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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Editorial
This edition is mainly about young people in the Church today. Our Salesian Rule
makes it quite clear:
Young people are called to serve the Church
To meet the needs of his people the Lord continually calls some to follow
him, and enriches them with a variety of gifts in the service of the Kingdom.
We are convinced that many young people are rich in spiritual potential and
give indications of an apostolic vocation. We help them to discover, accept
and develop the gift of a lay, consecrated or priestly vocation, for the
benefit of the whole Church and of the Salesian Family.
The first article is the result of an interview with Jessica, the Team Leader
at our Retreat Centre at Savio House. She is well placed to know the
young people of today since students and teachers from so many
schools benefit from a few days’ retreat there.
The World Youth Day 2008 (WYD2008), which took place in Australia
this year, gives us an optimistic picture of the Church of young people.
I quote an extract from one Salesian group from Indonesia:
The young pilgrims were immediately at home as they experienced the red-
carpet hospitality of Sydneysiders, who were overwhelmingly gracious and
warm. But what would remain as one of the most unforgettable experiences
for this group of twenty young people, travelling from Jakarta, is their
participation in the Salesian World Youth Day at Engadine, south of Sydney.
These Jakarta youths experienced the thrill of their lives as they encountered
and interacted with fellow Salesian youth from all over the world. What was to
complete their joy was encountering the Rector Major, Fr Pascual Chávez. No
wonder then that one of the lads remarked, Father, can we just stay here please? (which
reminded one of Peter's remark Lord, how wonderful for us to be here!). The catechesis
sessions in the morning, the faith-sharing and availability of the Sacraments are what
changed them from tourists into pilgrims.
I have included an article entitled Don Bosco’s Brothers to explain that the vocation to
the religious life is alive and relevant in the Church today. The last article is of a
practical nature, the corporal works of mercy as given in Matthew’s Gospel (c 25
vv.31-46).
Too many people in the Church are pessimistic about young people today.
Certainly they are not the same as young people were many years ago.
They are different, they live in a different world, but they are good people.
I hope that when you have read this issue you may appreciate the
wonderful world of young people today.
Readers in the British Isles will have received a free Don Bosco
Calendar with this issue; the 2009 calendar has
the theme, The Smiles of Youth.
Finally I hope the football antics of Bosco
Bear might bring a smile to your face.
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DON BOSCO TODAY
Anthony Bailey SDB
Editor
Email: a.bailey@salesians.org.uk
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DON BOSCO TODAY
Contents
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What did you learn? 4
World Youth Day 6
Bosco Bear: Football Crazy 9
Our Books
Salesian Christmas Catalogue 13
Don Bosco’ Brothers 14
Bosco Volunteer Action 16
Myanmar Revisited 18
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DON BOSCO PUBLICATIONS
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SALESIAN MISSIONS
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Provincial Office
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DESIGN AND PRINTING
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ARTWORK
Val O’Brien
PHOTOGRAPHY
ANS Rome
Peter Carroll
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.salesiansisters.org.uk
Salesian Youth Ministry www.salesianyouthministry.com
Don Bosco Youth Net www.donboscoyouth.net
Bosconet www.bosconet.aust.com
Youth Outreach www.youthoutreach.org.hk
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DON BOSCO TODAY
What did I learn?
Jessica Wilkinson
Retreat Team Leader at Savio House
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What have you learnt from your father?
How to love children. Hard work, for whatever he
achieved was through hard work.
The example of how to live one’s faith, fervently. Also
his passion for his faith.
What have you learnt from your mother?
Mum showed me self-giving, everyday holiness,
comfort and joy. Maybe these things that she
modelled for me, inspired me to give similarly to
those I meet and work with. She had enormous love
and patience and really knew how to care for people.
What did you learn from school?
I was shy and retiring when I went to secondary
school, but because I was given responsibility
I began to grow in confidence and I learned to be a
leader. I was the first Eucharistic Minister in my
school, and that gave me great joy.
What have you learnt from your present
responsibility?
The volunteers who work with me have a great sense
of fun and a great generosity in giving themselves.
I am constantly inspired by their generosity to each
other and the young people they meet on retreat.
They have fantastic gifts and they are prepared to
share them. I know that the children who come on
retreat are inspired by these young volunteers.
Learning how to live in community is part of their
training. I learn from their enthusiasm and their
energy and the gifts they are prepared to share.
What did you learn from the teachers who
accompany the children on retreat?
