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July 12

2012

USA West Province Newsletter • Building Bridges Between Communities

July 12, 2012

Dear Brother and Sister Salesians:

I’m writing from Salesian High

School, Richmond, where the pro-

vincial council and I are having our

monthly meeting. Summer classes

are being offered in the school, and

the West Contra Costa Salesian Boys

and Girls Club has close to 300 (!)

kids in their summer program. Lots

of busy and happy young people ev-

erywhere!

Meanwhile the council and I are

locked away inside a meeting room

attending to matters like our prov-

ince finances, personnel situations,

and other issues that are of impor-

tance to the province: some legal

problems facing us, the upcoming

Leadership Meeting and Directors/

Pastors Meeting, discerning who

could be the next Delegate for Social

Communications after Judy Alvarez,

etc. As is customary at every meet-

ing we also dedicate about an hour

to reflecting on some key document

for our own formation. This time we

read the Rector Major’s initial pre-

sentation of Strenna 2013: Like Don

Bosco the educator, we offer young

people the Gospel of joy through a

pedagogy of kindness. If you haven’t

seen it yet (only 5 pages) it would be

well worth every Salesian’s and ev-

ery Salesian community’s while (yes,

even during the summer), to access

it at sdb.org, download it, print it,

reflect on it, discuss it, fit it into our

pastoral planning for the coming

pastoral year.

During the course of our meeting

these days we also spent some time

doing some preliminary planning

for two BIG events that our province

will be graced with this coming pas-

toral year: the Extraordinary Visita-

tion and the Provincial Chapter.

Extraordinary Visitation. Fr. Esteban

Ortiz, Regional for InterAmerica,

has just sent the calendar for the

Extraordinary Visitation of our prov-

ince which he will carry out in the

name of the Rector Major. Again,

more details later, but the visitation

will run from February 10 to May 11,

2013.

Provincial Chapter 2013. During Easter

week (April 1-5, 2013) we will have

our next Provincial Chapter to pre-

pare for General Chapter 27, to elect

a delegate for GC 27, and to take up

some province business. Very soon

I expect to get a letter out to every-

one with more details.

Much to be thankful for. Much to

look forward to.

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Timothy C. Ploch, SDB

Provincial

First year of preparation:

Knowledge of Don Bosco’s history

16 August 2011 - 15 August 2012

During this first year of prepa-

ration we need to set ourselves

a systematic plan for the study

and assimilation of Don Bosco.

The study of Don Bosco is

an essential condition in order

to be able to communicate his

charism and propose his current

relevance. Without knowledge

there cannot be love, imitation

or intercession; then only love

can lead to greater knowledge.

It is a question therefore of a

knowledge which starts from

love and leads to love: an affec-

tive knowledge.

Fr Pascual Chávez,SDB

QE PROVINCIAL’S CALENDAR

JULY 2012

12 Board Meeting, Los Ange-

les Salesian Boys & Girls

Club

13-17 Office Days

18 Members Meeting, Sale-

sian High School, Rich-

mond Board Meeting,

West Contra Costa Sale-

sian Boys & Girls Club

19 Office Day

FV 20 Camp Mass, St. Luke’s,

Stockton

21-22 Office Days

23-27 Visit Los Angeles Commu-

nities

InTouch 1 7.12.12

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West Contra Costra

Salesian Boys & Girls Club

Judy Reed

The book club: They were quietly reading until I entered with my cam-

era. Obviously, these kids are NOT camera shy.

The Arts &

Crafts room.

It takes several

pictures to cover the

whole room as we

have so many kids

spaced out.

WEST

CONTRA

COSTA

SALESIAN

BOYS & GIRLS

CLUB

Hi, I hope you are having a

fabulous summer! Thought

I would send an update to

ours. We have been serving

lunch to over 215 kids daily.

Below are a few pictures for

your enjoyment. Have a

great 4th of July!

Judy Reed

Executive Director

West Contra Costa

Salesian Boys & Girls Club

P.O. Box 6120

San Pablo, CA 94806

510-215-4648 (O)

510-215-4630 (F)

www.bgcrsp.org

About

the only shy

volunteers

aonnde’sjuanrioournsdtahffere

the

Our vegetable garden with some teens

InTouch 2 7.12.12

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Don Bosco Technical Institute

1151 San Gabriel Boulevard, Rosemead, CA 91770

www.boscotech.edu

Technology Education

Inspires Passion for

Stem Among Middle

Schoolers on BOSCO

TECH Campus

Contact: Karen Krynen - E-mail: kkrynen@boscotech.edu

ROSEMEAD, CA–July 5, 2012 – For

150 local elementary and middle

school students, Don Bosco Technical

Institute’s (Bosco Tech’s) five-week,

intensive Tech Scholar program is

providing an introduction to science,

technology, engineering and math

(STEM) education.

