InTouch 3.15.12


InTouch 3.15.12

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Mar 15
2012
86 $:HVW3URYLQFH1HZVOHWWHUએ%XLOGLQJ%ULGJHV%HWZHHQ&RPPXQLWLHV
Born                        November  12,  1923
Professed      September  8,  1945
Ordained        May  27,  1954
Died                        March  6,  2012
Dear  Brother  and  Sister  Salesians:  
On  March  6  our  province  lost  another  
confrere  when  Fr.  Paul  Caporali,  SDB,  
at  the  age  of  88,  breathed  his  last,  
apparent  victim  of  a  heart  attack  while  
awaiting  an  opinion  from  the  City  of  
Hope  as  to  whether  surgery  for  his  
colon  cancer  was  advisable.    May  
he  rest  in  heaven’s  peace,  where  no  
second  opinions  are  necessary,  where  
all  are  healthy  in  mind  and  heart,  and  
where  the  only  thing  to  await  is  the  
resurrection  of  the  body.
Not  even  ten  years  old,  little  Paolino  
began  playing  in  the  Salesian  Oratory  
near  his  home  in  Terni,  Italy.    For  
Š‹‰Š‡”•–—†‹‡•Š‡‡–‡”‡†–Š‡Ƥ‡Ž†
‘ˆ‡–ƒŽŽ—”‰›ǡƒ‡™Ƥ‡Ž†ˆ‘”–ƒŽ›
made  increasingly  important  due  to  
the  demands  of  World  War  II.    In  fact  
he  and  another  student  were  sent  to  
Milan  to  work  in  a  weapons  factory  with  
their  technological  background  and  
specialized  preparation.
Then  he  fell  in  love  and  was  engaged  
to  be  married.    But  in  one  single  day  he  
Ž‘•–Š‹•‡‰ƒ‰‡†Ƥƒ…±‡ǡŠ‹•‘–Š‡”ƒ†
other  family  members  to  the  bombing  
raids.    Rather  than  curse  the  day,  he  
transformed  that  pain  into  a  vocation,  
understanding  that  he  was  meant  to  
stay  with  Don  Bosco  and  become  a  
’”‹‡•–Ǥˆ–‡”‘˜‹–‹ƒ–‡ǡƤ”•–’”‘ˆ‡••‹‘
and  philosophical  studies,  he  did  two  
years  of  practical  training  in  that  same  
Oratory  where  his  vocation  began.    
Upon  volunteering  for  the  missions  
he  was  sent  to  our  province!    First  
stop,  Richmond,  to  do  a  third  year  of  
practical  training  and  to  learn  English.    
After  four  years  of  theology  in  Aptos  
he  was  ordained  a  priest  in  1954,  the  
Marian  Year.  “I  understand,”  he  wrote,  
“how  my  having  been  engaged  to  
marry  might  be  useful  in  helping  young  
people  with  their  relationships  and  
problems.    My  life  in  the  Oratorio  could  
be  somewhat  of  an  asset  in  dealing  
with  young  people  as  well  .  .  .  but  why  
did  I  have  to  spend  four  years  in  college  
studying  metallurgy  if  I  was  to  become  a  
priest?”    
He  was  convinced  that  Mary  had  a  
hand  in  this  too,  because  with  Father  
Felix  Penna  he  co-­‐founded  the  newest  
school  in  our  province,  Don  Bosco  
Technical  Institute.  He  remained  there  
a  total  of  27  years,  holding  various  
positions,  including  chairman  of  the  
metallurgy  department,  of  course,  and  
eventually  dean  of  technology.  After  a  
six  year  period  as  director  next  door,  
at  St.  Joseph’s  Renewal  Center,  he  
returned  to  the  Tech  once  again,  this  
time  as  development  director.    In  that  
capacity  he  worked  hard  to  maintain  
some  of  the  personal  contacts  he  and  
Fr.  Penna  had  made  with  the  early  
captains  of  industry.    He  even  asked  me  
to  see  about  returning  him  to  the  Tech  
as  president!
After  leaving  the  Tech  in  1987  he  
spent  12  years  as  associate  pastor  
ƒ––Ǥ‘‹‹…ƒ˜‹‘ǡ‡ŽŽƪ‘™‡”ǡƒ†
then  from  1999  until  his  death  last  
week  once  again  at  St.  Joseph’s,  an  
assignment  which  he  took  as  a  special  
charge  to  make  the  Marian  grotto  
there  a  center  for  Marian  spirituality  in  
the  province  and  a  center  from  which  
to  spread  devotion  to  Mary.  He  wrote  
his  life’s  story  in  a  little  booklet  which  
he  entitled:    “And  Now  You’ll  Be  My  
InTouch    1 3.15.12
Mom  .  .  .  A  Marian  Story.”    He  really  saw  
all  the  facts  of  his  life  as  a  Marian  story.    
Fr.  Paul  had  a  joking  and  childlike  
character,  which  made  young  people  
feel  comfortable  with  him,  regaling  
them  with  silly  magic  tricks,  even  
sillier  jokes,  but  always  with  a  kind  and  
winning  smile.    That  everyone  knew  the  
punch  lines  of  his  jokes  never  stopped  
him  from  telling  them.    Over  and  over  
again.    Please  pray  for  Paul’s  eternal  
rest.    As  per  R  76  let  each  community  
‘ơ‡”ƒƒ••ˆ‘”Š‹Ǥ†’Ž‡ƒ•‡’”ƒ›
for  more  vocations  to  take  his  place:  
Salesian  educator,  priest  for  the  young,  
devoted  son  of  Mary.
Sincerely  in  Christ,
Rev.  Timothy  C.  Ploch,  SDB  
Provincial
Provincial’s Calendar
March  2012
9-­‐19   Visitation:  Berkeley
15   Board  Meeting,  Los  Ange-­‐
les  Salesian  Boys  &  Girls  
Club
16   Funeral  for  Fr.  Paul  Capo-­‐
rali,  St.  Dominic  Savio
17-­‐18   SLIM
19   Burial  of  Fr.  Paul  Caporali,  
Richmond
                           Conclusion  of  Berkeley  
Visitation
20                  Travel  Day
21    Members  Meeting,  St.  
John  Bosco  High  School
22-­‐25   Religious  Education  Con-­‐
gress,  Anaheim
26-­‐30   Visitation:  Provincial  Resi-­‐
dence,  San  Francisco
29                  Chrism  Mass:  St.  Mary’s  
Cathedral,  San  Francisco

