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
T
H
E
S
A
L
E
S
IA
N
B
U
L
L
E
T
IN
Y
E
A
R
1
1
5
IS
S
U
E
3
A
U
T
U
M
N
2
0
0
7
YOUNG PEOPLE TODAY
Sixth Formers in Tanzania 4
The Story of Chaplaincy 6
The Power of Prayer 8
Bosco Bear 9-12
Invest in the Young 13
Sri Lanka 14
Colombia 16
We Remember 18
Booklist 20
Editorial
Dear Friends
On October 1st this year, the Rector Major of the Salesians, Fr Pascual
Chávez spoke to the 21 Salesians, 8 Daughters of Mary Help of
Christians and 18 lay people who were departing as missionaries to
various parts of the world. He said,
This, my dear missionaries, is the wonderful task you are being
given: to collaborate in making the world more human through the
power of the Gospel, capable of converting peoples’ minds and
hearts and changing society. Nowadays all evangelisation takes
place in the setting of a culture that is secular, multimedia, post-
ideological, and highly subjective.
Speaking about a new Youth Ministry, Fr Chávez also said, Today young
people are mission territory.
This edition of Don Bosco Today reflects that reality – young people
changing society by their generosity and young people being changed by
other young people. Our first article is about generous sixth-formers who
decided to spend time in Tanzania; a decision involving over a year’s
work of preparation to raise the money to make the trip possible.
However, they were richly rewarded and their understanding of the needs
of other young people has changed their lives. I hope that by reading this
magazine you will be encouraged by the goodness and generosity of
young people.
Reports from Sri Lanka and Colombia remind us that so many young
people today are suffering the ravages of war, and we are proud to tell of
the support offered by the Salesian Family.
The article on Chaplaincy makes us aware of the importance of
nourishing the spiritual qualities of young people, encouraging the whole
community towards a sense of justice and peace. The project offering a
different kind of Christmas present is an opportunity to support the
missionary work of young people in the mission territory of our own
country.
I have included an article on Prayer by Kathleen Pearce, the author of
many of our children’s books, because I have become
more than ever aware of the great love we show one
another when we wrap them in our prayers.
Finally – a word of sincere gratitude to all who support
our Salesian work by their generous donations. We do
try to acknowledge by letter every donation but I am
conscious that many people keep our works going by
standing orders and we need to thank them too for
their continued support.
2 3
DON BOSCO TODAY DON BOSCO TODAY
DON BOSCO PUBLICATIONS
Thornleigh House, Sharples Park, Bolton BL1 6PQ
Tel 01204 308811 Fax 01204 306868
Email: michael@salesians.org.uk
SALESIAN MISSIONS
Fr Joe Brown SDB
2 Orbel Street, Battersea SW11 3NZ
Tel 0207 924 2733
Email: donbosco@btconnect.com
Sister Helen Murphy FMA
Provincial Office
13 Streatham Common North, Streatham, London SW16 3HG
Tel 0208 677 4573 Fax 0208 677 4523
Email: provincialoffice.fma@ukonline.co.uk
CHILDREN’S SECTION GRAPHICS
Val O’Brien
DESIGN AND PRINTING
Printoff Graphic Arts Limited Tel 01282 877922
Printed on paper manufactured from a sustainable source
using vegetable based inks
PHOTOS
ANS ROMA
Associazione Missioni Don Bosco – Turin
Thornleigh Tanzania Group
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
Chaplaincy www.salesians.org.uk/chap/
Contents
Name
Visa Mastercard Switch
Address
Postcode
Tel
Fax
Email
Expiry Date
Switch Issue Date
MY DONATION TO THE WORK OF DON BOSCO
Please find enclosed my donation of Cheque made payable to DON BOSCO PUBLICATIONS
Taxpayer’s Option
Please send me a Gift Aid form
Charity Number 233779
Anthony Bailey SDB
Editor
Email: a.bailey@salesians.org.uk
4 5
On the 21st of July thirteen of
us travelled to Africa with
ideas of making a difference,
and enjoying ourselves a little
on the way, I don’t think any of
us realised just how much
impact the Tanzanian people
and culture would change us.
We met at Manchester Airport, happy, excited and even
a little apprehensive – but perhaps that was just the
idea of the 31 hour journey from Manchester to our final
destination of Moshi. On the seven-hour bus journey
from Nairobi to Moshi we saw the first of many
challenging and shocking sights. Driving through small
towns and plains of barren land on heavily pot-holed
roads was difficult. The most rural of areas appeared to
be the most poverty-stricken and it was very difficult to
witness it. It felt unreal, as if the windows we were
looking through were TV screens, displaying a plea for
donations to aid these poor people. However the most
difficult and uncomfortable aspect of the journey was
not the bumpy roads on a bus with questionable
suspension, but the Kenya-Tanzania border. We all had
to leave the safety of our bus and step out to have our
passports and visas checked. As soon as we had left
the bus we were mobbed by Massai women trying to
sell us bracelets, necklaces and African tribal masks.
We would become accustomed to this by the end of
the trip, we even enjoyed haggling and talking with the
street sellers, but on this first encounter we felt
intimidated and scared not really knowing what to do
and feeling guilty when saying, No.
When we finally arrived at what was to be our home for
the next three weeks, we were welcomed by Fr Brian
Jerstice, an English Salesian who has spent many
years in Africa. We were introduced to the many local
people who were helping to put the finishing touches to
our house. We were expecting a shack with no
electricity, but found a house with electricity, hot water,
furniture and food. It was amazing, especially when
compared to the house next door, which was a shack,
with no windows or doors, no electricity and one tap.
The family who lived there could be seen cooking their
food on an open fire in front of the house. It was a very
sad but heart-warming, as these are possibly the
poorest people any of us had ever met, but also some
of the happiest. It made us feel so grateful for what we
have, and now we’re back we are more conscious of
what we use and how much we waste.
