer that is simple and expressive.

• Self discipline and ethical practice.

Return to Don Bosco Now let’s ‘start from the beginning’ seems to be the clarion call from the salesian society to all the salesians. It looks strange, but its necessary.

Returning back to Don Bosco is for me not a personal private exercise. It has to be done together.

As I work with the young entrusted to me, I need to reflect how much like Don Bosco I am in spirit.

Doing what Don Bosco did 200 years ago would obviously be a fallacy. The means of media at our disposal can give us the capacity to achieve what Don Bosco did in less than a fraction of the time.

But do we have that spirit. As each of us share our own experiences of living Don Bosco today, we can evolve the new spirituality. Youth experiences do not arise by sitting at our desks, but running in the playgrounds of today. We do have much larger playgrounds today. The Virtual playground keeps growing exponentially with time and the REAL playground keeps diversifying with unique tastes and interests. Without the true spirit of Don Bosco, if we remain stuck to age old habits, we may be left out of the varied playgrounds of life, and be strangers to the expansive virtual arenas, without a mission field and mission!

16 SANGATI

July - Sept 2015

DON BOSCO Ian Pinto, SDB

Apostolic Creativity of Don Bosco Don Bosco lived in tumultuous times. Italy was coming to grips with the Industrial revolution and was struggling with its negative effects especially migration. Besides, there were wars and famines which scarred society and harmed life. Religion also took a beating. The Church was divested of its political power and was subject to repression and outright opposition. Amid all this, Don Bosco set out to carry out the mission entrusted to him

by God. He saw the plight of the youngsters who had come to the cities in search of work. They had no place to stay and nothing to eat. Little wonder, they landed in jail. His visits to the jail along with Don Cafasso, opened his eyes to the sorry condition of these youngsters. His heart longed to reach out to them. He saw a need and responded to it creatively. He began the oratory. There he taught the boys and helped them grow holistically. The concept of the oratory was not pioneered by Don Bosco, as many think. St Philip Neri devised the idea.

Don Bosco re-shaped his inspiration to suit the needs of the time. His initiatives cost him much. They demanded a lot from him: time, energy and health. Nonetheless, he took risks and was willing to pay the price for them, as was the case when the Catholic readings were placed on the index of forbidden books. As a result of his unconventional initiatives people saw him as mad. But he was not deterred. He persisted because he was convinced that God was with him and it was for His glory that he worked.

The Church too was affected by the revolutionary changes taking place at that time. Anti-clericalism

July - Sept 2015

became widespread. To combat it and to strengthen the faith of the Catholics, Don Bosco began publishing the Catholic readings and other leaflets and booklets. He used his pen to educate, strengthen and defend the faith he loved. He was a staunch supporter of the Pope and did his best to uphold the integrity and authority of the Vicar of Christ. The construction of the basilicas of Mary Help of Christians and Sacred Heart, reflect his apostolic inventiveness. With little in his pocket, he was able to achieve much.

The Salesian Congregation is also a fruit of Don Bosco’s apostolic ingenuity. Had Don Bosco not had this precious gift, perhaps the salesian congregation would never have seen the light of day. His idea of the congregation, as being a joint venture of the clergy and laity, was far ahead of his times. The expansion of the congregation and the recruitment of new members from among those being looked after reveal the keen sense of Don Bosco.

In the present time, there is need of apostolic creativity. We need to be resourceful like Don Bosco: perceiving needs and designing suitable responses to them. If we can acquire this trait, we will flourish. The key is to be able to do much with little. If our congregation must flourish, we need to be apostolically creative. We may not have all we would like to, neither did Don Bosco, but if we can use what we have to the optimum, I think we would be genuinely following the example set by Don Bosco.

SANGATI

17

SODALITIES Fr Clive Telles, SDB

A Reading of AN

IDEA TO BE REDISCOVERD

THE SALESIAN “SODALITIES”

by Fr Pascual Chávez Villanueva

“Since the companions who tried to coax me into their escapades were the most careless about everything, they began to come to me for help because I did them the kindness of lending them my homework or dictating it to them. The teachers frowned on this. They said it was a false kindness that only encouraged laziness, and they strictly forbade me to do it. I then resorted to less obvious ways of helping them, such as explaining problems to them and lending a helping hand to those who needed it.

Thus I made everyone happy and won the goodwill and affection of my companions. At first they came to play, then to listen to stories or to do their homework, and finally for no reason at all, just as the boys at Murialdo and Castelnuovo used to do.

“That these gatherings might have a name, we called ourselves the Society for a Good Time. There was a reason for the name because everyone was obliged to look for such books, discuss such subjects, or play such games as would contribute to the happiness of the members. Whatever would induce sadness was forbidden, especially things contrary to God’s law.

Those who swore, used God’s name in vain, or indulged in bad talk were turned away from the club at once.

“So it was that I found myself the leader of a crowd of companions.” (Memoirs of the Oratory [New Rochelle, 2010], p. 54). ... It happened by chance that I browsed through this reading and text as given by our Rector Major Emeritus Fr. Pascual Chavez and as he continued to make his reflections on the Salesian Sodalities my mind raveled back to my days of the Apostolic schooling and Aspirantate at Don Bosco Lonavala. It was here that I was first introduced to the Salesian Sodality. As a kid, the thing I drew out from the experience was of the fact that I had a platform to voice out my opinion as well as to contribute to decision making. It is over the years that at different stages; in fact right up till the days of college studies at Nashik that the Sodality only made me more convinced of the fact that it was a government of the people, by the people, for the people

… However, it was only during my days of my Practical Training and especially back in the place of Lonavla that I could visibly see the aspect of the challenge the sodality possessed in making kids holy and they taking responsibility for the same.

My mind goes back to one particular boy by the name of Michael Gaikwad, who exceptionally stood out as a model to running a Sodality. He wasn’t a Dominic Savio or a Michael Magone… but the Salesian Sodality was indeed making this particular boy a very convinced and inspirational filled lad. He along with his other companions brought about a change in the ways they went about. They challenged each other to love and service. To the golden virtues of forgiveness and kindness and more so, to the fact of being grounded to the call of being Salesians. Proud to say today Michael and his other companions are Salesians. In fact Cl. Michael Gaikwad of Mumbai province this year, on making his perpetual profession has offered himself as a missionary to work in the Salesian missions of Cambodia.

The Salesian Sodality has indeed very much to offer. It contributes and fosters in making our young independent, focused, responsible and self-regulating. For that matter in terms of the spiritual it makes them sincere and respectful and without a doubt more conscientious to the need of a more holier life.

Social Support: Don Bosco did realize the importance of the “social dimension in the education of teenagers, especially the dimension provided by their friends and peers.

Youngsters need friends like the air they breathe. The gang, the clique, the group of friends can have a bad effect on even the best-behaved youngster. With his special intuition as an educator Don Bosco created a “space” for friends with higher ideals.

The Social support of friends continues to be a very significant need especially in today’s social networking youngsters. The need to take them away from the virtual space and virtual reality and offer them something that

18 SANGATI

July - Sept 2015

SODALITIES Fr Clive Telles, SDB is more natural and physical is of prime importance. It is our sodalities that will bring about the skills in interacting and the need for real support. It is our sodalities that can channelize their energies to a more healthier living, not just for oneself, but a life that is lived in service for others.

An offshoot of the latest Educational aspects especially that of the Continuous Compressive Evaluation (CCE) and the Right to Education (RTE) has been the introduction of “School Parliaments” wherein students themselves have an opportunity to run, evaluate and govern themselves. This was already something that was envisaged by Don Bosco centuries ago. Our Sodalities are meant to give our kids an opportunity for them to plan, execute and evaluate their various activities.

Learning to organize as well as assessing what is good, what works and what does not work. They challenge each other, they support each other and they learn from each other.

Young Apostles: The Immaculate Conception Sodality came on the scene at a later, more developed stage in Don Bosco’s work and reflected a broader approach to formation. In his life of Dominic Savio Don Bosco wrote: “Their aim would be to obtain the aid of the great Mother of God in life and the hour of death. To this end [Dominic] proposed two means: to practice and spread devotional practices to Our Lady and to receive communion frequently” (The Life of Saint Dominic Savio [New Rochelle, 2005].

Our Sodalities cannot be sodalities with a pure social nature. It has to have and carry along with it the spiritual dimension. Hence the clarion call for our sodality members is the challenge to a growth in the spiritual dimension. Making them young apostles that beacon to the world the GOOD NEWS. Making them apostles to a world that is darkened by the evil forces of self-centeredness, selfishness and a society that is moving towards a degradation of moral standards. Our Sodalities would necessarily need to equip our youngsters to brave a world that has in a way lost its sense of the spiritual.

Making them young apostles to the young is what Don Bosco envisaged in his sodalities. A champion in this light was St. Dominic Savio who formed the sodality to keep the young (his companions) holy.

July - Sept 2015

SALESIAN ACCOMPANIMENT: Our Sodalities necessarily works best when the young themselves are given an opportunity to run them.

However the efficacy in this model lies in the fact of the continuous accompaniment of the Salesian Presence. To me this is reiterated with the fact of my past Salesian Brother Assistants who animated and accompanied us in and through our Sodalities. The Salesian Sodality only makes sense when the Salesian is there not as a watchdog, but rather as Father, Brother and Friend that helps, fosters and accompanies the young in their journey towards holiness. In the words of the Holy Father Pope Francis, “Following in the footsteps of Jesus, Young Life leaders enter into the world of kids, showing up at their games, their school events, their homes and their hang-outs. And the genius of Young Life is not that they are cool. Young Life leaders are those who have placed God at the center of their lives, who couldn’t imagine life without prayer, who model the art of “living in the world without being of the world.” It is their abiding rootedness in Christ that compels them to pursue young people.”

The model of the Salesian Sodality can continue to live in each of our presences... in each of our works... Be it in our Schools by way of School Parliament, Friends of Dominic S a v i o , Scouts & Guides, various clubs… or in our Colleges as Student Councils or specific subject based clubs. Our Parishes lend itself into running various forms of Sodalities (altar servers, Legion of Mary, Parish Councils). Our Youth Groups in our various sectors especially in our youth centers.

Our Boardings and Hostels...Our Commissions at the Province levels… ALL… CAN BECOME MODELS OF THE SALESIAN SODALITY THAT ENABLES US TO JOURNEY ON THE ROAD TO HOLINESS.

SANGATI

19

DON BOSCO Fr Paul D’Souza, SDB

DON BOSCO

THE ENLIGHTENED EDUCATOR AND INNOVATOR

Don Bosco, the educator

“When God measures a person, He puts a tape around their heart, not their head.”

- Lon Woodrum Don Bosco’s ‘loving Kindness’ is a heart, will, physical strength, his entire characteristic feature of his pedagogical being was aimed at their good, fostering approach. It is undoubtedly valid for today, their overall growth, desiring their eternal whether in a Christian context or one where salvation. Being a man of the heart, for Don the young belong to other Faiths. The Bosco meant being completely consecrated greatest contribution of to the good of his boys and Don Bosco to Education is giving everything he had for that he brought ‘Love’ into them, until his last breath! his educational system. In the words of our former Don Bosco expressed so Rector Major, Fr. Pascual often that his main intention Chavez: It is love that is or objective was forming manifested in simplicity, ‘good Christians and warmth and faithfulness; upright citizens’ to indicate it is love that generates the everything the young need desire to respond in kind; in order to fully experience it is love that gives rise to and live their lives as good trust, opening the way to human beings and live their confidence and profound communication faith joyfully. His educational experience making “education a thing of the heart.” with the young suggested to him a plan and a particular style of approach which “Don Bosco’s pedagogy’, Fr. Peter Braido he himself summed up in the Preventive wrote, “can be identified with all his activity; System, which is totally based on reason, and all of that with his personality; and all religion and loving kindness. As Fr. Pascual of Don Bosco, is gathered up, finally in his Chavez states “having an educational heart.” Here lies his greatness and the secret presence in society includes the following: of his success as an enlightened educator. having sensitivity to educational issues, Don Bosco’s entire personality, intelligence, educational policies, the educational quality

20 SANGATI

July - Sept 2015

DON BOSCO Fr Paul D’Souza, SDB

of life in society and culture.”

Don Bosco was not just a spectator in his day. He was a protagonist, fully engaged in the salvation of the young. His focus was in promoting in his own way the young people’s human rights. The Preventive system of Don Bosco offers human rights a unique and innovative educational approach.

Don Bosco described his way of working with and educating young people as building a home, a school, a playground and a church.

In other words, he wanted young people

in salesian settings to belong, to learn, to celebrate life and to find meaning.

Maintaining a healthy balance between these four areas is part of Don Bosco’s wisdom in working with and educating the young effectively. These four words viz.

Home: belonging; School: Learning; Church: Meaning and Playground: celebrating, if understood well in this sense can be like four points of a compass that can keep young people and also educators on a balanced course in their lives.

Don Bosco, the innovator “Success, many times, can be found only in the creative imagination of a man’s mind.

Perhaps no other factor of success contributes more to personal achievement than does creativity.”

