By Pre-novice Antonio Rodriguez

Canlubang, the Philippines, 10 November 2018 -- A mild, overcast sky enveloped Don Bosco-Canlubang on November 10, 2018 as the Salesians from the different settings of the Philippine North Province (FIN) gathered once more in order, not just to celebrate the memory of the departed Salesians who have worked in the FIN Province, but also to gather for two important events, namely the presentation of the Youth.Com, spearheaded by the Province’s Commission on Youth Ministry (CYM), and the Salesian Assembly on Vocation Empowerment or aptly known as SAVE 2, facilitated by the Province Vocation Director Fr. Jayson David SDB.

The morning began with Fr. Anthony Paul Bicomong SDB, Provincial Superior, blessing the niches and graves of the Salesians interred in the Salesian Cemetery which was then followed by the recitation of the Holy Rosary. The celebration of the Holy Eucharist soon followed at the Diocesan Shrine of Mary Help of Christians with Fr. Provincial presiding. Fr. Renato Molina, current confessor of Don Bosco Academy-Mabalacat, delivered the homily. Fr. Molina’s homily evoked memories of the pioneering Salesians of the Philippines such as the Servant of God Fr. Carlo Braga, Fr. Joseph Guarino, Fr. Alfred Cogliandro, Br. Lorenzo Nardin among others. The liturgy was animated by the Post Novices and the music was led by the aspirants and pre-novices.

Right after the celebration of the Holy Mass, the CYM proceeded to present Youth.Com, a document that showed the results of the ongoing efforts of the Province in preparation for the coming Year of the Youth here in the Philippines. The CYM, headed by Fr. Joebeth Vivo SDB, elaborated on the different aspects of how the Salesian Youth view themselves today in relation with the different aspects of the Salesian Educative Pastoral Plan (SEPP), a framework used by the CYM in order to synthesize the said results stemming from the different responses of the Salesians themselves, the Lay Mission Partners of the different Don Bosco settings and the youth themselves. The presentation brought forth some interesting and lively questions from the Salesians present, offering the assembly some well needed clarifications on the document just presented.

Lunch was then served in the refectory of the Don Bosco Pre-Novitiate House, offering another place and opportunity for camaraderie and a little bit of catching up between the Salesians.

The Salesians then gathered in the Tanghalang Seminaryo for the second Salesian Assembly on Vocation Empowerment, or SAVE 2. This year’s SAVE 2 had a recap of last year’s SAVE which also included a review of the working document, objectives and lines of action from last year’s assembly. Fr. Remo Bati, SDB also gave an inspirational talk on vocations during the event. An open forum was also held on the question of how to animate well the vocation promotion in each setting. In addition, 1-minute ads on vocation promotion, which were also entries to the upcoming 5th Don Bosco Film Festival, were shown during SAVE 2.

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