By Fr. Samuel Adnan Ghouri SDB

       Quetta Pakistan, 21 August 2021 -- Don Bosco Learning Center Quetta celebrated the 206th birthday of Don Bosco as his Feast Day, instead of the 'canonical' Solemnity of St. John Bosco, which is 31st January.

       The winter vacations in the region make it difficult to celebrate 31 January with rest of the world. The Month of Don Bosco is most suitable for a meaningful celebration with religious communities, young people and the students.

       The three days long celebration started on 14 August, which is Pakistan’s Independence Day. The boys and girls of Don Bosco Learning Center made this day with patriotic presentations and songs. It was also the day of culmination of the Don Bosco Football League-2021.

       Mr. Khaleel George, the Minister of Minority Affairs, together with Apostolic Vicar Monsignor Khalid Rehmat, OFM Cap, hosted the flag with Pakistan Frontier Corps representative Major Buhadur Khan and the Pakistan National Anthem was sung.

       15 August, the Solemnity of the Assumption of The Blessed Virgin Mary, was celebrated with the faithful of Christ the King parish in the neighborhood.

       The Students of Don Bosco Learning Center honored their Father and Friend through songs, poems and a play script guided by their teachers. The evening was made memorable with the Eucharistic celebration, at which His Excellency Bishop Khalid Rehmat, OFM Cap presided (his 34th anniversary of ordination, also the 24th anniversary of Religious Profession of Fr. Gabriel De Jesus Cruz Trejo, SDB-Provincial Delegate). Concelebrants were Fr. Samson Shakir, the Parish Priest and Fr. Samuel Adnan, SDB, the rector of the house together with Fr. Shehzad Anwar, the diocesan procurator, Fr. Nadeem Rafiq, OMI’s regional councilor, Fr. Basharat Chrysostom, OMI, Fr. Thyagan Fonseka, OMI, Fr. Khawar Mehboob, OMI, Fr. Kashif Ghouri, OMI. Seventeen boys and girls of Don Bosco Hostels received their First Communion on this feast day.

       Many friends, benefactors of Don Bosco Quetta and young people joined the celebration. Bishop Khalid elaborated the struggles and Don Bosco’s services in the Universal Church particularly for the youth. He thanked the Salesians of Don Bosco for the beautiful mission they are doing in his diocese of Quetta. Bishop Khalid and Fr. Samuel cut the birthday and anniversary cake midst joyful applause and chanting of Don Bosco’s hymn by the boys of Don Bosco Al-Falah Hostel and girls of Laura Vicuna Girls’ Home.

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