intouchaugust2


intouchaugust2



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August 2
2012
USA West Province Newsletter • Building Bridges Between Communities
Dear Brother and Sister Salesians:
Two weeks from today, August 16, all
of us in the Salesian world will launch
the second year of our preparation for
Don Bosco’s 200th birthday. After
this first year in which we have con-
centrated on coming to know Don
Bosco better in order to imitate him
and make his life’s mission to the
young our own, now we want to get
closer to Don Bosco the educator. And
so the strenna that Don Bosco’s suc-
cessor Pascual Chavez gives us for this
year is Like Don Bosco the educator,
we offer young people the Gospel of
joy through a pedagogy of kindness.
In effect this is a call to rediscover the
preventive system, both our method
and our spirituality as Salesian edu-
cators. And of course this applies
to us all, not just to those in school
settings. In his brief presentation of
the strenna, the Rector Major sug-
gests that rediscovering the preven-
tive system will have us facing three
critical questions if we really want to
recapture that pedagogy of kindness,
the preventive system: What does “the
upright citizen and good Christian”
look like in the 21st century? Who ex-
actly are those young people to whom
we offer the Gospel of joy? And what
can “education is a matter of the heart”
mean for us today? Last week I re-
flected on the first of the three. Today
the second one.
Our mission is to the young, especially
the poor and most abandoned. But
each one of us, and especially each
community in common search for the
will of God, must work to identify
exactly who these young people, for
whom God has consecrated us with a
Salesian vocation, are. Limiting the
answer to the young people who pay
to come to our schools, who register
in our parishes and religious education
programs, who sign up for our youth
centers and clubs, is far from enough.
The young people in front of us in our
programs and institutions are only
the first ones for whom we live, work,
study, and are ready even to give our
lives along with our founder.
But beyond them lies a world of aban-
doned youth to whom God sends us
as well. On the retreat this week, Fr.
Fabio Attard, General Councilor for
Youth Ministry, is inviting us to see
that the greatest challenge of our mis-
sion today, is to know God! Knowl-
edge of the world of youth, teacher
certifications and even national certifi-
cates in youth ministry are important,
yes, but of secondary importance.
First we must know God, for he sends
us to the young, he is waiting to meet
us there, he is waiting for us to use our
intelligence and our heart to develop
and perfect the gift of “predilection
for the young” with which he graces
our vocation. As our Rule of Life
puts it, “The witness of such holiness,
achieved within the Salesian mission,
. . . is the most precious gift we can
offer to the young” (C 25).
Sincerely,
Rev. Timothy Ploch, SDB
Provincial
P rovincial’s Calendar
August 2012
7/29 - Confreres’ Retreat, San
- 8/3 Juan Bautista
4
Travel to Laredo, TX
5 Perpetual Profession, Sr.
Cynthia Salas, FMA
6 Travel to San Francisco
7-8 Office Days
9-11 New Director’s Workshop,
Fr. Chinh Nguyen, SDB
12 St. Luke’s Parish, Stockton
13 Office Day
14 Arrival at LAX of new SUE
Novices
15 Reception of 2012-2013
Novices
16-18 Provincial Council Meeting,
San Francisco
Please Pray for our Sick
Mrs. Elizabeth Alvarez
mother of Mike Alvarez
Fr. Chris Woerz, SDB
foot surgery
Mrs. Thresiamma Paradayil
mother of
Fr. Joseph Matthew
aged 82
intensive care after three
heart attacks
Val Colussi
hospitalized, stitches after a
fall
Bro. Noel DeBruton
Bro. Druno DePretto
Bro. Tony Freitas
Fr. John Malloy
Bro. Phil Mandile
InTouch 1 7.19.12

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Around the Province
HEARFELT CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR
SALESIAN SISTERS
AS THEY CELEBRATE THE 140th ANNIVERSARY OF
THE INSTITUTE OF THE DAUGHTERS OF MARY
HELP OF CHRISTIANS
AUGUST 5, 2012
Youth Spelling “Don Bosco”
On July...
St. Dominic Savio Parish host a summer program that brought together over
500 children and youth. In this summer camp the Salesians were able to help
over 137 children who did not have any other place to spend in their summer.
All these Thanks to all the Salesian Family who came together to serve these
young people. In the picture we can see how the youth are spelling
“Be Don Bosco”
InTouch 2 7.19.12