I have been impressed by their dedication and
generosity, in giving much more than a teacher’s job
requires. Sometimes the teachers seem to get more
out of the retreat than the youngsters. The way they
are open to learn how to deal with children in a more
relaxed way. The way they are prepared to go out of
their comfort zone and be prepared to break down
barriers. They seem to learn alongside the children in
their care and be inspired to learn more about their
faith.
What did you learn from books?
It is hard to decide because I love so many books.
But at the beginning of The Little Prince by Antoine
De Saint-Exupery, it says how grown-ups don't seem
to understand anything by themselves and how
tedious it is for children to have to explain things to
them. I think that this made me more determined to
be the best teacher and now youth worker that I can,
to try my hardest not to become a proper grown-up if
it meant that I was to become tedious and not
understanding of the wonder of what it is to be a
child. No wonder God chose to reveal the mysteries
of the Kingdom to such as these!
What did you learn from your mistakes?
John Powell once wrote, The only real mistake is the
one from which we learn nothing. I have tried to learn
from my mistakes and definitely grown as a result of
my mistakes.
“
“
The only real mistake is the one
from which we learn nothing
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DON BOSCO TODAY
I would like to begin by posing three questions:
• What impressed you most at World Youth Day?
• Beyond the actual events what did you experience?
• What happened to you at World Youth Day?
I would like to offer some thoughts of my own.
I would like to single out three significant impressions:
• The extraordinary outpouring of Joy in the streets
of Sydney
• The evident thirst by the pilgrims for being given
the Truth
• The sense of Reverence witnessed to, particularly
at the major events
Joy on the streets
What has astounded the city of Sydney has been the
effusion of joy over the WYD period. It has become
the single most common comment from
Sydneysiders about the WYD. They were amazed at
the spirit in the pilgrims. People just presumed that
such a large gathering of young people would
produce its own problems – like impatience or rowdy
behaviour. People were struck by the peace, the calm
and good natured happiness of the pilgrims.
The police, in particular, could not get over how
cooperative and friendly the pilgrims were.
People were saying at the end that they wish the
spirit of the WYD could stay in the city. Families were
crying as their pilgrims said goodbye. The pilgrims
had an extraordinary effect on all sorts of people.
What amazed people was the fact that these pilgrims
did not need alcohol or drugs to manufacture this
joy. It was genuine and flowed from hearts full of
faith. This joy challenged people to look at what
Christian faith has to offer. It was perhaps the
strongest witness of all to the truth of the Christian
message. People could see that it was not put on.
It was simple, humble and absolutely real. It was
infectious. Bus drivers joined in the singing. Train
carriages were caught up with the spirit. It washed
over the city. Many people were deeply touched by
this unaffected happiness. Joy is an authentic sign of
World Youth Day - Sign of a
new springtime for the Church
By Most Rev. Julian Porteous
Auxiliary Bishop of Sydney
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DON BOSCO TODAY
the Kingdom of God. It is one of the fruits of the Spirit
listed by St Paul in his Letter to the Galatians. The WYD
in Sydney was a little taste of heaven where love rules!
The thirst for truth
Since WYD the most sought after follow-up
experience is Catechesis. Before WYD the concept of
catechesis was a foreign one to just about everyone
– from young people, to priests, to teachers. If the
word was understood it was considered to be an
alien idea – some would have felt that this was likely
to be the least successful part of the WYD
programme. The young people would be more
interested in the festival concerts and the big events.
One of the comments made by many of the bishops
was that the highlight of the WYD for them was the
catechesis. It was certainly for me. The young people
were open and responsive. Their questions revealed
a genuine searching. The bishops were given
teaching topics based on themes given by the
Pontifical Council for the Laity. These topics were: the
role of the Holy Spirit in the life of the individual
believer, the Holy Spirit as the soul of the Church, the
Holy Spirit as the agent for mission.
The young people were interested and attentive. They
asked good and searching questions. They had a
thirst for the truth. As one young man said to me, he
wanted substance, not opinions! He did not want to
be asked what he thought, he wanted to hear what
the Church thought.
The young people wanted particularly to hear what
Pope Benedict had to say. They understand what he
is saying about the problem of relativism. I was
involved in a television programme being beamed live
to Italy and the presenter asked a group of young
people what inspired them about the WYD and one
young man said that it was the words of the Pope. He
said he was touched by what the Pope had to say.
The presenter then commented that some journalists
were saying that the message of the Pope was too
complex and that it was hard to understand. The
young man commented that he had no problem
understanding the Pope.
