T H E M A G A Z I N E F O R T H E S A L E S I A N F A M I L Y
DON BOSCO TODAY
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REMEMBER THE CHILDREN OF MYANMAR
35270 Don Bosco V2 16/6/08 13:04 Page 1
Editorial
Dear Friends
I would like to begin this editorial with some words of gratitude, to all of you
who support the work of Don Bosco by your prayers and your contributions.
We do try to acknowledge every donation. If you are happy for us to make
this acknowledgment by email, please indicate by giving us your email
address, and ticking the appropriate box on page three. I can assure that
your email address will not be passed on to anyone else. Postage
continues to be a worrying expense. I am aware that there are many
friends who support us by direct debit payments and there is always the
danger that they are overlooked when it comes to saying Thank You.
Please be assured that you are always in our prayers, the work of Don
Bosco could not continue without your support.
Our leading article in this edition is about Cyclone Nargis which did so
much damage to Burma on May 2nd. Although the BBC tends to use
the name Burma we will use the name Myanmar in this article only
because our Salesian province uses that name. (Burma's democracy
movement prefers the word Burma, because they do not accept the
legitimacy of the unelected military regime to change the official name
of the country. Internationally, both names are recognised.) Our Salesian
Bishop in Myanmar, Archbishop Charles Bo, has kept us informed of all
the work the Church is doing for the survivors in Myanmar. The Salesians
are particularly concerned about the trauma suffered by so many children
who have lost their families. Although the events no longer make headlines,
please keep them in your prayers
One area of our work in the UK which gives us great satisfaction, is that of
publishing. The book Symbols and Spirituality - Reflecting on John’s Gospel by
our provincial, Fr Michael Winstanley, has been a great success. Many people
have commented on the way it has given them a new insight into scripture. When
Don Bosco sent his first missionaries to South America he gave them a copy of a
book which was The Rule of Life for Salesians, and said, Here is Don Bosco
going with you. Whenever we send out books to people, I feel I can say the
same words Here is Don Bosco going with you. This has been particularly
true this year since we have already sold to secondary schools (admittedly
at a bargain price) 6000 copies of Trust the Road. This book has
become, for many schools, a farewell present for school leavers. We
get great satisfaction as we struggle with huge parcels of hundreds
of these books, to think of the investment of good advice for life
contained in this slim volume. I suppose I could say the same of this
magazine - Here is Don Bosco going with you.
2 3
DON BOSCO TODAY DON BOSCO TODAY
Contents
Name
Address
Postcode
Tel
Fax
Email
I am happy for my donation to be acknowledged by email
Registered Charity No. 233779 Charity Registered in Scotland No. SC039294
MY DONATION TO THE WORK OF DON BOSCO
Please find enclosed my donation of
Taxpayer’s Option
Please send me a Gift Aid formAnthony Bailey SDB
Editor
Email: a.bailey@salesians.org.uk
Remember the children 4
of Myanmar
An African Heart 6
Bosco Bear 9
The Rector Major 13
Listen as Your Day Unfolds 14
Arms into Legs 16
We Remember 18
Our Books 20
To donate by credit or debit card please
telephone 01204 308811
Cheque made payable to
DON BOSCO PUBLICATIONS
DON BOSCO PUBLICATIONS
Thornleigh House, Sharples Park, Bolton BL1 6PQ
Tel 01204 308811
Fax 01204 306868
Email: joyce@salesians.org.uk
SALESIAN MISSIONS
Fr Joe Brown SDB
2 Orbel Street , Battersea SW11 3NZ
Tel 020 7924 2733
Email: donbosco@btconnect.com
Sister Helen Murphy FMA
Provincial Office
13 Streatham Common North , Streatham, London SW16 3HG
Tel 0208677 4573 Fax 0208677 4523
Email: provincialoffice.fma@ukonline.co.uk
DESIGN AND PRINTING
Printoff Graphic Arts Limited Tel 01282 877922
Printed on paper manufactured from a sustainable source
using vegetable based inks
ARTWORK
Val O’Brien
PHOTOGRAPHY
ANS Rome, Jim Clough,
Ryan Plummer for SE Globe
CHILDREN’S PAGE
Cliff Partington
WEBSITES WORTH VISITING
Our Province Web Site www.salesians.org.uk
Don Bosco Publications www.don-bosco-publications.co.uk
Salesians in Rome www.sdb.org
Salesian News Agency www.sdb.org/ANS
Salesian Sisters in Rome www.cgfmanet.org
Salesian Sisters in the UK www.salesiansistersuk.com
Salesian Youth Ministry www.salesianyouthministry.com
Don Bosco Youth Net www.donboscoyouth.net
Bosconet www.bosconet.aust.com
Youth Outreach www.youthoutreach.org.hk
35270 Don Bosco V2 16/6/08 13:04 Page 2
4 5
Remember the Children
of Myanmar
DON BOSCO TODAY DON BOSCO TODAY
25th May 2008
The Archbishop of Rangoon, Charles
Bo, a Salesian of Don Bosco, has
expressed guarded optimism at the
breakthrough by UN chief Ban Ki-
Moon with Myanmar authorities to
allow aid workers in. His statement
follows:
Three weeks after the devastating Cyclone Nargis
struck on 2nd and 3rd May, the people of Myanmar are
still struggling to come to terms with the scale of the
disaster. For those who survived in the affected Delta
and Rangoon regions, survival is a day-to-day struggle,
with access to clean water, food, shelter and medical
attention still limited. In addition to this, the severe
water-logging; damage to paddy fields; loss of tools
and seed and animals will have a negative impact
upon rice production and food security for this
vulnerable population.
