Makati, Philippines: 12 February 2005 -- Members of the Salesian Family celebrated their Provincial Community Day at the Don Bosco Technical Institute with The Family that Plays Together, Stays Together as theme. They represent eight branches of Don Bosco's Family present in the Philippines: the Salesians of Don Bosco (SDB), the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (FMA), the Miyasaki Caritas Sisters (CSM), the Archconfraternity of MHC (ADMA), the Salesian Cooperators (ASC), the Association of Damas Salesianas Family (ADS), the Don Bosco Volunteers (DBV) and the Past Pupils of the SDBs and of the FMAs.
     After the excitement of registration and renewing acquaintances, the day began with a dance interpretation and power point presentation prayer reflection inspired by the 2005 Strenna of the Rector Major by the FMA and their Past Pupils.  The parade of assigned colors for each group preceded the cutting of ribbons at the respective game booths of the participating members. Shooting basketball hoops, blindfolded pinning of faces, bingo, soybeans and chopsticks, shooting rings, coin-tossing, karaoke, dedication and jail booths all gave one and all (the young and elderly, male and female, frail and nimble), the chance to enjoy the morning.
    As the games were about to wind-up Fr. Francis Gustilo FIN Provincial arrived with his designated successor, Fr. Andrew Wong to introduce Fr. Andy to the Salesian Family members - a very Salesian first encounter for a new superior at the height and spontaneity of the playground!
     At midday, the Family at Play gathered to be the Family at Prayer as they celebrated the Eucharist presided by homecoming Salesian Bishop Francesco Panfilo of the Diocese of Alotau-Sedeia, Papua New Guinea himself a former Provincial Superior of the Philippines.and Papua New Guinea.  Bishop Panfilo expressed his gratitude for the warm invitation to join the Family Celebration, significant because in his diocese he had been working these past two and a half years alone, without any member of the Salesian family in residence!
    Fr. Provincial preached the homily, zeroing-in on a Lenten challenge to offer all sacrifices for the season and beyond towards an active participation in raising a support fund to assist the Vice-Province of Sri Lanka who had accepted responsibility for 12,000 orphans of the recent Indian Ocean Tsunami.
    After the Breaking of the Bread, Fr. Pepe Reinoso led the diffferent heads of the Salesian Family in expressing gratitude to Fr. Gustilo for the time, attention and personal care he gave each family branch in the past six years.  A generous cash love-offering was presented to Fr. Provincial who took the occasion to concretise his preaching as he offered the love-offering as seed-money for his proposed Project SRI LANKA!

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