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Around the Province
Camp Savio 2012 wraps it up
By Adriana Dugquem
Close to two hundred counselors andwell over three hundred campers, we
did what most thought was the impossible:we had a successful summer
that was led by the youth of St. Dominic SavioChurch. This year was un-
like any other. Not only were we able to maintain thesize of Camp 2011,
but also this year, we were able to help send a record number of sixty fami-
lies (134 campers) to camp this year, thanks to donations and fundraisers.
Our last week, we had a few specialevents planned for the campers. On
Tuesday, we celebrated a good season with“Savio Fiesta,” a fun celebration
that had carnival activities, such as “Pie inthe Face,” bouncers, and even a
dunk-tank. The day after, our middle schoolboys and girls went on a special
field trip to Six Flags, where some had experience their last field trips as
campers. “I definitely will be coming backto Camp Savio next year, but next time as a counselor.” Says eighth
gradecamper, Lindsey. Thursday we had our “Aqua Day,” so the entire camp can cooloff after a hot summer.
Campers and counselors were allowed to bring water toyssuch as water balloons, water guns, and much more.
We finished the week offwith our Friday Talent Show, where each grade presented a little routine toperform
for the camp and their families. At the end of the talent show, theentire camp was able to watch a video of
the entire camp season, which is nowavailable on YouTube or our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/
campsavio. After the talent show, many of the campers had
saidgoodbye, but plenty had stayed for the Camp Savio
Overnighter, where we had ourmidnight spirit rally. An
exhilarating and
spirited night, the InTouch Provincial Newsletter
middle school boys.
spirit rallyended
with a victory for
Third grade and our
After a fun night, the campers wokeup and said goodbye to their
counselors for many this was a sad moment. That but even with a
tearful goodbye for both campers and counselors, we can all agreeon
one thing: Camp Savio 2013, here we come.
Salesians of St. John Bosco
1100 Franklin Street
San Francisco, CA 94109
Phone: (626) 280-8­ 622 #35
E-­mail: intouch@salesiansc.org
Weekly publications will be
distributed on Thursdays. Please
submit news for publication by
Friday of each week.
Send contributions to:
intouch@salesiansc.org.
InTouch 3 7.19.12

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Around the Province
A Day in the Life of a Counselor
By Adriana Dugquem
He’s fifteen years old,
But Eddie isn’t
a member of the St.
the only one mak-
John Bosco Volleyball
ing the differ-
team, and next year
ence; he states that
he will be a Junior
Camp has actually
in High School. His
changed him for
name is Eddie Gutier-
them better. “I don’t
rez, and he seems like
know how to de-
your average teenager.
But Eddie is different.
How? He’s different because he
chose to make a difference.
For the past three years, Eddie
has worked his summers as a
Counselor here at Camp Savio.
He first began camp as a camp-
er when he was in eighth grade.
He was influenced to be be-
come a counselor after his older
sister Jessica served as one for
a year, and has continued to
enjoy his time here at Savio.
“My personal favorite session
is playground; you get to feel
like a little kid again.” Eddie
and many of our counselors
can often be seen playing tag
or kickball with the campers;
a nice break that our camp has
to enjoy some fresh air as well
as getting to know the camp-
ers, allowing our counselors to
create a bond with the campers.
“I remember when I started my
second year, the campers that
I had the year before saw me,
and came running up to me.
All they would do is hug me
and say ‘I missed you! I missed
you!’ It made me think that I’m
actually making a difference,
and I’m only a teenager. That
moment inspired me to con-
tinue doing camp because I just
want to be able to touch more
hearts.” He says.
InTouch 4 7.19.12
scribe it, but there
is just this special
thing about Camp. In high
school, you don’t see people
cheering in the halls or see
them going out of their way
to help a person out. Here, at
camp, you meet so many awe-
some people that allow you to
just be yourself. You don’t have
to put up a front; they love you
for who you are here.”
And not only Eddie, but one
hundred fifty young counselors
can say that Savio is more than
just church, a playground, and a
school; to them, it is a home.