The local response in Myanmar has been hugely
important in these initial few weeks; however, resources
and capacity have been stretched. Therefore,
I welcome the recent announcement that the
government will allow all aid workers into the country.
I hope that this announcement is followed through and
that international support can build on the local
structures and efforts already underway.
Amidst the stories of despair there is also hope. The
people of Myanmar have joined together in their
solidarity for those affected by the cyclone. People and
leaders of all religions have been working together to
reach the affected communities and encourage the
government to do all they can to help those in need.
The stories I have heard from the people who faced
and survived the full force of the cyclone and continue
to live with dignity and hope pay tribute to the
unwavering nature of the human spirit. The humane
acts of courage and kindness of those who have
volunteered to assist the people in the Delta region,
and the international support and solidarity received by
the Church in Myanmar, shows further evidence of the
generosity of humankind.
In spite of all these efforts, there is still a lot to do to
relieve the suffering of our people. Contrary to
government reports, the emergency relief phase is not
over. Basic needs of hundreds and thousands of
people are still to be met. To date, the Catholic Church
has reached approximately 25,000 people and
provided relief support such as food, shelter and clean
drinking water. An important part of the Church
response is also to provide psychological and spiritual
support to communities affected by these recent
traumatic events. Children are particularly vulnerable at
this time. Many have lost their parents and need
support and protection to help them heal. An important
aspect of the Church’s response is our ability to reach
communities that other organisations and networks
cannot currently reach. We are also committed to
continuing our support and hope to reach a further
40,000 people with relief and also support communities
to rebuild their lives and livelihoods over the coming
months and years.
Archbishop Charles Bo SDB
28th May 2008
The following report is first-hand and
provides a view, now that aid workers
are being allowed to operate, of how
demanding the situation is on the
ground in the Delta area south west of
Rangoon.
From Rangoon it took us four and a half hours in a
vehicle to reach Kamazagone. On the first day of our
arrival after sharing relief items with those in the camp,
about 1200 people, our party branched out into smaller
groups to inquire after survivors. We left in a hired
motor boat, heading for the remotest village on the Bay
of Bengal, a parish with 29 villages which was hit hard
by the cyclone. It took us eleven hours to reach the
devastated village. They had lost their homes, cattle,
property and some of their family members. Of the 29
villages, eight were completely destroyed - no
survivors. In the main village, only three buildings were
left - the rectory, the Sisters' residence and a boarding
house.
Amongst the dead bodies and debris we found some
wandering stray dogs and scavengers who collect
whatever remains from the victims. Dead bodies, both
human and animal, are spread far and wide. No help
from the government authority reaches this far. The only
provisions for those who remained alive were those
provided by the Church helpers.
The following day we went around the village along the
seashore where dead bodies were laid in the sand,
partially exposed because they had not been buried
deep enough. More than 28 were found but others
remain hidden in the bushes. In the afternoon we
organised a search team to look for the body of the
parish priest. He was thrown from his boat by the waves
on that fatal day. We had little hope of finding him since
two weeks had passed by. With much prayer and
adoration by the Sisters who remained at home before
the Blessed Eucharist, we began the journey with a
party of seventeen helpers. As we passed bodies
floating in the river we knew we had little hope of finding
one from two weeks ago. We went for an hour and a
half to the spot where his boat was wrecked.
There we searched painstakingly under every bush.
Against all odds we found his body 400 metres from the
river bank, still intact. We left the body for the night and
went back to make a coffin. The next day, we returned in
pouring rain to bring his body back to the church for
proper burial. Three priests celebrated the Funeral Mass
and buried him in the foundation site of the new church.
On the way back, we brought nearly 100 people in need
of urgent medical care. The return trip took 15 hours in
rain, strong wind and waves.
6th June A month after the tragedy
It is a month since the cyclone Nargis struck Myanmar
causing chaos and destruction, leading to the loss of
about 150,000 human lives. Archbishop Charles Bo SDB
writes:
After the cyclone, the map of Myanmar has changed.
The change is most evident in the area of Rangoon and
the Ayeyawaddy Delta, as can be seen from the satellite
images which graphically register the before-and-after
pictures, portraying a destruction of large tracts of land.
What no satellite could register is the mutilation of the
soul of our graceful and long-suffering people. About
2.3 million of our people have a new name: refugees
and homeless. People will be lining up in remote
villages, waiting for food and aid. The dead are also
waiting for a decent burial – Yes! on the tops of trees,
floating in waters and in the bushes and on roadside.
The spirit of our people is waiting for eternal rest.
35270 Don Bosco V2 16/6/08 13:04 Page 4
During my studies, our late Rector
Major Fr Egidio Vigano came to visit
us and told us about Project Africa
and that he needed young and
energetic Salesians to take up the
challenge of bringing Don Bosco to
Africa. When he asked Who would
like to go to Africa? I had no second
thoughts. The seed of the African
mission was planted in me on that
day.
