Manila, The Philippines, 16 December 2021 -- On 8 December 2021, the Secular Institute of Volunteers with Don Bosco (CDB: Con Don Bosco) – Philippines, celebrated the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception at the Diocesan Shrine of Mary Help of Christians in Canlubang, Laguna, with the First Profession of one of its members and Renewal of Profession of two other members. Rev. Fr. Roberto Ma. A. Roxas, SDB, the Delegate to the Salesian Family presided at the ceremony, along with the representative of Mr. Gaetano Cavallaro, the CDB World President, to receive the vows of the brothers.
The Volunteers with Don Bosco (CDB) is a consecrated, secular, Salesian male group of the Salesian Family that responds to God’s call to become the salt of the earth and Don Bosco’s dusty feet immersed in the world but not for the world. In the original dream of St. John Bosco, he dreamt of having “extern Salesians” – consecrated Salesian laymen in the world – in the 16th article of his 1860 Constitutions. That day was an important day for the Salesian Family, for it is the start of the mission of St. John Bosco as Father and Teacher of the Young.
As mentioned in their Constitutions, Volunteers with Don Bosco maintain a prudent and responsible reserve to their belonging to the institute to guarantee their complete engagement in the world. The newly professed CDB shares:
What makes you happy as a CDB member?
As a member of the CDB, one of the things that makes me happy is the reserved nature of our vocation. I am like an undercover agent of Christ immersed in the world, doing my share in building God’s Kingdom here on earth.
What changed in your life, after starting out on the vocation path as a CDB?
Walking the vocation path as a CDB allows me to become more involved and to better understand young people. Part of our charism, which is also our mission place, is to be with and for the young. I am following the example of St. John Bosco, guiding them for the salvation of their souls.
Your group is growing. What attracts you to the CDB vocation in the Philippines?
The CDB vocation in the Philippines is the gift of our country to the Mother Church. We are celebrating the 500th year of the arrival of Christianity in our country with the theme “Gifted to Give”. One of the fruits of the pandemic was the gift of “YES” as additional members are discerning towards CDB life. The CDB Philippines started with 3 members and it is continuously growing… and the vocation is starting to be known in the Philippines. Other good news is that there are already CDB aspirants in Vietnam and India.
What changed in your life during this pandemic situation?
Adapting to the new normal, the CDB brothers in the English-speaking zones are conducting monthly Lectio Divina and monthly webinar formation for the aspirants. This has been a great opportunity to interact and share our experiences to our fellow CDBs around the world. Some of the topics that have been discussed were History of CDB, The Vocation, The Salesian Family, Being a Christian, Living Consecrated Secularity, and Mary in the Life of a CDB. This monthly formation is being attended by the brothers from Malta, USA, Argentina, Venezuela, Mexico, Poland, India, Vietnam, and the Philippines.
At present there are almost 100 CDB professed members and candidates around the world. This Group in the Philippines (Ecclesiastical Assistant Fr Eli Cruz, SDB) is the first in Asia and is blessed every year with some new members.
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- AustraLasia 5523 (II) My 6 year journey with the CDB FIN (2020)
- AustraLasia 5487 (III) Vietnam CDB - first admission to Aspirants
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