Salesian brothers

Yesterday, we quietly marked the first day of the triduum in honor of Blessed Artemide Zatti.

I note that there was nothing special in the community schedule, no colorful fanfare, no ballyhoo at all; such a characteristic of Salesian brothers who usually opt for the sidelines, shunning away the publicity and attention.

I think it was in the library of the novitiate where my knowledge and fascination about the Salesian brothers grew more. There’s this booklet in the library entitled “Life Sketches of the First Coadjutors.” It details the life stories of Salesian brothers who helped Don Bosco when the congregation was just starting.

Among the names listed there, there were:

Marcello Rossi, a porter for 48 years.

Dominic Palestrino, sacristan.

Peter Enria, music master and in charge of stage, cook, painter

Camilo Quirino, a polyglot

Maestro Dogliani, a music genius

Andrew Pelazza, director of the press

Peter Cenci, head tailor

Joseph Gambino, head of the Salesian library

Joseph Rossi, General Economer of the Salesian Society

Among the list, my favorite is Joseph Buzzetti. He was just nine years old when he came to Turin to work as a brick layer. He donned the clerical habit in 1851. But a pistol shot wounded one of his finger so that it had to be amputated. This accident discouraged him to become a priest. However, he loved Don Bosco that much that his preoccupation was to make himself useful in the Oratory and soon he became the factotum of the house. He would teach catechism, he was in charge of music and of the choir until 1860 when Don Cagliero took over.

When Don Bosco had some important business at hand and did not know to whom he could entrust it, he would say: “Call Buzzetti!”

If there is one idea that will neatly package and synthesize that book with that of the life of Br. Zatti, it is this: They all loved Don Bosco: that even in the littlest, humblest, lowliest task they carried out, they did it with the greatest love.

I heard from someone that the greatest form of devotion is imitation. Let us do likewise. Let us live as the first lay brothers and Br. Zatti did.

A life of faithfulness

At lunch time, I inquired from the formators whether there will still be goodnight talk tonight. I know that Fr. Mols, your preacher tonight is an engaging speaker, and I was afraid to speak after him because I would be in for a difficult task.

Anyway, I was told to give the talk just the same. And here I am. There you are. Corny.

They come in threes.

Fr. Gerry started the streak of paying Fr. George homage. Last night, we heard the paean of Fr. Nesty. Tonight, it's my turn.

Young Salesian I may be, I also have my precious encounters with Fr. George. Not with the ageing, bed-ridden priest the younger ones have come to know now, but the still robust, lucid and youthful octogenarian priest I first met ten years ago.

I was a first year seminarian when I was assigned to be the room cleaner of Fr. George. I recall that I would be delighted to clean his room notably because of two reasons:

1. two pieces of candies await me each time I report for work—with the equally sweet note he hand-scribbled that accompanied it "For my room cleaner."
   
2. his room is a concrete example of how it is to live a life totally detached all for the reason of serving the Lord.

He didn't want his room to be cleaned on Sundays. According to him, it's the Lord's Day and I should be resting. But since it was part of the seminary schedule, I would still go just the same. His room was always unlocked anyway. But on Sundays, strikingly, there would be no candies.

His kindness and warm smile would draw people to come towards him. He would have ready candies in his pockets. And his supply of the sweets is bottomless. He had tons stored in the physics lab. He might not have enough energy to carry out his apostolate, but his foresight would still enable him to be a Salesian in the midst of the young.

A confession to Fr. George in the confines of his physic lab means enjoying a reward of candies.

This made me entertain bad thoughts then, whether people really go to him for the sacrament or for the candies.

His devotion to the sacraments is unparalleled. He would be in the confessional box as early as 5.30 to hear our confessions. He would be in his post again at 7.00 in the evening during our spiritual reading and night prayers. Almost faithfully, he would be in the periphery of the gym for the EPC Masses whole year round.

Apart from these encounters, you may ask, what does Fr. George has left me with?

An example of faithfulness and dedication to the consecrated life I have chosen to live.

Fr. George is gone. He has gone ahead of us to the Salesian Garden Don Bosco promised his children.

+ Fr. George Schwarz, SDB

Fr. George Schwarz SDB passed away yesterday at 4:45 pm yesterday at Zatti Clinic in Don Bosco Makati.

His remains will be brought to Don Bosco Canlubang today. Daily Mass at 6.30 in the morning will be celebrated.

Salesian Family Mass will be held this Saturday, 14th of August at the Shrine of Mary Help of Christians inside the compound of Don Bosco College.

