intouchJanuary 3%2C 2013


intouchJanuary 3%2C 2013

1 Page 1

▲back to top
USA West Province Newsletter
Building Bridges Between Communities
January 3, 2013
Provincial’s
Letter
January 3, 2013
Dear Brother and Sister
Salesians:
Happy New Year one and
all!
Still living the Christmas
mystery and celebrat-
ing its joy, we are headed
for the celebration of the
Lord’s Epiphany this com-
ing Sunday. He was born
among us, son of Mary
and son of God, revealed
to the nations as Light of
the World.
This coming Sunday’s
feast of the Epiphany
also marks the begin-
ning of National Migra-
tion Week here in the US,
January 6-13, 2013. Yes,
there is increasing energy
in DC for immigration
reform, but apart from
that, this week is a call
from our bishops to rec-
ognize our responsibil-
ity as Catholics to help
newcomers integrate in
ways that are respectful
and culturally sensitive.
Our bishops are calling
us to
work
for the
con-
ver-
sion of
hearts
and
minds,
our
own
and
those
of our fellow citizens,
to create a culture and
practice of hospitality
for newly arrived immi-
grants, with papers or
without.
It was ten years ago that
our bishops’, in union
with the Mexican bish-
ops’ conference, issued
the joint pastoral letter
Strangers No Longer. I
hope we all read it, es-
pecially if we have not
yet done so. So this
year’s theme picks up
on the anniversary of that
seminal document: “We
are Strangers No Lon-
ger: Our Journey of Hope
Continues.”
Of course we Salesians,
besides the animation of
our bishops, also have an-
other reason to take Na-
tional Mi-
gration
Week as
a call to
conver-
sion. Don
Rua sent
the first
Salesians
to San
Francisco
precisely
to begin the work here
among immigrants. Not
to mention the insistence
Don Bosco had with the
first missionary bands he
sent to South America
that they begin serving
the Italian immigrants.
The fifth priority in our
Organic Plan must be
understood then not as
something trendy and op-
tional, but rather as some-
thing charismatic (flow-
ing from our origins and
identity) and essential.
So because we are
Catholics in the US
today following our
bishops’ teaching, and
because we are Sale-
sians striving to be
faithful to our found-
ing charism, let each
community “respond
prophetically in all our
presences to the eco-
nomically poor with
a special focus on the
undocumented” (POP,
priority 5).
The manifestation of
the Lord as Savior of
the whole world on
the Epiphany is the
most basic founda-
tion for our stance on
migration. Tradition
has it that the three
wise men came from
Europe, Asia, and Af-
rica to find the Light of
the World. No matter
where we come from
we share a common
faith in Jesus. This is
what makes us “strang-
ers no longer.” Not the
documents we carry.
Sincerely,
Rev. Timothy Ploch, SDB
Provincial

2 Page 2

▲back to top
Education of the heart
8tbFltibou.cyithotrpweooauaaososTfavnetoatonaktgorihnuaoirbcnirrercdkolincnaohyedaucghsbnisttgtfsphseeeooctheaguowoaohsrptimBleoafiwcrehfrieteasraeeseaeeleetrevtoenfeessltahdaelosiuopeanidldderYeoduddtftclswtwsi.boeoofeancifehftt,uorfia“todDroabitentiiTlttvnohtttsireehhahetotishgmeetrtuterepnirrhmn,eihyt”enhdeeresau,etbewaeiuiPednainatswnisacrshcrhloratdeobclhieieehegeeogcetocowenvxharosfdrwtondyeSaephuLttaegrsresnnt.apiyeace.idetwhrtvctortcthFafiifiebtaiinaeronvcooieeowraloressfghegrrnr’,rosssmemsmtidcDuMbStishfbpoeonemryeegoaioeteaofit,snthyhtaeccnhdiritmhcDgtgosdhoeewoaoesBthmnuamwogdao,naVteRo,csonnsisiceltaatsnthi.gcoeahwhntlcBMoetiimdnIriochhemodnoimttottataierehnurshiahnclegltef,ace.tcpiecoageotomnwamaFaoiciutnnEntnpmonrattotopeo,dgdoghosdasrw,eukmturianpntotnhetaanatachthdhtendtntehinotaiieooctenshulde-fswidmte-rrdeongei-hesyssrtg-e,-
PROVINCIAL’S
CALENDAR
January 2013
3-5 Office Days
6-8 Provincial Council Meeting,
Sts. Peter and Paul
9 Province Finance Commission
Meeting
10-15 Office Days
16 Members Meeting, St. John Bosco
High School, Bellflower
17 Travel East
18 Faculty Inservice, Don Bosco Prep,
Ramsey, NJ
19 Postnovitiate Curatorium,
Orange, NJ
20-21 Family Visit
22 Travel West
hh Fr. Pascual Chavez, SDB
STRENNA 2013
January
month of
Don Bosco
1-3-2013 2