- Dick Tooker Don Bosco’s courage was evident in the way his answer to the challenges he faced was he launched out deep into fresh waters. He one of pure innovation. He gambled with did not shrink from creating new modes street urchins, grabbed their money and ran of Christian presence; he did not take the through the streets of Turin. His intent was to make them mend their ways. He sipped beaten track. He blazed new trails. wine with a gang of slum toughs in a bid to make them go to In his own lifetime he confessions. He gave was called a mad man. His shelter to every boy situation was so similar who knocked at his to that of Jesus who was door even though thought to be ‘out of his some ran away mind’ (Mk. 3:21). Don with some of his Bosco was not mad or belongings. His only eccentric but he was just explanation: no boy ahead of his times. He is hopeless, in every was an innovator whose boy there is some far-seeing projects did not good that can be make sense to the men of made to grow. his time.

Unlike other priests and especially the orthodox type in his time, He founded the salesian congregation July - Sept 2015

SANGATI

21

DON BOSCO Fr Paul D’Souza, SDB

despite the political climate in Italy could hardly be called tolerant. Much before Vatican II, he thought of the salesian society as a ‘secular institute.’ His creation of the salesian brother ‘man in shirtsleeves’ was a great innovation in itself – a worthy answer to the challenge of the times. He founded the salesian co-operators to be full-pledged members of the society. In the original draft of the constitutions, Don Bosco wrote: “Any person, even if living in the world, in his house and with his family, can be a member of our society.”

To crown it all, Don Bosco founded a System of Education that runs counter to all the wisdom of ages. While the valiant men of the world were trained by hard discipline and severe punishments, he was

Ashwini Noronha, Youth, Don Bosco Church, Sirsi

On behalf of the Youth group of Don Bosco Parish this is a valuable opportunity to thank the Salesians for their selfless service.

For all the values we have learnt and for all the praises that we have earned couldn’t thank God and Don Bosco enough. Altough we have learnt lot of things in Don Bosco, the one thing that will always remain close to my heart and imprinted in my mind will be choir and music that I learnt from the Salesians. During choir practices and music classes, even when we lost track of time we never felt we were away from our own home because this place itself became a home for us.

For the last 10 years Salesians have worked in 7 villages, training people every year through Self Help Groups. Loans given from the banks have been beneficial to them.

Laxmi Kammar, SHG staff, Don Bosco Sutgatti

At Don Bosco School, we are taught good manners and values besides studies. We are treated like own children of the school.

The environment created is friendly and healthy.

Kevin Fernandes, IX, DB HS Sulcorna, Goa

an extraordinary man claiming to form youngsters through love and kindness.

The creativity of Don Bosco had only one source – his tremendous zeal for souls. The creativity of Don Bosco is the creativity of Jesus, the Good Shepherd himself who spent his time in the company of sinners, publicans, people with whom the respectable members of the society would not like to associate.

This pastoral creativity or inventiveness is the hallmark of Don Bosco with his spirit of initiative and spontaneity. As Don Bosco himself said, “I have always gone ahead as the Lord inspired me and as circumstances demanded.” In his time, each member was given enough leeway to try out new methods and devise new approaches.

Avit Mascarenhas, Youth Pascher

I have had the best spiritual and youthful experience with Don Bosco Animation Center Benaulim. Different programs organised here helped us build our self in a better way like, Youth Pasch, Jordans Call, Like Jesus, U-Turn, and meetings.

I am grateful to Salesian Community in Benaulim for giving me the opportunity serve the Lord through the youthful activities.

I joined the school in 1984 with no classrooms nor transport. It was tough for students and staff. However hard work of our pioneers have paid off and we see immense development we never dreamt of 30 years before. I hope students utilize Bharti Varde, their efforts as they enjoy these facilities Staff, DB HS, to keep up the name of Don Bosco.

Sulcorna

I have learned like Don Bosco to trust in Our Blessed Mother through all the ups and downs and trying times in my life. I have learned to always place my trust in her knowing she will always be by my side guiding and protecting me. I Gladys have also taught my children and grand Sequeira, children to always trust in Mary.

Cooperator, Panjim, Goa

22 SANGATI

July - Sept 2015

DON BOSCO Fr Renvick Pereira, SDB

IF DON BOSCO WAS HERE! A REFLECTION OF THE WAY DON BOSCO WOULD SEE HIS CONGREGATION 200 YEARS AFTER HIS BIRTH Don Bosco walked this earth 200 years ago.

And even today he leaves footprints that will never be wiped away. His presence is felt in every salesian venture that reaches out to the young. What would be the feelings running through Don Bosco as he continues to walk amidst us 200 years from his birth.

A feeling of Gratitude for the wonders the Lord has done!

“If the Lord does not build the house in vain do the labourers labour” (Psalm 127:10); this is indeed a Universal truth.

If Don Bosco was here, he surely would exclaim in gratitude at the wonders the Lord has done through the Salesian Congregation. The Lord himself has built his house through the instrumentality of his salesian labourers. And this is what causes one to be grateful. Gratitude is all that would overwhelm Don Bosco’s heart and his eyes would be filled with tears. The same tears that welled in Don Bosco’s eyes when he saw the beauty God had worked during his own time, will today well up once again as Don Bosco witnesses the beauty of God’s works through the Salesian Congregation. Don Bosco would say the same words he said when he was alive, “Let us not be unfair to God and to Our Lady. If we succeed, and if our undertakings, our flourishing, we owe it entirely to God and to our good Mother.

July - Sept 2015

We would be guilty of ingratitude if we attributed to ourselves the success of any enterprise. We would also make ourselves undeserving of God’s help.” These same words Don Bosco would say in our time seeing the marvellous works the Lord has done through the Salesian Congregation.

Don Bosco would also call us to celebrate him through his works and to celebrate the surpassing of his vision.

God saw much more than Don Bosco could dream of.

God saw the possibilities t h e Salesians could attain because of their work.

The growth of sanctity in the Salesian family is truly a fruit of the Salesian Spirituality. The Salesian Congregation continues to give saints to the Church and truly this is something that Don Bosco would be grateful for.

Don Bosco would also be grateful for the fraternal life lived by the salesians which testify to love.

SANGATI

23

DON BOSCO Fr Renvick Pereira, SDB

A feeling of Astonishment at the Apostolic Creativity of the Salesians!

A Congregation whose branches have spread. The good done by the Salesian Congregation is incomprehensible. Don Bosco at this moment in time will also be astonished at the various ways the salesians have been able to show charity more especially in very creative ways.

Salesian charity is always creative. The salesians have addressed the pressing needs of the young in all dimensions.

They have opened up new frontiers which even Don Bosco in his time must have not comprehended. These are the workings of the Spirit.

The Congregation has through the years tried to respond to the signs of the times. The needs of the youth vary with each passing year. These needs have to be discerned and addressed with urgency. This response demands a sense of openness to the lives of the young.

The works of the salesians have spread because the salesians have been in the forefront in taking initiatives and being flexible to the needs of society.

A feeling of Joy founded on Hope!

True joy is born of pain. The joy that Don Bosco would experience would be a reflection of the joy of every salesian.

Optimism and joy are the hallmarks of every salesian. Don Bosco if he was here would be filled with Joy. Though Don Bosco would see the many signs of discouragement that this generation of salesians face, he would also see that

in the midst of such discouragement is a strong founded hope which is built on the complete trust of the Father. Every salesian work should be heralding the Good News and hence every work to radiate joy. The phrase ‘let nothing upset you’ is the maxim Don Bosco would give every salesian and every youngster. The same maxim that Don Bosco would give his Rectors.

Surely besides the above, Don Bosco would also be pained to see the many ways in which the Congregation has not lived up to his expectation. The many ways the Congregation has not been faithful to its charism. But in the midst of all these disappointments, Don Bosco would be a happy man, knowing that the ‘Kingdom of God continues to be build in ways that God knows the best’.

In our school children are considered like wet cement, whatever falls on them makes an impression. I am having a great experience by treating the students in a polite, respectful and understanding manner. My school has helped me to build the qualities of hard work, sincerity, dedication, patience and forgiveness.

Sara Rodrigues, Teacher, DB Loutulim, Goa I’m proud to be a Boscoite. My school tries to nourish talents not only in studies but also in sports and cocurricular activities.

The young minds are sensitized towards underprivileged and are encouraged to help them.

Enida Fernandes, Student, Pope John XXIII, Quepem I’m having a rich experience at Don Boscos. Through the seminars, workshops, training, my life has changed. In my teaching, I now give my 100%. Educative method of Don Bosco has not only helped me in teaching but also in my personal life.

Chandrashekar Kanvi, Teacher, DB Sutgatti

24 SANGATI

July - Sept 2015

DON BOSCO Fr Joel D’Souza, SDB

Like Gold Tested in Fire Don Bosco and Adversities

A question to begin with: “What are you made of? What are you really made of? When you are pushed to the wall, when the chips are down, what lies at the very core of your character? A good pointer to know what you are really made of is when things go wrong, when we are faced with adversities and when one is smashed around the park like a cricket ball sent over the boundary rope for a six! Since our behavior on the outside could at times be the real indicator of who I am in the inside, it is only by observing our behavior in adversities that one can get a glimpse of the metal or mud that one is made of.

Life is a journey which one undertakes, wherein one faces the slopes of difficulties, mountains of opportunities, and adversities are a part of this journey. What we need to do is…just keep walking. Few people in life have done this and are exemplary models for you and me to imitate. One such that comes quickly to mind is Don Bosco.

Here I am reminded of the words of Elisabeth Kübler-Ross “The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths”.

Looking from a distance one would think that Don Bosco’s life was a path of roses, but indeed his whole life was filled with thorns.

There were thorns in his family: poverty and moreover opposition from his elder brother, July - Sept 2015

his journey towards priesthood was strewn with hard and humiliating trials. As a priest, he faced oppositions from the clergy, from political and municipal authorities. There was never a dearth of occasions when Don Bosco was misunderstood by the people and more painfully even by his close collaborators. There were disappointments in store for Don Bosco even from those whom he formed and nurtured – some of them even deserted him. But in all these set-backs and adversities Don Bosco rose like a falcon. A look at a few snippets from the life of Don Bosco would fill us with admiration for this great saint. What is important here is not so much the troubles and difficulties that Don Bosco underwent but the way he faced these trials.

Don Bosco suffered many grave disappointments as a result of various disasters that occurred in his building enterprises. One night in 1852 a good part of a building under construction collapsed. Don Bosco had undergone many sacrifices in order to raise this structure. But God had different plans. The boys who were wakened abruptly ran towards Don Bosco who like a good father led them into the church to thank God and

SANGATI

25

DON BOSCO Fr Joel D’Souza, SDB

Our Lady who had saved them from greater harm. And just a few hours later the remaining structure came collapsing to the ground with a great thud. And along with this structure all the hard work and hopes of Don Bosco came crumbling down. Don Bosco was shocked but he stayed serene and he joked “We are playing with bricks!” Then with complete peace and like a true father he added “God’s will be done. Blessed be the name of the Lord”. There were more disasters in store for Don Bosco. One night in 1861, about midnight, a tremendous noise shook the Oratory to its foundations. A bolt of lightning stuck Don Bosco’s room, scattering everything in his room and leaving him unconscious. The electrical storm had also created destruction in the boys dormitory, who were all screaming and running helter skelter. However all this commotion was to end soon with the arrival of Don Bosco. With a lantern in hand he appeared amidst all the rubble and with calmness and a smile on his face made his presence felt among the boys with the words “Don’t be afraid”. He continued saying “We have a loving Father in heaven and a good Mother who takes care of us”. It was not only during natural calamities but also in dealing with people that Don Bosco had the same poise.

Abbot Amadeus Peyron, an eminent professor at the Regia University in Turin, was presiding over a meeting of priests on matters concerning priestly ministry. Don Bosco too was part of this meeting. As the discussion was revolving around the need for educational publications suitable for the ordinary people, Don Bosco took it upon himself to make mention of his Letture Cattoliche. At the mention of his publication, the Abbot launched a scathing attack on the

Letture, criticizing the language in them as poor in both grammar and style and then turned his guns towards Don Bosco before everyone. But what a great saint was Don Bosco. In spite of being insulted and shouted at before others, Don Bosco in all humility said “I am here precisely to receive help and advice. Please tell me what you think needs to be corrected and I will gladly correct it”. Such was the magnanimity of this great Saint, who faced his opponents with a calm demeanor.

Difficulties and tribulations occur in everybody’s life. No matter how smart, clever and careful you are, you will face challenges, problems and sometimes heart-breaking adversities every day, week and month of your lives. But, how we face these adversities and how these adversities shape us, is what should interest you and me. When faced with criticism and hardships do I crumble like a pack of cards or do I face them and come of out them as gold tested and purified in fire?

Do I see these adversities and difficulties as opportunities for growth? Don Bosco faced the difficult phases of his life with trust in God. He would always remind others about the words of St Teresa: “Let nothing disturb you”. For all those who, like Don Bosco, trust in God can find solace in the statement from the book of Judith “All those who were pleasing to God passed through many tribulations and remained faithful.” (Jd. 8:23) Let us continue this wonderful voyage of life keeping our eyes fixed on the Lord. With Bl. Mother Teresa of Calcutta we can say, “I know God will not give me anything I can’t handle. I just wish that He didn’t trust me so much.”