This revealed something significant: young people
are attuned to the message of the Pope. They look to
him. They trust him. They know that he speaks the
truth. It is testimony to their faith. They are open and
able to receive things of the spirit. The young people
had ears to hear! They were not standing in
judgement and analysis, they were simply able to
receive the message of the Pope.
Pope Benedict gave some profound reflections on
the significance of faith and the role of the Holy Spirit
today. The young pilgrims wanted something solid.
They are not interested in shallow and superficial
messages. The young pilgrims came looking to be
spiritually fed and they were not disappointed.
This reveals something of great significance. Young
people are turning to the Church with open hearts.
They want something sound and solid from the
Church. They won’t settle for anything wishy washy.
A sense of reverence
There was a profound moment during the Vigil at
Randwick which many have commented upon. It was
the moment when the Blessed Sacrament was
brought out onto the altar for adoration. A silence fell
over the crowd. This crowd that had been singing
and dancing, this crowd that had been full of youthful
exuberance, suddenly went profoundly quiet.
There were two other moments of profound silence –
one was at the final scenes of the Stations of the
Cross and the other was after Holy Communion at
the final Mass.
The young people attending this WYD had a keen
sense of what is sacred. They have a reverence for
the things of God. They can sing and dance, but
more than that they can enter into deep prayer.
I am told that people could not get into the tents for
adoration during the vigil as they were full. One man
said he came back to the tent at 4am and there were
still many young people in prayer, but there was
enough space for him to get in to pray. Some young
people were in deep prayer before the Blessed
Sacrament for long periods of time. These pilgrims
have discovered silent interior prayer.
Some priests were saying to me that you cannot
understand the WYD until you hear confessions.
There were 1,000 priests hearing confessions. Priests
told me that they went for hours on end hearing
confessions. Many told me of some of the most
wonderful moments of their priesthood were
experienced at this WYD. This is one of the great
graces of the WYD. The confession is the moment of
personal conversion. Many young pilgrims will leave
Sydney being in a new place with God.
DON BOSCO TODAY
8
About half way through the
pilgrimage we went to two
catechesis sessions in the local
church in Engadine.
These sessions were obviously
centred on the Holy Spirit.
Two bishops were talking about various things on this
topic. I noticed a recurring phrase that we should
open ourselves up to the Holy Spirit. I realised that I
didn’t really know what they were talking about, or
rather that I didn’t know how to do that. So on the
second day I decided to ask and even though this
bishop was an interesting and inspiring speaker and
clearly a very spiritual man, he didn’t really answer
my question.
So then I got thinking to see if I could find a more
satisfactory answer for myself but I wasn’t having too
much luck with it. So then I thought, Maybe there is
no definite answer, perhaps it is something that is too
personal and depends on your individual view of what
constitutes a spiritual experience and how you view
the world.
I identified some of the aspects of World Youth Day
that affected me most deeply and which I think of as
my spiritual experiences:
• The crowds of people who came together for the
same purpose.
• The singing and dancing that occurred at all the
events, and the joy that people showed at just
being there with one another.
• The amazing friendliness of everyone, pilgrims
and locals alike, everybody had a kind word or a
smile, and sometimes even a hug!
So I realised several things. Firstly that the bishop
couldn’t have given me an answer that would have
satisfied me. He didn’t know me and hadn’t seen the
things that I had seen or experienced the Spirit in the
same ways that I have. I also realised that
connecting with the Spirit is a deeply personal
experience, in which there can be no generalisations
and therefore each pilgrim who went to WYD will
have left with a different impression and will have a
different version of what WYD meant to them.
Sometimes the difference is subtle but it will always
be there. That is why although there were thousands
and thousands of pilgrims attending the WYD it is still
essentially a personal experience and a personal
encounter with the Holy Spirit.
Emily Malyon-Roberts
The Spirit of World Youth Day
A Pilgrim’s Reflection
DON BOSCO TODAY
9Bosco Bear
C
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The Bear Facts
Hello Children
Lots of boys and girls like football. I love it! I’m a
goalkeeper! First of all, sport keeps you healthy. Exercise
and fresh air, even if it’s raining, are so good for you.
You can learn a lot from football. You can,
unfortunately, copy some things that are bad. It’s
important to have respect for the players you are
playing against and the referee. If they weren’t
there, you wouldn’t have a game!
