austraLasia #3256
Creating A Vocational Atmosphere (FIN)
CANLUBANG (PHILIPPINES) August 5, 2013- Facing the reality of the declining number of vocations, our superiors in Rome had stressed the need of creating a vocational atmosphere in our houses. This appeal includes collaboration between communities and extends even to non-Salesian places where vocations may be found.
The Postnovitiate community, taking the lead, accepted the challenge and we made a joint-effort with the Don Bosco schools of Makati and Mandaluyong. Our community offered the schools a vocation encounter between their students and the young Salesians.
To equip us -the Postnovices- a short workshop on vocation promotion was given by Fr. Regulus Porlucas, the vocation director of FIN. He deepened our understanding of the topic and gave us additional practical tips on how to fish for vocations.
The vocation encounter takes place every Monday until the end of August. The senior high school students of Don Bosco Technical Institute–Makati and the third year college students of Don Bosco Technical College–Mandaluyong will drop by the Postnovitiate in Canlubang before proceeding to Don Bosco Batulao for their retreat. The high school students meet us in the mornings while the college students arrive in the afternoons. The former are accompanied by the junior brothers and the senior brothers take care of the college students.
The encounter begins with a brief orientation. Afterwards, the students are divided into smaller groups composed of four to five members. A brother will be assigned to them. In that small group, the brother will share his vocation story. The students will be encouraged to ask questions about Salesian seminary life and the challenges that the Postnovice have faced in the pursuit of his vocation. Through this personal encounter, it is hoped that they will be given a better idea of what Salesian life is all about. For our part, we hope to come to know the concerns young people have when they consider the possibility of joining the Salesians. The issues that have surfaced most of the time in the past are about family, freedom, happiness and celibacy. After the sharing, the students will be asked to rate their interest in the Salesian life. In this way, we will be able to identify the possible candidates to Salesian life. They will then be referred to the local vocation director of the school for follow up.
In this encounter, we are aiming at providing our students with an experience or, better yet, a vocational culture which could be very helpful for them in discerning what God calls them to be. Vocation is the crowning glory of our ministry and for this we give our share in the work of vocation ministry. Our prayers and witnessing will ensure the future of Don Bosco's presence in the Philippines.
Creating A Vocational Atmosphere (FIN)
CANLUBANG (PHILIPPINES) August 5, 2013- Facing the reality of the declining number of vocations, our superiors in Rome had stressed the need of creating a vocational atmosphere in our houses. This appeal includes collaboration between communities and extends even to non-Salesian places where vocations may be found.
The Postnovitiate community, taking the lead, accepted the challenge and we made a joint-effort with the Don Bosco schools of Makati and Mandaluyong. Our community offered the schools a vocation encounter between their students and the young Salesians.
To equip us -the Postnovices- a short workshop on vocation promotion was given by Fr. Regulus Porlucas, the vocation director of FIN. He deepened our understanding of the topic and gave us additional practical tips on how to fish for vocations.
The vocation encounter takes place every Monday until the end of August. The senior high school students of Don Bosco Technical Institute–Makati and the third year college students of Don Bosco Technical College–Mandaluyong will drop by the Postnovitiate in Canlubang before proceeding to Don Bosco Batulao for their retreat. The high school students meet us in the mornings while the college students arrive in the afternoons. The former are accompanied by the junior brothers and the senior brothers take care of the college students.
The encounter begins with a brief orientation. Afterwards, the students are divided into smaller groups composed of four to five members. A brother will be assigned to them. In that small group, the brother will share his vocation story. The students will be encouraged to ask questions about Salesian seminary life and the challenges that the Postnovice have faced in the pursuit of his vocation. Through this personal encounter, it is hoped that they will be given a better idea of what Salesian life is all about. For our part, we hope to come to know the concerns young people have when they consider the possibility of joining the Salesians. The issues that have surfaced most of the time in the past are about family, freedom, happiness and celibacy. After the sharing, the students will be asked to rate their interest in the Salesian life. In this way, we will be able to identify the possible candidates to Salesian life. They will then be referred to the local vocation director of the school for follow up.
In this encounter, we are aiming at providing our students with an experience or, better yet, a vocational culture which could be very helpful for them in discerning what God calls them to be. Vocation is the crowning glory of our ministry and for this we give our share in the work of vocation ministry. Our prayers and witnessing will ensure the future of Don Bosco's presence in the Philippines.