During my study of Philosophy, the Bishop of Iringa
Tanzania, the late Mario Mugulunde, visited us and
told us that he needed young Salesians to come to
his Diocese to do Don Bosco’s work. From then on
the seeds of the African mission, planted in me,
began to grow. A few of us started a missionary
group which came together to pray and to enjoy
other social activities. An invitation came for
volunteers to go to Africa for practical training, and
I volunteered. However my superior felt that I was
not mature enough!
During the next five years of my practical training
and studies, I often reminded the Provincial that
I would still like to go to the African Missions.
Finally, as if worn out by my persistence, he told me
that I could go. I was to begin my Theology studies
in Nairobi. My family wasn’t happy. For them, Africa
meant poverty and wild animals.
When I arrived in Africa, in August 1987,
I instinctively knew that this what I had been waiting
for. A new feeling came over me. Finally, I was in
the land of my dreams; new people, new language,
new places. Africa was not what I had imagined;
the huts and wild animals were not part of Nairobi.
The real Africa remained undiscovered.
Life at Don Bosco Utume, the residence of the
students of Theology, was a wonderful experience.
The Salesians were from Poland and India with an
Italian Rector. Why are the Hindus studying theology
with us? remarked a Polish Salesian one day, not
knowing that Christianity arrived in India before
Poland.
Going to different parishes at the weekends to work
with young people was one of the highlights of my
life at that time. This oratory experience climaxed in
the Bosco Meet, where competitions for all the
young people were held every year.
In Nairobi, where practically every Indian is a
business person it was not easy for the people to
see Indians as Christians, or even religious. Once,
on a Mission Sunday in the parish where I went to
work, the parish priest, a Mexican, said in his
sermon, Even Indians can be missionaries these
days. Everyone looked at me as I sat in the
congregation.
During holidays we went to Tanzania to learn
Kiswahili. This helped us to get in touch with the
real Africa and prepared us for the time after
ordination. It was on one of these holidays, with
one of my Salesian friends, I decided to go and live
in a Tanzanian village for two weeks. The parish
priest took us to the village and left us with
provisions for ourselves and for the host family.
Special arrangements were made to provide us
with accommodation and the whole village took
responsibility for us. Some brought water, others
vegetables and various items of food to the family
where we stayed. For me, those two weeks were a
truly African experience.
My first appointment as a new priest was to the Don
Bosco Youth Training Centre, Iringa Tanzania. I was
in charge of the Youth Centre. Those first years
were full of activities. We welcomed the youth from
all walks of life, organising sporting, cultural and
spiritual activities. We had a band, a concert hall
and a recording studio at our disposal. The
culmination of all this activity was the Don Bosco
Youth Festival in which various secondary schools
competed in an array of activities. Later, this
became the main youth activity in the entire region
encouraging many more Secondary Schools to
participate. In the six years that followed, I was to
Indian but with an
African Heart
By Fr Sebastian Koladayil SDB
6 7
DON BOSCO TODAY DON BOSCO TODAY
The Salesian vocations promoter
came to our school in Kerala, India,
during the final year of my
secondary education. He told us
about Don Bosco, and how
Salesians worked in India
and other countries in the
world. Without any
hesitation, I set my heart on
being a Salesian. The first
year was tough. However,
if the Lord has a plan for
you, all the hardships
will be a training
ground.
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DON BOSCO TODAY DON BOSCO TODAY
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The Bear Facts
Hello Children
Don’t worry if you sometimes make a mistake in your
schoolwork; everyone does; even me!
A teacher once told us that a boy was writing about a man called FRANZ
FERDINAND. However the boy didn’t hear the Teacher properly and wrote
FRANCE THIRD IN HAND. Oooops!
Like most children we enjoy going to school. Our school is called The Forest
School. Sometimes someone is naughty and gets told off, but most of the
time we are very happy and have lots of fun as well as work. We do lots of
singing, we even sing our grace before meals. We do lots of sports, such as
gymnastics, netball and football. Last night the football team drew 1-1 with the
Meadows School. Graham Greyhound scored our goal.
I bet he’s faster than Christiano Ronaldo!
Rio is always joking. He asked me if I knew what
subject snakes like best. I said I didn’t know and he
said, Hisstory.
Aaaagh! Stop it Rio. Your jokes are TERRIBLE!
Suzi’s favourite subject is Spanish. Her teacher, Mr
Fernando Fox, has taught the class how to say,
‘Hello I am pleased to see you,’ in Spanish - ‘Hola
me complace verlo a usted’.
Wow!
Molly likes Maths. Can you do fractions? Here is a
question for you. What is 1/2 + 1/4 + 1/4?
I love Geography. You may remember that my
family came from Italy. I’ve been to France, Spain,
Portugal and Greece as well as Scotland, England and Wales so that makes 8
countries altogether. I am sure many of you have been to more countries.
SPOT THE DIFFERENCE COMPETITION
Well done to everyone who entered the Spring competition. The winners all
received a copy of either, Rosie and Katie go to Mass or Chloe and Jack
visit the Vatican.
They were:
Geraldine from Stockport, Jessica and Franklyn from London,
George from Milnthorpe, Callum, Natt and Jacob from Bolton,
Joyal from Oxford, Hannah from Coatbridge,
Beth from Darlington, Naomi from Gloucester
and Chloe from Canterbury.
Bosco Bear
act as the Principal of the Technical School and the
Rector in charge of the parish. As time passed,
fatigue was taking over, and a request for a break
was responded to negatively due to lack of
personnel. The struggle with the language was
daunting but after six years, just when I was able to
manage comfortably, I was transferred to another
parish mission in Kenya where the language and
the situation was quite different.