Article 54 of the SDB Constitutions reads

“...When the hour comes for a Salesian to bring his consecrated life to its highest fulfillments, his brothers help him to enter fully into Christ's paschal mystery. Death for a Salesian is made bright by the hope of entering into the joy of the Lord.”

“The memory of departed confreres unites us, ‘in a love that will not pass away,' those who are still pilgrims with those who are already resting in Christ.”

Blogging at 70!

I am still here at Don Bosco Technical Institute in Makati City, home of the 5th John Paul II Catechetics and Youth Ministry Conference. It will conclude tomorrow. Let me write something about it in the future, but let me feature a Salesian who is celebrating his 70th birthday today. Let's all hear it for Fr. Lazaro Revilla, SDB!

Melo told me that Fr. Revilla is blogging. You may check his site by clicking here and while you're there, you may wish to greet him as well. And please, don't forget to pray for him.

Browsing over his blog, I was inspired with what I read in his first entry. Let me quote it lengthily:

Right now I am retired from the public life and confined in the air-conditioned room due to the limitations of my heart. I had my bypass operation 15 years ago; then another operation due to colon cancer 9 years ago; and now, my heart works very little with an injection fraction of 25% only. This situation places me in the Paschal Mystery of Christ-- His suffering, death and resurrection.

Br. Jomar moves to prenov

Br. Jomar moved to his new place of assignment last May 1 with no less than the aspirants and Salesians of his new community came in the postnovitiate community to pick him up.

We were supposed to bring him there since he has more than five boxes with him and it would be practical to use the van to transport them. But it was just sweet that the aspirants were all there to carry his baggage and the Salesians (Fr. Arnold, Fr. Noel and Br. Paul) were also there to make the event fun!

Here's a short video of the 'exodus.'

10 new deacons!

Please accompany them in your prayers!

Happy birthday, Br. Jomar!

Today's the birthday of an important confrere, and uhum, one of the reasons why this blog continues to thrive.

Folks, let's hear it for Br. Jomar!

If you’ve been reading my blog, you must have encountered his name once on a while since he’s been one of the staple fixture here. I cannot help it; he’s part of the community I am in. Okay. No, it’s not that I don’t have any choice, but the fact that I am setting aside some other more important topics in lieu of writing something about him is very telling: I appreciate him.

For one, I have been generous in affirming, ad infinitum, his creative prowess. I swear, every nook and cranny of the house he puts his hands on to decorate becomes spectacularly beautiful.

Case in point, check our advent wreathe this year:

Mang Imo, our all-around utility man, made it using home grown materials (we have a bamboo plantation by our backyard!) and with all the addenda Joms whipped, He made it more beautiful!

I've known him since when he was in high school. Somehow, I'd like to believe that I belong to the guilty party of persuading him to give the seminary life a try. Guess what? He did!

And the rest is history.

He's a man who wears several hats...literally and figuratively. He’s the accountant of the community (he does all the auditing of the expenses and all!), a technical man (checking our water tank from the rising of the sun to its setting!), the instrumentalist of the community (he plays a number of musical instruments!) and a total factotum for Fr. Joe (Alright, I really don’t know what this means!).

What's with the incredulous face? Here's a proof:

The title of the song escapes my mind. But it's his personal composition.

I particularly appreciate his presence and support in those burdensome SignBearer days when I was in need of a helping hand, and he gladly extended his. Figuratively. This was especially true when I was overly discouraged to continue the work, but his significant contributions and his wanting to push trough with our first issue definitely gave me the necessary impetus to go through the motions.

As of this writing, we’re done with our first issue! Yipee!

But more than anything else, I thank him for letting me in to some private matters that concern him. Sharing with me his concerns, matters that dumb him, and even individuals who make him uneasy and other stuff which reveal how vulnerable he is. I have experienced this with some friends, but it’s always different when a confrere gestures this.

It’s like putting a concrete form to the otherwise vague expression “journeying with each other.”

Happy birthday, Joms!

10 New Paradigms for the Salesian Youth Movement

The Salesian Youth Movement in the Philippines turned 20!

To mark the occasion, the two Salesian provinces that comprise the Philippines marked out a date to re-launch it. It took place last November 29-30. And because time was a luxury for us, we failed to attend the rest of the activities. But we did make it for the talk of Fr. Mario Baclig, SDB.

Fr. Baclig is "the" expert when it comes to Youth Ministry.

We came late. He was already halfway of his talk when we arrived but I had the access to the soft copy of his talk. I'll be posting the first part here. Thanks, Ate Fe! I promise to post the second portion if I have the chance.

Fr. Baclig gave me the go signal to share this here for the benefit of those who may have the need to update themselves as regards youth ministry particularly in the context of the Philippines.

