Lawaan, The Philippines (FIS), 28 January 2020 -- It was the first time that DBFC, on a day closest to the feast of St John Bosco, organized a gathering of the members of the Salesian Family including Salesian Sisters, Salesian Cooperators, members of the Association of Mary Help of Christians, Alumni, and the youth of Lawaan.
The 7:00 am Sunday Mass in the chapel started the day, followed by breakfast sponsored by the Salesian Cooperators.At 9:30 am, after dressing down, everyone assembled at the Pilgrim Hall for the Amazing Race.
The participants were divided into five teams. The games were organized not so much for competition but for fellowship and fun. Each team had to crack a total of five riddles and accomplish five tasks leading towards the finish line. Unexpectedly it was the Rector’s team, the Savio team, that reached the finish line first in less than 90 mins.
For lunch a special “binalot na boodle fight” was served (rice, pork, chicken, kangkong, fresh tomato all wrapped in banana leaves) and other delicacies. The Salesian Cooperators delighted everyone with their Zumba dance after and the Savio team was awarded as Champion of the Amazing Race.
In his closing remarks Fr. Rector shared the amazing origin of the big Salesian Family, that is, Don Bosco himself: his dream at nine and his first encounter with a boy named Bartholomew Garelli on Dec 8, 1841. He expressed a wish that this first Salesian Family Day would hopefully be followed by a second, a third, and so on. The half-day encounter ended with the final blessing and a Hymn to St. John Bosco. Viva Don Bosco!