The unique curriculum includes sci-

ence workshops, a course in comput-

er science and electrical engineering,

and an introductory algebra course.

The seventh and eighth grade Tech

Scholars, for whom tuition is free,

are selected to participate through a

competitive process, based on an ap-

titude for, and interest

in, science and math.

In its third year, the

hands-on, lab-based cur-

riculum has doubled in size

amidst rave reviews from partici-

pating students and their parents, as

well as the students’ elementary and

middle schools.

“With exposure to new technology,

and the way it has transformed youth

culture, we must provide young

people with experiences in applied

science and math,” explains Rudy

Herrera, BoscoTech’s director of ad-

InTouch 3 7.12.12

missions, who runs the Tech Scholar

program. “We’re are providing a so-

lution to the lack of interest in the

sciences, addressing a definite need

throughout our country to expose

younger kids, specifically minority

kids, to STEM education.”

Currently, only 15 percent of U.S. col-

lege graduates pursue engineering

or computer science degrees, com-

pared to nearly 70 percent in China,

India and Eastern Europe. Nation-

ally, STEM programs focus primarily

on high school-level education, but

through the Tech Scholars program,

Bosco Tech is focusing on elementary

school-aged children, believing that

they will benefit from early exposure

to science and technology.

“We want to ignite the imagination

and excitement of our young people

for the sciences while also providing

an essential liberal arts foundation,”

says Herrera. “Sixty percent of our

recent high school graduating class

will major in STEM-related fields next

semester in colleges and universities

across the country.”

Bosco Tech is the only all-male Cath-

olic high school in the state that

uniquely integrates college-

preparatory and tech-

nology education. The

academic curriculum

allows students to

exceed university ad-

mission requirements

while completing ex-

tensive integrated course-

work in one of five technol-

ogy and engineering-related fields:

Architecture and Construction Engi-

neering; Computer Science and Elec-

trical Engineering; Integrated De-

sign, Engineering and Art; Materials

Science, Engineering and Technol-

ogy; and Media Arts and Technology.

For further information about Bosco

Tech, please call (626) 940-2000 or

visit www.boscotech.edu

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“Youth serving

youth.” It’s seems

as if in this day in

pool, and faith-

sharing. On Tues-

day, they had a

age, a statement

like that seems

“Savio Theater

Day” where the

to be a matter of

fiction. The rising

younger children

had watched

amount of crimi-

nal activity be-

the movie ‘Find-

ing Nemo’ while

tween the ages of

fourteen to nine-

the older chil-

dren watched

teen years old

and the stagnant

the movie ‘Up.’

The next day,

economy has us

believing in a

darker time for

our seventh and

the eighth grade

boys and girls

the future gen-

erations. Majority

had a special

field trip to St.

of those living in

the Los Angeles

John Bosco High

School, where

area believe that

many teenagers

may be joining a

gang or encoun-

ter illicit activity

sometime during

CAMP SAVIO 2012

St. Dominic Savio Parish

they had their

own private bar-

beque and pic-

nic. The following

day, marked our

weekly trip to the

their years as

an adolescent. But

even in a dark tun-

beach. Although

it was colder that day, the campers

and counselors continued to enjoy

nel, there is still a light.

Since 1956, St. Dominic

themselves, “I love the waves! They

were so big!” says Kevin, a fourth

Savio has kept that light

glowing and has worked

to keep Bosco’s teachings

alive by establishing the

summer day-camp, Camp

Savio. Using Bosco’s Pre-

ventive System and Ora-

tory Model as a the ba-

sis for the camp, Camp S a v i o

currently has around two hun-

dred teenagers who have volun-

teered their summer as Coun-

selors in order to take care of over

three hundred campers, in which

sixty of them have received scholar-

ships in order to attend the camp.

But why would so many teenagers be

so excited to take care of so many chil-

dren? Because at Camp Savio, “youth

serving youth” isn’t a work of fiction;

it’s a reality.

Led by Camp Director Juan Carlos

Montenegro and Headmaster Taaj

Lewis, Camp Savio had a very suc-

cessful first week. The first day was

an introduction day and proceeded

with a regular schedule that ranged

from activities such as playground,

grade camper.

And there is Friday, which is usually

a busy day. We begin the day with

a morning mass, which was led by

Father Tho; both campers and coun-

selors worked together to make the

mass possible with the theme “love

thy neighbor.” After Mass, the camp

went back into regular schedule until

the very end when the weekly Spirit

Rally was held. The Spirit Rally is a

cheer-off between all the grades to

see who has the most camp spirit.

This week our fourth grade and mid-

dle school girls won the spirit stick.

Although our first week of Camp

was exhausting, for both counselors

and campers, we still look forward to

another fun and successful week of

camp.

