Young people, Salesians Converge

A total of 325 young people (213 youths from 10 FMA settings and 101 youths from 10 SDB settings) gathered in the Juan Salesian Family Vocation Festival on November 16, 2019 at Don Bosco School, Sta. Mesa, Manila. Revamping the goals of the first Salesian Vocation Festival last 2017, this year’s vocation promotion gathering had the theme Relevance: Make a Ruckus! (cf. Christus Vivit 143).

The objectives for the day were introduced through a short opening program hosted by Mary Help of Christians College (MHCC) – Canlubang student Frances Mae Monteloyola, Mary Help of Christians School - Pampanga alumna Karen Calma, and SDB pre-novices and Don Bosco Technical Institute – Tarlac past pupils Paul Lopez and Jess Cyril Lumibao. The program started with a short prayer led by students from DBS – Manila, followed by words of welcome by the host venue’s community animator and school directress, Sr. Maria Josefina Carrasco, FMA. Then, a short production emphasizing the theme of the event was presented by students from MHCC – Canlubang. Subsequently, SDB-FIN Vocation Director Fr. Jayson David, SDB took the stage to orient the participants for the upcoming activities which aimed to introduce the different SF sectors.

Albeit having majority of the participants from the FMA and SDB settings, this year’s vocation festival especially aimed at presenting the different vocations in the Salesian Family (SF). Members of the different SF sectors creatively presented their respective groups through a ‘carousel’ style wherein the participants were divided into five groups, and each group had the chance to attend the five stations featuring different SF members. The SF members which were introduced in the different stations and their attendance are as follows: Salesians of Don Bosco (10 SDB), Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (31 FMA), Association of Salesian Cooperators (15 ASC), Association of Mary Help of Christians (4 ADMA), 3 FMA Past Pupils, 1 SDB Past Pupil, Volunteers of Don Bosco (3 VDB), and Volunteers with Don Bosco (2 CDB).

After the carousel, the hosts led the crowd in the wrap-up of the activities. The experience evoked new learnings and realizations with regard to the idea of the Salesian Family from the participants who had just finished the stations. Through some moments of sacred silence, the participants were able to prepare for the Holy Mass which followed after reflecting on and answering the ‘sign-up sheets’ given to them with the question: “Which Salesian Family sector/s are you most interested to join?”

Doubtless, the young people had joyous and youthful interactions with one another and with the other members of the Salesian Family whom they encountered. On top of it all, it was the utmost hope of the whole Salesian Family that these young people harvest bountiful new knowledge and be greatly inspired by the presence of the Salesian Family in the Philippines.