26 SANGATI

July - Sept 2015

SALESIAN YOUTH MINISTRY Fr Albano Fernandes, SDB

Bicentenary - a Call to be Relevant This Bicentenary of Don Bosco’s birth has truly been as the Rector Major put it ‘a Jubilee Year of Grace’ for the whole Salesian Family.

It provides impetus to re-launch with greater vigour, determination and enthusiasm the salesian charism and apostolic endeavour of Don Bosco. ‘Return to Don Bosco by returning to the Young’ suggests re-dimensioning and revamping our Salesian Youth Pastoral Ministry (SYPM) to make it more effective and relevant for the present times.

Basic requirements for a relevant and fruitful SYPM could be broadly classified under four headings:

1. Possessing the Pastoral Heart of the Good Shepherd It is a special communion of love for Christ the Good Shepherd, whom the salesian discovers alive in the young, above all in the poorest, impelling him to contribute to God’s design of salvation for them. Through this the salesian recognizes his predilection for the young as ‘a special gift of God.’ He has a clear awareness of being called and sent by God to meet God in the young and commit himself to their liberation and evangelization. This builds into him a mentality of an apostle/missionary working with passion for education and evangelization which gives unity to his whole life. He feels in his heart the cries coming from the young, particularly from those in conditions of poverty and suffering.

2. Cultivating a Pastoral Sense The pastoral sense is what enables one to judge things from the angle of a person’s salvation, to read events from the pastoral point of view, and to devise projects, processes and activities

July - Sept 2015

in a way that enables persons to grow in their humanity and become aware of God’s presence in their life. When there is pastoral sense, dialogue and friendship become relationships that make for salvation, and youth ministry, far from being a ministry of recreation or social development, becomes a work of evangelization.

3. Acquiring a sufficient Pastoral Ability Pastoral ability is a specific scientific and professional training to be given to salesians to animate and form youngsters in their growth and development for life. Two elements required: Animation and Planning Mentality.

‘Animation’ is the opposite of imposition from the outside. It means motivation, persuasion, suggestion. It is further an activity carried out within the ‘soul’ of the other person by appealing to his reason, faith and values, so as to bring him to perform certain actions f r e e l y .

Secondly, we set out from the point at which the p e r s o n f i n d s

SANGATI

27

SALESIAN YOUTH MINISTRY Fr Albano Fernandes, SDB

himself and open him up to new horizons with thought provoking ideas and suggestions; for this the rapport with him must be one of lovingkindness. Thirdly, we help the other person to assume responsibility for his own life and growth, making free decisions based on sound reasons and values. In a nutshell, animation is a process that foster involvement, participation and shared responsibility.

A Planning mentality is a must for all those involved in education and pastoral work.

Youth ministry is a structured reality in which a number of different activities are directed towards certain objectives and carried out by various persons working together in harmony.

We direct each one’s energies to the achievement of the objectives set, thus working together with a sense of common responsibility we are able to produce a change in the existing situation.

Finally we evaluate together the realization of the common project using our findings as a launching-pad for further progress.

4. Envisioning a Pastoral Creativity SYPM today has to constantly confront new challenges, new frontiers and new avenues if it has to be effective and relevant. The contact with ever-changing realities calls for openness, a discerning attitude, imagination and an effort to come up with new solutions to meet the situation. Hence, the need for pastoral creativity.

A mental and practical attitude which prompts

a search for original and innovative solutions to new problems and situations.

Firstly, We need to look beyond our confinements and perceive the demands arising from new situations and forms of youth poverty. Secondly, we need to invest time and energy – as individuals and as communities –in digesting the systematic information on the real conditions of young people at our disposal today, thanks to refined instruments for research and sociological and psychological analysis.

Thirdly, we need to embrace more and more pastoral work inserted in the neighbourhood.

Our institutions should become radiating centres for salesian charism. Fourthly, our preoccupation should not be to merely maintain big and weighty structures that were set up for a bygone era and that reduces our flexibility today in giving a quick response to the newly emerging needs of the young. There is a need today for new salesian presences that are light and flexible, that entail some risk, courage and imagination, that involve networking with different educative and pastoral agencies, that offer a multiplicity of services and initiatives responding to the needs of the young.

Youth is our raison d’etre for what we are in the world and in the Church. Youth is our heritage and legacy left to us by Don Bosco. Today salesians are the custodians of his charism.

Youth Ministry is our Spirituality. We become saints by making our youngsters saints.

To put my son in Don Bosco was my husband’s choice, now it is mine too. I had never expected him to grow this well!

I don’t think I would have my child so polished and refined, if they were not the arms of Don Bosco!

Lavita Dorado, Parent, Pope John XXIII, Quepem

I am a past pupil of DB Panjim. It is a matter of pride and honour to teach and follow eduative method of DB. The life of Don Bosco and his love for Mother Mary has moulded my spiritual life. His exemplary life has given a positive vision to my thoughts.

Aesica Barreto, Teacher, Don Bosco Loutulim, Goa

Through the Self Help Group, Don Bosco has helped me get loan from the bank and also given loan from the society. With that I have started Veerabhadreshwar trust. It helps the women in need.

After taking a promise, 21 years ago as a Salesian Cooperator, I began surrendering my life to the Lord. I offer myself as a victim to the Lord for the salvation of the souls of the young. I pray for the abandoned and poor youth.

Gurusiddavva Hebballi, SHG member, DB Sutgatti

Shirley Fernandes, Salesian Cooperator, Panjim, Goa

28 SANGATI

July - Sept 2015

DON BOSCO 200 Fr Banzelão Teixeira, SDB

WHAT SHALL WE OFFER HIM? A Birthday Gift for our beloved Don Bosco

We are in the final phase of the celebrations of the bicentenary of Don Bosco that began several years back with the Relic of Don Bosco visiting us. Thanks to the grand vision of Don Pascual Chavez, our former Rector Major, the entire Salesian Family along with our beneficiaries have been part of the bicentennial celebrations. The jubilations have intensified in the past months with events and initiatives in almost every house of every province. Though far from home, I’ve been taking keen interest in the celebrations in our province.

As we approach the day (16th August) of the bicentennial celebrations, we need to ask ourselves: What is my personal gift to Don Bosco, besides my involvement in the organization of the celebrations? As a community how would we like to honour our founder on his 200th birthday? What can we, the Konkan Salesians, offer to Don Bosco? When we think of presenting gifts to our friends and loved ones, we ask ourselves “What would the person like to receive?” That’s because we want our gift to admired and put to good use.

The thought of an appropriate birthday gift for Don Bosco forced me to do a little research.

I sent a very simple question to about 150 persons. This group consisted of Konkan Salesians, ex-Salesians, FMA’s and SMI’s working in the Konkan region, Cooperators, past pupils, our collaborators and youth.

In short, the group consisted of people who July - Sept 2015

form part of us in some way or another, and who know us well. The question was very simple: “What is the best gift we (Konkan Salesians) could offer to Don Bosco on his 200th birthday?”

I must confess that the response was overwhelming – Almost 100 persons responded, and that too quickly. The responses have been clear and quite indicative.

Hardly any of the respondents have indicated that we should start some foundation, or put up a building, or organize events, activities and the like. I guess they know that we are quite good at that. Cutting across all groups, Salesians and non-Salesians, young and old, the responses have been quite similar. It is pretty clear that the best gifts we Salesians of the Konkan could offer Don Bosco are: 1. Return to the young 2. Greater sense of Communion 3. Rootedness in Christ

First Gift: Get back to the Young

SANGATI

29

DON BOSCO 200 Fr Banzelão Teixeira, SDB

Most respondents, Salesians as well as others, state that the best gift we can offer Don Bosco is by “Getting back to the young!” I put down a few of the responses:

Second Gift: A Greater Sense of Communion

“We need to spend quality time with the youth. We are becoming strangers to them!”

“Love youngsters in a genuine manner, the way Don Bosco loved them – manifest your love through availability, respect and presence.”

“Make time for the young – Talk to them and listen to them.”

“Go out to young people instead of waiting for them to come to you.”

“Be more present with the young by spending time with them, to get to know them at a personal level, and guide them in the right direction.”

“Be spiritual guides, not just organizers of events.”

It is true that our activities have multiplied and there is scarcity of personnel to the effect that some of us may be handling more than one responsibility. I also agree that the demands of our work leave us with little or no time for ourselves or others. But the truth is that many of us are so caught up with our work that we are hardly seen with the young.

We are busy working for them, but we are hardly with them. The lament of some past pupils, “Don Bosco’s is not what it used to be!” should awaken us. Perhaps they are able to see the difference between the earlier days and the present times. As a birthday gift to our founder, let us attempt to be like him – PRESENT AMONG THE YOUNG.

Though this response is largely from Salesians and members of the Salesian family, a few of our collaborators have also indicated that we should preserve the family spirit that is so characteristic of us. Here are some responses: “The best gift we can offer Don Bosco is a greater sense of communion in our communities and less of individualism.”

“Our communities are turning out to be less of brothers and more of strangers. The best gift we can offer Don Bosco is a good community life.”

“Learn to appreciate each other. Stop gossiping!”

“We could offer ourselves to him as a community by loving each other as brothers.”

“Stop being individual workers; learn the dynamics of living together.”

“Abstain from pulling down others.”

We do not choose our confreres, it is God who brings us together and keeps us united by his call, his Word, and his mission. It has been bluntly stated, “Do not look for the perfect community, you won’t find one; and even if you do, you won’t quite qualify to become

30 SANGATI

July - Sept 2015

DON BOSCO 200 Fr Banzelão Teixeira, SDB

part of it.” Learning to live in community is a challenge, but it can also be a great joy when we love each other as brothers. We do not need to do great works to bear witness to Christ; community life itself is mission. Even before we embark on work with the young, our living and working together as brothers is itself a mission, a proclamation, a witness.

Third Gift: Rootedness in Christ

The final clear indication from the responses is that people wish to see us as men of God, models of holiness and integrity. Here are some responses which indicate that we need to be rooted in Christ.

“Be genuine and prayerful – this is the best gift you Salesians can offer Don Bosco.”

“Be pastors administrators.”

rather

than

being

The best gift we can offer is Depth Spirituality – refrain from being superficial.”

for one. Prayer makes us more human, more community oriented, and more apostolic. Our commitment to prayer and personal integrity will definitely enrich our community life and apostolate.

People who know us well, who appreciate our work and think well of us have clearly indicated the gifts that we Salesians can offer to our founder Don Bosco. Interestingly, we find the above mentioned qualities clearly standing out in the figure of Don Bosco – He was full of passion for God and for the young, and always desired that his Salesians and youngsters live as a family. Therefore the best gift we can offer Don Bosco is to imitate him in the present context. In short, BE LIKE DON BOSCO. Being part of ADMA (Devotees of Mary, Help of Christians) has been an amazing and fruitful journey. I have learnt to live each day being led by our Blessed Mother and to turn to her for help whenever I am in need.

I have also had the immense privilege of interacting on many occasions with the children at MBBS (Margaret Bosco Bal Sadan). The smiling faces of the abandoned and neglected poor children seem to brighten up every day. Being with them make me so thankful. The boys with their cheerfulness and chirpiness bring such joy to all who enter the premises, making me and everyone feel so special. Being a part of all this - this great big Salesian Family of love, especially ADMA, is a joy and honour that I’m very grateful for.

“Live simpler lives – let your lives be a witness.”

“Reduce time with friends and give quality time to God, daily!”

As Salesians our vocation is to be spiritual guides to the young, besides being youth workers and educators. I remember being told, “You cannot give what you don’t have!”

We cannot lead others to a God-experience if we ourselves have never had one or desiring July - Sept 2015

SANGATI

Enid Varela, ADMA member, DB Odxel, Goa DB Sutgatti gave me a loan of Rs. 6,000/-. I purchased Rotti machine from that. It has been a great support to my family.

Laxmi Sannaparvathangaudar, SHG member, DB Sutgatti Our teachers have been very helpful to us in our good and bad times. The help I receive in studies, extracurricular activities is developing me into a positive person.

Ferris Fernandes, XII, DB Loutulim

31

VOCATION STORY Fr Lawrence Monteiro, SDB

As I begin to put down few lines about my call, the words from the book of Revelation come to my mind. “I wish you were either hot or cold! So, because you are lukewarm neither hot nor cold I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” (Rev. 3:16) Looking back at my priestly call I feel probably the Lord found me too hot or too wild.

First born of my parents among the four siblings I was most mischievous and troublesome at home. As a boy roamed every hill and meadows, every field in Tuem, Goa, and swam the enticing river Charpora to catch fish, collect tisreo or to visit the island. That’s why I said, the Lord probably found me too hot or wild to call me to be with him.

As a boy I was regular at the Sunday Mass, to serve on my turn, and to attend the catechism class. That was the minimum involvement in the parish, till salesians arrived in Tuem in 1990.

With the Salesians with us, for tuitions, to play, for everyday mass, I began to spend a lot of time in the Parish.

One day Fr. Chrysologus D’Cunha asked me, do you want to be a Priest?

I don’t even remember whether I said yes or no to him, because I was shocked and surprised. I really don’t know what he saw in me of priestly calling.

My behaviour was not the best, untamed on the playground both in

32 SANGATI

speech and in action.