InTouch 4 7.12.12

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INTOUCH

PROVINCIAL NEWSLETTER

Salesians of St. John Bosco

1100 Franklin Street

San Francisco, CA 94109

Phone: (626) 280-8622 #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.

Please Pray for Our Sick

Mr. David Wehrly

Board Chairman, St. John Bosco High School

recovering from spinal surgery

Fr. Pascual Chavez, SDB

RECTOR MAJOR

InTouch 5 7.12.12

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Progress . . . .

Brother Joe Lockwood, SDB

Ventilation duct before wrapping

the duct with installation

Installing bracing for the ventilation fans and sup-

port for ventilation duct

Wrapping the ventilation duct with

installation

With the Fourth of July being in the quired boxes around the ventilating

middle of the week, the building in- fans.

spectors were not doing any inspec- Before applying the stucco to the

tions because the City of Bellflower elevator structure, a moisture bar-

Building and Safety Department

rier must be put on the wood

was closed. But the rehabbing

sheathing. The moisture bar-

of the 13856 Bellflower

rier is a black tar paper.

Blvd. continued.

The Mega Air Com-

pany is the sub-

Once the structure is

wrapped in tar paper

the metal lathe,

contractor for

ventilation

in the bath-

rooms, closets,

data rooms, confes-

Sales

Hall

the stucco

stops and the

corner bead

will be nailed to

the structure. Now

sional and the air con-

the plasters will begin

ditioning. The ventilating

fan ducts are now installed.

Some of the areas with brac-

ing, pipes, and electrical conduits

were so tight that the men had to

improvise different ways to run the

air ducts. One might ask why they

didn’t use flex ducts. The answer is

that flex ducts do not meet the fire

code in a dormitory building.

The carpenters built the vestment

closet in the sacristy and the re-

stuccoing.

Olympia Glass Company test-

ed the window smoke detectors

and the detectors worked just great!

But when the windows all close at

once, there is a loud noise.

All of the underground conduits

(electrical, phone, gate opener, etc.)

are now in place and the trenches

have been backed filled and com-

pacted.

InTouch 6 7.12.12

Ventilation fans installed in bath-

rooms, data rooms, etc.

Elevator tower with black tar pa-

per, stucco stop, metal lathing

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Continuing the Work CHOOL Students:

Marco Anaya,

Bernardo Carmona,

Julian Guzman, Erick

Rodriguez, Enrique

St. John Bosco Started… Ramirez

Paulina Esparza

A group from Bish-

op Mora Salesian High

School, five students and two teach-

ers just arrived from ten days in Guay-

aquil, Ecuador- life of a volunteer in

Proyecto Salesiano Chicos de la Calle,

thanks to the guidance of Juan Car-

los Montenegro, Province Delegate

for Mission Animation.

I have participated in other mission-

ary experiences, but this was the first

time I was able to co-lead a small

group of students. Although it was

a lot of work to make sure our teen-

age students were all up by 6:30am

for morning mass/laudates and were

present to the kids throughout the

day for their chores, classes, free

time, homework time, soccer, hip

hop, evening reflection and asleep by

11:00pm- it was all worth it! St. John

Bosco’s presence could truly be felt

in the oratory, there were beds and

hospitality for those kids that didn’t

have a place to call home; there were

classes on not just basic education

but personal hygiene and citizenship

as well. There was a constant sense of

playtime whenever there was down

time, even though soccer was one of

their most favorite playground activi-

ties. But

what

im-

pressed

me the

most

was the

presence

of Church.

The kids

were al-

ways

invited

to pray

through-

out the

day, espe-

cially

before meals. I

consider myself privileged to have

heard their prayers. The kids prayed

with so much compassion for each

other and they sang their hearts out

during morning prayers. I was moved

to tears as I would look around the

room of the chapel, seeing the kids-

gentle lambs- sing with such love for

God as I thought that many of these

boys had been living on the streets

not long ago.

I witnessed our Salesian High School

boys bond and make friendships

with not only the boys in the cen-

ter, but the volunteers as well. Dur-

ing our evening reflections, many

of our boys shared their inspirations

to do more in their local communi-

ties. Sometimes we need to be taken

out of our comfort zones to realize

how blessed we are, and how we are

gifted beyond measures to make a

difference in our local communities.

One of our students even commit-

ted to coming back next summer to

InTouch 7 7.12.12

stay longer as a volunteer. Which is a

blessing, because sites that take on

the ministry of working with street

kids operate on volunteers staying

for long periods of time-which they

were desperately in need of more!

When we arrived, four volunteers

had just left, leaving the site short

staffed. One of our goals is by doing

these trips, our boys will come back

on fire with Don Bosco’s spirit to do

more for those around us, and hope-

fully more students will respond to a

year of missionary service.