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$URXQGWKH3URYLQFH
Salesian Volunteer Discernment Retreat
By Juan Carlos Montenegro
Pray for Our Sick
Fr.  Pascual  Chavez,  SDB
RECTOR  MAJOR
in  treatment  for  liver  infection
”‘ǤŽˆ”‡† Žƒ–‘ơǡȋȌ
in  recovery  from  surgery  for  broken  
neck
On  March  8-­‐11,  2012,  two  groups  
from  the  Salesian  Volunteer  Program  
of  the  Western  United  States  got  
together  to  discern  God’s  call.  The  
Ƥ”•–‰”‘—’™ƒ•…‘’‘•‡†‘ˆ…—””‡–
volunteers.  They  got  together  
after  6  months  of  mission  work  in  
the  province  to  evaluate  how  the  
program  is  helping  them  to  grow.  
These  8  young  adults  really  had  a  
‡ƒ‹‰ˆ—Ž”‡ƪ‡…–‹‘ƒ„‘—– ‘†ǯ•
presence  in  their  mission.  The  second  
group  was  composed  of  possible  
future  volunteers.  They  got  together  
to  discern  the  possibility  of  serving  
God  for  one  year.  At  one  point  
these  two  groups  got  together  
to  talk  to  each  other,  which  was  a  
perfect  experience  of  peer-­‐to-­‐peer  
evangelization.  
From  this  discernment  retreat  
6  young  adults  have  committed  
themselves  to  serve  God  for  one  
year.  Five  will  start  their  process  
to  become  Domestic  Volunteers  
and  one  will  start  her  process  to  
become  an  International  Volunteer.  
May They Rest in Peace
ƒ––ƒ”ЗŠЩƒ
buried  March  3,  2012
Great  aunt  of  novice  Duoc  Le
Ann  Gibbs
March  12,  2012
Salesian  Cooperator
Worked  thirty  years  at  DBTI
Dear  Fr.  Tim:
Special Greetings from the Rector Major
and a Request for Prayer
Thank  you  for  your  greetings  and  the  prayers  of  the  confreres  for  my  health.
–Š‹•Ƥ”•–•–ƒ‰‡‘ˆ–”‡ƒ–‡––Š‡›ƒ”‡–”›‹‰–‘”‡†—…‡–Š‡Ž‡˜‡Ž‘ˆ‹”‘‹–Š‡Ž‹˜‡”Ǥ
Then  we  will  begin  with  a  course  of  interferon  therapy.    Pray,  and  invite  the  confreres  to  
pray,  that  if  it  be  his  will,  the  Lord  grant  me  the  necessary  health,  my  usual  enthusiasm,  
and  holiness  of  life  to  continue  serving  the  Congregation.
With  an  embrace  and  a  memento  in  my  Mass.    
Have  a  good  Sunday!
P.  Pascual  Chávez  V.,  SDB
“Listen  to  him,  love  him,  obey  him,  pray  for  him  as  you  have  prayed  for  me.”  
 
