InTouch_July_12_2012a


InTouch_July_12_2012a

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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
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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
is
the
Our vegetable garden with some teens
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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-
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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.
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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
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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-
De
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
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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
1
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St.
Joseph Retreat
Presents…
Center
FWamUenilddyneMrestohdveaieySNtNairgisgh!htsts
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