Volume 1 Issue 1 APRIL 14, 2010 FMA FIL

Dear Participants,

The Lord is risen! May the hope of Easter bewith you…

Welcome to the SYM Summer Workshop!It is our great joy to have you with us in this5‐day journey.

As Servant Leaders we come together withthis one desire: “Sis, we want to see Bro!”We hope that as we spend these meaningfuldays together, we may truly come to seeJesus and experience Him in a more personalway, thus we may become a sign andexpression of His unconditional love.

Serve the Lord with joy!

Your barkada in the journey,SYM National Team

“Sana sa pagtitipon ninyo ay makita at makilala nyosi Hesus ng lubusan, Sana ay mamuhay kayokatulad ng mga Unang Kristiyano. Ang mgaMindoreño ay mabuti at mapagmahal…nawa aymaranasan rin ng bawat isa sa inyo ang kabutihanat pagmamahal…kapag ikaw ay mabuti nagigingmabuti rin yung iyong nasa kapaligiran, kaya sapag-uwi ninyo sana ay maramdaman nila angkabutihan at pagmamahal ni Kristo sapamamagitan nyo.”

Sr. Sarah Garcia, FMA

Inside this issue:

Message to the Participants

1

Day 1…………………. 2

Day 2 ………………… 2

Day 3 ………………… 3

Day 4 ………………… 3

Day 5 ………………… 3

KUDOS ……………… 4Day 1: Servant –Leaders: Learning from the Gospel, Proclaiming Christ

Contributors and StaffSr. Vena Dominguez, FMA | Sr.Asela Chavez, FMA | Sr.Carminda Castalone, FMA |Maria Charlene Tapia | PamelaFaith Musni | Alissah Sigaya |Aira Lheiz Aquino | Sr, TessMendoza , FMA| IzaPagkalinawan | Lea Dasigan |Sr. Debbie Ponsaran, FMA|Special Thanks to John PaulTaylor

The much-awaited day has arrived! Selected youth leaders, LDE-ers, past pupils, lay animators and Sisters came all the way from the different corners of the Philippines (Manila, Laguna, Pampanga, and Negros Occidental) to attend the 5-day SYM Summer Workshop at the Immaculate Conception Parish in San Teodoro, Oriental Mindoro on April 9 to 13, 2010.

The participants traveled by boat to Calapan City. Sr. Vena Dominguez, FMA brought three jeepneys to fetch them at the port. The participants arrived at exactly 2:20pm at Mary Help of Christians Technology Center (MHCTC), the training center run by the FMA Sisters in Parang, where they were greeted by the sisters, trainers and trainees.

In her welcome greetings, Sr. Sarah Garcia, FMA, ProvincialSuperior of the Salesian Sisters in the Philippines,challenged the leaders to find Jesus in what they do andshare Him with others (Strenna 2010). She laid emphasis on,“Ang pag-ibig ay lumalago sa pagmamahal.”The participants deepened the Rector Major’s Strenna 2010guided by Sr. Tess Mendoza, FMA through personalreflection, group sharing, and film showing. The activitieswere centered on the celebration of the Centenary of theDeath of Don Rua and on “Servant-Leadership: Learningfrom the Gospel, Proclaiming Christ”.After a tour around MHCTC, the participants left for theirnext destination: San Teodoro.

As soon as the delegation arrived in the parish of SanTeodoro, they received the warmth and hospitality of theyouth leaders, parish volunteers and foster parents.Families who have volunteered to host the participants attheir homes shared a welcome dinner with them.The day concluded with some moments of silence and anintense Taize experience. When at the beginning of theday, Sr. Sarah asked the leaders to find Jesus in what theydo, participants described this as the first taste-see ofJesus in the camp.

-Sr. Asela Chavez, FMAPH, Manila

Day 2: Servant –Leaders: Nourished and Transformed by the Eucharist

The second day of the SYM summer camp began with the YouthWalk, a three hour Eucharistic Celebration, presided by Fr. Andy.The Youth Walk was divided into five stations. Each was locatedwithin the grounds of the Immaculate Conception Parish and the RedSail Resort.

After the Youth Walk, Sr. Debbie Ponsaran, FMA facilitated a FocusGroup Discussion on the implications and effects of technology(mainly the Internet) to young people. With an awakened sense ofthe world that they live in, the participants were able to openlyexpress their concerns and preferences as representatives of theSalesian youth. These will serve as the bases in developing effectiveand suitable evangelization to and for the young and in bridging thegap between and among generations.