3 Page 3

▲back to top
2013
STRENNA
December 31, 2012 – Salesian GHQ
- Knowing Don Bosco, Volume II:
The strenna on pedagogy
(ANS – Rome) – In keep with tradition, early in the
afternoon of December 31 the Rector Major officially
presented Strenna 2013 by visiting the Generalate of
the Salesian Sisters. Don Bosco started the tradition of
presenting a strenna in 1849, and the tradition this year
continues with an issue devoted to knowledge and
deepening of his pedagogy. This is the second theme of
the three-year journey of preparation for the celebration
of the bicentennial of his birth (1815-2015).
In the auditorium of the FMA Generalate, in the solemn
simplicity of a family atmosphere, Fr. Pascual Chávez
met Mother Yvonne Reungoat, a large representation of
FMAs, and some other members of the Salesian Family.
The theme and structure of Strenna 2013 was presented
briefly, expressed in the now famous slogan: “Like Don
Bosco the educator, we offer young people the Gospel of
joy through a pedagogy of kindness.”
The true “gift” (hence the term strenna), however, is the
commentary that the Rector Major presents to the whole
Salesian Family. These are pages that must be read and
studied in-depth, personally and in the various animation
groups, locally and regionally.
“Once again this time our approach will not be only
an intellectual one,” writes the Rector Major. “On the
one hand, a deeper study of Salesian pedagogy is
certainly necessary in order to update it according to the
sensitivities and the demands of our own times. Nowadays
the social, economic, cultural, political, and religious
contexts in which we are trying to live our vocation and
carry out the Salesian mission have profoundly changed.
On the other hand, in order to be faithful to the charism
of our Father it is equally necessary to make our own the
contents and the method of the education and pastoral
care he offered. In the context of society nowadays we
are called to be holy educators as he was, giving our lives
as he did, working with and for the young.”
Besides some reflections on the well-established
principles of the Preventive System (reason, religion,
kindness, good Christian and honest citizen), the Rector
Major offers great benchmarks and commitments for the
Salesian family.
The commentary is a true path to knowledge, backed
up with suggestions for some effective training and
programming.
The emphasis is strong on the Gospel of joy – as suggested
by the verse that goes with the slogan: “Rejoice in the
Lord always; again, I say, rejoice” (Phil 4:4) – a message
that must be understood correctly:“Joy, rather than being
a passing sentiment, is an interior force which is able to
resist the difficulties of life.” “Don Bosco took the desire
for happiness the boys had and translated their joy of life
into the language of cheerfulness, of the playground, of
celebration; but he never stopped pointing out to them
that God was the source of true joy,” writes the Rector
Major in his commentary.
In conclusion, Fr. Chavez focuses on Venerable Mama
Margaret. “From her Don Bosco learned those values
and attitudes that he used with his boys, and that as the
years passed became the foundation of the pedagogy
that he left to his Salesians.” A simple and direct way that
recalls how the effectiveness of good Salesian pedagogy
is intrinsically linked to the educator; a pedagogy that
inevitably, by assimilation, transmits the values the
educators believe in to whomever they can relate to
and have a dialog with. This aspect is underlined by a
reference to a poem from an Indian Salesian that the
Rector Major makes his own.
The strenna is available in electronic form from Salesian
Communications in New Rochelle (salesianstudies@
gmail.com) and in print in the Acts of the General Council
no. 415. A video commentary is also available at www.
sdb.org with.