Jordanna, Laura, Sean P, James and Jackie worked in
the Moshi Airport Primary School. They had the earliest
starts of all of us, having to be present for parade at
7:30am each morning. By British standards, this is
early, but not in Tanzania. Each morning we were
wakened at 4am by the call to prayer from the local
mosque and the sounds of life and people leaving for
work. Moshi Airport School had both boarding and day
students, who were often local children from the areas
surrounding Soweto. We all thought that we would be
teaching assistants, helping in the school wherever we
were needed. It soon became clear that we would be
teaching in both the Primary and the Secondary
schools. Today you watch, tomorrow you teach was very
much the motto.
Working in the primary school was very rewarding. The
children were enthusiastic and willing to learn, were
always well behaved and respectful towards us. We
were teaching English, using many different methods,
but singing songs and nursery rhymes often made it
easier and the children loved it. One of the best
aspects of the primary school was the close contact
with the children. At break and lunchtimes, the children
mauled us; they were fascinated by our hair, and they
had never seen freckles. It was a strange sensation to
have at least ten children stroking you and playing with
your hair as if you were a Barbie doll. We had taken a
lot of sports equipment with us, and to see the joy on
the children’s faces when we played catch with a
simple tennis ball was worth travelling miles to see!
Ann-Marie, Sean W, Helen, Nick and Fr Martin worked
in Bendel Memorial Secondary School. In contrast to
Moshi Airport School, Bendel had only boarding
students, many of whom came from Dar Es Salaam.
The students were not allowed to leave the site of the
school at all, unless they were ill. The school is still
under construction, so the students are living on a
building site! The dining hall was finished whilst we
were there and so the pupils no longer had to take their
meals in the classrooms.
Those of us at the Secondary school taught Chemistry,
Biology, Maths, Physics and English to class sizes of
35-40 pupils who ranged in age from 12-17. A
challenging feat for anyone! It was a difficult and scary
prospect having to talk clearly to a class but after the
first lesson we became more comfortable and began to
enjoy it. The pupils at Bendel were similar in many ways
to Thornleigh, our school in Bolton. If strangers were to
come to teach us, the majority of pupils would be slow
to go up and talk to them, which is exactly what we
found when we went to Bendel. Once we had broken
down the barriers, and starting talking to them, there
was no stopping them. Every child we spoke to asked
us the same questions – What’s it like in England?
What’s your school like? They were as fascinated by our
culture and us as we were by them and their culture.
Diarmuid and Megan worked in St Joseph’s Hospital.
We expected to find a small, poorly funded clinic with
only one room and squeezed to the brim with beds. We
were astounded to discover a small hospital, with a 30-
bed capacity, a 5-doctor clinic and a fully functioning
theatre! St. Joseph’s is run by the Sisters of Our Lady
of Kilimanjaro. Some of the nuns are formidable
especially Sister Leocardia, who was our mentor whilst
we were volunteering at the hospital. One of our daily
tasks was to make the patients’ beds. It was amazing
how welcoming and friendly the patients were. When
we entered a ward all the patients would greet us, at
least with just a smile, as often this was all they could
do as they were suffering, most commonly from malaria.
We came with very little clinical experience, (Diarmuid is
a first year medical student and Megan is a prospective
medical student) but Sister Leocardia had clear ideas,
showing a similar principle as the schools, Today you
watch, tomorrow you do, then the next day you teach
another. It was very scary! We were taught how to inject
patients through their IV – the first time Diarmuid did
this procedure he made his patient vomit (a side effect
of the medication apparently). It was the scariest thing
to do, but by the end of the placement we were getting
the hang of it, and so sorry to leave. As a final day
treat, we were given the opportunity to observe a full
surgery to correct a young man’s severe acid reflux
(severe heartburn). We had to dress in scrubs and
couldn’t touch anything to ensure a sterile environment
– it was fascinating, but not for the faint hearted. The
best thing about working in the clinic wasn’t the
medical side of things but the personal contact with the
patients. We were able to talk to the patients, some of
whom could speak a little English, and they taught us
some Swahili so that we could talk to the other patients.
From tiny babies to the elderly everyone was happy we
were there, and we were always greeted with Jambo,
Karibu meaning Hello, you are welcome in Swahili.
It wasn’t just in the hospital where we experienced this
friendliness. Everywhere we went in Moshi, everyone
greeted us with warmth. When we walked along the
roads to school, everyone we passed would greet us. It
was fantastic. When we walked back to the house from
our placements and turned the corner, the local
children would run towards us to say Hello and walk
with us holding hands or be carried on our shoulders. It
was heart-warming. It was these street children who
had the most effect upon us. They had very few clothes
and no shoes, but they were the happiest people we
had ever met. The joy on their faces when we’d go out
with a football and play for even ten minutes was
incredible. It’s made us all much more grateful for
everything that we have and want for a little less.
We would just like to express our thanks to all who
contributed towards this trip, both through donations
and moral support. Thanks to this generosity, we were
able to donate £1750 to the Moshi Airport School and
the same amount to the Bendel Memorial School, and
£1000 to St Joseph’s Hospital and £1000 to a street
project in Nairobi.
Megan Russell
Today you watch -
tomorrow you teach
DON BOSCO TODAY DON BOSCO TODAY
6 7
St Martin of Tours’ symbolic act casts a long shadow
across Church history reaching the second Vatican
Council and our own multi-cultural world here in
England and Wales. It touches all forms of chaplaincy
in health, military and educational settings and points to
the unique combination of religion, reflection and
service focussed on a specific group’s needs at a
particular time and place.
These five dimensions represent an insight into
chaplaincy that is rooted in the tradition and experience
of the Catholic community. Before moving on to more
recognisable and current descriptions of the role it is
helpful to explore the more intuitive approach that this
story teaches us.