It’s important to have the right attitude while you
are playing: good footballers try even harder if
they are losing. You try as hard as you possibly
can to win and when you do it feels great: BUT no-one
wins all the time and you have to learn how to lose properly. When a game
ends you should shake hands and start to plan for the next one, because the
game you’ve just played is finished.
WHAT’S MY ANSWER COMPETITION RESULTS
What have I learned from my family? That they love me.
What have I learned from my friends? I’ve learned I need to be kind as well as
friendly.
What makes me really happy? Having a lovely family.
Write a short prayer. Dear God; thank you for providing me with all the
wonderful things in life; Amen.
Prize Winners:
MATTHEW SHAW, aged 6. SHANNON WHEATLEY, aged 10.
LUCY RAWLINSON, aged 7 and BETH ROTHERY, aged 8.
The winners will receive a copy of either Our Colourful Church Year or
101 Saints and Special People.
DON BOSCO TODAY
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FOOTBALL CRAZY!
MONDAY
Back to School, Even better, it’s the football season,
said Bosco Bear.
We want a good team this year, we’ll have a trial
match on Friday, said the
manager, Mr Fabio Frog.
WEDNESDAY
Mr Frog put a teamsheet up
on the notice board.
FRIDAY
I see Kate is in goal for you, said Bosco to Rio. I knew a girl who
was always standing between goalposts.
Oh, said Rio. What was her name?
Annette, said Bosco.
THE BIG MATCH:
Just before the kick-off, Molly told Rio that she would fly down
the wing. Rio shook his head. Frank Ferret told Rio that he tidied
his own room so he would be the sweeper. Rio shook his head
twice. Phweeee…,went Mr Frog’s whistle. They’re off!
FOOTBALL CRAZY
Rio crossed the ball, Suzi tried to duck but it hit her head and
went to Ben Badger,
who shot
at the goal! Bosco tipped it
past the post! Suzi felt dizzy:
she needed the magic
sponge.
Boscos team got a free-
kick.
The Sweeper
The Magic Sponge
Put up a wall, said Rio.
We haven’t any bricks! said Ben.
Rio put his head in his hands!
As he looked up he saw
Graham Greyhound whack the
ball into the net.
BARCELONA BEARS 1 REAL RABBITS 0
HALF-TIME
These oranges are good, said Danielle Deer.
We haven’t any cakes, have we? asked Bosco.
SECOND HALF
Rio’s team were on top: he was trying like mad. He ran into the
penalty area: Harold went to tackle him and Rio fell to the
ground.
Dive! shouted Bosco.
Foul! screamed Rio.
Penalty! said Mr Frog.
Everyone came close to watch apart from Molly who sat down
on the halfway-line.
Rio shot! Bosco dived! The ball hit the bar and came back to
Rio. He shot again, it hit Bosco’s foot and bounced down the
field to Molly.
Go Molly, go! shouted Bosco.
She sped towards the goal, took aim
and fired the ball past Kate Cat!
GOAL!
BARCELONA BEARS 2 REAL RABBITS 0
Mr Frog blew the full-time whistle. Rio held out his
hand and pulled Bosco up off the floor.
You were so lucky to win that game, he said.
Bosco just grinned.
DON BOSCO TODAY
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The Wall
The Dive
DON BOSCO TODAY
12
Football
Life’s Golden Rule
Do unto others as you would have others
do unto you.
That’s hard to understand isn’t it? It means
you should behave towards other people in
the same way that you want other people to
behave towards you. Many people think it’s
one of the most important ideas you can have
as you grow up and live your life. You should think about it. No-one is perfect and
it’s hard to do the right thing all the time, but you should try.
Football, in fact all sports and games, give you a chance to show a good attitude.
If you don’t like people moaning at you; don’t moan. If you don’t like people
boasting if they’ve won; don’t boast. If you don’t like people cheating; don’t cheat.
If you don’t like people who give up; don’t give up. If you were the referee would
you want players arguing with you? If you wouldn’t, then don’t do it. Do you like it
if people praise you after a game? If you do, then praise other people.
You can get into the habit of doing these things when you are young and you’ll
always do them; and the reason you’ll do them is because you think they are
RIGHT.
BOSCOWORD
Send your entries to: DON BOSCO PUBLICATIONS
Thornleigh House, Sharples Park, Bolton, BL1 6PQ.
