Paranaque, the Philippines, 25 August 2016 -- The members Curatorium of Don Bosco Center of Studies, Seminaryo ng Don Bosco, and Bl. Stephen Sándor Community began the day of their meeting with a Holy Mass among the brothers who are in their last stages of initial formation.
Fr Vaclav Klement (EAO Regional Superior) led the celebration of the morning Holy Mass in the chapel of Seminaryo ng Don Bosco. Among the concelebrants were the following: Provincial Superiors—Fr Anthony Paul Bicomong (FIN), Fr Godofredo Atienza (FIS), Fr Peter Baquero (PGS), Fr Apolinario Neto (ITM), Fr Charles Saw (MYM), Fr Mario Yamanouchi (GIA); Delegates—Fr Lino Belo (Indonesia), Fr Roel Soto (Cambodia); and Vice-Provincials—Fr Marcel Baek (KOR), and Fr Joseph Van Am (VIE).
During the homily, Fr Vaclav recognized that before him is a big family, an international community for the specific formation of Salesians—for Salesian brotherhood and priesthood. Taking cue from the readings, he reiterated the goal of the curatorium, i.e. to care for those in formation and guide the direction of the institution, helping it grow and making it better. He also reminded the confreres about the bottomline of our coming together as Salesians in our congregation in our times, “to belong more to Jesus, to belong more to each other, and to belong more to the poor young people… to belong more and to be consecrated.” Taking cue from the Gospel, he emphasized and reechoed the challenge of Pope Francis for all religious—to keep all Catholic Christians awakened.
Among the tips that he gave on how one can be truly awakened, he shared that for him the most awakened province in the region is CIN. He observed the conscious effort of the province, starting from the Provincial Council, to listen to God before any meeting or assembly. They break the word of God and share it through a Lectio Divina. He saw this as the engine of the province, listening to God first before putting forward their own needs and agenda. Through it, Fr Vaclav remarked, they avoid “falling into the temptation of pragmatism.”
Breakfast followed the Holy Mass. At 8:00 pm, the members of the Curatorium began their meeting in the Conference Room of Benedict XVI Library. Foremost among the topics and concerns of the Curatorium were: (1) From Internationality/Multiculturality to Interculturality; and (2) Vice of Clericalism. The meeting which was also attended by Fr Henry Bonetti (Rector, Seminaryo), Fr Arnold Sanico (Rector, Sandor), Fr Ramon Garcia (Rector, DBCS), Br Raymond Callo (EAO Coordinator for Formation), Fr Rafael Dela Cruz (DBCS President), Fr Edwin Ulanday (FIN Economer), and Fr Gerardo Martin (Secretary, Curatorium). The meeting adjourned in time for lunch, where the brothers rendered the song “Come tu mi vuoi” to their superiors and formators as a tribute for their care and support.