1. Listening and Serving
Martin shared the same experience as other people
on the road into Amiens that winter. He acted
differently because he heard the cry of the poor
man and took the time to stop. He engaged with a
personal need and responded as best he could
from his own resources. The story reminds us that
chaplains have to stop and listen. That means
listening to pupils and staff left out in the cold,
wasting time with people on corridors and in staff
rooms and recognising needs even when unspoken.
The story reminds us that chaplains need to put
their personal gifts at the service of the most needy.
2. Recognising an individual’s dignity
The story tells us that the beggar at the gate was
Christ himself and that whatever we do for the least
of our brothers and sisters we do for Jesus. This
rather pious observation takes the ordinary pastoral
care for people into an almost mystical encounter
with God especially in the struggling members of a
school community. The chaplain’s role is to keep
reminding the school community that the trouble-
maker, the time-watching teacher and the truant are
all children of God. How we treat them will be the
litmus test of whether we are living the Gospel as a
school community.
3. A form of service that challenges others
Martin took action in public in a way that divided
opinion. From one act he gained both ridicule and
respect and he made others think. This conscious
action in public is a major strategy in chaplaincy in
school. To influence a large community it is not
enough to appear only in church or prayer settings.
A chaplain has to design actions that animate the
whole community towards justice and peace. Those
actions may be suitable for certain groups but their
impact should be school-wide. A chaplain who is
always passive and waits for others to come to
them is missing this prophetic dimension to the role.
4. A task of safeguarding and celebrating spiritual
treasures
The chaplain’s task was originally to guard and
celebrate the sacred symbols of the court, the army
or the community. In school chaplaincy, the role is
exactly the same. Ensuring that the gospels, the
sacraments and the traditions of the Christian
community are respected, reverenced and
absorbed into practice, is part of this ministry. At
one level this means ensuring that prayer, liturgy
and sacraments are well prepared, symbols of faith
are displayed and given due honour. It also means
building bridges between those of different faith and
no faith so that these treasures can be embraced as
far as possible by the whole community of the
school.
5. A role rooted in prayer and reflection on Jesus
and the Gospel
Martin walked through the gate at Amiens and
heard God speak in a beggar. He could not have
heard if he had not been listening and immersed in
the presence of God himself. The chaplain, in order
to fulfil the role must also be prayer-centred and
have part of their life and timetable focussed on
stillness and scripture. There is a spiritual asceticism
about the chaplain’s role that will always elude job
descriptions. It will be the chaplain’s task to live a
prayerful and disciplined spiritual life. The effects of
that inner work will emerge in holiness and wisdom
certainly but also in a prophetic zeal that may at
times disturb the assumptions of others in the
school community.
David O’Malley SDB
David is presently writing a book on Chaplaincy
to be published by Don Bosco Publications
Chaplaincy Website
www.salesians.org.uk/chap/
DON BOSCO TODAY DON BOSCO TODAY
The Provincial, Fr Michael Winstanley SDB
The story of chaplaincy begins at the gate to
the city of Amiens in the year 337. A young
soldier in the Roman army was walking into
the city during a bitterly cold winter. The
crowds were hurrying past a half-naked
beggar who was close to death. Martin,
unpaid and having only his military uniform,
stopped and looked at the man who looked
back at him expectantly with hand
outstretched. After a slight hesitation, Martin
took out his sword and then removed his
cloak and sliced it through the middle giving
half to the man and using the other half to
cover himself again.
Some bystanders laughed at him and the ridiculous
way he looked, wearing only half a cloak, but other
bystanders felt ashamed that this poor soldier had
helped from his poverty and made a difference whilst
they, with money in their pockets, had ignored the
beggar completely, and they walked away challenged
by Martin‘s actions.
Later that night Martin dreamed he saw a vision of
Christ himself wearing the half cloak and saying to
others, Look at the cloak that Martin gave me today. The
dream so affected Martin that he tried to leave the
army, and in 339 he was released into civilian life. From
there he went on to work for the poor and increase
awareness of the presence of God in ordinary people.
He created a number of communities and became a
church leader; dying at Tours in 397.
His cloak, or half-a-cloak, became a precious object in
military and royal circles. It became a spiritual symbol
for the whole community. The cloak was used when
taking oaths and was carried into battle and came to
symbolise all that was best in humanity, a symbol of the
spiritual dignity of each person and a powerful reminder
of the need to seek God in ordinary things. The cloak
was called a capella (a cape). It was kept in a tent or in
a building that came to be called a capela or chapel.
The person assigned to look after this sacred relic was
called the capellano or chaplain. The chaplain would
control access to the sacred symbol and organise
prayers and ceremonies for the community to celebrate
the spirituality it signified. These were the first people to
be called chaplains. They began firstly in the army, then
in royal courts, later in hospitals and more recently in
education.
The story highlights some key features of
chaplaincy:
1. It was inspired by a layperson’s act of
listening and serving the needy.
2. It is based around the God-given dignity of
each person in the community.
3. It is a form of service that challenges others
to think about their own lives.
4. It involves safeguarding and celebrating the
spiritual treasures of a community.
5. It is a ministry rooted in prayer and
reflection on Jesus and the Gospels.Picture of Saint Martin from the book 101 Saints and Special People.
(Don Bosco Publications)
The Story of Chaplaincy
DON BOSCO TODAY DON BOSCO TODAY
8 9
The Bear Facts
Hello Children
We all know how an elephant gets down
from a tree don’t we? It sits on a leaf
and waits till Autumn! Well here we are
again at my favourite time of the
year. It’s not too hot, it’s not too cold,
it’s just right (where did I hear that
before?). It looks beautiful in our forest as the leaves change colour from
green to gold to brown.