Before I took up my new appointment, I was asked
to help for three months in the north eastern part of
Kenya, 600 kilometres from Nairobi where we have
a mission working with the nomadic people. The
place was far away from civilisation and the heat
was unbearable. Sickness and death among the
population was common and I contracted malaria.
I was flown to Nairobi and was treated just in time.
The seven years that followed in the parish turned
out to be some of the best years of my life.
Whenever I was tired and wanted to slow down, the
sight of a group of vibrant young people
encouraged me to get involved. The activities in the
parish were different. The work was more pastoral
and spiritual: youth retreats, leadership camps,
seminars and educational programmes. As time
went by, the existing fifteen out-stations grew to be
twenty. A computer school, a project for the
handicapped children, a youth library and a newly-
completed Don Bosco Integrated Human
Development Centre with plenty of activities were
started, and I was appointed as the Communication
Coordinator of the Diocese and adviser to the
bishop at the same time. Of the forty two parishes
I have, this is the best! remarked the bishop during
one of his visits. These responsibilities gave me
little time for myself, but the love and appreciation
of the people kept me going; I had no time to think
about my exhaustion. After every Mass in the out-
station, we returned with food for ourselves and
every month the mothers took turns to bring
provisions for the priests and the other pastoral
workers. The young people were always willing to
collaborate and an inspirational cultural dance
group topped every competition.
The Masses were celebrated in African style, with
lots of singing and dancing. Even the European
volunteers who didn’t go to Mass in their own
country, fully participated in the Mass which could
last up to two hours.
In 2001, when I was alone in the parish, I was
attacked by a gang of nine thieves. They stole all
the parish money and forced me to drive them
away by car before they let me go. This experience
left me deeply traumatised which lasted for a long
time. I used to sleep in different rooms which were
spread around the centre; any noise at night
disturbed me. But the day after the theft a
wonderful thing happened. I was alone again but
the young people came to keep me company. They
lit a fire, organised coffee and food, then we sat
around, sang and prayed spontaneous prayers
deep from the heart the whole night. It was the best
thing that happened as a result of this theft and a
deeper bond was created between me and the
young people.
A year later the thieves returned, but this time the
parishioners were prepared. When the thieves
hammered’ on the iron door of the rectory
hundreds of parishioners appeared and
overpowered them. The affection that was shown
by the people touched me. After the first theft I had
said, If this happens again I am leaving! Because of
the support and affection displayed by the
parishioners, I was determined to stay.
Although the support of the people was wonderful,
I was exhausted. My superiors realised I needed a
change and I was given the opportunity to study
which I had requested for many years. I was sent to
Rome, and I am now completing my studies in
London where I am studying Media and
Journalism. I am looking forward to going back to
Africa; for though I am Indian, I have an African
heart.
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35270 Don Bosco V2 16/6/08 13:05 Page 8
invaded by an army from
France, led by a man called
William the Conqueror,
continued Mr. Owl. He won
the Battle of Hastings and took
over the country.
What a cheek! said Rio.
Actually your name is foreign,
Rio, said Suzi.
What do you mean? replied
Rio.
Rio is a Spanish word for
River. You’re River Rabbit!
Oh! said Rio.
Don’t worry, said Bosco. Bosco is an Italian word for a Forest, so I could be called
Forest Bear!
1066 and 1666 are famous years in English History, continued Mr Owl.
So is 1966. Does anyone know why?
Sir! Sir! Me, me, me….., said a very excited Rio. He didn’t know that he liked History
this much.
Yes? said Mr Owl.
Because England won
the World Cup, said Rio.
He knew he was right.
Correct, said the teacher.
Well done, Rio. Here’s a
gold star to put in your
book.
Rio was so pleased. He’d
never had a gold star
before.
I didn’t know that football
was History, he said to Molly.
Everything that’s ever happened is
History, said his friend.
DON BOSCO TODAYDON BOSCO TODAY
10
SCHOOL IS COOL!
Today, said Mr
Oswald Owl (Bosco’s
teacher),
We are going to have
a History lesson.
Good, said Bosco.
Great, said Molly.
Cool, said Suzi.
Yuk, said Rio. He began
to make a paper
aeroplane and whizzed
it across the room.
Mr. Owl did NOT look
pleased.
Now that is very interesting, said Mr Owl.
The very first aeroplane flew just over 100 years ago. Two American brothers called
Wilbur and Orville Wright flew their plane for 12 seconds, at only 7 miles per hour, just
40 metres above the ground. That’s interesting, said Bosco. Dingle…ingle…ingle…ing.
Fire Alarm, said Mr. Owl. Everyone outside quietly and quickly.
Cate Cat had been in a Cookery lesson and had nearly burned some cakes which had
set the smoke alarm off.
Now that was very interesting, said Mr
Owl, when they got back into class.
In 1666 the Great Fire of London
started in a baker’s shop and it
spread and burned down most
of the city. At that time houses
were made of wood.
Cool, said Rio.
Actually it was rather hot! said
Molly.
Exactly 600 years before the Fire
of London, in 1066, England was
In the style of the Bayeux Tapestry.
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DON BOSCO TODAYDON BOSCO TODAY
12
YOU ONLY GET OUT WHAT YOU PUT IN.