Include your name, age and address
ACROSS
4. A dark colour (5)
5. A type of tree (3)
6. City in Italy where
Don Bosco was
born (5)
7. The abominable
snowman (4)
9. Founder of
Salesians (3-5)
11. Choirs do this (4)
12. A long time (3)
13. If you don’t, you
could drown! (4)
16. Summer Fair (4)
DOWN
1. Famous battle in
1066 (8)
2. Alright (2)
3. A mobile (5)
4. Name of the
Pope (8)
5. Nigeria and
Ghana are in this
Continent (6)
6. How many are
there in twins (3)
8. Very heavy
weight (3)
10. Shrek was one of
these (4)
14. Perhaps (2)
15. I (2)
1
4 5
6
7 8
9
11
13 14
16
15
10
12
2 3
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DON BOSCO TODAY
Thanks to your
marvellous generosity
our Christmas
Catalogue raised just
under £14,000. Many of
you were kind enough
to comment on how you
enjoyed giving gifts that
make a real difference
to the lives of young
people. You also gave
us helpful feedback
which we have used to
improve our service.
We have made full use of the money you
donated. You have trained volunteers, funded
residential retreats, provided sports equipment,
games, CDs and musical instruments for our
youth clubs (including the Croxteth, Liverpool
club started last year by the Salesian Sisters in
response to the gun and knife culture in that
area). You also funded youth club outings for
disadvantaged young people; provided comfort
resources for all our chaplaincies, catechists’
materials for all our parishes; re-stocked ‘Mass
Bags’ for toddlers; redecorated youth meeting
rooms and contributed funding for a summer
play scheme and a special project for
disaffected young people.
We cannot thank you enough for your amazing support which allows us to continue and develop our work with young
people. We hope you will continue to support our Christmas Catalogue initiative. This year, we are delighted to be
joined in our fundraising efforts by the Salesian Sisters. The 2009 catalogue will be sent to you in October, the
catalogue continues to be developed and run entirely by volunteers.
The Christmas Catalogue Volunteer Team.
Salesian Christmas Gift Catalogue 2008
A Heartfelt Thank you
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Don Bosco’s Brothers
Our Salesian community in Bolton was blessed this year by four
Brother events, the death of Brother Tom Caulfield, the 100th
birthday of Brother Christopher Gorton, the profession of
Brother Sandy Fairley and the visit of Brother Claudio Marangio,
Economer General. These events made us reflect on the
vocation of the Salesian Brother.
When Don Bosco founded the Salesians in the 19th
century, he envisaged a different kind of religious
order in the Church. He wanted a religious family of
priests and laymen. At a time of anticlericalism, he
wanted to make it clear that to be a religious you
didn’t have to be a priest. Our present Salesian
Constitutions state:
The Salesian brother brings to every field of
education and pastoral activity the specific
qualities of his lay status, which make him in
a particular way a witness to God's Kingdom
in the world, close as he is to the young and
to the realities of working life.
Brother Tom Caulfield, who died just a month before
the 100th birthday of Brother Chris, had been looking
forward to the 100th birthday of his great friend, often
reminding us that when he, Tom, was a four-year-old
new boy, Chris, then fourteen, had made him
welcome on his first day at school. They had
remained friends throughout their Salesian life. When
Brother Tom died we found he had left a birthday
card for Brother Chris in which he had written:
A century attained, at last.
At a steady pace, not slow not fast.
With thanks to God who gave the strength
A mighty score to gain at length.
Not keen on sport, nor games of chance,
Fr Winstanley - Brother Chris - Fr O’Meara - Brother Michael
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DON BOSCO TODAY
Rather on work with joy and dance.
This mighty score just makes us glad
It’s what you’ve aimed at since a lad.
We celebrated the 100th birthday of Brother Chris on
Sunday 15th June 2008. At the Mass I read out Tom’s
birthday card and in the archives we had found a
copy of the letter Chris had written when applying to
become a Salesian when he was 24 years old. He
wrote that he had a great longing to be admitted into
the Salesian Congregation and promised to do his
very best to give satisfaction, and become a 100%
Salesian. At the end of the Mass, Fr Winstanley, our
provincial presented him with the Papal Blessing from
Pope Benedict XVI and a personal letter and blessing
from our Rector Major, Fr Pascual Chavez. Brother
Chris was visibly moved and delighted. Some of his
family and friends had been invited to the festive
meal which followed. Brother Chris was presented
with a telegram from the Queen, in a beautiful folder.
Encouraged by his good friend and fellow tailor, Fr
Michael O'Meara, Brother Chris responded by joining
energetically in the singing of some of his favourite
songs, including predictably Keep right on to the end
of the road.