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Camp
St. Francis 2012
On Thursday, July 27, 2012 Monterey Bishop Richard Garcia came to visit.
With every
bed filled, the
final week of camp
was full of good
fun!
thgVeeotUslSuiaKnnlte,tseosApeiitarlrhenifxetr.oScmanmeep,
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Camp
St. Francis
welcomed Salesian Vol-
unteers David and
Montana from
Sevilla Spain.
atsheagleinorcebrdeaeSJtcaoeadchaimhannny.gNpR(Lobowcaofetonichaatuhghct-nsateiN-n)voitvy-at
InTouch 6 7.19.12
bisroaftSophtrl.emaCrFcheraeoadmwno. pcdhiesirse
hthRcDe3feelor-perd2oCaeGmocdo(olfaufrtnmtoOhnoho,emEsseelaeco.lcnAlvaCglaoSderimnyDrs.af-,DTttmsCpBiDtthleueolparteeardmeehsracsreeiecoppsdgn-onrheowtnosrtmo)vSniionncca-ete

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Youngest CSF
camper Brian
has Novice Steve
DeMaio’s back.
Novice Travis
Gunther leads
the youngest campers
in creating the award
winning sand
sculpture.
Daily Eucharist
is always a high-
light at camp!
Keeping with
the tradition of
Sand Wars, Novice
Duoc Le helps to ani-
mate the fun with
flour bombs.
InTouch 7 7.19.12

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Around the Province
Deacons Rodolfo Duran, Elvis Batista and Oscar Al-
monte (left to right) from the Dominican Republic
visited St. John Bosco Hgh School for dinner on July
31. They had spent three busy but heppy weeks at St.
Francis Camp in Watsonville where they helped with
music, assistance, cheers. Great soccer players and a
great love for our kids. They will return to Guadalajara
for their final year of theology on August 7. Thanks for
helping out.
First line: Candidate Joaquin Oliveros, Fr Tom Juarez
SDB, Prenovice Jhoni Chamorro, Larry.
Behind: Deacons: Rodolfo Duran SDB, Elvis Batista SDB
and Oscar Almontes SDB.
KNOWING DON BOSCO PASCUAL CHÁVEZ VILLANUEVA
Communicating effectively in order to evangelise and educate
 
From being a boy John Bosco had the
gift of being able to communicate ef-
fectively. A personal gift: fascination
with words, the art of story-telling
inherited from a rich ancient oral
tradition, put at the service of the
mission for an educative and pasto-
ral purpose. Writing about himself
as a boy surrounded by compan-
ions he says: « But it was to hear
my stories that they flocked round
me. They loved them to the point of
folly. I drew on many sources for my
anecdotes-sermons, catechism lessons,
and stories I had read in The Kings
of France, in Wretched Guerino, and
in Bertolo and Bertoldino. When I
appeared, my companions and even
grown-ups would run to me in a
crowd and clamour for a story from
a fellow who scarcely understood
what he had read.
More
At times, along the road to
Castelnuovo or in some field I
would be surrounded by hundreds
of people, anxious to hear what
a poor child had to say. Apart
from a good memory, I lacked
any knowledge; but they seemed
to think I was a great scholar in
their midst. “In the kingdom of
the blind, the one-eyed man is
king.» (MO ed. 2011, p. 65-66).
Having become a priest he was
inundated by requests: «I am in-
vited to go now here now there to
preach triduums, novenas or days
of recollection, but I don’t dare
to move from here not know-
ing who to leave to look after the
house. How much good we could
do » he wrote to Fr Alasonatti in
the early days of the Oratory.
Having so much to do with boys
and young people, Don Bosco
was a great story-teller.
His way of teaching was through
stories, his spirituality was
through stories, the training
of his co-workers was through
stories, the public information he
gives about his plans and what
he is doing is through stories.
The subject matter of the sto-
ries is the Christian life as it is
lived, the Word of God and the
practical example of the saints,
people’s virtuous actions and their
good deeds, the positive results
obtained through the efforts in
education and formation at the
Oratory, the works achieved, his
dreams and his ideals.
Read More
InTouch 8 7.19.12