Everyone is good at something. In fact everyone is good at quite a few things.
It might be singing or PlayStation or football or making friends or being on time
or drawing.
It always feels good to be able to answer people’s questions. You should try to
learn as much as possible at school. I remember being
told that we are on a planet called Earth, which
moves around the Sun at 67,000 miles per hour.
So we are now about 1,000 miles from where we were
1 minute ago! Spooky! But true!
500 years before the Battle of Hastings, a tribe of
people called the Angles invaded Britain and named it
after themselves - ANGLAND. This became ENGLAND.
But where did the Angles come from? They came from what is today Germany
and Denmark. So, in the beginning the people in this country were Germans
and Danes! Spooky! But true!
Some children work harder at school than others, but one thing I know is that
everyone likes to do well. There’s an old saying, You only get out what you
put in. This means that the harder you try, and the more you work, the better
you will do. That’s NOT spooky but it’s definitely true!
WHAT’S MY ANSWER?
Answer each question in no more than 20 words. The winning entry will be
chosen by our Editor, Fr Bailey, and published in the Autumn Magazine.
Closing date 31st August 2008.
C
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Name
Address
Postcode
Send your entries to: DON BOSCO PUBLICATIONS
Thornleigh House, Sharples Park, Bolton, BL1 6PQ.
What is your favourite
TV programme?
What is your
favourite meal?
What have you learned
from your family?
What have you learned
from your friends?
What makes you
really happy?
Write a short prayer.
For Don Bosco the young were his masters, and to save them he had to
understand them. Ever a practical man, he knew that the real value of
an educational method is measured by its capacity to motivate those
who are discouraged, to give hope to those who felt hopeless. By
training young people in a profession, he prepared them for life,
making them useful to themselves and to society. Don Bosco was
always an educator: in the playground, in the dining-room, in the
classroom, in the workshop, in the chapel. Because of this, the
Salesian educational project is not limited by any structure.
Don Bosco’s pastoral approach was never reduced to simply religious instruction
or church services. It was an evangelical charity that took practical steps to liberate
and promote young people who had been abandoned and gone astray.
Educating and evangelising are different, but for Christians they cannot be
separated: they need to complement and enrich each other. Everyone knows
the state of European culture and the difficulties met by the Church in
evangelising the new generations. To speak about religion in today’s Europe is
something quite complicated. The traffic lights in Europe are on red. There have
been many articles and reports published in recent years about the state of
religion. In general they are pessimistic.
Religious ignorance and the prejudices that young people absorb every day from
some of the media have fed them with the impression of a conservative Church,
an institution that is opposed to modern culture, especially in the field of
sexual morality, and therefore everything that religion has to offer is
automatically devalued. The tragedy is the present break in the chain of the
transmission of the faith. The natural and traditional places (family, school and
parish) don’t work any more; religious ignorance increases in the new
generations, and the silent exodus from the Church continues.
Religious ignorance is almost absolute. It is not easy to say what image young
people have of God, but certainly the Christian God has lost the central place in
comparison with the popular media which makes gods out of people from the worlds
of sport, music and the cinema. Young people have a passion for freedom and are
not queuing up at the doors of the church: they often think that the Church is an
obstacle to their freedom. In the face of this situation, what sort of education do the
state and church institutions have to offer? Pope John Paul II called the Church to a new
evangelisation to be carried out with new zeal, new methods, and in new forms.
Adolescents and young people are generous by nature and become very enthusiastic about causes
they consider important. Why has Christ ceased to matter to them? The Church needs to learn the
languages of the people of each generation, every ethnic background and in all places. The Church
clearly has a serious language problem that prevents her from presenting, in an appropriate way, the
salvation that Christ offers. Salesian education starts from where people are, from their human and
religious experience, from their griefs and anxieties, joys and hopes, giving special importance to the
role of personal witness in the transmission of the faith and of values.
Evangelising by Educating
by Fr Pascual Chávez
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DON BOSCO TODAY DON BOSCO TODAY
Throughout my nine years, I have really tried to
listen to the call that volunteering in the Salesian
mission has offered me. In 2004, I made the
decision to apply to go abroad with VIDES and
was joined by two of my closest friends. We
were given the opportunity to travel to Tanzania
for nine weeks and then to work in Kenya. I had
always felt the call to work abroad, and when
this opportunity arose, I was both excited and
terrified, but I knew it was something I wanted to
do. After a lot of preparation, we ventured off to
East Africa for a summer that would change our
lives.
We went to Tanzania to work with children and
young people, to teach them and to organize
different activities for them. We stayed in the city
of Dar-Es-Salaam. Our home was in a part of the
city called Temeke, a little shanty town and we
lived alongside Salesian Sisters. During our time
there, we were blessed to work with the children
and young people of the local community,
teaching them English, helping to run a summer
camp and helping with the youth club at the
weekends.
The work was often exhausting, but so fulfilling.
The children were grateful for everything we did
and most importantly, they were grateful that we
were just there. The community we lived with
became our second family. The Sisters made us
so welcome and their house became our home
too. We helped with the cooking, cleaning and
used to engage in some of the most inspiring
and challenging conversations with the Sisters.
Their care, friendship and love really were at the
centre of so many lives in Temeke.