On August 16th Brother Sandy Fairley, aged 23, was
professed as a Salesian Brother in our chapel at
Thornleigh, Bolton. Sandy is from Polbeth, a village
near Edinburgh, Scotland. He met the Salesians
through a former Salesian Sister who was one of his
high school teachers. She introduced him to VIDES,
the Sisters’ lay volunteer programme, and he
enthusiastically participated in that for several years.
When he left school Sandy worked with the Salesian
Sisters in their retreat house in Kendal, Cumbria, for a
year. He then moved to the Salesians’ retreat centre,
Savio House in Bollington, Cheshire. Sandy soon
realised that the Salesian life was for him. To broaden
his experience of it, he moved to Bootle, near
Liverpool, where he lived in the Salesian community
and did various forms of youth ministry in the parish
and in Savio High School. Something caused him to
hesitate to commit himself to the Salesians however,
and after a year he returned to his parents’ home in
Scotland and got a job working with children with
special needs. That experience brought Sandy back
to the Salesians. In August 2007 he went to the USA,
to make his novitiate year at St Joseph’s Novitiate,
Port Chester, New York. Sandy remarked to a
Salesian in America that what most attracted him to
the Salesians was how normal he found them. He felt
that they made Savio House a real home for the
volunteers who worked there.
Sandy is grateful for the welcome that he received in
the New Rochelle Province. After his profession he is
now continuing his studies in youth and community
education at George Williams College in London and
has joined the Salesian community at Battersea,
London. He then looks forward to going wherever he
may be able to serve young people as a Salesian
Brother, bringing a young face to the Salesian
presence in his province.
Present at Sandy’s profession was Brother Claudio
Marangio, a past pupil of the Salesians in Turin. This
year he was appointed as one of our Salesian
superiors in Rome. He has overall responsibility for
the Salesian finances throughout the world. I see his
appointment as recognition by the Salesians of the
importance of the vocation of the Salesian Brother.
My own personal reflection on the vocation of the
Salesian Brother is that it brings a richness and
variety to our Salesian family. We have been blessed
and are still blessed in this province by outstanding
Brothers. I recall with particular affection and
appreciation Brother Michael Grix, who died seven
years ago, having founded the work of Don Bosco
Publications. He who brought hope and consolation
to many readers of this magazine through the
apostolate of his letter writing. At present, our two
homes for our elderly Salesians are managed by
Salesian Brothers, Brother Michael Delmer and
Brother Joe Adams. They have made these two
houses places of prayer and relaxation for our elderly
confreres.
The Church has recognised the vocation of the
Salesian Brother by declaring Brother Artemides Zatti,
Blessed and Brother Simon Srugi, Venerable. May
others be called to this great vocation.
Tony Bailey SDB
Brothers Sandy and Claudio
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Over the last eighteen months,
Bosco Volunteer Action (BOVA)
has gradually changed its
emphasis: moving from solely
sending volunteers to serve in
Salesian communities around
the world, to recognising the
volunteer experience as being
only a part of the journey.
A journey which we hope will lead to something
ongoing, and will recognise the volunteers’ potential
for involvement in justice and peace on their return.
This change is due to asking difficult questions about
the use of volunteers in developing countries. For
example, one Mexican Salesian asked a volunteer,
What was the point of coming to just cuddle a few
babies and feel good?
This has led to the educational philosophy evident in
our mission statement:
Learning through action; serving the young and
the poor, alongside Salesian communities
around the world.
Below are four examples of volunteers’ ongoing
involvement. More can be read on our website:
www.boscovolunteeraction.co.uk.
Ongoing action for Bolivia
Simon Treacy, a past pupil of Farnborough Salesian
College, was a volunteer in a girls’ home in Bolivia.
On returning from my first experience as a
Salesian volunteer I was keen to continue my
involvement, not only with the Salesians but
also with the project itself.
In coordination with BOVA and Fr Bob, I began
fundraising for a new development at the town
where I had volunteered. The aim was to raise
a total of US$8000 to build a small house for
future volunteers to work at the same project in
Bolivia.
After three months of fundraising, and thanks
largely to the incredible generosity of local
Salesian parishes and the Salesian school, we
have nearly achieved our target.
Following on from this development, there are
plans to establish the long-term connection
between the Salesian in the UK and the
project in Bolivia by setting up a charitable
trust.
