FIN Salesians Retreat 2018

By Fr. Juvelan Paul N. Samia, SDB

Batangas, Philippines, 21 April 2018 -- The second batch of the annual Salesian retreat for the confreres of FIN province started last Sunday (April 15) and concluded today (April 21) in Mary Help of Christians Center of Spirituality, Don Bosco Batulao.

About 70 SDBs joined this batch of the retreat. Fr. Anthony Paul Bicomong, SDB, Provincial of FIN was also in the retreat house for any confrere who wishes to make a friendly talk with him. Fr. Fabio Attard, SDB, General Counselor for Youth Ministry was preacher of the retreat. Fr. Martin Macasaet, SDB, rector of Don Bosco Batulao, also served as rector of the retreat.

The days of retreat were truly an opportune time for renewal. They are graced moments in as much as Don Bosco himself considered such days as "fundamental part and synthesis of all the practices of piety."

In his introduction, Fr. Fabio invited the confreres to go deep in their identity as "disciples of Jesus" and as "sent in communities to serve the young."

There were two retreat conferences each day. The one in the morning is a lectio divina of a passage from Scripture, and the one in the afternoon takes the same theme of the morning's lectio and relates it to our Salesian tradition and spirit with the selected articles from the SDB Constitutions as springboard.

On the last evening of the retreat, the community of Don Bosco Batulao prepared a sumptuous dinner for everyone. The confreres sang a thank you song to Fr. Attard, and Fr. Juvelan Paul Samia, SDB gave the thank you message in behalf of the confreres.

The retreat concluded in the morning of April 21 with the celebration of the Holy Eucharist presided by Fr. Provincial. In his homily Fr. Provincial talked about the annual retreat as a welcome interval in the confreres' special schedules this summer. He says that “the retreat is an affirmation of our works, which is ultimately the work of the Father.” Finally, he urged the confreres to “continue deepening your reflections on our identity and mission as Salesian of Don Bosco.”

During the Holy Mass, the newly appointed rectors were installed, namely,

• Fr. Rafael Rey dela Cruz, SDB – Rinaldi Community, Don Bosco Center of Studies, Parañaque City
• Fr. Ramon Garcia Jr., SDB – Sacred Heart Postnovitiate, Canlubang, Calamba City
• Fr. Darwin Tolentino, SDB – Don Bosco TVET and Youth Center, Calauan, Laguna
• Fr. Patrick Villasanta, SDB – Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish, Naga City

The renewal of religious profession was made by the confreres after the installation of the new rectors.

These days of the retreat were exceptional moments of deep union with God, of fraternal communion and of experiencing the joy of being a Salesian. This year, the FIN had two batches of retreats: April 8-14 and April 15-21. Fr. Fabio was the Retreat Director for both batches.

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