Two things I like to do in Autumn are collect conkers (there are
thousands of them in our forest and Rio is our conker
champion) and go to a bonfire: there’s lots and lots of wood
around here and we have a great time!
In this Autumn and Winter Magazine I want to tell you the story of the fun run
that I, and my friends did to raise money for charity. It was a good job we were
running because it was a bit nippy outside but we really enjoyed ourselves
even though I hurt my foot again.
I think it’s time I told you a bit more about myself and my
friends. I’m 7 years old like Rio. Molly is 8 and Suzi is 6. I’ve
got a lot of hobbies like doing magic tricks, playing football and
swimming. My Mum and Dad come from Italy which is why I
have an Italian name Bosco. They come from a city called Turin
which has a famous football team called Juventus, the team I support. I bet
you can guess which team Rio supports because he always wears a red shirt
and some white shorts. Molly likes Newcastle because they wear black and
white so she says they look like her!
Bosco Bear
The Power of
Prayer
On 15th December 2006 my husband and I
celebrated 50 years since the day we first
met. At lunchtime we visited an Italian
restaurant and toasted each other with a
glass of wine. We reflected on the past 50
years and looked forward to the future and
spending Christmas day in London with
our son Matthew, Louise his wife and our
new grandson.
That evening my other son, Antony, who now lives in
New Zealand phoned with the devastating news that
his nineteen-month-old daughter Maddie had been
diagnosed with cancer. We were heartbroken, our little
granddaughter we had never seen, was seriously ill and
our son and his family were thousands of miles away.
There was nothing we could do, we felt so helpless. We
spent a sleepless night talking, crying and praying.
During the days that followed we felt very low, unable to
concentrate and very tearful. We wanted news from
New Zealand but were afraid to phone. When our
children were small we could care for them and comfort
them, try to take away their pain but now our son was
12000 miles away and suffering, we could not put our
arms around him. Our immediate thought was to go to
him, but my health prevented me from making such a
long journey and we thought our presence might add
to their worries. We prayed for guidance, we wanted to
do the right thing.
As news of Maddie's condition spread, we received so
many promises of prayers, not only family and friends
but schools, parishes and prayer groups. Prayers were
also offered in many parts of the world including
Bethlehem on Christmas Day, an Evangelical preacher
on New Zealand Television and a man on Death Row in
America.
Gradually our feelings of helplessness and sorrow
passed. Prayer had given us a sense of strength and
comfort and an inner calm. By the end of February,
Maddie had completed her chemotherapy treatment
and had the tumour and one of her kidneys removed.
The prognosis was good. We still desperately wanted
to go to New Zealand, to be with them. After many
weeks of prayer, and with assurances from my GP, we
finally we made the journey. Seeing Maddie for the first
time, albeit in a hospital bed, was wonderful, and we
spent several very happy weeks in March with my son
and his wife, with Maddie and her four-year-old sister
Beth. Just before we left New Zealand, we learned that
Maddie now had a secondary cancer and would need
more aggressive chemotherapy.
During the months that followed, we continued to pray
and my thoughts turned to the power of prayer, and the
change I had gone through. I thought about the panic
and helplessness I had felt on first hearing the news. I
had made the journey to New Zealand but I had also
made a journey within myself. I now had an inner calm
and my son and his wife seemed to have a new
strength, a new confidence in the future of their little
family. Perhaps this is what prayer does. For reasons
we do not understand, it does not cure all ills, it does
not make pain go away, but envelops us in God's love,
we can feel His arms around us, caring for us,
supporting us. This gives us lucid moments in times of
turmoil, comfort in our distress and sometimes
acceptance of circumstances beyond our control.
My family always teases me about what they refer to as
Mum's Prayer List and how it seems to get longer and
longer. There is always someone who needs prayers.
Now when someone asks for my prayers I think more
carefully about the person and reflect on their particular
needs. My experience of the past months, when we
have felt such support from the knowledge that so
many people have been praying for our family, has
given me a new understanding of the power of prayer. I
now believe our prayers help not only the individual but
also those who love them.
Maddie is making good progress. She is now two years
old and on 4th July test results showed there was now
no trace of the cancer. We thank God for answering our
prayers and will be forever grateful to those who prayed
for our little granddaughter.
Kathleen Pearce
C
h
ild
re
n’
s
S
ec
tio
n
The crowd went quiet: everyone got ready;
5…..4…..3…..2…..1 They’re off!
“Don’t go too fast at the start,” shouted one of Bosco’s
friends Kate Cat; “then it’ll be purrfect!” “Don’t worry, I
won’t,” gasped Suzi. Bosco and Rio were running
together. Down the hill; along by the River Snake,
through Darkwood Forest past Lake Glass and round
again.
Suddenly Bosco stopped;
“Blethering Blisters,” he yelled. “My foot’s hurting again.”
Poor old Bosco. It was supposed to be a fun run but it
wasn’t much fun and Bosco couldn’t run very well.
The other runners were sprinting now. There was 100
metres to go to the finish. Who would win? Rio was
ahead by a metre…. Hannah Hare was finishing like a
train….Hannah…. Rio……. here comes Graham
Greyhound….. And then there was a sudden gust of wind
and Molly Magpie whizzed past everyone and WON!
WOOOO! Well done Molly!
As well as a great race and loads of fun, a lot of money
was raised for charity and even Bosco smiled as he put a
plaster on his sore foot.
Fun RunFriday:“Hi,” said Rio Rabbit.
“Hi,” said Suzi Squirrel.
“Are you ready for the fun run tomorrow?” asked Rio.
“Not really,” said Suzi. “How far do we have to run?”
Only 2 kilometres,” said Rio. “Twice around the forest.”
Suzi sat down for a rest.
Bosco Bear and his friends had planned a fun run to
raise money for lots of charities like the Salesian Missions.
