austraLasia 808
FILIPINO SALESIANS STRENGTHEN PRESENCE TO
RURAL YOUTH
SAN JOSE (Philippines): 18th February '04
-- A feature of both Filipino provinces in recent years has been the
strengthening of Salesian presence to rural youth who make up some 70% of the
national population according to recent statistics. The rural training
centre at San Jose has drawn praise and admiration from Salesian Extraordinary
Visitor Fr. Vaclav Klement.
The Don Bosco Training Centre at San Jose is quite close
to the residence of the Salesian Bishop of the area, Bishop Leo Drona. The
small Salesian Community (3 members) plus a dedicated staff of nine past
pupils, is responsible for Automotive, General Electrician and Agricultural
Mechanic technology. They accept 65 local trainees annually, 17-26 years
of age. This includes young men and women who have dropped out of school,
some of whom are married already. After graduation there is an opportunity
to take part in the Dominic Savio Cooperative venture, to develop
self-supportive skills. The Salesians in the
community are also involved in the activities of the wider Church - Fr. Favie
Faldas, the Rector, is in charge of the Diocesan Youth Ministry
Commission. But the evangelising activity of the centre itself is
noteworthy. On the Feast of Don Bosco this year, 20 of the trainees
received baptism.
There are another five rural training centres of this
kind run from one or other of the two Filipino provinces (FIN and FIS): Naga and
Legazpi (FIN) and Dumangas, Mati and Borongan (FIS).
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