Enough of the tales. Here are the new paradigms, according to Fr. Baclig:

1. The world is flat! More than ever, the young are a special treasure in the Church and in society. When they are formed, organized, and mobilized, they become a dynamic force ablaze with youthful energy.

SDBs should come down from the podium and give the floor to the young. Let SYM-Philippines unfold into a movement of youth, accompanied at every step by lay and SDB animators.

2. Money and guns have not transformed the world. Today, we need the vision and dreams of young people. We can build God's kingdom and change the world if the young take up their role as agents of transformation in society.

Twenty years are more than enough to grow and mature. Let SYM-Philippines take seriously the mission of social transformation, and progressively involve the young in social issues and commitments.

3. Jesus Christ calls each young person by name and awaits a response of responsible commitment. Today, we need young people who have fallen in love with Christ and are willing to commit their whole lives in his service.

Enough with sweet talk and freebies! Let SYM-Philippines lead the young to the heights of volunteerism and become the fertile ground for vocations to lay leadership, priesthood, and religious life.

4. The Salesian system of education works on human reason, cherishes the dignity of the human person, and engages all the inner resources of the young.

We need not bright luminaries but vision-led persons, not ideas but values, not books but growth-processes. Let SYM-Philippines empower the young from within and foster the development of values.

5. The Salesian system of education is founded on religion, acknowledges the primacy of God's grace, and fosters among the young a relationship of loving faith in God.

Who says that young people are not interested in prayer? Let SYM-Philippines be a school of prayer, with meaningful liturgies and prayer-experiences for children and youth.

6. The Salesian system of education unfolds in an atmosphere of loving kindness and family spirit, in the setting of a living and loving community.

Not only activities, but above all, activities and loving relationships! Let SYM-Philippines form community-builders by fostering the dynamics of group-life.

7. God's Word is not one of the many signals and messages in today's Information Age. God's Word is God himself, alive, loving, and powerful.

The Sunday Eucharist is our source of spiritual nourishment. Let SYM-Philippines take the Bible seriously and use "Word and Life" as the weekly formation program of the different groups.

8. The greatest form of poverty in today's world is the reluctance of persons to reach out to those in need. Our greatest treasure then is our willingness to serve others.

Not a distinct group of lay volunteers, but volunteerism in all groups. Let SYM-Philippines lead the children and youth to the heights of volunteerism and service.

9. In 1986, the bishops of the Philippines accepted and endorsed the Youth Encounter (Virac model) as the basic formation program for all young people. This is God's gift to the Filipino youth.

Here is a program made especially for the Filipino youth, unlike others that are mere adaptations of foreign programs. Let SYM-Philippines embrace and share the Youth Encounter (Virac model).

10. A new phenomenon called "Appreciative Inquiry" is rapidly becoming an effective catalyst for change in persons, organizations, and society—in fact, a way of life. It fosters the involvement of every person and creates a forward-looking movement.

We need optimists, not pessimists; positive leaders, not problem solvers. Let SYM-Philippines enrich its programs with the paradigms of Appreciative Inquiry.

A farewell toast to Paparu!

Fr. Roel left yesterday for Cambodia. And this piece below I wrote some weeks ago in his honor.
==

Fr. Roel is not just an ordinary friend, to have him means you have a complete package of an older brother and a doting father wrapped into one. I recall that when he went to Australia for a business trip, he made sure that all of us in the seminary would receive presents. Later on, he would complain in jest that he failed to buy anything for himself.

Few of my seminary companions might not be aware of this, but when the lights had been switched off and when almost everybody was fast asleep, Fr. Roel would make a quick route in the dormitory, making sure that each seminarian is safely tucked in.

Five years ago, when we received the bad news of his dad’s passing away, he did not go home immediately, not until all the liturgies lined up for the Holy Week celebration had been settled. And that very Easter Sunday, he was back in the seminary to witness our acceptance rite to the postulancy.

I am not sure if any member of the group stepped forward to thank him, if there were none, let me take this chance to thank you and tell you how we were all touched by that thoughtful gesture from a Salesian priest who professed to live his life for the young.

As a rector I gathered that he wanted only the best for his confreres. This is most true for the healthiest food served in the refectory of the community. He challenged the confreres to explore their possibilities and develop their potentials. He has always been fatherly, and relates with each of us with respect.

I can go through the entire evening enumerating the many traits of Fr. Roel, but I hope that the message is clear: we love you, Fr. Roel and we shall definitely miss you.