Saturday:
Lots and lots of animals were at the start line. Bosco was
jogging on the spot warming up and doing stretches. Rio
had bought some new trainers to look cool. Molly was
telling Suzi she’d be alright.
Peter Kay’s song “I would walk 500 miles” was playing on a
karaoke machine. There was face-painting, a bouncy castle,
a roundabout and everyone was excited and a bit nervous.
All the runners had to wear fancy dress. Bosco was in a
chicken suit; Suzi was a ballet dancer, Rio a spaceman and
Molly a footballer. There goes a Meat Pie talking to a
Banana!
12
DON BOSCO TODAY
✁
Name
Address
Postcode
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
Charity
Charity is where people help other people. Sometimes it’s to help
people who are very ill: there is a hospice near our forest for very
poorly people. TV programmes like Children in Need help raise
money. Concerts are held to get money for starving people in Africa: people who don’t
have anywhere to live need help as well.
A fun run is a good idea because the people who take part in the run are given
money by their friends for doing the run and then they give the money to
charities. They also have FUN doing it.
But you can show charity to people all the time. Have you ever thought you’d like to help
someone else? Someone falls at school and you help them get up; that is charity.
Someone is carrying something heavy and you help them: someone is upset and crying
and you talk to them and give them a hug. Jesus said, “THE MOST IMPORTANT THING
OF ALL IS TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER”.
So everyone can give charity to other people. It doesn’t matter how old you are and it
always feels really good to do it. And do you know that if you help other people, they will
help you?
Words in Words
How many words of 3 or more letters can you find in the word BOSCOBEAR?
e.g. scare and car
We think 30 would be good and 40 would be very good. The most we could find
was 48. Can you beat that? There will be a book prize for the word champion!
Send your entries on the form below to: Don Bosco Publications, Thornleigh
House, Sharples Park, Bolton. BL1 6PQ Or email michael@salesians.org.uk
13
DON BOSCO TODAY
A new kind of Christmas gift –
Invest in the Young
In recent years, many of us have increasingly become
concerned about the behaviour of some of our young
people. Many neighbourhoods experience what is
reported in the press as anti-social behaviour. Don
Bosco believed that young people are precious though
vulnerable members of society and that no young
person can be excluded from our hope and our
concern.
However, as citizens we may be, at times, saddened by the number of young people who demonstrate their
frustrations and hopelessness through destructive and often threatening behaviour. However those who work with
youth know that a real cause for celebration is the thousands of responsible, caring young people in our society
who rarely reach the front pages of the press.
We are very aware of the need to continue and where possible expand on our work with young people. For this,
we need your help. We are committed to providing opportunities through our Salesian network for young people
to develop respect for themselves, others and their communities in caring, Christian environments. The Salesian
network consists of over a thousand adults working face to face with young people in all parts of the UK from
Glasgow to Cornwall. We have a residential centre and a growing number of youth groups, service groups and
youth clubs as well as a network of youth chaplaincies. Six secondary schools are linked to this network. There
are 11 parish communities committed to Salesian youth work and a growing number of volunteers who dedicate
themselves year by year to the service of youth. All of them work to build a sense of community and spirituality in
the young.
Not everyone has a vocation to work with young people. They can often appear difficult, sometimes almost
impossible to communicate with - but everyone can play a part through supporting our work with prayers and
financially. For many years you may have given generously to support our missions abroad. We now also urgently
require your help to support and develop our work with young people in Great Britain.
This year, for the first time, our volunteers have produced an alternative Christmas gift catalogue. You will receive a
copy of the catalogue through the post. The pages of this catalogue describe some of the youth work we are
involved with that require your support to continue and expand. This Christmas, instead of buying material gifts,
we ask you instead to consider sponsoring one of the activities listed in our catalogue in the name of a friend or
family member. Sponsorship opportunities range from £5 donations towards youth club equipment or materials for
sacramental programmes to larger contributions towards training youth workers or contributing to the salaries of
our school chaplains. In return, for each act of sponsorship you make we will give you a Christmas card
describing the sponsorship gift and the impact it will make. We are sure your friends or relatives will appreciate
this different kind of Christmas gift and feel that they are helping young people in a practical way. You will receive
the cards in time to distribute them to your family and friends for Christmas.
As this project is being run by volunteers, we ask that you send in your orders by the 8th December in
order for us to send out your gift cards promptly.
Please pray for the success of our project.
For further details co write to
Salesian Sponsorship Appeal, Salesian Provincial Office, Thornleigh, Sharples Park, Bolton BL1 6PQ
14 15
DON BOSCO TODAY DON BOSCO TODAY
The use of child soldiers is a plague that has afflicted
Sri Lanka for years, in the course of a civil war that has
dragged on for over twenty years and seen government
forces opposed by Tamil rebel separatists. The tragic
nature of the situation can also been seen from the
falling number of children at school. Many children
don’t go to school to avoid leaving their homes and
falling into the hands of the rebel army.
According to the United Nations Children’s Agency
(UNICEF) data, since the signing of the cease-fire in
2002, more than 5000 children have been drawn into
the ranks of the Tiger soldiers, but the actual number
could be far higher given that it is difficult to reach
remote zones where many camps are based. The
average age of these young recruits is sixteen; about
40% are girls.
On the 19th June 2007, UNICEF, welcomed the release
of 135 child soldiers by the Tamil Tigers, but said it was
concerned that many more still remained with the
rebels. The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam said that it
had discharged the group of boys and girls under 17
years of age over the past six months, and pledged to
rid its ranks of all children under 18, by the end of the
year. The Liberation Tigers said it hoped the work done
by its Child Protection Authority will convince people of
their determination to bring the minimum age of
recruitment up to international standards by the end of
2007. Gordon Weiss, the UNICEF spokesman, declared,
“We welcome the LTTE commitment to release the
children but we also note they still have many more
children in their ranks. Till all the underage children
are released, the LTTE will not be in accordance
with international standards.”
