By Cl. Juvelan Samia, SDB

Manila, Philippines, August 16, 2015 - “If you want to be truly happy,” says Don Bosco “love Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament with all your hearts.” For our beloved Father and Founder, Jesus is an intimate friend who accompanies us in our journey, but He is especially present in the most holy Eucharist. Don Bosco was convinced that in the Eucharist, we meet the true and living presence of Jesus Christ, the Risen Lord, under the appearance of bread and wine. The real presence of Jesus in the Eucharistic species and the chance of meeting Him in a very personal way are perhaps some of the reasons why he considered Communion, together with Confession, as the “pillars which must support the edifice of education.”

It comes as no surprise that the Salesian Philippine-North Province made the decision to celebrate the Bicentenary of Don Bosco’s birth with a Holy Mass. On August 16, 2015, close to 4,000 people representing the different members of the Salesian Family gathered at the Ynares Sports Arena, Pasig City for the grand Eucharistic celebration presided by His Eminence Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, DD, Archbishop of Manila, who was joined by His Excellency Bishop Patricio Buzon, SDB, DD, Bishop of Kabangkalan, Fr. Anthony Paul Bicomong, Provincial of the Philippines-North, and over a hundred Salesian priests.

The theme of the celebration was “Don Bosco: God’s Gift to the Young.” In the Holy Mass, the Salesian Family glorified God for His great and wondrous deeds and thanked Him for giving Don Bosco as a gift to the young people and to the Church.

We may ask, “How is Don Bosco a gift?” We know that during his lifetime, he devoted himself totally to the education and evangelization of the youth, especially the poorest. He taught them trade skills, gave them quality education, provided them shelter, catechized them and guided their moral and spiritual lives. On his death, even the secular press showered him praise for his work for the poor and marginalized youth. Several high-ranking ministers of the supposedly anti-clerical Italian government expressed signs of approval and gratitude for his works. But is that really it? I’d like us to think again, “How is Don Bosco really a gift to the young?” I am convinced that ultimately it is because he showed to the youth the way to God, and because he developed this “way to holiness” into a system of education – the Preventive System. The Eucharistic celebration last August 16, 2015 was truly a grateful celebration because of Don Bosco who showed the way to Jesus and to God and developed a system by which even the poorest youth could become Saints.

In his homily, His Eminence, Cardinal Tagle, lauded Don Bosco as God’s gift to humanity. He explained that the figure of Don Bosco incarnated the love of God, who revealed Himself as the true Shepherd of Israel in Ezekiel and the Good Shepherd in John, in the tumultuous socio-political milieu of 19th century Italy. According to the Cardinal, Don Bosco’s unique contribution in the field of education – the Preventive System – is still very much relevant today.

Cardinal Tagle asked the youth present at the celebration, “What is the best gift that you could give to Don Bosco on his birthday?” The Salesian Family broke into thunderous applause when the Cardinal exclaimed “Be Salesians! Be missionaries of God’s love to the young.”

A musical program dubbed as “Tribute of the Youth to the Father of Youth” followed. The brothers from the Sacred Heart Postnovitiate community began the tribute with a dance number which also served as an icebreaker. Different groups took turns in singing songs and performing dances that depicted the development of Don Bosco’s mission to the young. Among those who performed were the DBTI Boscorale, SJB Chorale, St. Dominic Savio Choir, Lighter Side Movement Choir, and selected cast of the Don Bosco Musicale – Coetera Tolle.

We have concluded our celebrations and ended the Holy Mass, but the challenge to live Eucharistic lives goes on! Our thanksgiving to God for the gift of Don Bosco must impel us to a greater commitment to the mission that was entrusted by God to our Father and which we, the Salesian Family, continue for the youth of today.the heartfelt congratulations and prayer support for the whole Congregation of Caritas Sisters of Jesus and their new Mother General and her new councillors.