4 Page 4

▲back to top
Fr. Al Mengon (birthday), Fr. Bob Stein, Fr. Austin Conterno
(sitting next Bro. “Z”) Bro. Abel Zanella, Fr. David Purdy and
Bro. Joseph Lockwood
The Greatest
Christmas Gift is
when . . .
By: Brother Joseph Lockwood, SDB
On Wednesday, December 19,
2012, Fr. Bob Stein chauffeured Fr.
Austin Conterno (the second old-
est confrere in the Province) and
me to Watsonville to visit Brother
Abel Zanella (the oldest confrere
in the Province by 3 months).
It was also Fr. Al Mengon’s 75th
birthday and he invited us to join
in that celebration.
Fr. David Purdy welcomed us
with open arms as we went into
house to visit with Bro. “Z”. I felt
the great joy when I saw “Count”
gave a big hug to Bro. “Z”. (Bro. “Z”
shook hands with the others, but
kissed the hands of Fr. Conterno.)
That had to be for me the greatest
Christmas gift anyone would want;
visiting a sick confrere who has
given so much to our Province.
I found out later that Bro “Z”’s
good friend Gerry L’Heureux with
his wife Carol had visited him on
Monday giving him a beautiful
Christmas gift of “Quarenta y Tres”
(the famed Diego Zamora liqueur,
Bro. “Z”’s favorite.) Yes, we par-
took of a bit a Christmas cheer, af-
ter singing the Christmas novena,
of course. Mike and Luis added to
the merriment.
Please continue to pray for Bro.
Zanella and the community.
Fr. Austin Conterno greets
Brother Abel Zanella
1-3-2013 4

5 Page 5

▲back to top
Getting to Know
December Issue
Now Available Online
CLICK HERE
This issue of “Getting to Know Don Bosco” is
packed with rich insights.
We begin with insights from this November’s
gathering of Salesian scholars in Turin, we get a
sneak preview of what is to come in future study
guides that focus on Don Bosco’s spirituality.
Then Fr. Giuseppe Buccellato shares a diagram he
made that outlines Don Bosco’s Spiritual Roots.
The third part of this study guide is a short intro-
duction to Fr. Joseph Cafasso’s Religious stance,
written by Lucio Casto and translated by Fr. Arthur
Lenti.
The spotlight article by Fr. Joseph Boenzi delves
into the historical context of Don Bosco’s Youth.
SaleessiiaannStudies.org
1-3-2013 5

6 Page 6

▲back to top
Salesian Volunteer
FAITHFUL AND FORGIVING
Jessie Smith
Another young woman from my
oratory who demonstrated some-
thing beautiful to me was a teacher
at our school. A few weeks ago in
a city East of Tijuana her brother
was killed when trying to protect
his son from robbers that had en-
tered their house. Fr Francisco, the
members of our community, and
myself attended the funeral and
brought support and prayers to her
family during that time. The next
week she was back at school and
teaching her 4th graders again.
One day we had to go to the store
to buy some supplies for our little
“tienda” or shop that we have at the
oratory. On the way she told me
that the police had put in jail the
men who had killed her brother.
The next thing she said was very
beautiful to me. She said, “I feel
sorry for them. I feel happy that
they have been found, but I also
feel sad because they are young
boys around the age of 20 and
they have their whole life ahead
of them, but in prison. She went
on to say that she knows that they
killed her brother but she couldn’t
help but feel sad for their families
because they are all human be-
ings too. She continued saying
that though it was so difficult to
loose her brother in this way, she
has not lost her faith in God and
that she knows God places difficult
things in our life to bring us closer
to Him. She said that some of her
friends were questioning her why
she still believed in God after this,
but she said she trusts God and
knows He is taking care of her and
her family.
I thought this was so incred-
ibly beautiful and demonstrated a
great faith. So many people are so
blinded by anger and hatred over
sometimes matters so much small-
er than this, and this woman had
compassion on those who killed
her brother. To me, this is Christ in
person showing compassion and
great faith.
One final note about this wom-
an: The following week after her
brothers’ funeral, the father of one
of the students in her class passed
away from an illness. The teacher
was the first one to collect money
for that family amongst us at the
school and bring it personally
with her students to the house of
the family who’d lost their father.
Though visiting a house with a loss
could be something so difficult,
she was the first to offer to bring
them money to help with the fu-
neral.
These are only a few examples of
my growing understanding of the
reality of the lives of those around
me that I see and work with every
day. I am humbled and find myself
often asking God in prayer, what
do I have to bring to them Lord? In
these past few weeks I have really
been praying for God to continue
to reveal to me where He needs me
most here right now. Through my
prayers I’ve have begun to see very
evidently the face of Christ around
me and in my experience. I con-
stantly think of a quote
“TO DO ORDINARY THINGS
OF LIFE WITH GREAT LOVE
AND ATTENTION….You know
well enough that Our Lord does
not look so much at the great-
ness of our actions, nor even at
their difficulty, but at the LOVE
AT WHICH WE DO THEM.”- St
Terese.
I feel that so often my role here is
not to do a bunch of things though
I’m teaching, and coaching, and
helping with lots of events, I find
that my day is most fulfilling or
most beautiful when I take time
to really listen to others and to
try to be open to the Holy Spirit.
One day I wrote in my journal “I
feel my call is to love those around
me, to be patient and kind, to
give genuine attention to every-
one, and to be joyful and gener-
ous”. This to me is a true mission-
ary spirit, and this sometimes can
be the most difficult thing to do
no matter where you are in life!
1-3-2013 6