We fondly call you Paparu. That name of endearment sounds paru-paru in Filipino, which literally means, butterfly. And I guess you are exactly like one. To bid you goodbye is painful. But then, we believe that you belong to the Church and specifically, the young people own you.

We have seen your colorful wings, and you’ve spread sweetness in our lives. But we know that your flight goes on. The young people of Cambodia are now looking forward to meet you.

May your life continue become a colorful sign and a radiant bearer of God’s love to the young.

+Fr. Ed Espiritu, SDB

We offered a funeral Mass this morning for the repose of the soul of Fr. Edgardo Espiritu, SDB. We learned the news of his passing away yesterday morning. He was 67 years old.

I took this photo when he was preached our recollection last December.

Fr. Mike emphasized that more than satisfying the letters of our constitutions in paying respect to our deceased confreres, we are all challenged to follow the example of Fr. Ed who grew in faith and blossomed in love.

Join us in praying for his eternal repose.


Article 54 of the SDB Constitutions reads

“...When the hour comes for a Salesian
to bring his consecrated life to its highest fulfillments,
his brothers help him to enter fully into Christ's paschal mystery.
Death for a Salesian is made bright by the hope of entering into the joy of the Lord.”

FIN Presbyteral Ordination

A list of translation of the word priest from dictionary.com:

Arabic:	كاهِن، قِسّيس
Chinese (Simplified):	教士，牧师，神父
Chinese (Traditional):	教士，牧師，神父
Czech:	kněz
Danish:	præst
Dutch:	priester
Estonian:	preester
Finnish:	pappi
French:	prêtre
German:	der Priester
Greek:	ιερέας, παπάς
Hungarian:	pap
Icelandic:	prestur
Indonesian:	pejabat gereja
Italian:	prete

Japanese:	牧師
Korean:	성직자, 신부
Latvian:	priesteris; mācītājs
Lithuanian:	kunigas
Norwegian:	prest
Polish:	ksiądz
Portuguese (Brazil):	padre
Portuguese (Portugal):	padre
Romanian:	preot
Russian:	священник
Slovak:	kňaz
Slovenian:	duhovnik
Spanish:	cura
Swedish:	präst
Turkish:	papaz, rahip

But above all,

an alter ego of Christ.
May you truly become one.

We assure you of our prayers, Rev. Kim.

A note on a confrere-missionary-friend

Fr. Roel Soto, SDB, our outgoing rector, has received the official letter from Fr. Vaclav.

Part of the letter reads:

This year the ceremony of giving crucifixes to missionaries will be held on 28 September in the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians at Valdocco--Torino.

I'm working on this entry as he reads the content of the letter to other confreres who are with us in this room. He is jubilant. I can see it in his eyes. He's been waiting for the letter for the longest time. I recall that when I was a pre-novice, I would pester him with remarks to extinguish his burning desire to become a missionary. After all, he's no longer young enough, and besides, we in the formation house value his presence in our midst, despite his capacity to talk in kilometers and the ocassional scolding we would get from him from time to time.

In as much as I wish to be happy for him, I cannot help it. I'm sad. Fr. Roel is one asset in the province. His going to the missions is definitely a big loss in the province, something I personally articulated to our then FIN Provincial Fr. Andy Wong (now the regional superior) when we had the chance to talk in Cebu. He simply replied back "when we send confreres for the missions, God will gift us with more."

+Br. Bernard Villasanta, SDB

We got the unfortunate news that Br. Berns Villasanta, SDB passed away this morning, he was 48 years old.

Over the table, breakfast time, I listened to the pseudo-eulogy exchanged by Fr. Godo and Fr. Felix about Br. Berns. I learned that Fr. Felix was the rector of Br. Berns when he was an aspirant and he had so vivid memories of him.

There was a time when they were watching a movie and a kissing scene was shown, Br. Berns, then an aspirant, shouted “I don’t like to see that scene!” Fr. Godo quickly interjected that “St. Dominic Savio has always been his idol.”

Incidentally, today is Savio’s birthday.

Fr. Nioret, my venerable novice master, wrote in the obituary he sent through e-mail that “Br. Berns is certainly now in heaven interceding for us. He had always been an example of zeal in the apostolate even in his condition, an example of joyous fidelity in tribulation.”

Image courtesy of Fr. Nioret

Article 54 of the SDB Constitutions reads

“...When the hour comes for a Salesian to bring his consecrated life to its highest fulfillments, his brothers help him to enter fully into Christ's paschal mystery. Death for a Salesian is made bright by the hope of entering into the joy of the Lord.”

“The memory of departed confreres unites us, ‘in a love that will not pass away,' those who are still pilgrims with those who are already resting in Christ.”