 
 
 
 
 
-­‐  Don  Bosco
InTouch    2 3.15.12

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0HPRULDO
A Tribute To Fr. Paul Caporali, SDB
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Forty-­‐nine  years  
ago  my  parents  
and  I  met  Fr.  Paul  
Caporali  during  my  
Don  Bosco  Technical  
Institute  admission  
interview.    
To  everyone’s  
surprise,  I  had  
passed  the  DBTI  
entrance  exam.    
couldn’t  believe  I  was  
really  going  to  Bosco  
Tech  in  September  
and  taking  my  choice  
of  technology.    I  
worked  hard  and  
studied  most  nights  
until  midnight.    Four  
years  later  I  graduated  
and  then  continued  
my  studies.    
I  remember  the  long  
eight-­‐hour  day  of  
testing.  The  four  of  
us  met  in  the  lobby  
and  continued  on  
to  the  conference  
room.    Fr.  Paul  
explained  to  us  the  results  of  
my  tests  and  stated  that  for  
my  testing  aptitude,  he  was  
accepting  me  into  the  Photo-­‐
lithography  Technology.    He  
explained  this  technology  and  
I  knew  exactly  what  this  shop  
would  involve.  My  father’s  2  best  
friends  owned  their  own  print  
shops.    As  hard  working  small  
businessmen,  they  worked  with  
their  hands.    
To  Fr.  Paul’s  amazement,  I  stood  
up  and  told  Fr.  Paul  that  this  was  
not  what  I  would  like  to  pursue  
there  at  the  Tech.    Since  I  had  
also  passed  the  Salesian  High  
School  exam,  and  if  that  was  
™Šƒ–‘•…‘‡…ŠŠƒ†–‘‘ơ‡”‡ǡ
then  I  would  go  to  Salesian  High  
instead.    Fr.  Paul  then  patiently  
asked  me  which  technology  I  
would  prefer  to  take.    I  thought  
for  a  moment,  then  I  asked  Fr.  
Paul  to  please  touch  my  father’s  
hands  and  tell  me  what  he  felt.    
He  answered  that  he  felt  strong,  
calloused  hands.    
See  my  father  was  a  farmer  all  
his  life,  after  his  father  died  at  my  
father’s  age  of  10  in  Los  Angeles.    
Thru  greed  he  lost  his  farm  when  
I  was  one  year  old  and  our  family  
returned  to  Los  Angeles.    All  my  
father  knew  was  to  work  with  
his  hands  (which  he  taught  me).    
However,  he  and  my  mom  had  
instilled  in  me  that  instead  of  just  
working  with  my  hands,  I  should  
work  from  my  mind.    Because  
of  this  I  was  determined  not  to  
have  calloused  hands  from  my  
livelihood.    
I  told  this  all  to  Fr.  Paul.    He  
then  asked  me  again,  which  
technology  would  I  prefer  to  take  
there  at  Bosco  Tech?    I  told  him  
Drafting.  I  wanted  to  work  in  the  
‡‰‹‡‡”‹‰Ƥ‡Ž†ǡƒ‹…‡…Ž‡ƒŒ‘„ǡ
no  callouses  like  like  my  dad.    
To  my  amazement,  Fr.  Paul  
said,  “If  you  have  a  strong  
commitment,  goal  and  vision,  
then  YOU’RE  IN.”  Wow,  someone  
listened  to  me.    I  was  so  happy,  I  
InTouch    3 3.15.12
Fr.  Paul  showed  me  
who  St.  John  Bosco  
was,  and  how  he  
listens  to  and  works  
with  the  youth.    
During  my  time  at  
Bosco  Tech,  I  visited  
Fluor  Corporation  many  times  
‘Ƥ‡Ž†–”‹’•Ǥ™ƒ•–‘Ž†–Šƒ–
Fluor  was  the  best  engineering  
company  for  employment.    When  
I  went  looking  for  a  full  time  job,  
™‡––‘ Ž—‘”ƒ†™ƒ•‘ơ‡”‡†ƒ
job  there.    That  was  over  40  years  
ago  and  I’m  still  here.
 