In 1994 I went to Don Bosco Apostolic School, Lonavla for studies; initially struggled to adjust to speaking English. Then the Lord took over through the years of formation and after the ordination he has been continually guiding me powerfully. As I look back at my call I remember the words of my famous professor who use to quote St. Thomas Aquinas often saying, “Grace builds on nature.” I believe the grace of God has been working in me to soften me and to tame the energy in me so that I may be of use to Him to carry on his work.

I firmly believe Impossible is nothing: With God everything is

possible. When we follow God’s command with sincere heart, HE works though and in us.

Hard work and perseverance pays.

I enjoy: Adventure, fun, games,

mischief, challenges and being with the young. That’s what makes my life meaningful and happy, helps me to live life to the full. To be happy is the most basic call that God has given to every human being. Come and experience the fullness of life that God offers by following Him. July - Sept 2015

INTERVIEW Joaquim Lobo

Meet STEPHANIE D’SOUZA, a young missionary from Saligao, Goa, working in Africa, fired with the zeal to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ. Her convictions and commitment to follow God’s will in her life will make you think about yours! Before she left for Africa, she worked for Don Bosco Konkan Development Society, Goa. Tell me Stephanie, what have (except for Christians) as going to Africa. I took it souls. In the months that to the Lord and told Him if you studied? followed I prayed asking God to fill my heart with this burning desire for souls and He did. I felt a deep desire to spread the Gospel to the What is your work experience? ends of the earth.

I have completed Masters in Social work from the College of social Work, Nirmala Niketan, Mumbai.

I worked for 3 years with Konkan Development Society, one year for youth empowerment and two years for women’s empowerment.

What was the reaction of your family on your proposal to go to missions?

My Father was against me leaving the Salesians and What inspired you to go for my mother was against me

mission work?

At a programme organized by Couples For Christ (CFC) called ‘the School of Discipleship’ in February 2013 at Bangalore, one of the speakers was talking about having a burden for souls and I realized I din’t look at people

July - Sept 2015

He was truly calling me to be a missionary, He would take care of all obstacles.

In a month’s time, the Lord created opportunities for me to bring up the matter with my parents separately, only to witness the miracle of a changed heart and mind of my parents toward accepting pleasantly my being a missionary and going to Africa (For God nothing is impossible).

Who are the others with you?

The mission team of Couples For Christ India was made up of Tony and Maria Correia from Santa Cruz (one of the founding couples for CFC in India since 29 years) and myself (I SANGATI

33

INTERVIEW Joaquim Lobo

joined the movement in 2007 very safe to be out after having the joy of eternity. as a youth for Christ).

7pm; everything closes here The journey through each of these moments that the at 5.30pm.

Where are you now?

Lord led me through required I serve the community of What are you doing there? me to grow in or give up and Couples For Christ and the I work in parishes with the surrender (be pruned of) all Catholic church within the young ministries within that was not Christ like. .

Archdiocese of Blantyre, Couples For Christ (kids/ What are your moments of Malawi, Central Africa. youth and singles) and C a t h o l i c joy? groups in Experiencing the love colleges in of members within the making Jesus community of CFC here, real to them having many mothers, and walking fathers and siblings who with them as worry about you overworking, they choose not eating enough, travelling Christ in living to far off places alone; the out their lives. joy of seeing youngsters choosing Christ over a life of sin and mediocrity, even What difficulties or the smallest movement that How will you describe people make towards Christ challenges you face?

Malawi? brings me great joy.

The climate varies in It took me a year to get What was your intention in different districts from inculturated and to be choosing Africa? very hot (42 deg. in summer), accepted into the lives of to cold (7deg in winter). youngsters here; seeing the It is not the place that I am Malawi has rich soil and is apathy of people towards sent to that matters, only well irrigated by its vast living a genuine Christian that Christ be made known (almost the size of the life was frustrating; the and made real in the lives country) fresh water lake. pace at which things were of people; that they may The people are poor (not moving called for cultivating experience the love, peace starving) but they do not perseverance; learning the and joy He has to offer have disposable income. The language is still a challenge; through personally knowing rate of unemployment is high there are times when I Him and giving their lives to and the laws do not favour miss the comforts of home, Him. the masses. It is a peaceful family, friends and lifestyle; How long will you be there? country in comparison to the status of being a no one other African countries that in the eyes of people; BUT I came here in January 2014 are oppressed either by I count the loss of these and was granted a work governments or in the midst things as nothing when I look permit for 2 years after of civil war. The crime rate toward what I’ve been called which I will return home for is high however and it’s not to do for the Kingdom and holidays; however this permit

34 SANGATI

July - Sept 2015

INTERVIEW Joaquim Lobo

will be renewed based on my discernment of whether the Lord calls me to continue serving Him here.

What is your plan after returning?

My return is not absolute. I do not know where I will go or what I will do (sounds a bit odd to the ordinary person) but I live my life each day for the Lord. Where He will lead me in this earthly journey I do not know but in faith I will go in obedience to his call.

Finally, what is your message to the young?

As St. John Paul II said, “Be

TO E B RI C S SUB FREE

but has been purposed since creation itself. Find out from Jesus what He wills of you and when you know... when He reveals Himself to you, your joy will know no bounds. The world and all it has to offer you will hold no glamour in comparison to what He offers you. So with a generous ‘yes’ and a trusting heart STEP OUT of yourself, of all that you want, of all that binds you... into the world and make disciples of all nations. As St. Daniel Comboni says, “For we were a Saint, what else is there?” born to save souls.”

The life that God has given you is not for yourself alone

Email to sangatidonbosco@gmail.com

Althought our school has bagged 100% in Std X for last 4 years and 32 have got above 92 percent, our school does not insist only on studies. All round development of students has been our aim. It is a blessing of Don Bosco.

Sheenu Elizabeth, Teacher, DB Sirsi The ever present fathers and brothers at the boarding has helped me improve in studies, games, other activities and prayers.

Bryan Borges, IX, DB Sutgatti I feel so very welcomed to come to this place. It is filled with activities on Saturday & Sundays and with youngsters flowing in thanks to our youth animator Fr. Jason and the Salesian Society. You help us grow in so many and varied ways.

The running Salesians in my Parish Church brought the Good News and Love of God to many of us through very unique way and that sparked a seed of vocation within my heart very strongly. Don Bosco gave me a place to think out of ghetto, he gave me a chance to be me and to dream big, to make them a reality. His creative yet very simple way of life captivates my whole being. Today as I stand at the verge of my Priestly Ordination, I feel deeply humbled, to walk in the Bosco way to serve Jesus.

Deacon Austin Fernandes, sdb Don Bosco Youth Pasch, organised by DB Benaulim gave me a reason to stay a bit longer in prayer. I found myself growing spiritually and intellectually. I also learnt that our worship to God and means of gaining knowledge about our God can be made interesting, moving away from the conventional ways of doing them. Now I feel that I have indeed received life in abundance!

Elaine Barbosa, Youth Group, DB Benaulim

July - Sept 2015

Send Your Address to The Editor Don Bosco Youth Welfare Centre Naika Vaddo, Post Verla Parra - Goa 403 510

SANGATI

Cecilia D’Silva, Youth Pascher

35

MY EXPERIENCE Joanne D’Souza

GIVE SOME TIME...!

Have you ever wondered what it takes to make a difference in this world? Or at least in a single person’s life? I often did. Growing up and looking at my parents make a difference in so many peoples’ lives brought on the zeal and enthusiasm to do the same but I didn’t know how to go about it. Today maybe I do.

learnt a very valuable lesson with this experience.

I found that more than anything these older people need our time and attention. They long for a warm smile and listening ear. It may not mean much to us but it makes a huge difference in their otherwise lonely lives. We all need attention from our loved ones regularly and so do they.

I am a physiotherapist working with the geriatric population for the past 4 years. Geriatric refers to the older adults above the age of 60 years. I work with a social organisation, Helpage India whose mission is to alleviate isolation, poverty and neglect in the older people of our nation. As a part of my work I visit various homes for the aged across Goa, work with senior citizen groups and associations as well as promote healthy aging through awareness and education.

I often find when I visit these homes for the aged, that more than the exercises I encourage the senior citizens to do, they long for my visits, just to have someone come to speak to them or hear their stories. And they do have the greatest stories to tell. For example an elderly couple who completed 55 years of marriage and belonging to different religions told me about how they met and their journey to marriage with a lot of opposition from both families; and when they spoke of these old tales their faces just lit up with happiness.

After this experience I started spending more time talking to the senior citizens rather than just assessing and treating them for their ailments.

And I found that they respond much better and are more than willing to do their exercises. I

Joanne, a young physiotheraphist, an ADMA member, presently working at District Hospital, Mapusa, Goa

In our busy lives we barely have time to speak to our families or we get so caught up with work or studies that it is impossible to spare even a moment for anything else. But if we really want to make a difference in a person’s life then we don’t need to do big things. All we need to do is spare some time from our busy schedule and talk to our parents and grandparents at home or perhaps an elderly couple in the neighbourhood. Share a cup of coffee with them or a quick phone call to keep in touch and you will definitely touch more lives than you can ever imagine.

36 SANGATI

July - Sept 2015

FASCINATION Sr Melusina Colaco, FMA

Preventive System of Don Bosco

The

“Don Bosco”, a name well known to many people all over the world. His vision, which led him to start working for poor and abandoned boys has today become a huge reality. Don Bosco was a dreamer and the inspiration behind his dreams was God himself. His openness to God’s plan and his simple yet deep spirituality was his driving force. He started this new educational system - the preventive system with which he could draw many souls to God. This was what fascinated me towards the salesian way of life and has since then remained a passion in my mission of saving souls. In our formation years we were given a glimpse of this method in theory but the real experience was done only when I implemented it with the youngsters.

My knowledge about this method grew as I lived and worked with the youngsters.

It was during my studies in Rome that I had an in-depth study of the preventive system and as I had already implemented it, I had an opportunity to review it from that perspective. During this time I came to know how exactly Don Bosco practiced it with his boys, the political and cultural

July - Sept 2015

situation of the place at that time and what were the obstacles he had to face. During the time of Don Bosco, there were many others who started oratories to help poor and abandoned youth but there was something unique in Don Bosco’s style of implementing his method. This is what has driven me to live this method in his way and style. This method is based on three elements: reason, religion and loving kindness and what is most important in all these three is the last one. It is with love that souls can be saved and hearts can be won. Love has the power to transform even the weakest and hardest of character. When we encounter a young person what make them accept and acknowledge what we say is exactly this Salesian trait of winning hearts through love, cheerfulness and a positive attitude.

This method is not only useful in an educational set up but can also be practiced in any set up be it formal or informal.

What I consider most important is to make this method a part of our life. This is Don Bosco’s heritage to all of us his sons and daughters, so why don’t we make it a total reality everywhere?

SANGATI

37

ADMIRATION Sr Melissa D’Souza, FMA

Don Bosco, The Effective Dreamer Don Bosco, rightly known as the dreamer saw his dreams fulfilled day by day as he walked the path traced out by the ‘Shepherd of his dreams’.

He began educational institutions, boardings, hostels, youth centres, more and more religious houses and in addition new families in the already existing big Salesian family. He continues to dream and his dream continues to be fulfilled through each of us who form part of the great Salesian family.

I was drawn to this great dreamer as I began my school life in Auxilium, Carona with the Salesian Sisters. Their joy and family spirit were a great attraction to me. Their lively presence with the children/young enthused and stirred within me a deep desire to be a part of their mission. Though I studied with them only in the Primary School, I continued to attend the oratory and summer club organized by them and felt inspired to be a part of the Salesian family. The Salesian family is indeed a big family, spread throughout the world. There are so many different fields of work that the members are engaged in and they invariably have brought much good in this world.

Don Bosco’s life has always enchanted me, his passion for the youth inspite of all odds and His faith in God despite all trials, has impressed me. Whenever I read incidents from his life, I am somehow moved. He was indeed a man who was ahead of his times, a man with a vision beyond his years and with a passion that kept him on his feet even when the going was tough.

His great love for the boys is worth admiring.

He could and would do ‘Anything’ for them, for their happiness, for the good of their souls.

I am also overwhelmed at the miraculous interventions of God and Mother Mary in his life : Divine Providence when he was running out of funds, Grigio a big dog, who out of nowhere would appear on the scene when he was in physical danger, collaborators who came forward from his own boys, Churches and houses built without a single penny in hand and so many other marvels. I admire his capacity to read the hearts, the weaknesses and the sins of so many boys and others too, his intuition that prevented so much of harm, his bilocation, his great love for the Church and fidelity to its leaders. This man Don Bosco, is really worth admiring and loving.

I try to be a part of his dream too and carry on the covenant of love with the Divine Shepherd of his dreams. I haven’t accomplished much, but I have contributed in my small and unique way by touching the lives of many children and youngsters who have crossed my path…in the boarding, hostel and school. My passion for the environment has been another interesting way through which I fulfill Don Bosco’s dream in making the young understand their duty towards Mother Earth. He always wanted his youngsters to be good Christians and honest citizens. In caring for the Earth, I try to arouse in them values of respect, care, responsibility, and love for each living creature. Wherever I am placed, I will try to do my bit to continue to make this ‘Dreamer’ known and loved.