The Salesian missions in Sri Lanka date from the late
80s, when a rehabilitation centre was opened in
Colombo. At first, it catered for child victims of
paedophilia and children at risk who were taken off the
streets. In recent years, at the request of the
government, the Salesians have begun looking after
child soldiers. Various centres were opened for this
purpose throughout the country and the young people,
completely rehabilitated now number a score or so.
These are adolescents over sixteen years of age now,
but recruited as soldiers when they were as young as
ten. The youngsters cared for in the Salesian centres
learn a trade, to enable them to take their rightful place,
and live a normal life.
However, it is very hard work. Many youngsters fail to
finish the recovery programme and are forced to return
to the army in order to protect their families who would
otherwise be victims of reprisals by the rebels. The only
way for them to escape from this situation is to move to
another part of the country, which in itself is often very
difficult.
The Salesians not only welcome the children who suffer
as soldiers, but open their doors to the many families
caught up in the conflict. Recently more than 4500
civilians were forced to flee the Musali division in
Mannnaar district when the Sri Lanka Army (SLA)
moved into that area. Ninety-nine families were allowed
to take refuge in the Don Bosco Technical College.
The auto shop at the Don Bosco Technical centre is
Sri Lanka –
Offering Hope to Child Soldiers
The number of child soldiers recruited by The Liberation
Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) the rebel group of the Tamil
Tigers in the north of Sri Lanka continues to grow,
according to reports by the Asianews Agency.
state of the art. The tools are new and the staff
dedicated. The diagnostic testing equipment is as
good as you will find anywhere in the world. The
Salesians are keen to give troubled young men a
second chance at life. One boy, now eighteen years
old, had fought for the Tamil Tigers from the age of
sixteen. He says he fears for his family,
“My mother and the rest of my family are
experiencing difficulties following my capture. I am
studying auto mechanics and living here now,
because if I return to my house I’ll face a lot of
trouble from the Tigers.”
The young man says he feels fortunate he is alive and
healthy. Sitting next to him is another young man also
eighteen and too scared to give his name, who is not
so fortunate. He began fighting for the Tamil Tigers at
the age of thirteen. Wounded badly in the shoulder
when he was captured at the age of sixteen, he cannot
learn auto mechanics; instead he studies printing and
says he feels bitter that he had to fight when other
children could go to school.
“When I see schoolchildren I feel sad, If I had been
able to study like that I could have a good position
in life.”
The boy soldiers, at Don Bosco Technical Centre, say
they joined the Tamil Tigers voluntarily after older boys
who had joined the guerrilla organisation staged
presentations and films that glorified life as a Tiger
fighter. It was a decision they say they soon regretted
when faced with the realities of life as a child soldier.
Forced marches, frequent beatings for minor
infringements of camp discipline and terrifying combat
against heavily armed government troops replaced
school and family life.
Fr Felix, who is the director of the Don Bosco Technical
Centre, says when the Tamil Tiger boys first arrived at
Don Bosco they were difficult to handle,
“When they first came they were really wild and
really arrogant. They were not willing to accept
anything we said. But slowly we won their hearts,
and now they are just like other boys, they are really
receptive. In times to come I feel they might even
be better than the other boys - we treat all of our
boys equally but we do give these fellows some
special treatment because they deserve and need
our special attention.”
Fr Felix says months of patient work with the former
Tamil Tiger soldiers are now beginning to show results.
He says the boys are learning new skills and have
adapted well to their new surroundings. Still, he says,
there are bad days.
“They feel very sad sometimes because they see
the parents of other children the brothers and
sisters of other children when they come to visit
and eat together then they feel sad because they
have nobody, all they have are us. I do not think
their wounds can be completely healed, those scars
will remain forever. But we try our level best, as
Salesians of Don Bosco, to be kind and loving to
these boys.”
The boys, who used to fight for the Tamil Tigers, say
their biggest surprise upon coming to Don Bosco was
being accepted by their Sinhalese peers. Sri Lanka is
more and more a divided country, fewer and fewer
Tamils and Sinhalese speak each other’s language.
Don Bosco teaches a lesson of reconciliation that the
rest of Sri Lanka should follow.
1716
DON BOSCO TODAY DON BOSCO TODAY
Four years ago my provincial asked me to go to
Catatumbo Colombiano, a region rich in natural beauty
but one where the people are very poor because they
live in the midst of armed conflict. My main
responsibility is for the vocational ministry throughout
the diocese. I work in the bishop’s house in Tibù, and
because the area is very dangerous, I cannot be with
my own community very often.
I travel around the diocese working with the young. We
contact representatives from the last year of high
school from all the schools in the diocese and work
with them, doing student formation. Then we meet with
the youth groups from all the parishes of the diocese,
and spend time with those young people who are
thinking of entering the seminary. Finally, we work with
those who could become mentors of other young
people.
There are many young people in the diocese, however
the work is very difficult, One year we could have a
group of 40-50 young people and the following year
there might be only two of that group left. Some
families move away because of the violence, taking
their sons to other places to avoid them being recruited
into the rebel groups. Others go to work in the coca
plantations, gathering the coca leaves to support their
poor families.
The young people are about 20 years of age. Many do
not know how to read or write. They are young people
without a future, without hope and they do not know
where to go. The diocese has many projects for poor
people; the bishop gives priority to the young and the
poor. In his diocese there is only one main purpose: To
walk with the people in the style of Jesus, the Good
Shepherd. The bishop is a Salesian. The people are
very good and sensitive, they have suffered much; you
can see the suffering on their faces.
