Mary's Move, the news

Following the long-standing tradition of Don Bosco’s oratory, the postnovitiate community mounted an academy in honor of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Mother. This time around, they presented a relatively non-traditional performance, as they staged a dance theater. Hence, the title of the production “Mary’s Move.”

The performers of the production were all young people who came from various settings where our FIN and FIS postnovices go for their apostolate. And instead of asking them to simply prepare a dance item, each group was given a theme to reflect on in order to guide them in executing their dance steps.

The themes revolved around four issues which our postnovices thought that affect our young people today: environment, sexuality, socio-economic realities, and various forms of anxieties which influence the behavior of our young people.

Our postnovices conceived this dance theater to not just prepare the young for the solemnity, but through the performances—and the reflections of their fellow young—they are able to recognize their very own situatedness.

The groups which performed included Teatro Sibol of Kapayapaan National High School (a public school where our postnovices teach weekly catechism), Liturgical Dance Group of Caritas Don Bosco School (a school run by Caritas sisters; our postnovices animate the youth groups of the school), Performing Arts Group and The Dance Co. of Don Bosco College (where they do their assistance) and the Juventus Youth Group of Mary Help of Christians Parish.

The result: it was not a mere theatrical production, but more of a full blown shindig held on the very eve of the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. The performers wowed the spectators with their stunning moves and brilliant steps. That eve of the celebration of Mary’s Immaculate Conception proved to be a night for the young!

Together with the friends, classmates, teachers and families of the performers, members of the Salesian family also came to watch the show, such as the FMA and CSM sisters and the Cooperators of Canlubang chapter. Fr. Eli Cruz, SDB the provincial superior of FIN stayed throughout the performance.

In his goodnight talk, Fr. Charles Manlangit, SDB, the rector of the postnivitiate community said that Mary’s Move is a move towards a return to innocence, a journey back to God’s fold.