Parañaque City, the Philippines, 1 October 2016 -- Youth leaders and Salesian animators of the Sunday oratory in Seminaryo ng Don Bosco (SnDB) begin the month of October with a Holy Mass and a tree-planting activity.
Leaders of the recently revived Sunday Oratory in SnDB celebrated the Holy Mass in honor of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus. Fr. Jesus 'Jess' Tayag, SDB presided over the eucharistic celebration at 4:00pm. In his homily, Fr. Jess emphasized the nature of the oratory and the responsibility of the leaders in it. He mentioned how the oratory has been an avenue of change and conversion to many young people in Don Bosco's time. It has turned them into good Christians and honest citizens, and made a number of saints.
After the mass, there was a tree-planting activity. Aside from memorializing the beginning of their leadership formation, it was an invitation for them to be one with nature. "Letting them plant a tree allows them to be more conscious about nature. It helps them own their environment and gives them the impetus to care for it" explained Fr. Jess. This begins a series of leadership formation activities for them.
There are twenty-one youth leaders from the nearby Malacañang Dulo community are helping the Salesians organize and animate the Sunday Oratory in Seminaryo.