38 SANGATI

July - Sept 2015

VOCATION COMMISSION GUIDANCE Fr Maxim D’Souza, SDB

Vocational Guidance in Salesian Youth Ministry Neil, a 10th grade boy who was attending the Vocation Camps, suddenly got chatting with me on Messenger. He said, “Hey Father, do you remember telling us during the camp that if you need any help in planning your future, feel free to contact me anytime. I’ve got a problem about choosing my future. Can you help me?” The message really got me interested and I thought to myself – as Salesians, this is what we are called to do, i.e., guide youngsters in helping them find their place in life.

Vocational Guidance in Salesian Youth Ministry Vocational Guidance is an integral aspect of Salesian Youth Ministry. In fact, it is considered as the ‘Crown of all Salesian Youth Ministry.

“Inviting young people to consider their vocation should be the part of the entire process of education and evangelization. It is the ultimate horizon, reference point for our ministry. The aim is to accompany each young person as they go about discovering their vocation, which is the place where the individual responds to the free and unconditional love that God has for him or her. The vocational dimension shapes the first and ultimate objective of Salesian Youth Ministry.” [Salesian Youth Ministry Frame of Reference pg. 160]

A call to embrace life and find meaning In a broad sense we think of the Vocation to Life. When we are called into existence/life,

July - Sept 2015

God has called us for a purpose and gifted us with a set of talents/abilities/potentials. He wants us to develop these to the fullest and use these for the mission for which he has called us into existence. Each one of us has a unique mission in life and no one else can fulfill it as best as me. Realizing this mission on earth is the purpose of our existence and secret of our happiness. Vocational guidance should help youngsters to realize this unique mission that s/he has been given by God and commit oneself whole-heartedly to fulfill it.

A call to experience the Divine As Christians, we are endowed with the gift of the ‘Life in the Spirit’, a life of Grace. With our Baptism we received a special Vocation to experience the Love of God manifested through His Son Jesus. This Vocation if lived with zest and commitment will help us attain the ‘fullness

Just as treasures are uncovered from the earth, so virtue appears from good deeds, and wisdom appears from a pure and peaceful mind. To walk safely through the maze of human life, one needs the light of wisdom and the guidance of virtue.– Buddha of life’ God has ordained for us. As Salesians it is our task to help the youngsters experience Jesus in a more personal way and realize the life

SANGATI

39

GUIDANCE Fr Maxim D’Souza, SDB

VOCATION COMMISSION

of commitment they are called to in the Church.

In India, as we are engaged with youngsters of other religions, we are called to make the love of God alive with our witnessing presence.

We are called to create a God sense in our youngsters and a greater awareness of a life of morality and integrity. In the multi-cultural and religious context we may not be able to engage ourselves in direct evangelization but surely our life witness and sensitivity in creating humane ambience in our institutions will be efficacious in attuning the consciences of youngsters towards social sensitivity and altruism.

Personal Accompaniment is intrinsic to Vocational Guidance The style of conducting the Vocational Guidance is through ‘personal accompaniment.’ It means that Vocational Guidance is not a onetime activity but takes a long and sometimes a lifelong process. It amounts to walking with the young along their journey of life. This process of accompaniment also makes us vulnerable and stretches us as Salesians to live this ministry as a way of life: to be truthful and compassionate, to believe in the goodness of every person, to be truly present in the moment, to listen openly and to be available. Through our positive and willing daily example, the youth encounter friends who will walk with them.

with a sense of value commitment and honesty, thus evangelizing the secular sphere. A genuine Vocation Guidance should show youngsters a variety of ways living the Gospel.

Vocations in the Church as a fruit of Vocational Guidance One of the important outcomes of our accompaniment of youngsters is an increase of Vocations to Lay ministry, ministerial Priesthood and religious life in the Church.

This is the deepening of the Christian Vocation.

Here too as mentors and guides we need to discern with the youngsters the kind of religious life they are called to live in the Church. As St. Paul says, ‘there are different forms of service but the same Lord. (1 Cor 12:5) Vocations to the Salesian religious life are promoted as a fruit of such accompaniment and a proper discernment.

Vocational Guidance as Career Guidance As educators of the young, we need to expose youngsters to different forms of careers. The Educative Pastoral Community should be able to provide information and lived experiences of a wide range of possible careers they could choose from, for which they are suitable and eligible. Similarly, we need to expose them to lay people who live their profession as a vocation

Don Bosco – Our Model in Vocational Guidance As we approach the bicentenary of the birth of Don Bosco, it is but fitting that we draw inspiration from the Shepherd of the Young in carrying out

40 SANGATI

July - Sept 2015

GUIDANCE Fr Maxim D’Souza, SDB

VOCATION COMMISSION

our mission. Don Bosco, who struggled hard, due to the challenges of his time to realize his ‘dream’, was naturally inclined to help the youngsters he encountered to find their place in life. Of course, there was that supernatural intervention that made him realize “The only purpose his special calling for which [God] to minister unto created you was youngsters.

All to be loved and that Don Bosco did served [by you] in was not merely give temporary solace this life.” to youngsters but Don Bosco he was concerned about their wellbeing beyond the walls of his institution. That is why, beside those he was taking care in his Oratory, he went inquiring about those that were employed and took care of their temporal and spiritual needs. The method he employed of accompanying the young after the heart of the ‘Good Shepherd’ was so efficacious that, besides those that were well placed in life, he was able to send about 2500 priestly vocations to the Church during his life time.

Vocational Guidance versus Recruitment

Pastoral Plan so as to attain the objective of guiding the young in their journey of life.

Family Apostolate – a vital element in Vocational Guidance The youngsters we have are the products of the families they hail from. The family exerts a long lasting influence upon a person and therefore cannot be neglected in the search of an individual’s vocation. The parents who have embraced the Vocation to married life need guidance to understand and live out their vocation. We also need to guide the parents so that they are empowered to bring up their children in a formative environment.

Don Bosco himself emphasized this point when he said, “Unfortunately, parents are not always good counselors because they are not always guided by what is best for their son’s spiritual welfare, but by worldly considerations... But if your parents live their faith, they are your best counselors because they know you intimately and their advice can be naught but good and well-founded. Generally, if you ask their advice properly, you will get it.”

In Conclusion “All ministry, and especially youth ministry, is

Vocational Guidance in the Salesian Youth Ministry should be considered in this broad sense than merely recruiting religious vocations into the Salesian Congregation.

We need to constantly review the quality of the accompaniment of our youngsters in our institutions rather than be content with running our institutions and organizing a few sporadic activities. Every youngster who enters the portals of our institution needs to be accompanied and followed, up to a stage where is able to find his place in life. To this end, we need to broaden the scope of our Educative &

July - Sept 2015

SANGATI

41

GUIDANCE Fr Maxim D’Souza, SDB

VOCATION COMMISSION

radically vocational in nature: the vocational dimension is what naturally inspires it and is its natural outcome. Therefore we need to abandon the reductive notion of vocational ministry which is only concerned with looking for candidates for religious or priestly life. On the contrary, as said before, vocation ministry should create appropriate circumstances for every young person to discover, take up and responsibly follow his or her vocation. The

first condition, following Don Bosco’s example, consists in creating an environment which experiences and passes on a true “culture of vocation”, that is, a way of conceiving of and tackling life as a freely received gift; a gift to be shared in the service of the fullness of life for everyone, overcoming an individualistic, consumeristic, relativist mentality and a culture of self-fulfillment.” [Fr. Pascual Chavez, AGC 409]

Fr Maxim is a Vocation delegate for the province and a member of Youth Pastoral team June 1973 will always be a historic landmark month in my life as it was the discovery of a new world for me as I entered Don Bosco High School and boarding, Panjim from my Santo Estevam village. In those days in Goa, unlike now, there was a big gulf of difference between city and village life.

We were 200 boarders from all around Goa & the lush green expanse of playing fields were so inviting. For the first time in my life I donned football boots (as we were used to playing barefoot or with canvas shoes) besides getting to play hockey & basketball (which we never even saw in the village) & also learning boxing, wrestling, table tennis. Every sunday & some saturdays & holidays, we were extremely fortunate to have screening of movies in our campus. Above all, I had the privilege of praying with and interacting and learning so much from great saintly salesian visionaries like Fr Joseph Casti, Fr Benedict Furtado , Fr Mauro Casarroti, Fr Albano, Fr Edward and Bro. Rocha. All this and so much more that I experienced at Don Bosco Panjim school, has made me what I am today.

Dr Rufino Monteiro, Cardiologist and Heart Specialist, Chairman - Goa Football Development Council President - Past Pupils Association (Alumni), Panjim I have been living in MBBS for the past nine years. As a small boy, I and my brother, Patrick, were placed in MBBS by Br Rocha.

We were the first ones to enter MBBS. I did not know how to be clean, to study, read and write then. But I was slowly taught to respect the Priests, Brothers, elders and other boys around me. I am grateful to Fr. Arvind for helping me grow in my life with fear of God and love of human being. I thank all the fathers and brothers who have come into my life.

I thank you Don Bosco for having given me and my family the opportunity to work with salesian fathers, brothers and sisters, in the past and now... It is indeed an enriching experience to be living under the salesian way...

Jacinta Naik, former student, now teacher, Don Bosco Sulcorna My teachers use different means to educate us. Continuous rounds of fathers and brothers give unique touch to the environment in the campus.

The number of cocurricular activities conducted has has led to my overall development. Salesians make us feel that the school is our second home.

Vidya Ahir, X, DB Sutgatti I feel blessed to have Don Bosco as the patron saint at our parish in Sirsi. We are ever grateful to all the Salesian priests who have rendered relentless and selfless service and have made the charism of Don Bosco take root in our lives. As a parent, I am ever grateful to you for leading our children in Don Bosco way such as his love of God and sacraments, care of youth, love for hard work, study, fun, joy, music, laughter… and for laying a solid foundation in their spiritual lives.

Xavier D’Souza, Parishioner, DB Church , Sirsi I entered MBBS at the age of 10. My grandmother and I were welcomed by Fr. Arvind. He took good care of me. I like everything about MBBS, the food, the studies, the games, the prayers... Thank you MBBS for making my life worth living.

Roy D’Souza, IX, MBBS, Paliem

42 SANGATI

Meeson Gadekar, VI, MBBS, Paliem

July - Sept 2015

VOCATION COMMISSION A CALL Fr Jason Coelho, SDB

Vocation: Everybody has One What do you want to be when you grow up?

A lawyer? A farmer? A teacher? An actor? A doctor? A scientist? An engineer? A musician?

An investment counselor? An accountant?

What do you want to do when you grow up?

Write? Draw? Paint? Cook? Drive? Repair?

You have heard these questions since you were a child! No doubt, you have been counselled, directed and pressured to choose one. You have been told that certain professions should be considered because they pay well and warned that others should be avoided because they don’t. In making your choice, you are, no doubt, under the gun to please parents, counsellors, teachers and peers.

“What do you want to do when you grow up?” is the wrong question. The only question that really counts is: “What does God want you to do?” “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I dedicated you.”

Each one of you is precious in God’s eyes. You are special. You are a unique expression of God’s love and creativity. In all the world there is no other person exactly like you. There never has been or never will be another person just like you!

for a purpose. You have a mission. You have something to do here that can be done by no one else. Your responsibility is to find out what your mission is and then carry it out with all your might. Your purpose here is commonly called “your vocation” or “your call.”

God called St. John Bosco to be the father and teacher of the young. For him to follow God’s call was of vital importance for his salvation. In the Introduction of the Salesian Constitution he writes: “the whole enterprise of one’s eternal salvation depends on following one’s vocation, just as the whole mechanism of a watch is ruined if the master wheel is broken”(Journal of Salesian Studies 2004). The vocation story of Don Bosco starts with his dream at the age of nine which made a deep impression in his life at different phases of his vocation.

Don Bosco had to struggle to follow his vocation.

On deciding to be a priest his step brother was a block. Other crises continued throughout his student career: on one hand there was clarity of

Besides being special and unique, you are not here by accident. You were sent here

July - Sept 2015

SANGATI

43

A CALL Fr Jason Coelho, SDB

VOCATION COMMISSION

his life’s ideal which was reinforced by visions and dreams and his practical ability to attain any goal he set for himself, on the other hand there was some hesitation when he actually started his work. He often questioned his vocation and asked for spiritual advice. He remained faithful to his vocation amidst troubles and trials up to the end of his life. Like Abraham of old, only at the end of his journey was he to understand the vastness and depth of the will of God in his regard when he celebrated Mass in May of 1887 in the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

He understood everything that had happened during his life. Don Bosco was aware of his call.

He completely responded and remained faithful to it in spite all the problems and difficulties that he had to face in order to pursue it.

Everyone of us has a vocation, a call from God, to do something for Him, to help Him carry out his work in the world. A call is not so much about what I want to do, but what God wants me to do. The famous Albert Schweitzer puts it this way: “The only ones among you who will be really happy are those who have sought and found how to serve.” Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, “What are you doing for others?”

Fr Jason is a youth animator for Goa and a member of the vocation commission of the Province of Panjim As a part of this institution, I feel I am a member of this family. After the routine stress of the day, I come to teach the boys at MBBS. There I feel happy, at home and free. I enjoy sharing and listening to the views of the boys.

I have learnt a lot of valuable things of life while interacting with the them.

