By Nov. Reynaldo Durango Jr.

Cebu, Philippines, March 10, 2016 – The 2nd day of the Rector Major’s visit in the South Province was first spent in Don Bosco Formation Center, in Lawaan, Talisay. Having shared breakfast with the Salesian Community, he visited the Novitiate House and signed the Constitutions of the Novices. At 8:30 AM, he encountered the Salesians from the different communities of Cebu and Dumaguete. He stressed that meeting each confrere in the Province would make the long travel worthwhile.

In his conference, he talked about his visits and the challenges of the Salesian presences in Sudan, Yemen, Pakistan and Mongolia. He also affirmed the missionary zeal of the Philippine South Province and encouraged them not to lose it. He even jokingly said that, it is a ‘salesian sin’ if your provincial asked you not to apply directly to the Rector Major for mission ad gentes or not to allow you for mission abroad. Don’t forget that Don Bosco himself chose to send missionaries to Patagonia and other parts of America. Were it not for this missionary choice, we all would not be here today.

The Rector Major challenged all the Salesians to continue the mission of Don Bosco. He affirmed that we are much appreciated globally because we go to places which nobody wants to go. Moreover, we make an option for the poor. In the later part of the conference, the Rector Major gave 4 challenges to the salesians: live the consecration and carry the mission not as a social worker; safeguard fraternal life; have a special love for the poor; and lastly to stay humble and not seeking for power. The encounter concluded with an open forum and picture taking.

After the Rector Major’s closed-door meeting with the Provincial Council, he proceeded to the Our Lady of Lourdes Shrine making a brief stop at Don Bosco Technology Center to deliver a short message to its students and faculty. He rode in a ‘kalesa’ in going to the Church where a crowd of parishioners, the Salesian Family, children and youth were waiting. He, then, presided the Mass attended by the Salesian Family. Dinner at the Youth Center followed punctuated with cultural dances presented parish scholars.

The program concluded with two folkloric songs presented by the Rector Major and Fr. Horacio Lopez, his secretary. He left for Boys Home, Liloan at past 9:00 PM where the boys awaited anxiously for him despite the late hour of his arrival. Indeed, it was another full day of sharing and witnessing the charism of Don Bosco in the Philippines South.

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