Personally, I feel this ongoing action is a very
important way to recognise the good work that
I witnessed being done at the project. The trust
will support the young people at the project
and also be an opportunity for future
volunteers to maintain their links with their
volunteer experience in Bolivia.
Award winning work
Angela Duffy, and her husband Leo, have volunteered
in a number of countries, including Ghana and the
Philippines, with Bosco Volunteer Action and Vides
UK. While in the UK Angela presents stories and
photos from their experiences to anyone who will
listen, raising thousands of pounds to support the
Bosco Volunteer Action
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work of the Salesians overseas. She was recently
awarded the prestigious Paul Harris Fellowship by
the Rotary Club for her work.
Angela, a retired teacher, and Leo, who offers teaching
and support with computers, have recently requested
another placement with BOVA – this time in Mongolia.
At the time we had no links with Salesians there.
However, within days, an email reached us from
Mongolia with a request for an English teacher and
computer technician; divine providence at work!
Don Bosco across Europe
Patrick Kerridge was one of BOVA’s first volunteers. He
lived and worked with the Salesians in India.
After my 6 months volunteering I have continued
my involvement by helping out at the Salesian
Sisters' youth club in Streatham as well as by
becoming a representative of DBYN (Don Bosco
Youth-Net). DBYN is an international network of
Salesian youth organisations working in the style of
Don Bosco. The network brings together member
organisations from 13 EU member states, made up
of over 1,000 employees and 17,000 volunteers
who cater for over 150,000 children and young
people. I attend seminars and am now one of the
trainers for international activities. In addition, I am
still involved with BOVA - helping out at training
weekends and as a support worker for volunteers
overseas.
World Student Christian Federation
Solidarity Conference
Kathryn Ellis has built on her volunteer experience
through involvement with the Student Christian
Movement.
After my BOVA placement I didn’t want my
volunteering or intercultural learning to just
come to a halt. As a member of the Student
Christian Movement I have been involved in
various retreats and conferences so when
I heard about an international opportunity
I jumped at the chance. Along with another
representative from the UK I went to Paris for a
conference about peace and violence where
I met many interesting people and was inspired
to become more involved.
I soon found myself helping to organise the next
conference: ‘A Just Life or just life?’, held in
Budapest. We aimed to raise awareness about
alternative globalisation, social justice, fair trade
and the global responsibility for poverty
reduction. This was done through lectures,
workshops, discussions, role play and Bible
study. I involved James and BOVA after hearing
him talk about volunteering as I thought a
presentation from him would encourage us to
do something in our own countries. Following
this, we gave participants the chance to do a
small act of volunteering in Budapest: with a
homeless organisation, a home for people with
disabilities or a human rights organisation.
Prayer at the conference was particularly
moving, as each evening was organised by
different denominations. This gave us the
chance to experience a range of approaches to
worship, reminding us that although we come
from different parts of the world, we are one
body in Christ. The week was an emotional one,
full of laughter and tears, but also an excellent
opportunity to learn more about poverty issues
and to discuss them in different cultural contexts.
These four individuals, as well as the other stories on
the website (including BOVA groups at the ‘Drop the
debt’ and ‘LiveSimply’ events), are examples of people
whose volunteer experiences have acted as a stimulus
for ongoing involvement.
In all aspects of BOVA’s work, including training
weekends, formation while overseas and after
returning to the UK, there is a focus on providing a
well-planned educational experience; stimulating and
encouraging a long-term involvement with
development issues, faith in action and Salesian
family. This reflects the Salesians’ international thinking
on volunteering which observes that, Salesian
voluntary service is primarily concerned with the
personal and social maturing of the volunteer who
accepts the challenge of educating while being
educated oneself and calls for Salesian Non-
Governmental Organisations to encourage
campaigning and education to a world view.
(Voluntary Service and Salesian Mission: Handbook
and Guidelines).
We feel privileged to have supported our volunteers on
their journeys.
James Trewby, Bosco Volunteer Action
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Myanmar Revisited
Water
We were able to clean the wells of four villages near
Ai Ma. The stagnant water and debris were totally
taken care of by four Salesians, who spent their time
operating the two pumps, until drinkable water was
made available for the area.
Usually the local people collect rainwater in ponds
and reservoirs; work they normally carry out the whole
year. This year, it is was not possible, because of the
storm. Branches, trees, decaying vegetation,
stagnant water and sand, together with sea water,
inundated the wells and water resources. We had to
re-dig the ponds, and drain away the contaminated
water. Fifteen new wells were dug to guarantee a
steady source of clean drinking water.
