By TLS SocCom Team

Lospalos, 4 February 2024 -- On the celebration of our Father and Founder St. John Bosco on 31 January, Bishop Leandro Maria Alves (Bishop of the Diocese of Baucau) celebrated the solemn Eucharist with the Salesian Family, young people, benefactors, and all friends of Don Bosco. In this celebration, 467 people received the Sacrament of Confirmation in St. Paul's Parish, Lospalos.

In his homily, Bishop Leandro praised Don Bosco, who did everything in his life for the Glory of God and the salvation of souls. He was able to gather the young people in order to offer them the best education in his time so that they could be useful for the Church and the state. Therefore, with Don Bosco, let us glorify God, who is the source of all wisdom.

Don Bosco used to say, “run, jump, make noise but do not sin,” and invited all the young people and the faithful in order to be happy in life. Life is a grace from God to each one of us in order to use it wisely in glorifying him. Real happiness is the happiness that does not lose the soul. In this way, one must avoid sin and live always in the state of grace and live together with God and eventually bring others to glorify God.

For those who were confirmed, the bishop told them that receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation means they have reached maturity in faith and, hence, automatically become the soldier of Christ. In this manner, they must defend God. Then, the bishop asked them, "What do we mean by defending God? Defending God does not mean fighting physically but fighting evil with GOOD DEEDS."

The homily was a friendly exchange, with dialogue, laughing, and clapping hands between the bishop and the Confirmed candidates.

After the Mass, there are sessions of thanksgiving speech from: The Parish Priest (Rev. Fr. Venancio de Fatima Freitas, SDB, the representative of the Confirmed candidates, the President of Municipality of Lautem, Mr. Domingos Savio).

Then, Bishop Leandro officially launched the pastoral year in the level of vicariate of Lautem with the general theme “I believe in the Holy Spirit” with its topic “You know Him, because He remains with you and will be in you.” (John 14,17).

Aside from the celebration in Lospalos, the same celebration is also done in other Salesian communities in the whole territory.

In preparation for this feast of our Father and Founder, there were also some other activities such as: Don Bosco loves the environment, where all the Salesian Family are gathered in cleaning the clean vicinity to show our love and care for the environment; there were also night market and sports activities.

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