7 Page 7

▲back to top
DE SALES HALL, BELLFLOWER
NO! Not yet ...
By: Brother Joseph Lockwood
Last week was a disappointing
time for the project. I had
been informed by the on-site
supervisor Alex DeLeon that the
final inspection would take place
on December 27, 2010 around
11:00 am. So I spent the day after
Christmas (December 26, 2012)
driving down. Just to let you
know, to drive to Los Angeles by
yourself is terrible!
On Thursday morning I met
with Alex who informed me that
the final inspection would not
take place until January 3, 2013
because the Assistant Building
and Safety Department Head
Chris Christopoulos was on
Christmas break until January 2,
2013. After lunch, I phoned the
Provincial, Fr. Tim Ploch, to give
him this bad news.
But that afternoon there was
a meeting with the City of
Bellflower Building Inspector
Jeff Ganaway at 2:30 pm, who
showed up at 3:30 pm. We walked
through the building and found
a few items that still need to be
corrected (like two exits on the
North side of the building that
are not in compliance with ADA
specifications). The pilot lights
for the stove do not light and
some of the labels for the doors
are missing. The labels indicate
that the door are fire rated. What
happened was that when the
doors were refinished, the painters
removed them and did not put
them back.
The other sticking point is the gate
to the parking lot. The architect
wanted to install two separate
gates (that means two separate
motors) but our desire is for one
gate that slides north. After a little
discussion, there will be one gate.
This last week, Vincor began to
work on the Public Works up-
grading requirements.
The landscapers were in to put
in the plants as specified on the
plans.
On Sunday, Dave from Hobart
Company asked one of the other
service persons to service the
stove pilot lights. They are now in
good working condition.
Pray that on Thursday, January 3,
2013, we receive the occupation
permit from the City of Bellflower.
1-3-2013 7

8 Page 8

▲back to top
THE SOUL
PLEASE PRAY FOR
A OUR SICK
f
What does the word
“soul” mean? ... No one
can give a definition of
the soul. But we know
what it feels like. The
soul is the sense of
something higher than
S
BRO. BRUNO DePRETTO, SDB
took sick in Italy
D
f
FR. JOHN MALLOY, SDB
recovering from a fall
F
ourselves, something
that stirs in us thoughts,
G
hopes, and aspirations
which
world of
go out to the
goodness, truth,
H
MAY THEY REST IN
THE PEACE OF CHRIST
Please pray for the repose
of the souls of
and beauty. The soul is a
e
burning desire to breathe
in this world of light
JFr. Emil Fardellone, SDB (SUE)
and never to lose it - to
remain children of light.
December 30, 2012
Aged 96
K
Marrero LA
e
Albert Schweitzer
Reverence for Life
Fr. William Lynn, SJ
L December 27, 2012
Theology Professor
at the Josephinum 1979-2007
Z fqe
1-3-2013 8