We offered our services to anyone in need, there was
no distinction on account of race or creed. We were
there simply to help. Buddhist monasteries as well as
other Christian denominations were part and parcel of
our humanitarian assistance. We were able to count
on the help of two skilled drillers with the necessary
experience and equipment. In one case we had to
drill down 60 metres to find fresh water.
Pests
Immediately after the storm there were no birds, flies
or mosquitoes, but later when the bodies of people
and the carcasses of animals began to surface,
clouds of insects appeared which multiplied so much
that it was impossible to control them. Malaria, which
occurs in these low-lying areas near the sea is
notorious. The situation got worse through the lack of
drugs. We distributed mosquito repellents but the
tenacity of these little creatures is astounding. They
seem to appear from nowhere once the effects wear
off. It was a lost cause driving them away. Two of the
Brothers took charge of spraying the whole area with
fly repellent and they were fully occupied for the
whole month until the end of our stay.
Power Tillers
The deadly tidal surges took the lives of most cows
and buffaloes. Some survived the storm, only to die
of thirst and starvation. The loss of their owner’s lives
also left nobody to take care of them. Survivors of
battered areas were in no condition to look after
themselves, let alone their animals. This was a severe
blow to the agriculture sector. Then there was the
time factor. There were only 30 days left for the
cultivation of rice. That is why we channelled our
efforts towards procuring seven small tractors and we
provided the villages with 20 barrels of diesel oil to
run them. Before we set off for the relief work among
the cyclone-hit villages, we got hold of vehicles,
rations, seedlings and construction materials. We
also recruited the manpower to implement these
projects. The relief supplies and daily needs (rice,
salt, oil plus other condiments) were transported and
distributed day and night.
Chainsaw and Wood Cutting
As other forms of wood were not available, betel palm
trees came into use because there were many of
them and they were easy to split. Another type of
building material was the coconut tree, these trees
had fallen by the hundreds but to split them was a
problem due to the lack of saws and skill. Everything
was scarce. Priority was given to survival and
sustainability. Other things such as agriculture were of
less importance. The stricken victims had nothing,
neither material nor money. The houses were rebuilt,
making use of the fallen coconut palms. The villagers
were at a loss, as they had neither tools nor
resources. With the chainsaws, our group proved
their skills producing pillars, beams, rafters and
planks for the floor and walls. Ordinary saws, if there
had been any, would have been of little help.
On the 2nd May 2008 cyclone Nargis struck Myanmar leaving behind it
destruction and desolation. With other local organisations the Salesians
also did what they could for the survivors. Although some time has now
passed, we publish a report by Fr Charles Saw of the work undertaken by
the Salesians and their friends.
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DON BOSCO TODAY
Rice Cultivation
The usual procedures in planting rice had to be
abandoned. Sowing had to be done immediately after
the tilling. There was no time to lose. Though the need
for seeds was greater, there was no alternative. Many
plots were unattended because of the death of the
owners. The people all joined in and helped each
other on a communal basis, and their joint efforts
were rewarded. We made our contribution procuring
fuel for the tractors and seeds for planting and giving
a hand tilling the land. We were proud to have been
able to help some 200 families with enough food for
the coming harvesting season. The recipients
included widows, orphans and those who were in no
condition to work.
Some were engaged in taking a census of the missing
people, and although some came only out of curiosity,
others worked with dedication. It was touching to see
how the local people welcomed the visitors. They
offered them what little they had, including the scarce
drinking water. This generosity was not superficial, but
came from the heart of the survivors. So as not to be
a burden on the people, our group was extra careful
in bringing the necessary provisions for our own needs.
Our Daily Bread and Work
Our provisions included packets of dried noodles,
sardines and dry rations, blankets, mosquito nets,
mosquito coils, candles and lighters. We shared them
with the people. We cooked our own meals and
dedicated most of our time to work. Each day began
with prayers and Mass. We then worked till darkness
fell. Water treatment plants and purifying tablets were
used to deal with the contamination. Tottering houses
were shored up; roofs and walls put into place. We
also helped to repair a convent and restore it to use.
Because initially the houses were uninhabitable, we
had to transfer children, the injured and orphans to
live in relief camps far away from their homes. When
the accommodation was restored to normal, they
were able to return.
Thanks to the efforts of the Salesian group and
other organisations, 5 villages, with a total of
about 500 households, have begun to return to
their normal lives and about 700 acres have been
returned to arable cultivation.
Fr Charles Saw SDB