Looking back now, it wasn’t easy and there were
so many challenges to face. I missed my family
and friends and it was hard not just being able
to pick up the phone whenever I wanted to have
a chat with them. It was also hard to leave the
children and young people who had become a
part of our daily lives. We had built many
relationships with the children and young people
of Temeke, so to leave them was extremely
difficult. They had taught us so much and I’m
sure those lessons are still reflected in our lives
today. I learnt so much about the reality of life,
about an active and hopeful faith, even in the
midst of great suffering. I also realised that the
Tanzanian people were rich in spirit, the greatest
richness there is in life. The children, young
people and adults genuinely cared for each
other; they wanted to be there for others and
wanted to share in the lives of other people. The
reality of life I witnessed was extremely humbling
and continues to inspire me today.
Coming back to the UK was more difficult than
I had anticipated and I am only beginning to
realise the impact Temeke has had on me. I now
firmly believe that we live in one world and that
world is everyone’s responsibility, no matter
where we live. I am grateful that I was given the
opportunity by VIDES, to visit such a beautiful
part of the world and I will always keep the
people close to my heart. Their simplicity and
their joy inspired me and will always inspire me.
I just hope that I can live my life in a way that
begins to reflect the values of the beautiful
people I had a chance to live alongside.
This is why VIDES is so special to so many
people. The opportunities help us to enhance
our life experience, to help us to grow, to help us
live with a spirit of service to others. My title for
this piece, Listen as your day unfolds means just
this: we need to listen to the opportunities
present in each day as it unfolds, to the people,
to the stories and then to actively listen to how
we are called to respond. VIDES and my place
within the Salesian Family has helped me to
begin to respond through the mission I believe in
strongly. I hope I will continue to grow in that
response for many years to come.
Mary Cotter
Listen as Your Day Unfolds
(Desree Song: Gotta Be)
VIDES UK is a voluntary organisation, within the
Salesian Family, that works with young people and
children in disadvantaged areas, both here in the UK
and abroad. I’ve been part of this organisation for
about nine years and my journey has been one of
challenge, discovery, growth and, most importantly,
love.
At the very heart of my Salesian vocation is the
opportunity to live and work with a group of young
people who share the same values. It is this
community experience that has sustained me and
nurtured my love for my work, leading to the most
exciting challenges I have ever encountered.
I believe that the more you give to your work with
young people, the more you receive, but you need
to give with love! That is the secret; I have been
privileged to see so many young people who give
so generously of their time. I currently co-ordinate
the UK Projects Team and work as part of the
Executive Committee. Working with the UK
Projects Team means I am able to take an active
part in the direction of our summer camps, which
I love! Every year, our camps are the place where
I feel most alive and most fulfilled. Living in a
community means I am often able to build
meaningful relationships with other volunteers and
learn their individual stories, as well as working
with children and young people throughout the
day. We spend ten days in a particular area and
work alongside the local community to offer a
youth project to local children and young people.
We work from early morning until late at night and
sleep on the floor, but we have the time of our
lives! As volunteers, we also receive training every
day from an experienced volunteer. Over the
years, these formation workshops have helped me
to think about the person I am and the person
I want to be. This is what makes our camps
unique, as volunteers receive as much as the
young people themselves. We all aim to work with
Salesian values and to share the Salesian charism
with everyone we meet.
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DON BOSCO TODAY DON BOSCO TODAY
The project aims to lay to rest the popular image of
Cambodia as a war-torn country where misuse of illicit
weapons and weapon related crimes is an ongoing
issue although the country is becoming recognised as
a world leader for its weapons destruction program.
I was impressed with the project when I first saw it,
says Father Leo Ochoa, a Filipino Salesian and
director of the Don Bosco school since 1998. It
seemed perfect for this country, to turn weapons into
art.
The school opened in 1991 and worked for five years
in various refugee camps around the country. Initially
we were financed by Belgian, German and Italian
partner organisations and our running costs were paid
for by USAID until 2000, says Fr Ochoa. Today the 600
students at its Phnom Penh location are selected out
of more than 3,000 applicants who come from the
neediest sections of society. They are enrolled in a
two-year course after which half of them are given
apprenticeships at the school. Selection is very hard,
says Ochoa. After admission exams over six days,
those selected have to decide on two chosen courses
for the two years. The six courses offered in Phnom
Penh are automotive, electrical, electronics,
mechanical, welding and printing. In addition, subjects
such as mathematics, English, Khmer and general
computer science are taken two hours a week. After
they learn practical skills here, they can continue to
study either at the National Technical Training Institute
or another technical school to get theoretical
knowledge. The best students are offered jobs as
teachers and trainers at the school. Since 2000, all the
teachers have been Cambodian. By summer 2008,
Don Bosco in Phnom Penh – it has other schools in
Kompong Som, Kep, Battambang and Poipet – will
have trained more than 3,000 students. All of them get
a job after leaving here, says Fr Ochoa. They are
among the top craftsmen in Cambodia and are much
sought after.
Today, 40% of the school’s revenue comes from the
commercial services the school offers and 60% comes
from its other organisations. We do printing services,
car maintenance, computer and network repairs and
anything else related to our training programmes, says
Fr Ochoa. It also helps keep the students close to the
job market they will work in. With regard to the
extraordinary peace symbol benches, a spokesperson
from the project said: It was not easy to get clearance
for the weapons to be used. The metal frame is there
and therefore they still have a value, be it because of
the iron or their potential to be rebuilt. It took a very
long time to convince the sceptics and get permission
from the government for us to be able to start
producing The Bench.