This is my third year in MBBS. I study in the Government High School, Namoshi Guirim, Bardez Goa. I love the Fathers, Brothers, teachers and didis and bhaiyas.

I have learnt many songs. I came with nothing but Don Bosco gave me everything.

Shoaib Malik Shaikh, V, MBBS, Paliem MBBS a place where I saw I could do a lot for the children in the home. The children of MBBS are very enterprising and appreciative whatever you do for them and are grateful too. There is a lot of love and affection that one can give and take from these children. They need more people like us, if not for anything else then at least to just be around them - to love them.

Matilda Rodrigues, Tutor, MBBS, Paliem I can proudly say that I am working in an institute which is recognised and famous all over the world. It is my second home as I am with this HSS since its birth in 1994.

It has taught me to expand to my full capacity and give my BEST. The system of education not only excels in academics but also in co-curricular activities. It provides an all round development. Personal attention to the students is another important aspect as it recognises and nurtures the hidden talent of each student. The poor and the marginalised have a predicted place. I have learnt to dissolve distance and bring together students from all kinds of backgrounds and to construct their lives independently, especially the ones who are caught in the vortex of vicious cycle of poverty and ignorance.

Gauravi Madgaonkar, Tutor, MBBS, Paliem There was a desire within me from my childhood to help the poor and needy.

This spark was fanned when Fr. Arvind celebrated the Holy Cross feast at Swiss Chapel (Mapuca) and requested the people to visit the boys home at Paliem – MBBS. When I visited the boys with my family I was taken on a tour by Maruti the youngest of the lots of the inmates. I knew this was the place to spend my free time. The boys are always smiling though they have nothing and we have everything yet we are sad. This opened my eyes to God for all the blessings I’ve received.

Glen Ribeiro Sa, Benefactor MBBS, Paliem When I first came to MBBS I was blank.

But as days passed by, I was being filled in with talents. Well mannered, gentlemanly, good dancer, is all that I am today and all thanks to MBBS, the Salesian Fathers, Brothers and teachers staying here. MBBS has taught me the importance of life and how to make a gift out of it to others. I’m happy I could learn this important lesson from MBBS.

Avelino V. Fernandes, Teacher, DB Quepem, Goa

44 SANGATI

Badshah Shaikh, Past Pupil, MBBS, Paliem

July - Sept 2015

TECHINCAL COMMISSION VOCATIONAL TRAINING Fr Royston D’Souza, SDB

Our Best to the Least!

The Salesian work and charism right from its inception has largely been based on Technical education. Don Bosco was a true pioneer of technical and vocational education. In 1853 he started a “workshop” in the backyard of his Oratory where he personally began to train a small number of unemployed youth and school dropouts in certain simple skills. In doing so, he was pioneering the concept of “Trade Schools” in Italy.

As his workshops began to attract more and more youngsters, Don Bosco started expanding his school of trade - he began with tailoring and shoemaking in 1853, added bookbinding in 1854, carpentry in 1856, printing in 1861, and a workshop for blacksmiths in 1862. In 1861 after setting up his first school of printing, he told one of his helpers, “Just wait, we start with one; then we’ll have two, ten and even a hundred.” In 1878, two agricultural schools were opened – one for boys and another for girls. Without doubt, technical and vocational training has been a high priority area of the Salesian mission in the world. We can very well say that the passion for technical education is deeply ingrained in the Salesian DNA. It was in the 4th General Chapter of 1886 that Don Bosco laid down the threefold basic goals of Salesian technical education: 1) to have the young learn a trade so that they can honestly earn the bread they need to live on; 2) to have them instructed in religion; and 3) to provide them with the knowledge required by and suited to their state, in other words, professional competence. Within his own institutes, Don Bosco always wanted an annual exhibition,

July - Sept 2015

displaying the specimens produced by the pupils. To this effect the same General Chapter laid it down: “In every professional institute there should be held an annual exhibition of works executed by the pupils, and every three years, there should be a common exhibition in which all our trade schools will take part.”

Many of our houses in the Province of Panjim have started out as technical institute. Don Bosco Panjim had a large flourishing technical sector. Fr Scuderi with the help of a fellow Sicilian Mr Giovani Bellassai, a skillful carpenter started with the carpentry workshop and later a printing press.

On account of the complexity of works, the technical section of Panjim was shifted to Fatorda, where Fr Henry Torra, a Spaniard offered non-formal training through Fitter, Machinist, Welder, Electrician and Motor Mechanic trades. It received a very encouraging response and the needs kept growing, such that in 1983, the National Council for Vocational Training (NCVT), Government of India,

SANGATI

45

VOCATIONAL TRAINING Fr Royston D’Souza, SDB

TECHNICAL COMMISSION

recognized it as an Industrial Training Institute (ITI). In 1992, in view of the pressing demands and rapidly evolving industrial requirements, the Electronic Mechanic and Computer nonformal courses were launched.

Don Bosco Vocational Training Institute at Loutulim was established eight years ago with the purpose of offering school drop-outs an opportunity to obtain professional training in employment related skills. Since then till the year 2012, when there were only three courses being conducted, an average of 75 trainees per year were educated. In 2012, the number of students rose to an average of 125. In 2014, 180 students were trained in Hospitality/Hotel Management, Electrical, Welding, Carpentry, Auto-Mechanic, Computer, Printing, Home Nursing Assistant, Fashion Design and Professional Tailoring.

Bosco Udyogshala, Pinguli, Maharashtra was

opened in 1983. The institute received its recognition under the NCVT in 1988. Four trades, Welding, Carpentry, Electrician and Fashion Technology were initially started.

Today the institute offers Electrician, Welding, Motor Mechanic and Draughtsman.

We have seen a certain trend in our province where most of the houses be it Panjim, Sulcorna, Fatorda, Tuem, Trasi, Sutgatti have had technical education as one of the primary ministries. From it the other branches have grown and are producing abundant fruits. The situations, needs and policies have changed.

Technical education largely caters to children that have dropped out from the main stream of education. Most of these youth are generally economically backward. With the rising cost of equipment, raw material and training cost, it has been difficult to sustain these institutions.

But that is our ‘Best to the Least.’

Fr Royston is a coordinator of the Technical Education in the Province of Panjim After leaving Mumbai and coming to Goa, since close to DB Odxel, I had a chance interacting with friends after daily Mass, share a joke and experience of life, and tutor poor kids at DB. As a member of the ADMA I have grown in devotion to Mary Help of Christians. The Salesians who give us this opportunity to know more about Don Bosco and share time and talent with poor children are doing a great job. May God bless them always.

Lalita Alphonso, ADMA member, Tutor, DB Odxel

The Mother of Don Bosco Venerable Margaret Occhiena (Mama Margaret)

Since youth I have been a devotee of Mary Help of Christians. Therefore, I willingly joined the ADMA at Odxel in 2009 with 14 members. The aim was development of personal spirituality, service to community especially the poor youth, orphans, under priviledged and marginalised members of our society. The group meets on the 3rd Monday of the month and we commence with half hour Holy Adoration followed by a meeting to decide, evaluate and plan the activities for the following month. Initially, it was an outreach programme to the street children at the Odxel Creche on festive days i.e 11th Feb. (Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes); Children Day - 14th Nov. and Christmas. This activity still continues each year with fun and games, which brings much joy and cheer to the participants. Rosary is recited with a cluster of families to pray especially for our youth to be protected from evil habits, materialism and religious indifference and that our homes may become sanctuaries for vocations.

Help is also rendered to poor and needy students by way of tutorials. Recently, ADMA members have undertaken pilgrimages to Marian Shrines and this has helped in fostering greater devotion to Our Lady. Above all we endeavour to imitate the virtues of humility and fortitude of Our Lady and our fervent devotion to the Eucharist and Blessed Sacrament. It is a soul satisfying experience which I have never regretted. I request you to come join and experience the joy of being a member of ADMA. Clare Castellino, ADMA member, Odxel, Goa

46 SANGATI

July - Sept 2015

YaR COMMISSION YOUTH CARE

Fr Kimrold D’Mello, SDB

The Most Loved of Don Bosco By “Young at Risk” (YaR), we mean children and young adults” who are in or have been through life-situations or experiences that jeopardize or negatively impact their safety, growth and development, and are in need of care and protection.

They may be any young persons living or working on streets, child labourers, orphaned, abandoned, homeless, vagrant, or run-away youngsters, young in conflict with the law or in prison, migrant or displaced without means of livelihood, those eking out livelihoods through occupations not suited to their age, through begging or petty crime, “school dropouts”, those who have been deprived of basic educational opportunities, young affected by wars, violent conflicts or socio-political upheavals, young substance abusers, those infected with or affected by HIV/AIDS, young persons involved in or associated with commercial sex work, trafficked young persons, victims of abuse, third gender young persons, differently able young, and rural or urban young persons in extreme poverty are among those we refer to as “Young at Risk”.

Goa, working strictly and only for the “Young at Risk”. MBBS is a Don Bosco (Children’s) Home for boys in need of shelter, education, care and protection. The Young at Risk (YaR) find a home at MBBS. On the other hand there are other Salesian institutions, settings or presences that engage in some Young at Risk ministries, which do not form the bulk or significant portion of their activities, may be referred to as YaR Services.

They are Don Bosco Youth welfare Center Parra, Don Bosco Loutulim, Don Bosco Academy Sutgatti and Don Bosco Quepem, running a National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) for school dropouts, helping them finish their Std X and XII directly.

Fr Kimrold is the coordinator of the YaR activities of the Province of Panjim, resides at MBBS, Paliem, Goa

In the Province of Panjim, we have Margaret Bosco Bal Sadan (MBBS) at Uccasaim-Paliem, Bardez,

July - Sept 2015

SANGATI

47

SALESIAN FAMILY ADMA Valentine D’Souza

An Association for the Ordinary People Don Bosco did not leave the cult to Mary Help of Christians simply to spontaneous devotion.

He gave it stability with an Association which took her name. First-hand witnesses saw in this institution one of the initiatives most dear to Don Bosco and the one with the widest impact after that of the two religious Congregations and the Association of the Cooperators.

In the Salesian province of Panjim there are two units of the Association of Mary Help of Christians (ADMA), one at Odxel and the other at Parra. There is also one unit at Carona that is yet to receive formal accredition.

The Odxel unit was formed in the year 2008 with 14 members. It was the first ADMA unit to receive accredition. The Parra unit was formed in the year 2009 and was accredited in the year 2010 with 18 members. Both these units are now united with a world wide membership of more

than 30,000 with the common aim of spreading devotion to Mary and the Holy Eucharist. They are growing in numbers with regular meetings and activities.

The charism of the ADMA lies in its simple rules which can be followed easily in the comfort of the home. There are no vows or rigorous practices to be followed. Daily prayers, visits to the Blessed Sacrament, frequent communion and reconciliation, simple acts of piety are all that is required of a member.

In these units, members normally meet once a month. Other activities of piety depend on the individual units to decide. All the feasts of the Blessed Virgin Mary are celebrated with solemnity. Presently, units are conducting the Marian Quiz for the schools, organize competitions, have rosary services, visit the sick, give tuitions, help out in the church. Every year members renew their promises.

It is a common experience of members that they have found peace and serenity in their lives as a result of this association and therefore I would like many to join and reap this benefit. In the year of the bicentenary of Don Bosco’s birth it would be fitting that the Association expands to all corners of the province, spreading devotion to the Blessed Virgin and veneration of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.

Valentine D’Souza is the President of the Provincial Council of ADMA

48 SANGATI

July - Sept 2015

OPEN SCHOOLING

EDUCATION Victoria Rebello

Opening the Doors for the Youth

Don Bosco built a home of love, kindness, and compassion for the unwanted street children.

He gave his life for them until his last breath.

Don Bosco’s National Open School in Parra, was founded by Bro Anthony Rocha in the year 1999, and since then it has literally opened various avenues for young. Students from the neighboring schools, come for admission with a sad look, wondering if they are wanted or not. After a brief talk across the table with the Principal, there is a different look with a smile ready to take their admission form in hand.

Every year the strength of the open school has been 225 and above. It also cater for working external students which rounds up to 10 to 15 students more.

During the year the Principal keeps in touch with them regarding assignments and notes.

In regards to teaching, it is very challenging and needs a lot of patience and understanding. Some of the students have lot of personal problems, and are very unruly, but with counseling and guidance by the principal, many have been set on the right path. One noticeable observation of these students is that they are loving, and happy

July - Sept 2015

to greet if met outside school hours, or even after years of finishing their studies at Don Bosco Parra. Many of our students have proved themselves and have gone on to be graduates and have excelled in their careers. Some are employed abroad as well. Many students have got admission in St. Xaviers College Mapusa, Don Bosco College Panjim and other reputed educational institutions across the state.

This year Don Bosco Parra has 13 boarders.

Our Open school has 150 students in Std. X and 75 in Std. XII. The principal is very strict with discipline and moral values. In fact many outsource sessions are organized for our students. Guest speakers are invited to speak on different subjects which involve the problems faced by the youth, some of the topics that have been dealt with are sex education, values and morals, personality development and leadership. Young are made aware of tourism related vices.

For the morning’s assembly, ‘good morning’ talks are given by the Salesian Fathers. This has motivated many students to a sound education, so that they can stand and face the world within their capacity.