Paulina Esparza

CYM, Bishop Mora Salesian High School

Teachers:

Mia Aguilar, Paulina Esparza

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Salesian Family Days

An Opportunity for Formation and Fellowship

This October the Salesian Family will gather for a Salesian day of formation. Fr.

Joseph Boenzi, SDB, STD, will be the speaker.

• on October 13 at St. John Bosco High School, Bellflower, CA, and

Salesian High School, Richmond, CA.

• on October 27 at St. John Bosco School, San Antonio, Texas

Fr. Joe will be live at St. John Bosco High School and at the other sites via internet

broadcast. To prepare for Salesian Family Day we offer a series of reflections on

the nature and origin of the Salesian Family.

The Salesian Family the Genius of Don Bosco

By: Fr. Chris Woerz, SDB

Don Bosco‘s First Assignment

Don Joseph Cafasso was Don Bosco’s teacher, friend and mentor. He saw in the young priest a potential

that Don Bosco himself did not recognize. When Don Bosco approached him for advice and help in

finding a in which parish to serve, Don Cafasso advised him to wait until something presented itself. Don

Cafasso was convinced that over time God would show Don Bosco what was expected of him. The

waiting was not passive but rather Don Cafasso actively sought out possibilities that would let Don Bosco

develop his ministry to the young.

While still a student at the Convitto, Don Bosco gathered youngsters there in the rooms and courtyard of

the Convitto. Don Guala and Don Cafasso both encouraged him and often joined Don Bosco and his

“Oratory” talking to the boys and helping with small gifts and reading material for the children. While Don

Bosco seemed to be developing a ministry which would accompany him to his “real assignment.”

One day, Father Cafasso took me aside and said, "Now that you've finished your studies, you must

get to work…

"Whatever you would like to point me towards."

"There are three posts open: curate at Buttigliera d'Asti, tutor in moral theology here at the Convitto,

and director at the little hospital beside the Refuge. Which would you choose?"

"Whatever you judge best."

"Don't you feel any preference for one thing rather than for another?"

"My inclination is to work for young people. So do with me whatever you want..."

"At the moment what's the wish nearest your heart? What's on your mind?"

"At this moment I see myself in the midst of a multitude of boys appealing to me for help."

"Then go away for a few weeks' holiday. When you come back I'll tell you your destination."

I came back from the holiday, but for several weeks Fr Cafasso never said a word. And I asked him

nothing.

One day he said to me, "Why don't you ask me about your destination?"

"Because I want to see the will of God in your choice, and I don't want my desires in it at all."

"Pack your bag and go with Dr. Borrelli. You'll be director at the Little Hospital of St. Philomena, and

you'll also work in the Refuge. Meanwhile God will show you what you have to do for the young."

At first this advice seemed to cut across my inclinations. With a hospital to take care of, preaching

and confessions in an institute for more than four hundred girls, there would be no time for anything

else. Nevertheless this was the will of heaven, as I was soon assured1

This series is titled, The Salesian Family the Genius of Don Bosco. In the incident above Don Bosco

does not stand out as much of a genius, but rather as one who is not very sure of himself, which is, in

fact, his genius. Don Bosco is an insightful person who is able to see in simple terms very complex

situations. He processes reality through his life experience, a keen and active intuition, and a focus which

sees solutions where answers seem not apparent. He genius promptes him ask for and accept advice.

This acceptance will lead him to the discovery of the genius of the Salesian Family.

1 Ibid: Memoirs pg. 108-109

InTouch 8 7.12.12

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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

InTouch 9 7.12.12

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St.

Joseph Retreat

Presents…

Center

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July 11, 18, 25 and August 1, 8, 15 $St5.$JDo5siefnopnhre’sdrSi&nalneFseiuarnn&Yaodturt6ihn:0Rke0,n,$eMw1aoflovCrieendtseetrsasre8t3rs0t1s@;ArM6ro:3yoo0vDierisBveaR,rIRNeoGsFeR:mEleaEawd-,nACAcllh9ra1a7itr7e0od(r6G2b6lo)a2rn80kP-eG8t6,22

Kindle the Creative Spirit

A Woman’s Retreat

Friday, August 10 – Sunday August 12, 2012 For All Women Ages 21+

Hosted by St. Joseph’s Salesian Youth Renewal Center

Do you love Music? Color? Doodling? Movement? Photography?

Beautiful Textures? The Sound of the Wind? Journaling? Gardening?

Come Discover, Claim and Celebrate the Creative Side of your Spirit

. . . through Prayer Experiences, Activities, Movement, Journal Writing,

and enjoying time with other women on a Spiritual path.

Facilitated by Lisa Dreyer, Judy Alvarez, Val MacRae, Katherine Mancuso. Call for info today! (626) 280-8622

“Rejoice in the Lord always...

Again, I say rejoice!”

Phil 4:4

InTouch 1 0 7.12.12