I  will  always  love  and  remember  
Fr.  Paul  for  his  understanding  and  
listening  to  a  young  boy,  helping  
him  to  reach  his  goal.    Fr.  Paul  was  
–Š‡Ƥ”•–ȋ„—–‘––Š‡Žƒ•–Ȍ–‘•Š‘™
me  who  St.  John  Bosco  is  and  
what  a  Salesian  is.    Because  of  
him,  I,  too,  continue  to  serve  the  
youth  in  many  ways  at  the  Tech  
and  in  society.
 
I  know  that  Fr.  Paul  is  in  heaven  
with  our  Lord  and  with  St.  John  
Bosco  (and  my  parents  and  
sister).    He  served  his  life  as  an  
example  of  St.  John  Bosco  and  
he  passed  it  on  to  many  of  us.    He  
was  a  true  Salesian.
 
St.  John  Bosco,  prays  for  us.

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0HPRULDO
RIP Jose Meza: Loyal Cooperator
By Sheila Kun
Jose  Meza,  a  long  time  Cooperator  of  the  Cooperatoras  De  Don  Bosco,  
formed  40  years  ago,  returned  to  the  Lord  on  March  1,  2012,  after  a  short  
illness.    Jose  belonged  to  this  group  of  Spanish  speaking  Catholics  organized  
under  a  Salesian  priest  from  South  America.  
Jose  and  his  wife  Nelly  united  with  the  Cooperators  at  St.  Joseph’s  Salesian  
Youth  Renwal  Center  eight  years  ago  and  continued  their  work  for  the  
poor.  For  years  they  gathered  food  and  household  items  for  the  children  in  
Rosarito,  Mexico.  
Jose,  retired  as  a  Los  Angeles  City  employee  in  the  Carpentry  Division  in  1998  
and  was  a  supporter  of  all  our  Salesian  functions  at  St.  Joseph,  Rosemead.  
One  of  Jose’s  favorite  events  was  helping  to  host  the  Salesian  Hospitality  
lunch  at  the  Los  Angeles  Religious  Education  Congress  in  Anaheim.  We  will  
miss  Jose  this  year  at  the  Congress.
 
For  many  of  us,  Jose  will  be  remembered  as  a  loyal  Cooperator.  To  Nelly,  he  was  “The  Family  Man,  
100%.”  Their  home  is  the  hub  of  all  the  family  activities  for  their  5  children,  12  grandchildren  and  10  great-­‐
grandchildren.  They  celebrated  their  50th  Wedding  Anniversary  in  2009.  Their  devotion  to  each  other  is  a  
good  testimony  of  their  faith  and  their  strong  Catholic  up-­‐bringing.
 
The  Funeral  Mass  will  be  held  at  St.  Anthony  Parish  in  Rosemead  on  Thursday,  March  8,  2012,  at  10  a.m.    Their  
Ž‘˜‡‘ˆ–Š‡—†‡”Ǧ•‡”˜‡†‹•‡˜‹†‡–„›‡ŽŽ›ǹ•”‡“—‡•–ǣ‹Ž‹‡—‘ˆƪ‘™‡”•ǡƒŽŽ†‘ƒ–‹‘•™‹ŽŽ„‡ƒ†‡–‘–Š‡
Monasterio  La  Asunsion  Adoratreses  del  Santisimo  Sacramento  -­‐  a  Catholic  order  of  nuns  in  Rosarito,  Mexico.  
The  nuns  received  collected  goods  from  the  Meza  every  month  to  serve  those  in  need.    Please  make  checks  
’ƒ›ƒ„Ž‡–‘ǣ‡ŽŽ›‡œƒǡ͚͛͛͘—•‹†‡”Ǥǡ‘•‡‡ƒ†ǡ͕͔͛͛͝Ǥȋ‘–‡ǣ‹–‹•†‹ƥ…—Ž–ˆ‘”–Š‡—•–‘…ƒ•Š‡”‹…ƒ
checks).
 
We  will  keep  the  Meza  Family  in  our  prayers.  Thank  
Religious Education
you,  Jose,  for  your  friendship  and  for  sharing  all  the  
fun  activities  we  had  as  Cooperators.
Congress 2012
SSACEAxLOhLiEbNEiStSNHIIAAEallNCNT6BF0IOOA9,OMN6T1SLH1Y
“Salesians Journeying with the
Young to Holiness”
SALESIAN HOSPITALITY ROOM
Anaheim Marriot
(new location)
700 West Convention Way
Jose  Meza  helps  to  serve  lunch  at  RE  Congress
Come to Salesian Booth for the
Room Number
InTouch    4 3.15.12

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InTouch    5 3.15.12