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Around the Province
CAMP CORPUS CHRISTI IS IN OUR 8TH AND FINAL WEEK
OF AN AMAZING SALESIAN EXERIENCE
We normally host camp for 5 weeks but this week we went to 8 weeks at the request of the parents. AS a
result we’ve had many more kids come to camp from last year. We had a consistent 40 kids at camp this year
along with 10 CIT’s, 15 junior staff and 10 adult staff, overall providing a great camp experience for over 75
people at Corpus Christi.
 
We offered activities such Game room, outdoor sports, Arts & Crafts, Music, Storytelling, Swimming, ICED
(imaginative, creative, educative discoveries). Some examples were learning a new language & baking; cook-
ies, cupcakes, cake, and the kids learned how to make pancakes.
Since this was a Salesian Camp, we had Mass every Friday whereby the children actively participated in all the
ministries including acting out the gospel.
Each week we attended a special field trip which some examples are; Great America, Water World, Blackberry
Farm, Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, Camp St. Francis the Academy of Sciences, etc…
At the beginning of the camp season we were a bit nervous about going 8 weeks (as it is a super long summer)
but as each week progressed, the staff united and felt even stronger and were delighted to greet the campers
each subsequent week. Each week camp seemed better than the previous week, and each day
was awesome. Evaluations took place each day at the end of the day to evaluate the level of fun
taking place for all so that we can all have a great Salesian Experience.
We lived out the Don Bosco Oratory and provided a space for Prayer, School, Church and
Playground.
InTouch 9 7.19.12
 
Raf

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The elevator tower
was patched with
new dry wall. The
new dry wall had
to be taped and
a coat of prim-
DE
er paint applied.
The primer paint
SALES
and the existing
wall paint did
not match. The
HALL
painting contrac-
tor sprayed the
walls with what is
called a skin coat
of paint. The fin-
ish coat of paint
was applied and
the third floor is
now complete.
Things are The tapers are
now finishing up
looking up . . . with the patching
and taping. The
next step is to
By Brother Joseph Lockwood, SDB
do a light sand-
ing and then ap-
ply another light
All of the up-graded fram-
ing on the first floor is
complete and has passed
coat of the mud. By the end of
the week the second floor will be
painted.
inspection. The carpenters worked
late into the evening to finish the The electricians are finishing
structural up-grading as request- the wiring for the lights in the
ed by the inspector.
chapel. They also installed the
new electric service pad. SCE
The elevator tower is painted and (Southern California Edison)
looks really good. It is only miss- will install the new transformer
ing the silhouette of Don Bosco on and pull the new wire to the new
the north side (toward the football electrical panel on the west side
field).
of the building.
As you might remember, many
walls had to be opened up for
electrical work, installing strap-
ping and other construction work.
Once that work was done, the wall
Mitsubishi Elevator Company
will begin to assemble the eleva-
tor on Monday (August 6). They
are planning to take about three
weeks to complete the process.
Sobrino Perez taping the dry wall
ceiling joints
Jose
Perez
using
a joint
tapping
ma-
chine in
the bed-
roomsa
The
electri-
cians
install-
ing the
new
SCE
trans-
former
pad
The
typical
sheet
metal
strap-
ping
that was
required
by the
City
though
the
building
InTouch 10 7.19.12