All proceeds from the sale of the furniture goes to the
school. Val Sutherland, who offers professional
knowledge to Cambodian organisations and
government programmes, talks about his
assignments with Don Bosco Technical School. I came
here to help create the trophies for the 2007 Volleyball
World Cup and the CNLVD national volleyball league,
worked on the second phase of the ANZ Royal’s racing
wheelchairs, then The Bench and a few other sculptural
objects made from destroyed weapons. It has always
been a pleasure and very rewarding to work with Don
Bosco. The students are great and always interested in
trying new things. Underlining the strict discipline and
rules at the school, he says he has to change to a new
group of students every week, as they are rotated
between departments, with no exceptions. Moving
between groups, he says, makes stable production a
challenge, but the key to his success has been to
initiate a training programme that allows learning
through peer teaching. Even after his 2008 ABV tenure
is completed, the Don Bosco students will continue to
produce The Bench, which will hopefully come to
represent a powerful symbol of Cambodia’s ability to
turn tragedy into triumph. Article courtesy of South
Eastern Globe Magazine.
The Don Bosco technical school in Tuol Kork, on the outskirts of
Phnom Penh, has the ordered air of a German industrial estate.
Large buildings line clean streets where a myriad of signs promote
cleanliness in the middle of one of the fastest emerging property
hotspots in the capital. As you approach the welding department,
the sound of construction can be heard and a white-haired man is
bent over a piece of furniture. Val Sutherland, 70, is a seasoned
engineer with the Australian Business Volunteers (ABV) programme.
Standing back, he seems satisfied with the prototype of what
appears to be a wooden garden bench with unusual arms and legs.
Only after close examination is it obvious that it is, in part, made
from AK-47 automatic rifles. Called The Bench, it is a project initiated
through the school and will be launched to an unsuspecting public
this month at the Sunway hotel with a range of avant-garde furniture
made from decommissioned weapons that were collected by the
Cambodian government through the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Swords into Ploughshares - Arms into Legs
Photos: R. Plummer SOUTH EASTERN GLOBE MAGAZINE
35270 Don Bosco V2 16/6/08 13:05 Page 16
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DON BOSCO TODAY DON BOSCO TODAY
Fr John Corcoran SDB 1913 - 2008
His Salesian life began at Thornleigh, Bolton in
September 1925 where he was one of the first pupils to
enter the new school; and when his school days were
over he began his formation as a Salesian, first of all at
Cowley, Oxford and then later in Rome. Even before his
ordination in July 1942, he had begun teaching
Philosophy to the young Salesians of our province and
that was a role he fulfilled with great diligence and
commitment for the next 13 years. From 1955 till 1980
he exchanged the lecture room for the classroom,
working and ministering as a teacher at our Salesian
schools at Bolton, Chertsey, Bootle and Shrigley. When
he retired from teaching, he moved into more specific
pastoral work, firstly in the parish at Bollington, and
then as a chaplain to the RAF and later as army
chaplain at Abingdon.
Even when it was time to retire from his army
chaplaincy John was not one for retiring altogether. For
a year he was chaplain to the Salesian Sisters at
Cowley and then when he moved to Farnborough he
became chaplain to the Sisters at Lafosse, a role he
fulfilled until the beginning of last year. Looking back
over Fr John's 65 years of priestly ministry, one must be
impressed by John's amazing adaptability. He was a
man of wide learning who even in his nineties was still
devouring books on all sorts of subjects and still
corresponding with friends in German and other
languages; and wherever he found himself he took his
wisdom and his balanced judgement with him. Fr John
was totally open to the promptings of the Spirit. Such
openness is very much at the heart of being a Salesian.
Don Bosco was docile to the Spirit and in Fr John he
could not have had a more faithful follower. Whatever
he was asked to do by the Provincial and his Council,
he did so willingly and uncomplainingly. Those same
Salesian qualities also characterised the daily living out
of his Salesian life.
When I was first ordained I found myself at Shrigley
and one of my jobs was to draw up the weekly list of
Mass supplies. John was also a member of the
community and I have never forgotten his generosity
and availability. Fr John was always willing to be sent
wherever he was needed. Wherever he went he
brought his deep commitment to his priestly ministry
and his great love of people with him; and such was
his kindness and concern, his serenity and his gentle
sense of humour that people of all ages, young and
old, took him to their hearts. Even in his later years at
Farnborough, his care and practical concern for his
confreres was very evident - and something I will never
forget, and as the Sisters at Lafosse know so well,
there was nothing dearer to his heart than being asked
to celebrate Mass or hear confessions.
Whatever he did, was always diligently prepared;
revealing both his depth of learning and his love of a
good joke. At the heart of Fr John's life was his deep
commitment to Jesus and his own life of prayer. After a
long and dedicated life, his Master has heard his
prayer. He has left us in peace and I'm sure he is
already enjoying the fullness of salvation prepared for
him.
Fr Hugh Preston SDB
Fr John, whose life among us we
remember with gratitude, was a good
man, a holy man, a person on whom
God's Spirit of love and peace rested in a
very special way. The person of Jesus and
his Christian faith, his Salesian vocation
and his priestly ministry were all very
much at the centre of his life and he was
always deeply aware of the many
wonderful ways in which he had been
blessed, gifted by God. And these gifts
with which God so generously blessed
him were not kept to himself; he shared
them generously with all those around
him, throughout his long life as a Salesian.
