Denise Pasumbal, Caritas Don Bosco School

By Fr. Donnie Duchin Duya, SDB

Parañaque City, the Philippines, 23 January 2017 -- The Friends of Laura Vicuña (FLV) celebrated its second Provincial day at the National Shrine of Mary Help of Christians Parish in Parañaque last January 21, 2017.

With the theme "Stronger Together #RelationshipGoals", the objective of the affair is to strengthen the sodality specially as it has grown in numbers over the last two years and to promote the life of Bl. Laura Vicuña as a model for the youth of today. The day also aims to celebrate the Feast Day of Blessed Laura Vicuña which is celebrated the following day, January 22.

Over 100 participants attended from Caritas Don Bosco School, National Shrine of Mary Help of Christians Parish, Saint Dominic Savio Parish, Santo Niño Parish, San Ildefonso Parish, Mary Help of Christians Parish – Mayapa and Santa Maria Magdalena Parish–Looc.

The day started with the Holy Mass presided by Fr. Elmer Sicat, SDB, who officially welcomed the participants to the National Shrine of Mary Help of Christians Parish which was the host of the Provincial Day this year.

After the Mass, the official song of the sodality, "Laura’s Prayer", written by Fr. Randy Figuracion, SDB was presented. It was used as the opening prayer and its animation was taught by the FLV members of Sto. Niño Parish.

The program began with a formation talk given by the FLV Provincial Animator, Peter John Cumpas of Caritas Don Bosco School. The formation focused on three kinds of relationships that the youth are having challenges with today. The talk focused on the different realities in relating with friends, family and dealing with the challenges of purity in boyfriend-girlfriend relationship. The speaker gave insights on these relationships and how Bl. Laura Vicuña was able to handle this relationship despite difficulties. It was a life-giving talk which all of the members were able to relate. Small group discussions were done after the talk.

Lunch was done differently during the Provincial Day as the participants ate lunch, Boodle Fight style. The long table of food that was placed on Banana leaves was amazing. At the end of the lunch, everybody was smiling and were all full.

The afternoon activity was a mix of different team-building games that would allow the participants to meet new friends. In between the games were different presentations of each setting. The participants were all joyful as they played the games and watched their fellow FLV members render their presentation. More important to see is the way that the members became close to one another and got to meet new friends. The day closed with the closing remarks of the Salesian Delegate of the Salesian Youth Movement, Fr. Donnie Duchin Duya, SDB.

Indeed, the FLV Provincial Day was a success! The participants went home with new fervor to serve in their schools and parishes. They also brought home learnings with the life of Bl. Laura Vicuña seeing the importance of love, a love that compels us because God loved us first, in all relationships that we have. In times of struggles and difficulty in our relationships with friends, families and others we remember Laura’s example and apply them in our lives.

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