My most difficult moment with the young people was
when a little village asked me to hold a meeting with
their youth group. The young people had come to Tibù
so that they could get to know the city. I had prepared
well for the meeting, but when I met them I became
aware of the fact that they did not know how to read or
write. At that point, I said to myself, What do I do now? I
spent the whole night thinking about how to use the
material I had prepared for them. I could not give them
an outline; they could not read, they could not write.
But I had to recognise the fact that God had given me
the gift of being creative. We set to work with clay and
paper. I asked them to make a map of their little
villages. They were divided according to where they
came from and each group had to construct a map
showing the rivers, the houses, the roads, etc. Then
with a few symbols, they had to illustrate the
population. For example, they marked with triangles the
number of families, with circles how many young
people were studying, with squares how many children
were working, all by symbols but no words. Each group
then presented their findings to the others. The final
experience was very beautiful. With these maps, they
were able to share the situation of their villages and
what they could do for the other young people of their
village.
Sister Carmen Elena Mejia FMA
Sister Carmen Elena is a member of the El Tarra
community in Colombia and belongs to the
province of Mary Help of Christians (CMA),
Medellín. However, she works in Tibù, with the
Salesian bishop, Camilo Castrellón in the youth
and vocations ministry.
Sadly, not all the pastors in the parishes have been
trained to minister to young people and therefore these
are not always followed up with energy. For this reason,
when John Paul II named Camilo Castrellón, a
Salesian, to be bishop, he said to him: I entrust the
young people to you, so that you can work with them. I
cannot always go to the parishes because they are very
far apart. The bishop is focussing much of his time on
the formation of priests. During the summer and winter
holidays, we always have 3-4 day meetings of
formation for youth ministry.
The Sisters of the community at El Tarra work very
much with the people. They mainly occupy themselves
with catechesis and with the formation of catechists.
They visit the villages and help the priests in
sacramental preparation. Furthermore, they work with
the children who live in the countryside in a campaign
to help them to learn to read and write. They
collaborate with the project called; Let us transform
ourselves, designed for young people who have not
been able to study. We are four very happy Sisters.
When we get together, we have so much to talk about.
I am very happy. I do not think I have a missionary
vocation, but what I am doing I do joyfully because the
people are very poor and are in great need. What I
value most is the opportunity to work with the bishop.
He is a person with the greatest human qualities I have
ever seen. He is 64 years old, a well-balanced man,
always smiling and is at his desk only in the evening
when he returns home. During the day, he is always
with his people. The poor stand in long lines to speak
with him, to tell him everything, to talk of their problems,
to ask for help, advice, and he is always there for them.
The conflict has lasted for more than 40 years. Some
groups have laid down their arms, but other more
violent groups are starting up. The people live in fear,
and even the young people are afraid. It is difficult for
them to speak; only after a long time will they begin to
tell you something. They have lived in very violent
times. Their parents have always told them to keep
quiet, not to say anything because of the fear of being
killed. For this reason, it is difficult to get to know them.
The bishop is a member of the peace commission, in
dialogue with the armed groups, and he is optimistic
that the conflict will be resolved, but the journey is long.
29/9/2007 – Colombia
1918
DON BOSCO TODAY DON BOSCO TODAY
Fr Hugh Douglas SDB 1919 – 2007
Hughie was born in Bolton and attended Thornleigh
Salesian College. He was professed as a Salesian in
1937 and ordained in 1947. He began his teaching as a
Brother in Chertsey, then spent two years teaching in
Burwash, Sussex. He managed to obtain a degree during
his teaching years; Geography was his lasting love, he
was a fellow of the Royal Society of Geographers.
Hughie was a priest who taught in schools for more years than most
Salesians. A man who for 17 years cycled each morning before school
over Battersea Bridge, to say Mass for the Spanish Sisters in Rowland
Gardens, would come back to school and check his rainfall gauge
before going to teach.
One of his pupils at Battersea in the 50s wrote, We grieve for him, but
give deep thanks for the life of a true Christian gentleman, He was a
popular and well-regarded Salesian, held in great affection by many.
Hugh's life is clearly divided into teaching, serving, and suffering. He
taught for over 40 years, served the Thornleigh community as bursar for
17 years and suffered retirement for 5 years. Hughie was always
justifiably most proud of his long years of teaching, real Salesian work for
which the province is most appreciative.
I think his 17 years serving his community as bursar, were a tribute to him. The sad time for Hughie came when he
had to accept retirement from being bursar. While many people look forward to retirement, he dreaded the thought
of it. It is tempting to gloss over these last few years, but I feel we need to recognise them, for in a strange way for
him they were very significant in his life. Hughie's life had been defined by activity, by his job. He now had to enter
into a phase of passivity.
This last phase of waiting or suffering is no reflection on the quality of care he received both in St Joseph's and
towards the end in the Willows Nursing Home. We all know how wonderfully well he was looked after. We easily
recognise our role as fellow workers with God, perhaps this understanding of our role needs to be balanced by the
perception of our role as fellow sufferers with God. Christ's passion set the pattern. I feel that Hughie's last lesson
for us is to recognise this role in our lives.
The evening before the funeral Fr Carette made this observation, “I have the happiest of memories of bringing
Hughie Holy Communion just a fortnight ago. As always, we would say, How are you? He would give that
distinctive loud reply. I'm fine! I'm absolutely fine! Of course, he was not fine but he was courteous enough not to
show his pain, not to inflict his pain on us.”
So, when Hughie pushed open the half-closed door of eternity and said: Dad, here I am, I'm home! I am sure the
Lord himself said, Hughie, now you are fine! Absolutely fine! Come along now and enjoy that place I have prepared
for you.
Fr Tony Bailey SDB
Sister Clelia Ferrari FMA 1925 - 2007
Clelia was the youngest of six children, her parents were Italian and started a business in
London. Her mother was pleased when the Salesian Sisters came into their parish. Clelia always
spoke with great affection for the Sisters she had known as a child, and it was certainly through
the influence of their example, that her own vocation became so clear to her.