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Salesian Family Days 2012
Don Bosco the Educator
Featuring
Fr. Joseph Boenzi, SDB, S.T.D
Salesian Family Day California
October 13, 2012
9:00 AM – 3:30 PM
St. John Bosco High School
13400 Bellflower Boulevard
Bellflower, CA 90706
Salesian High School
2851 Salesian Avenue
Richmond, CA 94804
Salesian Family Day Texas
October 27, 2012
9:00 AM – 3:30 PM
St. John Bosco School
5630 W. Commerce Street
San Antonio, TX 78237
The Salesian Family gathers to celebrate the heritage Don Bosco gave us. This is
a day of prayer, community and formation for the Salesian Family Groups:
Salesians of Don Bosco (SDB)
Daughters of Mary Help (FMA)
Association of Salesian Cooperators (ASC)
Association Devoted to Mary Help (ADMA)
Asociación de Damas Salesianas (ADS)
Women Volunteers of Don Bosco
Association of Alumni and Alumnae of Don Bosco
(Sin Fronteras, Bosconians, Awakening ’68, Vietnamese)
Clip and Mail       Clip and Mail       Clip and Mail
I am Attending
October 13 in Bellflower
October 13 in Richmond
October 27 in San Antonio
Please Print
Name__________________________________________ number of people in your group_____
Address__________________________________________________________________
City____________________________________ State _____ Zip Code_______________
Email:___________________________________________ Phone _________________________
A Donation of $10/person is asked to cover breakfast, lunch and program
Mail Check or Money Order payable to Salesian Society
to:
Salesian Family Day
P.O. Box 1639
Rosemead, CA 91770
1
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Nome società
Titolo n otiziario
Newsletter for Salesian Missionary Animation
A Publication of the Mission Department for the Salesian Communities and Friends of the Salesian Mission
A "Muslim Salesian"
D
ear Salesians and
friends of the Sale-
sian Mission,
This month of August 2012, a group of
SDB and FMA will gather together in
the Salesianum, Rome the Third
Study Days on the Salesian presence
among the Muslims. The first meeting
of this kind was a seminar in Cairo
(Egypt, 1988) and the second meeting
was in Rome (2001). We want to re-
flect together on the meaning, possi-
bilities, and challenges based on our
experiences in many countries of the
world where we are in daily contact
with our Muslim brothers and sisters
in the school, oratory, church or so-
cial work.
We have already many Salesians from
Indonesia, Pakistan and several Afri-
can countries that come from Muslim
cultures, some even come from
mixed Muslim – Catholic families.
Even the Salesians of Europe are
called to learn more about the Is-
lamic religion and culture for bal-
anced and wise approach in educa-
tion. Among our many past pupils there many who are proud to be
Muslim and Salesian thanks to the Preventive System of Don Bosco.
Prof. Francesco Zannini writes in the Mondo e Missione: “I still re-
member the words of a certain Hamdi, an Egyptian, who called
himself a ‘Muslim Salesian’. He was proud to be a student of the
Salesian Institute in Cairo where, beside receiving an education, he
had lived with other Christian students, and where his Islamic faith
had been enriched by the contribution their Christian friends and
teachers”. (http://www.missionline.org/index.php?l=it&art=4597).
Inter-religious dialogue between Christians and Muslims is one of
the most important signs of our times. There are many resources
available to all to know not only the 5 pillars of Islam, but also the
different traditions and customs that help young people understand
the other religion, like this website in eight languages (http://
tinyurl.com/cajy4le).
An event that brings together some Salesians is an invitation to all
of us to grow every day in the style of life that is called 'dialogue':
It removes prejudices, deepens the reasons for the faith and jour-
neys together in charity and truth.
I hope that the wealth of material that will be shared during the
Study Days in Rome would become an impulse for all the confreres
in Africa, Asia and Europe who, though they are close to Islamic
reality every day, yet have no deep knowledge of its dynamics!
Fr. Václav Klement, SDB
Councillor for the Missions
In the course of history force has also been used
in the name of the Christian faith.
“ The religious delegates who were assembled in Assisi in 1986
wanted to say, and we now repeat it emphatically and firmly:
this is not the true nature of religion. It is the antithesis of reli-
gion and contributes to its destruction. In response, an objec-
tion is raised: how do you know what the true nature of religion is?
Does your assertion not derive from the fact that your religion has be-
come a spent force? Others in their turn will object: is there such a