Brother Tom Caulfield SDB 1918 - 2008
Tom was from Great Harwood,
Blackburn and was a life-long
supporter of Blackburn Rovers.
He entered the novitiate in
Beckford in 1938 and made his
final profession there in 1943.
The report on his application to
enter the novitiate stated: This
candidate has been remarkable
for his piety and regularity.
He taught in Blaisdon from 1944 to 1994,
apart from a four year stint in South Africa.
My memories of Tom, in Blaisdon, are of a
great Salesian, a community man, deeply
committed to his vocation, quietly spiritual,
never a doubt about the priority of his faith.
Tom was always willing to lend a hand, to
go the extra mile. Tom had a fascinating
way of disagreeing with you. He would
begin with sincere praise. That’s good, very
good. Then you knew to wait for the
inevitable but. But if I were doing it, I
wouldn’t do it that way.
Tom was a brilliant craftsman, indeed a
perfectionist who could never tolerate
mediocrity. Yet his Blaisdon pupils were
loud in praise of his patience with them and
his understanding of their limitations, while
quietly insisting on the right way to do
things. Many of our communities have
reason to be grateful to Tom for well turned-
out pieces of furniture for the chapel or
dining room. His furniture is everywhere,
singing his praises.
In Blaisdon, in the 1950s dry-rot was
discovered in one of the ceiling hammer-
beams over the main staircase, experts
were called in and quoted astronomical
figures for the repair. Tom found a Blaisdon
oak, cut it, carved it, matched it to the
healthy beams and replaced the rotted
beam with the help of some Blaisdon boys.
Twenty years later, it was found to be in
perfect condition.
A past pupil emailed from Brisbane to say Tom was a wonderful
teacher and a real gentleman, with boundless patience. ....a
humble, holy, wonderful man. Another from New Zealand called him
one of the great influences on my life.
Even when he was well over eighty years of age, Tom insisted on
preparing the evening snacks for the community at the weekends. In
his last weeks of illness Tom was particularly grateful for all the help
he received, full of praise for those who cared for him in St
Joseph’s, and the nursing staff and doctors at the Bolton Hospital.
The evening before he died, when he had received Communion, he
was content. He was ready to meet his Maker. May he rest in peace.
Fr Aidan Murray SDB
35270 Don Bosco V2 16/6/08 13:05 Page 18
DON BOSCO TODAY
20
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P R I C E L I S T - S U M M E R 2 0 0 8 - A l l p r i c e s i n c l u d e p o s t a g e
I would like to order:- Author QTY Price
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SYMBOLS and SPIRITUALITY reflecting on John’s Gospel M Winstanley SDB 12.00
THE CHRISTIAN TEACHER D O’Malley SDB 5.50
CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP IN EDUCATION D O’Malley SDB 7.00
ORDINARY WAYS Reflections for teachers & youth club leaders D O’Malley SDB 5.00
PRAYERS TO CLOSE THE DAY D O’Malley SDB 5.00
PRAYERS TO START THE DAY D O’Malley SDB 4.00
TRUST THE ROAD 2nd edition with coloured illustrations D O’Malley SDB 6.00
VIA LUCIS The Stations of the Resurrection D O’Malley SDB 7.00
SERVING THE YOUNG Our Catholic Schools Today J Gallagher SDB 6.00
DON’T ORGANISE MY TEARS Reflections on bereavement A Bailey SDB 6.00
CHLOE & JACK VISIT THE VATICAN K Pearce 5.00
DVD ROSIE GOES TO CHURCH A child’s guide to the church K Pearce 9.00
BOOK ROSIE GOES TO CHURCH A child’s guide to the church K Pearce 5.00
DON BOSCO The friend of children and young people K Pearce 5.00
GOOD NEWS IN THE FAMILY The life of Jesus in story form K Pearce 5.00
101 SAINTS AND SPECIAL PEOPLE Lives of Saints K Pearce 12.00
MEMORY GAME based on 101 Saints & Special People K Pearce 6.00
OUR COLOURFUL CHURCH YEAR K Pearce 5.00
ROSIE AND KATIE GO TO MASS K Pearce 5.00
LOST & FOUND Spirituality for a changing world M Cunningham SDB 7.00
A TIME FOR COMPASSION A Spirituality for Today M Cunningham SDB 7.00
WITHIN & WITHOUT Renewing Religious Life M Cunningham SDB 7.00
SEAN DEVEREUX - A life given for Africa 1964-1993 M Delmer SDB 7.00
DON BOSCO’S GOSPEL WAY Reflections on the life of Don Bosco M Winstanley SDB 7.00
GOD OF MANY FACES Reflective verses M. Renshaw FMA 3.00
MOVING ON Book of reflective poetry Margaret J Cooke 6.00
MAMMA MARGARET The Life of Don Bosco’s Mother Teresio Bosco SDB 7.00
TEACHER, TEACH US TO PRAY for use in primary schools W Acred FMA 5.00
THE WITNESSES - 7 witnesses narrate their part in the Passion Story W Acred FMA 4.00
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THE CHRISTIAN TEACHER by David O’Malley SDB
A book of encouragement for teachers
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35270 Don Bosco V2 16/6/08 13:05 Page 20