Clelia was accepted as a novice in 1952, and was sent to make her novitiate in Italy. She spent a further two years
in Turin as a student where she became proficient in Italian, and made good use of this skill throughout her life.
Returning in 1956, she trained as a secondary school teacher, specialising in commercial subjects. She taught in
St Thomas’ school in Chertsey for a number of years. In 1965 she was sent to Liverpool with a group of Salesian
Sisters, to open a new secondary school for girls. She taught commercial and secretarial skills and became
deputy head of the school.
It was in the early seventies that cancer made its first appearance in her life. She faced the possibility of her own
death when she underwent that first operation, but she recovered well. With great strength of character, she
refused to let death frighten her again. She continued her work in school until 1982. She spent one year working
with the SDB community in their Pastoral Centre but she really missed community life with her own Sisters. She
had a sabbatical year in Maynooth and then continued to teach in Chertsey two days each week, in spite of
having been given early retirement on health grounds.
Clelia was appointed provincial secretary in 1985 and for the next eight years she put her planning and organising
skills to good use. In 1993, she returned to the community in Rotherhithe. Here she found plenty to do and made
use of her own skills wherever she could. She kept in touch with the past pupils from Liverpool, especially those
from the earliest days of the school, she organised reunions and welcomed visits. She began a project that she
called Summer English sending past pupils and other young women to teach English to groups of Italian students
in summer camps run by the Sisters in Italy.
Her illness finally caught up with her, she knew she was soon to die, and was ready to go to God, however, with
customary serenity and humour remarked that she was in no great hurry. She planned her own funeral down to the
last details. She wanted organ music (not guitars!), she asked her parish priest to meet her close family for a
meal, so that they would not meet as strangers at her funeral. She did the same for the Sister she asked to say a
last few words about her at the funeral, even giving her some notes about her childhood memories that would be
of comfort to her surviving brother and sister and their families.
Clelia was always a great talker and she continued to communicate to the end. In the
days just before her death, she constantly expressed her gratitude for everything in
her life. She knew she had been blessed in her family, and spoke about the love she
experienced from early childhood. She was very proud of her Salesian vocation and
was grateful for the blessings of belonging to the Salesian Family. She appreciated
the love and care she received from her own community and from the staff in the
hospital and also in the hospice where she died. We can easily imagine her telling
God all about the goodness she experienced in her life.
Clelia was a colourful character and will be remembered with affection for her love of
her vocation and the Congregation, for her immense courage in battling with the
illness that pursued her for half of her life and for her sense of mission that continued
almost to her last months. She specifically asked us to remember her alive and not
dead and not to forget to pray for her. May she rest in peace.
Sister Kathleen Scullion FMA
Books for Christmas
order 2 books and get a calendar FREE
DON BOSCO TODAY
20
✁
P R I C E L I S T - A U T U M N 2 0 0 7 - A l l p r i c e s i n c l u d e p o s t a g e a n d p a c k i n g
I would like to order:- Author QTY Price
each
DON BOSCO CALENDAR 2008 2.50
LOST & FOUND M. Cunningham SDB 7.00
CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP IN EDUCATION D O’Malley SDB 7.00
THE CHRISTIAN TEACHER D O’Malley SDB 5.50
101 SAINTS AND SPECIAL PEOPLE Lives of Saints for children K Pearce 12.00
A TIME FOR COMPASSION M Cunningham SDB 7.00
CHLOE AND JACK VISIT THE VATICAN a children’s guide to the Vatican K Pearce 5.00
DON BOSCO The friend of children and young people K Pearce 5.00
DON BOSCO’S GOSPEL WAY Reflections on the life of Don Bosco M Winstanley SDB 7.00
DON’T ORGANISE MY TEARS Reflections on bereavement A Bailey SDB 6.00
GOD OF MANY FACES Reflective verses M Renshaw FMA 3.00
GOOD NEWS IN THE FAMILY The life of Jesus in story form K Pearce 5.00
MAMMA MARGARET The Life of Don Bosco’s Mother Teresio Bosco SDB 7.00
MEMORY GAME based on ‘101 Saints and Special People’ K Pearce 6.00
MOVING ON Book of reflective poetry Margaret J Cooke 6.00
OUR COLOURFUL CHURCH YEAR K Pearce 5.00
ORDINARY WAYS Spiritual reflections for teachers & youth 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
ROSIE AND KATIE GO TO MASS 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
SEAN DEVEREUX A life given for Africa 1964-1993 M Delmer SDB 7.00
SERVING THE YOUNG Our Catholic Schools Today J Gallagher SDB 6.00
TEACHER, TEACH US TO PRAY for use in primary schools W Acred FMA 5.00
THE WITNESSES Seven witnesses narrate their part in the Passion W Acred FMA 3.00
TRUST THE ROAD 2nd edition with coloured illustrations D O’Malley SDB 6.00
VIA LUCIS How to pray the stations of the Resurrection D O’Malley SDB 7.00
WITHIN & WITHOUT Renewing Religious Life M Cunningham SDB 7.00
TOTAL
ORDER FORM - AUTUMN 2007
DON BOSCO PUBLICATIONS, THORNLEIGH HOUSE, SHARPLES PARK, BOLTON BL1 6PQ
Tel. 01204 308811 Fax 01204 306868 Email michael@salesians.org.uk www.don-bosco-publications.co.uk
Further details of all our books are given on this site
REDUCTIONS AVAILABLE FOR BOOKSHOPS, CHURCH REPOSITORIES & MULTIPLE COPIES.
Name
Address
Postcode
Tel Fax Email
Pay by cheque - payable to DON BOSCO PUBLICATIONS or
Visa Mastercard Switch Issue No
Issued:- card no:-
Expires:- Signature Date
