The Theatre Arts: Don Bosco's educational style
(By Aspirant Francis Lee, Philippines)
Note: this item perhaps begins a new strand amongst austraLasia correspondents - the growth in correspondents from various groups this year has been noticeable, and now we have an aspirant contributing.
CANLUBANG: December 10 -- On the eve of the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, the second and third year students of the Bachelor of Secondary Education, major in English, of Don Bosco College, Canlubang (south of Manila), staged a musical entitled "Ineffabilis Deus". The group comprised college students (Salesian aspirants and lay students) who are taking up a course in theatre arts. The musical was written by Fr. Joel Camaya, SDB and directed by Fr. Noel Sumagui, SDB.
The play lasted for about forty-five minutes, based on Ineffabilis Deus, the Papal Bull declaring the dogma of Mary's Immaculate Conception. It inspired the audience made up of Salesians, the High School and College departments both students and lay mission partners of the institution. The students from the departments gained a clearer idea of how Mary's Immaculate Conception became a dogma. It also facilitated their class discussions and spiritual preparation for the feast of our Lady.
Fr. Rolo Alcasid SDB, Rector, praised and thanked those who prepared everything. He commended the sacrifices of everyone who offered their whole hearted effort to our Blessed Mother as their gift for her feast.
Going back to our sources, we can learn so many things from the theatre. In Don Bosco's thinking, the theatre was also one way of helping the students discover their giftedness and be productive with their time. As a means of educating the young, it is one of the best tools Don Bosco used to deliver the message of love and devotion to Mary for the salvation of souls. It is a tradition that deserved to remain in our houses as a way of educating the young to be "Good Christians and Honest Citizens."
_________________
AustraLasia is an email service for the Salesian Family of Asia Pacific. It also functions as an agency for ANS based in Rome. For queries please contact admin@bosconet.aust.com . Use BoscoWiki to be interactive. RSS feeds - subscribe to www.bosconet.aust.com/RSS/rssala.xml Avail yourself of the Salesian Digital Library at at http://sdl.sdb.org