9 Page 9

▲back to top
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
D ear Salesians and friends
of the Salesian mission,
At the beginning of Janu-
ary 2013 I wish you a year full of
light!
We are living the Year of Faith, a
time of grace. As true sons of Don
Bosco we want to live always
with a deep sense of the Church.
The theme of the Salesian Mission
Day 2013 '“The faith Journey in
Africa” helps our journey during
this Year of Faith: The catechu-
menate stories and the models of
catechists, help us to be inspired
by the young Christian communi-
ties.
My heartfelt thanks to all the
confreres of Africa who have
made available to us the dynam-
ics of the immense “spiritual
‘lung’ for a humanity that ap-
pears to be in a crisis of faith and
hope” (Benedict XVI, Africae Mu-
nus 13).
During this Year of Faith I invite
you to live the prayer for the SMD
2013: “Jesus, walk with me, Je-
sus stay with me ... I am your
witness!”
Fr. Václav Klement, SDB
Councilor for the Missions
Salesian Mission Day
2013
A “kairos” for Africa and Madagascar
O ne thing that impresses anyone who visits Africa is the number of
Chinese who are present in the continent. Some estimate that
there are at least 25 million Chinese in Africa! Some of these, espe-
cially the young, come to our centres and oratories mainly for sports,
and sometimes also to “enjoy” some of our liturgical celebrations.
Perhaps they become, sometimes, the butt of our jokes. Yet, if we
examine deeper this situation with missionary sensitivity, it becomes
obviously clear that many of them, if not most of them, have not
heard the Gospel nor of Jesus Christ.
It is perhaps a happy coincidence that last November 5-9, 2012 the
Study Days was on the Initial Proclamation of Christ in Africa and
Madagascar which took place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia while this year’s
Salesian Mission Day focuses on the proclamation of Christ in Africa.
These two occasions impel us to look around us with the missionary
heart of Don Bosco!
With the missionary eyes of Don Bosco we see around us “the urgency
of proclaiming the Good News to the millions of people in Africa who
are not yet evangelised” (Ecclesia in Africa, 47). ) It is important,
therefore, to stir up an interest in Jesus Christ among those who do
not know him, as well as to revitalise the faith of African Christians
who have become lukewarm in their faith.
Yet, Pope Benedict XVI also invited us to «recover the ardour of the
beginnings of the evangelization of the African continent” (Africae
Munus, 164). Such missionary ardour opens our eyes to the missionary
possibilities of the Chinese presence in Africa. Indeed, here we have
all the possibilities to proclaim the Gospel which the Church in
China does not have! The New Testament uses the term kairos to de-
scribe “the appointed time in the purpose of God”, the time when God
acts (e.g. Mark 1,15). I am convinced that we have to respond to this
time of God’s visitation. It is for this reason that I invited the Provin-
cials of the African Region during our last meeting to discern what God
is telling us today before such a massive Chinese presence. I am confi-
dent that an abundant harvest awaits us if we respond with missionary
audacity to this kairos for the Church and the Congregation in Africa &
Madagascar!
Fr. Guillermo Basañes, SDB
Regional Councilor for Africa & Madagascar
The annual Salesian Mission Day, celebrated on a date chosen by each Province, aims to
help every Salesian, every educative-pastoral community and the whole Salesian Family to
be aware of the various missionary commitments of the Congregation, open our eyes to new
missionary realities, overcome every temptation to withdraw into one’s territory or context
as well as to be reminded of the universality of the Salesian charism. This year's theme is
The faith Journey in Africa. The celebration of the Salesian Mission Day ought to be the
highlight (after an educational - pastoral journey with various initiatives which lasts some
weeks) and expression of the missionary spirit which is kept alive throughout the year in the
whole Educative-Pastoral Community.
http://www.sdb.org/en/SDB_webTV/Sectors/SMD_2013
http://www.sdb.org/it/SDB_webTV/Congregazione&IDVideo=495&page=1
1-3-2013 9

