CANLUBANG
(PHILIPPINES) August 5, 2013- Facing the reality of
the declining number of vocations, our superiors in Rome had
stressed the need of creating a vocational atmosphere in our
houses. This appeal includes collaboration between communities
and extends even to non-Salesian places where vocations may be
found.
The Postnovitiate community, taking the lead, accepted the
challenge and we made a joint-effort with
the Don Bosco schools of Makati and Mandaluyong. Our
community offered the schools a vocation encounter between
their students and the young Salesians.
To equip us -the Postnovices- a short workshop on vocation
promotion was given by Fr. Regulus Porlucas, the vocation
director of FIN. He deepened our understanding of the topic
and gave us additional practical tips on how to fish for
vocations.
The vocation encounter takes place every Monday until the end
of August. The senior high school students of Don Bosco
Technical Institute–Makati and the third year college students
of Don Bosco Technical College–Mandaluyong will drop by the
Postnovitiate in Canlubang before proceeding to Don Bosco
Batulao for their retreat. The high school students meet us in
the mornings while the college students arrive in the
afternoons. The former are accompanied by the junior brothers
and the senior brothers take care of the college students.
The encounter begins with a brief orientation. Afterwards, the
students are divided into smaller groups composed of four to
five members. A brother will be assigned to them. In that
small group, the brother will share his vocation story. The
students will be encouraged to ask questions about Salesian
seminary life and the challenges that the Postnovice have
faced in the pursuit of his vocation. Through this personal
encounter, it is hoped that they will be given a better idea
of what Salesian life is all about. For our part, we hope to
come to know the concerns young people have when they consider
the possibility of joining the Salesians. The issues that have
surfaced most of the time in the past are about family,
freedom, happiness and celibacy. After the sharing, the
students will be asked to rate their interest in the Salesian
life. In this way, we will be able to identify the possible
candidates to Salesian life. They will then be referred to the
local vocation director of the school for follow up.
In this encounter, we are aiming at providing our students
with an experience or, better yet, a vocational culture which
could be very helpful for them in discerning what God calls
them to be. Vocation is the crowning glory of our ministry and
for this we give our share in the work of vocation ministry.
Our prayers and witnessing will ensure the future of Don
Bosco's presence in the Philippines.
