FIN Province Report (Philippines North and Papua New Guinea)

By Fr Joao Costa, SDB

Manila, the Philippines, 6 May 2017 -- At present there are 353 promised members in the Philippines North province FIN - 12 centers and 44 promised members in Papua New Guinea (SDB - PGS Vice-province - 2 centers). The average age of the Salesian Cooperators oscilates from 40-60 years of age.

In the past 3 years was established one new Center in Sta. Rosa (close to Manila) and next May 24th a second center will be established in Tarlac after an induction of 20 new members.

At provincial level were held a variety of 7 formation meetings (initial and ongoing formation), like Cooperators Day 2014 in Tarlac, Provincial Convention 2015 in Makati, Cooperators Day 2015 in Tondo, Retreat 2015 in St. John the Baptist House of Prayer in Tagaytay, Provincial Convention 2016 in San Jose, Nueva Ecija; Cooperators Day 2016 in Calauan, Laguna and Retreat 2016 in Oasis House of Prayer in Silang, Cavite.

The annual Cooperators’ Day which is being held every 3rd weekend of September in a different SDB Salesian setting. This is to give everybody the chance to know the apostolic works in the various settings. In view of this, we try to immerse ourselves with the young and the community, and secondly we solicit funds and in goods also, in order to be able to give our small share to contribute to their needs.

The ongoing apostolic works are mainly done at the local centers’ level. Since the centers are represented in the Provincial Council, the various apostolic works are coordinated and reported to the provincial council. These are the on-going apostolic works in the various centers:

• Teaching of catechism in public schools and remote areas
• Facilitate values formation programs, youth camps, vocation camps and other youth programs
• Feeding program and gift-giving projects for poor children and youth
• Assist in the masses, recollection and retreats
• Parish involvement – in youth ministry, as speakers/facilitators in formation seminars for the sacrament of baptism, confirmation and marriage, as lectors and commentators, choir and assist/manage livelihood projects
• Volunteer works in outreach programs, medical mission, disaster relief operations
• Supervision and management of migrant youth dormitories
• Visit migrant youth workers in their boarding houses
• Assist in job placements in the training centers
• Visit the sick, including sick members of the association
• Support for vocations – priestly and religious
• Promotion of the Salesian Cooperators’ Vocation

Major source of income and key expenditure items

Income

• Contributions from Cooperators
• Donations from friends, relatives, employers and co-workers
• Fund raising projects (such as raffle tickets. solicitation letters, selling of various items)
• Mass collections and offerings
• Net income from activities (registration fees less expenditures)

Expenditure

• Formation expenses (transportation, materials/supplies and equipment, stipend, venue, food etc.)
• Outreach expenses (transportation, materials/supplies and equipment, stipend, venue, food etc.)
• Vocation promotion expenses
• Solidarity

DB200 related activities and inspiration

• Don Bosco Exhibit "GOD'S GIFT TO THE YOUNG" opened in Trinoma, Quezon City last August 1, 2015.

TWO original songs of the FIN Province for the Bicentenary of SJB's Birth

1. composition of Fr. Danny Dadule "Be Live DB"
2. composition of Mr. Edwynn Castillo "DON BOSCO IN OUR HEARTS"

DB200 ART CONTEST: Awarding during the Formal Opening of the DB Art Exhibit (2015)

THE FULL REPORT YOU CAN FIND ON THE BOSCOLINK:

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