SANGATI

Victoria Rebello works at Don Bosco NIOS, Parra, Goa

49

I Love Don Bosco!

Every school in Goa will have a situation like this one: there are a few students in class who, because of the age factor, have been admitted to class. They have absolutely no background of the language of instruction used to study the subjects taught. How can these students cope with rest of the class? Has the teacher the time to give such students the help they ought to have, is the student constrained to go on at his or her own pace and get discouraged in the process...In our present day educational system, a teacher has no choice but to leave the fate of such students to chance. And that is where our Remedial Teaching Programme comes in.

Memories of my youth take me back to the remarkable and treasured moments spent in the Don Bosco Oratory. I could spend endless hours at the oratory but due to study time, was curtailed. The oratory offered a wide range of sporting and other extracurricular activities and time just flew by. At 7.00pm. Fr. Olivio Miranda would lead us in rosary and night prayer. This definitely had a profound influence on my formative years. Don Bosco’s life and teaching served as an inspiration and values of self discipline, unity, equality and brotherhood were sown in my heart and mind. I continue to draw strength from these teachings. Don Bosco lives on.

I joined the Konkan Development Society which conducts remedial classes in 27 centers in Goa and Maharashtra. I am its coordinator and teacher for the centers in North Goa. We are a group of dynamic teachers who meet regularly and discuss our issues and jointly pool in efforts to find solutions.

Edward Noronha, Past Pupil, DB Panjim

It has been a remarkable experience. The progress may have been agonizingly slow but to help a student to do well in exams as well as in life is extremely satisfying.

Priya Pednekar, Remedial Teacher, North Goa I like to attend remedial classes because my teacher makes classes interesting. she conducts various competitions, gives good examples and explains topics well. I like maths. This time I will get good marks in exams.

Atharva Joshi, R K Vidhyalay, Remedial student, Goa I was able to pass Std X with good marks because teacher Ujwala taught me very well during remedial classes at Govind Gunaji Sawant High School, Bicholim, Goa. Now I have taken science in Std. XI..

Nikhil Gad, Ex-Remedial student, Goa The course at Skill Certification Centre is outstanding and has really changed my life. Much of my fear of talking to new people has disappeared and I have become confident. I have learnt many things by way of skill and behaviour.

Paul, Taj-KDS Skill Certification Course, Candolim, Goa Don Bosco has helped me get trained in tailoring and embroidery. I also know to do minor repairs for the machine. During this course we were made aware of some health risks like HIV/AIDS, Dengue, Malaria...and how to lead a healthy life. I encourage all women to get trained in one of these courses.

My attachment to Don Bosco began much before I joined the school as my two elder brothers were boarders in the school. It was Fr. Cajetan Lobo, the then Prefect who selected me as I had passed the Segundo Grav with Distinction, a rare feat from a rural youngster as I hail from Divar.

I spent six years as a boarder in Don Bosco where I got associated with a number of priests who showed much concern to our upbringing. Msgr. Jose Carreno, a Spanish priest, was the Rector when I joined in 1958 who you could call the then “Mother Tereza of Panjim” who was assisted by Fr. Jose Moja, Fr. Edward Corcoron, Fr. Alfred Mariotta, Fr. Joseph Casti and other brothers.

During the first two years of my schooling, the school was under the Madras Province and Fr. John Med, a Yugoslavian Priest was the Provincial and I was one of the lucky ones who could meet him personally as I went to receive him at the railway station. In 1960, our school was linked to the Portuguese Province and our Rector was Fr. Julio Pinho and Provincial was Fr. Armando Pereira. This was for a short duration as after Liberation, we were attached to the Bombay Province in 1961.

I passed out through the school in 1964 with First Class when Fr. Dennis Duarte was the Rector, and I secured the highest marks in Latin at the Poona Board and won the Cowasji Jehangir Scholarship in the subject. This was possible due to the untiring efforts of my two Latin teachers, Fr.Edward Corcoron and Fr. Joseph Casti who trained us to even memorise a number of Aesop fables.

Today I lead a happy retired life after serving in Goa Shipyard for many years and I still recall the sweet memories spent with the Salesians. Still meeting some of my seniors like Fr. Romulo Noronha, Fr. Chrysologus D’Cunha and my colleague Fr. Amarildes Sigmaringa recollecting the times we spent together in Don Bosco Panjim. Today I am a very active member of the Don Bosco Past pupils, Mormugao Unit.

R Krishnaveni, Trainee - Tailoring and Embroidery, Shirhatti, Karnataka

50 SANGATI

A M Roque Menezes, Past Pupil, DB Panjim

July - Sept 2015

I Love Don Bosco!

I am one of those proud past pupils who started my schooling in Don Bosco and still continues to learn from them. My first school was close to where the outdoor Basketball court is presently situated.

I was part of the first Std. X batch and what a time I had all those 10 years. I passed out through very strict teachers and Principals but they were models of how learning and teaching should be as per the Preventive System of Education taught by St. John Bosco himself. For Example, late Sir Dominic Fernandes, strict disciplinarian who could control a whole January 26, Parade, yet very passionate who would understand us. He could even tell a headache or stomach-ache to get out so that you don’t bunk school.

But the Saint of all these persons was late Fr. Benedict Furtado a man of very less words but full of understanding.

Today, I am what I am because of basketball and the man who taught me the game and the patience. This priest who I am sure many past pupils still adore.

Another priest who looked after us after school in the Oratory was Fr. Edward D’Souza who is now in Assam.

He was followed by Fr. Joe Braganza who actually guided us to be men.

There is not a single day, when I go home without a visit to the school which gives me great pleasure and if this does not happen, it is something undone for the day.

Ever grateful.

Luis Fernandes, Past Pupil, DB Panjim After completing Std VII, I entered into a new atmosphere where I had a warm welcome and all my dreams were fulfilled. I felt homely, caring, motivated, encouraged. I can never forget Fr. San, Fr. Felix and Fr. Patrick they were extremely wonderful to me. Today I can face the crowd without any stage fear. I learnt music apart from curricular activities. I learnt to balance studies plus other activities at a time and be not a bookworm.

Joann Jenkins, Student, DB Sirsi

Letters to the Editor... April - June 2015 | Vol 08 Issue - 02 A special word of appreciation for the latest issue of Sangati AprilJune 2015. It is really good and standard work. Lot of news articles, interview. I am inspired. (Fr Lawrence Monteiro, Belgaum) Sangati bulletin looks great. I picked it up to read when I saw it on the stand, I couldn’t believe, it looked impressive. I enjoyed reading it.

(Fr Richard Correia, Trasi) Wow! I like it. Very presentable! (Fr Jason Coelho, Benaulim) Finally I got some time to go through the issue of Sangati. Presently out for a week of Easter Ministry.... Am without a computer. ..Read the mag on my mobile.

It looks good and solid - with several articles or features. ... makes a good reading, serious matter than just news items. ... congrats!

(Fr Banzelao Teixeira, Rome) eixeira Your Sangati is getting very famous...I met a man who was asking about it and want to speak to you. I have given him your number, he will call you up. (Bro. James Marcus, Loutulim)

July - Sept 2015

SANGATI

51

SALESIAN

3 Salesians make Perpetual Profession

PROVINCE NEWS Don Bosco Begins College of Agriculture in Sulcorna, Goa

Don Bosco Agro-Ed Complex, Sulcorna, Goa is all set to begin the College of Agriculture, a B.Sc. 4 year degree programme from July 1, 2015. This college a first of its kind in Goa is dedicated to Don Bosco on the bicentenary year of his birth.

Mr. Humberto Mascarenhas, the donor of the property will have an extra smile on his face in heaven as his aim in donating the property was to keep it green. He knew of the miners plundering the land of Savordem, Goa, and thus he bid for it to avoid being destroyed by the miners and gave it to the Salesians. From then on the Salesians have cultivated the forest land, increasing it year by year.

For greater upward mobility the course is recognised by Indian Council of Agriculture and Research, New Delhi and the syllabus followed is of National Indian Council of Agriculture Research. It is a grant-in-aid college where 50% seats are reserved for students from the state of Goa and the other 40% seats will be reserved for students from any other Indian state.

For the students to have ample amount of hands on training the managements has set aside 110 acres of fertile land to be used for the practical. Organic cultivation will be given special emphasis all through the 4 year degree programme. (Fr. Allwyn D’Souza)

Hope for the Salesian Future...

Twelve Pre Novices, replicating the number of Apostles of Jesus, joined the Salesian Pre Novitate at Bosco Udyogshala, Pinguli pledging their commitment to be Apostles of the young. Fr. Ian Figueiredo sdb, Provincial of the Province of Panjim inducted the Pre Novices during a meaningful Inaugural Eucharistic Celebration.

He invited the young pre novices to be like the child who gave his all to Jesus to work the miracle of the five loaves and two fish.

The three clerics of the Province of Panjim, Vicky D’Souza, Merwin Fernandes and Joseph Rodrigues at a Solemn Eucharistic celebration in the Church of St. John Bosco, Kelmbet of the Udupi district, committed their lives forever to live the Gospel in the footsteps of our father and founder St. John Bosco on May 25, 2015.

The tiny parish of Kelmbet was chosen for the second time to host the Perpetual Profession for the province of Panjim.

Provincial Fr Ian Figueiredo, in a solemn ceremony welcomed the young clerics Vicky, Merwin and Joseph in the name of the Rector Major as perpetually professed members of the Salesian congregation of St. Francis De Sales.

In his homely, Fr. Ian called on the young clerics to build their lives on prayer, humility and hard work. Only when we are open, free and willing, will we be true and effective instruments of Divine Providence in our apostolate and among our confreres, he said. He also thanked the parents of the clerics for the sacrifice, and implored them to continue assisting and accompanying their sons with prayer and best wishes. (Fr Francis Xavier)

Of the twelve, 8 belong to the Province of Mumbai and 4 to the Province of Panjim. (Fr Maxim D’Souza)

52 SANGATI

July - Sept 2015

Salesian Brother Among Newly Professed Salesians Three young Salesians of the Province of Panjim, Bro. Weslee Dias, Cl. Arun Mendonca & Cl. Volney Fernandes, after a year of intensive preparation, made their First Religious Profession in the Society of St. Francis De Sales on May 24, 2015 at Don Bosco Church, Nashik.

Fr Godfrey D’Souza, Provincial of the Salesian Province of Mumbai presided over the Eucharist and received 11 candidates to the Salesian Society. The Salesian Family was in full attendance as a Salesian Sister also made her Religious Profession into the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians.

The Province of Panjim thanks Fr Kenneth Pereira, novice master, for guiding the young Salesians of both provinces to take this major step in their life.

As the newly professed move to Divyadaan to begin their studies in philosophy, six Novices of Panjim Province begin their year of Novitiate.

Fr Maxim D’Souza sdb was present on the occasion on behalf of the Province of Panjim. (Fr Maxim D.)

Bro. Philip, Saviour for the Poor

New St Juze Vaz Mass Centre Commissioned

St. Juze Vaz Mass Centre was officially commissioned

by Bishop Peter Machado of Belgaum Diocese at Don Bosco Academy (DBA), Sutgatti in a short ceremony on June 1.

During the Eucharistic celebration, Bishop Machado asked Fr. Philip Kutty, chancellor of the Diocese to read the official letter of the Bishop commissioning DBA as a Mass centre under the patron of St Juze Vaz and Fr Santaremend Lopes as the first Chaplain. Later in a short ceremony Fr Santaremend recited the Creed with his hands on the Bible in the presence of the Bishop and received the keys to the Tabernacle which was symbolically given by the Bishop to Fr Ian Figueiredo, Provincial of Panjim Province who in turn handed it to Fr Santaremend.

Speaking to the congregation Bishop Machado said, love and peace are the absolute requirements for building a firm foundation for a meaningful evangelisation and all that we are called to do as followers of Christ. He called on people to model themselves on the life of St Juze Vaz, their patron, who did not hesitate to take on the role of a poor potter so that he could preserve and spread the Gospel values of peace and love among his Christian and brothers and sisters of other faiths. Fr Ian thanked bishop for this new gift and assured him of his cooperation in building up the people in this area.

(Fr Francis Xavier)

Bro. Philip Neri De Souza (55) after serving the people through the salesian congregation, went to his heavenly reward on June 24, 2015. He was diagnosed as suffering from Myelodysplastic syndrome. He was receiving blood transfusion and medication regularly from January 2013. Bro. Philip was an ace motor mechanic. After working for 7 years, he joined the salesians. This year was his silver jubilee year of profession. He was known for standing up with the people of Sulcorna, Goa to fight against injustice and for seeking better facilities for the villages. With the help of the people he had begun the anti-mining movement in Goa. Inspite of threat to his life he carried on. In interiors of Assam he procrured govenments help for the poor students. He hardly cared for his life.

July - Sept 2015

SANGATI

53

SALESIAN

SOUTH ASIA NEWS Salesian Family Congress

Post-Earthquake Reconstruction Salesian Family of South Asia will gather on September 26 - 28 to celebrate the bicentenary of the birth of Don Bosco at Kolkata. The presence of Rector Major will add special appeal to it.

Many Salesian Family members of our province along with the Salesians will participate.

