The week of December 5-12 was a very busy time for the leaders of the DiBOSCo project in Canada and the US. Over the course of one week, Peter Kovac and Jude Elie (officers of the DiBOSCo project in Slovakia and the US) had a whirlwind of activities to establish a DiBOSCo franchise in North America with its headquarters in Paterson, NJ. With samples of DiBOSCo coffee and chocolates as an introduction, Peter and Jude developed a buzz among the Salesian Family in the NY/NJ area for a return of Don Bosco’s spirit among the poor and working people of Paterson. As Salesian Past Pupils, themselves, Peter and Jude developed a quick rapport with the Salesian Family members and lay collaborators in the NY and NJ area.
In that short week, Peter visited the first SDB and FMA foundations in New York City and Paterson. He spoke with Salesian students in New Rochelle, North Haledon, and Ramsey. He welcomed a number of students from the NY/NJ area schools who hoped to receive an internship as the DiBOSCo project begins to take form in the area. By their own admission, these students were attracted to getting involved in a financial project that valued social responsibility and the just treatment of its workers (i.e., farmers and those providing services in support of this product).
Peter shared his passion for coffee, Don Bosco’s mission with poor young people, and justice in the workplace with an in-person and virtual gathering of approximately 80 Salesian Family members at Mary Help of Christians Academy in North Haledon. The participants represented many SF groups from Vancouver to Florida. It was encouraging to see their enthusiasm for helping to prepare the young for a better life through their participation in this project. Many of those present were intent on purchasing items of the DiBOSCo coffee and chocolate to give their loved ones as Christmas presents.
Before leaving for his home in Slovakia, Peter Kovac finalized the establishment of the DiBOCo franchise in the US. He met with city planners in Paterson about securing rental space for the establishment of a corporate presence, a warehouse, and a coffee shop for the DiBOSCo brand. He explored a number of sites in the Paterson area that could be suitable locations for this enterprise to take root and grow.In one short week, the DiBOSCo project established a foundation for reinserting Don Bosco’s name and mission into the city of Paterson. It gathered large numbers of Salesian Past Pupils (FMA and SDB) who see in DiBOSCo an opportunity for them and their fellow graduates to continue the work of Don Bosco for the poor in their area.
It was a good week for expanding our Salesian Family outreach on behalf of Don Bosco’s mission. Please look for updates on the DiBOSCo project in future editions of SF Snippets and on the Don Bosco Salesian Portal.
DiBOSCo Week
By Fr. Tom Dunne
USA - SUE province
The week of December 5-12 was a very busy time for the leaders of the DiBOSCo project in Canada and the US. Over the course of one week, Peter Kovac and Jude Elie (officers of the DiBOSCo project in Slovakia and the US) had a whirlwind of activities to establish a DiBOSCo franchise in North America with its headquarters in Paterson, NJ. With samples of DiBOSCo coffee and chocolates as an introduction, Peter and Jude developed a buzz among the Salesian Family in the NY/NJ area for a return of Don Bosco’s spirit among the poor and working people of Paterson. As Salesian Past Pupils, themselves, Peter and Jude developed a quick rapport with the Salesian Family members and lay collaborators in the NY and NJ area.
In that short week, Peter visited the first SDB and FMA foundations in New York City and Paterson. He spoke with Salesian students in New Rochelle, North Haledon, and Ramsey. He welcomed a number of students from the NY/NJ area schools who hoped to receive an internship as the DiBOSCo project begins to take form in the area. By their own admission, these students were attracted to getting involved in a financial project that valued social responsibility and the just treatment of its workers (i.e., farmers and those providing services in support of this product).
Peter shared his passion for coffee, Don Bosco’s mission with poor young people, and justice in the workplace with an in-person and virtual gathering of approximately 80 Salesian Family members at Mary Help of Christians Academy in North Haledon. The participants represented many SF groups from Vancouver to Florida. It was encouraging to see their enthusiasm for helping to prepare the young for a better life through their participation in this project. Many of those present were intent on purchasing items of the DiBOSCo coffee and chocolate to give their loved ones as Christmas presents.
Before leaving for his home in Slovakia, Peter Kovac finalized the establishment of the DiBOCo franchise in the US. He met with city planners in Paterson about securing rental space for the establishment of a corporate presence, a warehouse, and a coffee shop for the DiBOSCo brand. He explored a number of sites in the Paterson area that could be suitable locations for this enterprise to take root and grow. In one short week, the DiBOSCo project established a foundation for reinserting Don Bosco’s name and mission into the city of Paterson. It gathered large numbers of Salesian Past Pupils (FMA and SDB) who see in DiBOSCo an opportunity for them and their fellow graduates to continue the work of Don Bosco for the poor in their area.
It was a good week for expanding our Salesian Family outreach on behalf of Don Bosco’s mission. Please look for updates on the DiBOSCo project in future editions of SF Snippets and on the Don Bosco Salesian Portal.