10 Page 10

▲back to top
African and missionary in Africa!
O riginally from the Democratic Republic of Congo, I was born into a Catholic family. I encountered Je-
sus through the initiative of my mother ... One day while I was walking in front of a church my
mother told me: “My son let’s go to greet Jesus in the Church ...” I did not understand her. But
when we entered the church I saw her kneel and make the sign of the cross. I was greatly impressed by her
gesture, and it was from this moment that I began to feel the presence of God in my life.
Between 1990 and 1992 my country went through a very difficult time and there were many abandoned chil-
dren. Meeting these children in the street some questions sprung from my heart: “Why are these children suf-
fering this way?, Has Jesus forsaken them ?” The words of Jesus came as a response from the bottom of my
heart: “whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me”(Matthew 25,40). I decided
to commit my life to the service of suffering children of the world. This was the moment when my missionary
vocation was born.
As a Salesian prenovice I was very happy that Father Provincial sent
me to work with children in difficulty. And there I shared with my
Rector the missionary call that I felt in my heart. Fr. Rector advised
me to express this missionary desire once I arrive at the novitiate.
During my novitiate Father Master strongly encouraged me in this
vocation and advised me to continue my discernment. In the Philos-
phate I wrote to the Rector Major, Don Vecchi, who accepted my
application and sent me to the West Africa Francophone Province
(AFO) which is composed of 7 countries. I worked in Togo for two
years during my Practical Training. After my priestly ordination I
was in charge of the home for children in difficulty and youth minis-
try in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. Since 2010 I am in Ouagadougou, Burkina
Faso among children of Belleville where we are opening a new Sale-
sian presence.
Throughout this missionary journey, I encountered many difficulties that are part of this joy of proclaiming Je-
sus. I have had difficulty adapting to the language and climate. But my greatest joy is having met brothers and
sisters of West Africa who are very appreciative of an African who is a missionary in Africa. I was impressed by
what some had told me in similar words: “You're an African and you left your country, your parents, your
friends to come to stay and live with us. By doing this, you have become our brother and son. Do not be
afraid we are with you in this mission that God has entrusted to you in our midst...”
I would like to invite the young Salesians not be afraid to respond to God’s missionary call to them: God needs
you in this world wherever he wants you to be his witnesses, even to the ends of the earth. Live the mission
wherever you are. To all missionaries: Let us be the page of the Gospel which attracts the young to the mis-
sionary life!
Fr. Albert Kabuge
congolese, missionary in Burkina Faso
NEW MISSIONARIES SOUGHT for OCEANIA
Province
>
AUL - Australia
Language
>
English, languages of migrants
Note
>
multicultural & secularised society. Few young Salesians, educational works (Schools and Youth
Centres), pastoral care for migrants
MOR - Middle East Province
Salesian Missionary Intention
For the members of the MOR Province and their lay collaborators present in all
seven countries so that, in the midst of many difficulties, they may continue the
Salesian mission of education and evangelisation with faith, courage and patience.
The Province was established through Fr. Antonio Belloni in the Holy Land (1893) which
was later extended to Egypt (1896), Turkey (1903), Iran (1937), Syria (1948), Lebanon
(1952). In January 2012, MOR had the first Provincial of Arab origin Fr. Munir El Rai, from Syria. Now there are 33
local confreres (Egypt 15, Syria 13, Lebanon 3, Iran 1 Iraq 1) and 75 missionaries from the following countries: Italy
42, India 7, Poland 6, Vietnam 3, Spain 2, Malta 2, Chile 1, Haiti 1, Philippines 1, Kenya 1, Mexico 1, Paraguay 1,
Slovenia 1, East Timor 1, Venezuela 1, USA 1) - most of these are elderly. The diversity of languages, cultures, re-
ligions and different Christian rites, the difficulties of social origin and status and the various armed conflicts also
make our mission of education and evangelisation not easy .
All previous issues of "Cagliero 11" are available at purl.org/sdb/sdl/Cagliero
1-3-2013 10