The website salesianfamilysouthasia.com has been launched to provide detailed information and easy registration.

This Congress strives to forge stronger bonds of communion in the Salesian Family at all levels and to multiply the force of the members of the Salesian Family to continue the mission of Don Bosco in a visible manner and to make significant impact.

Vatican Ambassador lauds Salesian Contribution to NE India

Through the leadership of Fr Jijo John, Salesians have decided to rebuild destroyed classrooms of 40-60 schools in Nepal. No child affected by the earthquake will drop out from the school as they will be provided with all the facilities textbooks, uniforms, mid-day meals, fees...counseling.

The houses of people will be rebuilt. First preference will be given to salesian students and staff who lost their homes.

Preference will be given to Lalitpur district and people of salesian neighbourhood.

Medical aid will be provided until specialized assistance comes from elsewhere.

Youth Expo at Delhi

Thousands of youngsters are expected to gather from all over India and Sri Lanka on September 29 & 30 at New Delhi to celebrate the bicentenary of the birth of Don Bosco with Rector Major Fr Angel Fernandes. Youngster from our salesian youth groups will be part of it.

The visiting Ambassador Archbishop Salvatore presented the statue of the educator saint and friend of the young St John Bosco to the Salesian Provincial of Guwahati as gesture of appreciation for the significant contribution of the Don Bosco family to the North East Region. He offered floral tributes to the statue of Don Bosco. “It is indeed a matter of great honour and pride for the Salesian family to be recognized by the Church� said Fr VM Thomas on receiving the statue.

54 SANGATI

July - Sept 2015

SALESIAN

WORLD NEWS World Day of Past Pupils of Don Bosco The Past Pupils Movement that began with the initiative of a small group of former artisans from the Oratory of Valdocco in Turin was led by Chief bookbinder Carlo Gastini. They came to Don Bosco on his name day, June 24, 1870, to express their gratitude. They brought him the gift of a small coffee service.

Past Pupils’ Unions started in Italy and then abroad, until, in 1908, at the urging of the Prefect General of the Salesian Congregation, Fr Philip Rinaldi, the idea arose of an International Federation of Past Pupils with an appropriate statute.

The association sees itself as an important instrument for the spread of the educational activity of the Congregation, with the Past Pupils committed in their families, at school, in their areas of specific expertise and above all through the witness of their lives. A progressive maturation in line with the new theology of the laity from the documents of Vatican II, saw the Association opening up more clearly to the external apostolate.

The Association is today a movement of lay people that aims to give a response better suited to the needs of society and the Church. The Confederation is committed in a particular way to work for young people. They will have to rethink their collaboration with other civil and religious institutions engaged in education. There are at least 500,000 Past Pupils in the world who are organized in federations, out of a total of millions of past pupils. They live in about ninety-five countries. It is important to mention the holiness that has flourished among them. Lay Past Pupils include Blessed Alberto Marvelli (1918-1946) an Engineer from Rimini; Servants of God Nino Petyx (1874-1935) from Randazzo and Salvo d’Acquisto (1920-1943) from Naples who was shot to save twenty-two prisoners who were being held hostage.

Bicentenary Celebrations at Warsaw

The Basilica of the Sacred Heart in the Prague district of Warsaw, had celebrations for the bicentenary of the birth of Saint John Bosco on June 20. Archbishop Stanisław Gądecki of Poznan was present among numerous members of the Salesian Family from Polish Provinces. Fr Andrea Wujek, Provincial of Warsaw, expressed his joy as host at the presence of all the Salesian Provincials and the Provincials of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians of Poland as well as the Superior Generals of both Congregations of Michaelites who belong to the Salesian Family.

The success of the day was ensured by the atmosphere of fraternity and family: “His spirit (of Don Bosco) is still alive among us,” said Fr Henry Bąkowski repeatedly.

July - Sept 2015

SANGATI

More than 2 million Visit Shroud of Turin The Shroud was visited by more than 2 million pilgrims for the 67 days exposition, ended on June 24, the feast day of St John the Baptist, patron of Turin. Families with children, young people, the homeless and the poor, Orthodox and Evangelicals, Muslims and members of other religions, people from Europe, America, Africa, Middle East and Asia experienced the hospitality, kindliness and friendliness of the volunteers along the way to the Shroud.

Pope Francis visited the Shroud, thanked the volunteers and blessed the young. He encouraged them to be always friends with Jesus and among themselves, to give everyone his Gospel of love and peace.

Over 1 million donated by the people of Turin and the pilgrims will be allotted by Pope to the least ones of the city.

New Provincial for Northern Argentina The Rector Major, Fr Ángel Fernández Artime, having heard the opinion of his Council, has appointed Fr Gabriel Romero as the new Superior of the Province of Artemide Zatti, Northern Argentina, for the period 2015-2021. Fr Gabriel Romero will succeed Fr Manuel Cayo as Provincial of Northern Argentina and will begin his service of animation and government on 31 Jan 2016.

55

CHURCH

WORLD NEWS Nigerian Bishop hopes Boko Haram will be Defeated

While acknowledging that defeating the terrorist group Boko Haram will not happen overnight, Bishop Oliver Dashe Doeme of Maiduguri says his people have the faith that it will be.

According to Fides, the Bishop of Maiduguri said, “We have concrete hope that Boko Haram will be defeated soon. We are praying that Boko Haram will soon become a thing that belongs to the past.”

Maiduguri is the capital of the Nigerian State of Borno. On Monday June 22, two girls had carried out two suicide-bomb attacks in the city, killing 32 people. In other areas of the Borno State, new attacks, also with suicide bombs, were committed.

“The defeat of Boko Haram fighters will not happen in one day,” he said, noting “it will be necessary to dislodge them from their strongholds, especially in the forest, then proceed towards their complete disarmament.”

Holy See and Palestine sign comprehensive agreement

The Holy See has signed a Comprehensive Agreement with the State of Palestine on June 26.

The agreement defines the juridical status of the Catholic Church in the country as well as officially recognizing Palestine as a State. It also promotes a two-State solution to the IsraeliPalestinian conflict.

In an address following the signing, Archbishop Paul Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States noted that the agreement “marks an important step on the path of good relations which for some time have happily existed between the Parties.”

The current agreement, he went on to say, was indicative of the progress made by the Palestinian Authority, particularly its recognition by the United Nations as a non-member Observer State. He also expressed his hope that the agreement would help foster a solution to the current conflict.

Vatican Recognizes Martyrdom of Oklahoma City Priest A Theological Commission of the Congregation of the Causes of Saints has recognized the martyrdom of Fr Stanley Rother, a priest from Oklahoma.

According to the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, the vote is a crucial step in advancing his cause of Beatification. If beatified, Fr Stanley Rother would be the first Catholic martyr and priest from the United States to receive such recognition.

Fr Rother, a native of Okarche and a priest of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, was murdered by an unknown assailant on July 28, 1981. At the time, he was serving as pastor at the parish of Santiago Atitlan in Guatemala.

Despite receiving death threats, he chose to return to his mission. Ten other priests were killed that same year in Guatemala.

Pope Called Faithful to ‘dirty’ their hands Pope Francis says Christians need to approach and reach out to those whom society tends to exclude, as Jesus did with the marginalized of his time. During his daily morning Mass at Casa Santa Marta, the Pope stressed this point, noting this makes the Church a true “community,” reported Vatican Radio.

Francis recalled how the first to dirty himself was Jesus who - without shying away approached the excluded of his time. In Jesus, getting his hands dirty, touching and healing lepers, Francis stressed, we are taught that we must have this closeness in the Church.

56 SANGATI

July - Sept 2015

YOUTH Vivian Andrews, SDB

La Parola nel’Orecchio The ‘Word in the Ear’ Technique of Don Bosco

Each one of us has a deep need of being loved and accepted as a special individual.

Don Bosco aware of this fact and God’s special love for each one of us applied this to his method of education. Aware of the dangers of impersonal mass education, he stressed on a person to person relationship between educator and pupil. Among the many techniques he used in his preventive system was what he called ‘La Parola nel’Orecchio’ , Italian for ‘The word in the ear’.

The word in the ear is a deeply personal message given by the educator to the pupil after careful thought on the part of the former. It is given at a suitable time preferably d u r i n g recreation when the pupil least expects it; so to say ‘on the run’.

Don Bosco used this technique to perfection.

Often times d u r i n g recreation he was seen stooping down to a boy and saying something to him. His tone of voice, his recollected demeanor and body language, all working in tandem to leave an indelible impression on the boy. After saying his magical words he would continue with the normal activity as if nothing happened. The words struck

July - Sept 2015

the boy like a bolt of lightning and the lad was left shaken up and bewildered. He was probably struck by the suddenness of it all, struck more by the content of the message and struck most by the personal interest that Don Bosco took in him. Feeling special and loved, the boy probably muttered in an undertone, “Among this whole crowd of boys, this priest has spoken to ‘me’”.

Consequently the youngster felt loved and therein lay its efficacy.

How did Don Bosco work marvels with a few words? What did he really say? No one really knows. According to John Morrison, author of The Educational Philosophy of Don Bosco, Don Bosco in his work of education went beyond immediate short term goals and looked for improving the overall quality of life of his pupils. His aim was basically to enable his students to take their place in the society and the Church; to make them effective Christian citizens. All of his advice was thus of a moral and religious nature, including matters of conscience, piety, vocation and career guidance, etc. However what is noteworthy is that all of it was deeply personal and subjective. It was meant for

SANGATI

57

YOUTH Vivian Andrews, SDB ‘that’ particular boy and at ‘that’ particular time.

In the year 1848, a sixteen year old gangster sneaked into the Oratory out of curiosity. He was won over by Don Bosco and his word in the ear. He stayed on at the oratory, reformed his life and was the first pupil of the Oratory to be ordained a priest. His name was Felix Reviglio. In the same year, Don Bosco invited an eleven year old barbershop apprentice named Charles Gastini to the Oratory. He too was won over by those magic words in the ear.

Later on when he was orphaned, Don Bosco took him in and he grew up to be an upright and devout citizen, always attached to Don Bosco. A few magic words from Don Bosco were enough to set a boy along the road less travelled. The boy would generally turn a new leaf and grow up to be a man of character and conscience.

Don Bosco was careful however to use this technique as something out of the ordinary, so that it may leave an impression on the boy. He kept such words few and far between. Few, for they were not to sound like a sermon, and far between, so that the pupil is allowed the time and space to grow.

Even one personal message like this was enough to be remembered and treasured all through life.

An alumni of Don Bosco Matunga, Piyush Goyal, Union Minister for Power, in his keynote address to the Salesian Principals of India at Don Bosco Matunga, was moved to tears while sharing about his school days and how his principal Fr. Bonnie, after reprimanding him for a serious offence, caught his hand and said something… “It was at that critical age of twelve when I was choosing my path in life that I received his guidance”, he said amid grateful sobs. The pupils of late Fr Caetano Lobo (Fr. Jimmu) often narrate those little tidbits of advice they would receive on the corridors. No one ever forgets them!

The preventive system should not get stale and solidified into another ‘educational theory’. Don Bosco never intended it to be that way. It has to be lived in very concrete and practical ways and the word in the ear technique is one such way. It may be sad and unfortunate if it is forgotten and lost in time, for it is unique to Don Bosco and the Salesian system and is not found in its form in any other system of education the world over. Let us then make an effort to spare a few personal words for a pupil whenever we see fit. We will never know the good it could do. A word in the ear is a word to the heart, and for Don Bosco, Education is a matter of the heart!

Be a Part of the Salesian Family!

As a Salesian (Priest/Brother/Sister) Contact: Vocation Director, Don Bosco Benaulim, South Goa. Ph: 0832 2771587 / 09763571877 jccoelhosdb@gmail.com Fr Rector, Don Bosco Panjim, Goa Ph: 0832 2221986 / 09921461597 saviogomes61@gmail.com Fr Rector, Don Bosco Youth Centre, Shirva, Udupi, Karnataka. Ph: 0820 2576655 / 09483153613 simaoferns@gmail.com Fr Rector, Bosco Udyogshala Pinguli, Kudal, Sindhudurg. Ph: 02362 222332 / 09673947144 maximsdb@gmail.com

As a Benefactor / Donor Contact: Fr Romulo Noronha, Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima, Don Bosco Panjim, Goa 403001 noronharom@gmail.com Ph: +91 832 221986 ext 276 Mob:+91 9423056734

for ONLINE DONATIONS visit: www.donboscopanjim.com As a Volunteer Contact: Executive Director, Konkan Development Society, Odxel, Goa. Ph: 0832 2360711 / 0988180953

58 SANGATI

July - Sept 2015

Framed Moments

of the Home for Orphan Boys (Uccasaim-Paliem, Goa)

Prayer moments

The Holy Eucharist

First trip to School

Walking to a near by school

Queue for the meals

Seminars, talks, counseling...

Study assisted by the Brother

A nature walk

Framed Moments

of the Home for Orphan Boys (Uccasaim-Paliem, Goa)

A visit to Jyoti Niwas

Talent display in progress

Visit of Fr Joaquim D’Souza Ex-Regional Superior

Visit of General Councillor for Formation, Fr Ivo C.

Bigger boys repair their bicycles

Learning flower-making skills

Ready for a football match

Repatriation of a MBBS boy