thing as a common nature of religion that finds expression in all reli-
gions and is therefore applicable to them all? We must ask ourselves
these questions, if we wish to argue realistically and credibly against
religiously motivated violence. Herein lies a fundamental task for in-
terreligious dialogue – an exercise which is to receive renewed empha-
sis through this meeting. As a Christian I want to say at this point: yes,
it is true, in the course of history, force has also been used in the na-
me of the Christian faith. We acknowledge it with great shame. But it
is utterly clear that this was an abuse of the Christian faith, one that
evidently contradicts its true nature. .”
Benedict XVI, Assisi October 27, 2011
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A Buddhist, I became a Christian, a Salesian and a Missionary!
I belonged to a Buddhist family but some of my sister’s friends were Catholics
so she joined them in some church activities. One day, my sister expressed
her desire to become Catholic. It was then that my father told the whole family
that before dying, our grandfather told my father that he was told that our fore-
fathers were Catholics and he asked my father to look for our Catholic relatives.
He not only permitted my sister, he surprisingly added: “ I want our whole family
to become Catholic according to the wish of Grandpa.”
The nearest church to our house was run by the Salesians and my sister came to
know Fr. Fabian Hao. She shared the story and the desire of my father to Fr. Hao
who offered to help. A couple of months later, Fr. Hao told my father that he had
gone to our grandfather’s birthplace and he found our Catholics relatives there
and one even became a priest. With that news, my father decided that our whole family would convert
back to Catholicism. Our whole family supported my father’s decision except me. They all started to study
the catechism without me. I resisted but with the help of Fr. Hao I eventually decided to join my family. On
December 22, 1992 Fr. Hao baptised our whole family.
A month later my father was diagnosed to be with cancer. The death of my father, a few months
later, hit me hard but I was even more overwhelmed by the support given by Fr. Hao to my father during his
illness and to our family after he passed away. I finally asked my sister to take me to Fr. Hao. I told him
that I do not know what consecrated life is all about but I just want to be like him. So I became an aspirant
while working to support my family. After reading the
biographies of Don Bosco, Bl. Artemide Zatti and
Simon Srugi I became more determined to be a Sale-
sian brother.
One day, while cleaning an old bookshelf in the
prenoviciate, I saw a book narrating how missionaries
in Vietnam suffered and died during persecution for
the sake of Christ. This was the seed of my missionary
vocation. I shared this desire to be a missionary ad
gentes with my novice master and rector in the post-
noviciate. In 2000 I applied and I was sent to Papua
New Guinea to study in Don Bosco Technological Institute in preparation for my mission in Mongolia.
When confreres ask me why I want to be a missionary abroad while we have a lot of people in Viet-
nam who do not know Christ. I simply respond: “We have received so much from other missionaries even at
the cost of their lives. I just feel that we also have duty to share our faith in Christ”. I am sure God will
bless us abundantly for our generosity. He will send more people to take my place in the Province.
Since 2004 I have been happily working in Mongolia as a missionary Salesian brother. Thanks to the
Salesians, witness of life which touched my stubborn Buddhist heart and led me to Christ and my Salesian
vocation. Above all, thanks to God for the marvellous things he has done for me!
Br. Andrew Tran Le Phuong
vietnamese, missionary in Mongolia
Salesian Missionary Intention
Salesians Working in Islamic contexts, especially in Indonesia
That the Salesians immersed in Islamic context, especially those of the
young Delegation of Indonesia may discern the possibilities of the mission
of witness.
At the beginning of August Salesians immersed in Islamic areas of the Middle East
and the Gulf, Europe, Africa, Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, South and East Asia will
gather. Let us pray that all the Salesian communities immersed in Islamic culture
and religion, may discern the possibilities of the mission of witness and patient edu-
cational commitment. In a special way we pray for the young Delegation of Indonesia that was created in
2010 which is composed by 5 communities and 60 confreres many of whom are young and almost all of
Indonesian origin .
All previous issues of "Cagliero 11" are available at purl.org/sdb/sdl/Cagliero
InTouch 13 7.19.12