In the afternoon, the SYM handbook was critiqued. Sisters, lay animators, and youth leadersreiterated some points for improvement. This was succeeded by revisiting the GEM Modules with thehelp of the assigned communities.

The entire day commenced with a Bible sharing. Fr. Andy Lubi utilized “The Seven Steps for anEffective Bible Sharing”: invoke God’s presence; read and understand the Bible passage; choosestriking words/phrases; listen to God’s message in silence; share God’s message, express how you’llrespond to God’s invitation; end with a prayer. -Maria Charlene C. Tapia (MHCS, Canlubang)

Day 3: Servant –Leaders: Living the SYS on the Road to Fullness of LifeThe day began with a prayer, creatively portrayed in a Bibliodrama, which was organized by theBosconians of the PH Community and the trainees of MHCTC. Sr. Vena Dominguez, FMA thenexplained the essence of the Salesian Youth Spirituality using a powerpoint presentation. Afterexplaining the Beatitudes, she challenged the participants to write their own Beatitudes.

The participants were immersed in various recreational activities organized by the PH Community-Bosconians. Some select participants aided in revising the SYM Handbook based on the feedback andsuggestions given when it was presented in Day 2.

The day began with a prayer, creatively portrayed in a Bibliodrama, which wasorganized by the Bosconians of the PH Community and the trainees of MHCTC. Sr.Vena Dominguez, FMA then explained the essence of the Salesian Youth Spiritualityusing a powerpoint presentation. After explaining the Beatitudes, she challenged theparticipants to write their own Beatitudes.

The participants were immersed in various recreational activities organized by the PHCommunity-Bosconians. Some selected participants aided in revising the SYMHandbook based on the feedback and suggestions given when it was presented onDay 2.

The thank you program to Fr. Arnold Magboo, mother-volunteers, foster parents and parish youth took place after supper. The Bosconians of PH, SMMS and MHCS Canlubang performed special dance numbers; DBS-Manila sang an original composition. The community of ICP responded through a medley of animated dance numbers.

The youth of ICP further extended their gratitude by giving away free snacks and drinks that they have prepared themselves. The day concluded with the participants’ encounter with the youth of ICP, before they returned to their respective foster homes.

-Pamela Faith T. MusniMHCS, Mabalacat

Designing the SYS Modules is the foremost reason why the youth, lay animators and Sisters were gathered in Mindoro. These modules will serve as the backbone of the SYM formation this coming school year. The modules were designed to enable the youth to deepen the elements of Salesian Youth Spirituality and more importantly, help them to live as Don Bosco and Mother Mazzarello envisioned them to be.

Day 4: Servant –Leaders: Ready for the Mission!We rightly began our day with the Eucharistic Celebration presided by Fr.Arnold Magboo. In his homily, he had challenged us to let the Holy Spiritguide us so that we may always live for God. His challenge was concretely putinto practice as the assembly was divided into groups to design the SYSModules by age range. This head-cracking activity gave them a chance towork together and share their intellectual creativity. The fruit of their laborswere presented for critiquing just before the hearty lunch which concludedthe first half of the day.The fourth day of the SYM SummerWorkshop ended with the graduation, whereparticipants were given Certificates ofParticipation and Special Awards. After Sr.Vena acknowledged everyone whocontributed to the success of the camp.

Sr. Carminda C. Castalone, FMAPius XII Ladies Dormitory, Manila

Day 5: Leaders in Action As soon as the participants said goodbye to the parish communityand foster parents, the last day of this fruitful journey in Mindorobegan with a tour to Tamaraw Falls. After every participant hadposed shot after shot, they were off to meet Fr. Pops Hernandez,who also celebrated the mass.The most awaited destination was Baco, where the participantstrekked up a mountain to bring joy to the Mangyans of Paraiso.There were games facilitated for everyone’s enjoyment. Mr.Johndel Asong from SMMS Victorias performed magic tricks thatawed the children. The leaders then accompanied the children backto their homes, bringing with them some groceries.

Nearing the end of the day, they went back to MHCTC Calapan tohave lunch and to thank the community of the Sisters.While some bought pasalubong at the Mangyan Center, other communities proceeded directly to the port. But learning and camaraderie didn’t end there, friendships were formed and strengthened on their way to Batangas aboard Montenegro Lines. It was dark when friends bade their goodbyes to each other, bringing to their homes the experience of Mindoro.                         

‐Alissah S. SigayaSMMS Victorias

The word “Kudos” (n. “esteem”, “regard”) sum up the beautiful experiences we all had during these five days! Indeed we can proclaim together, “We have seen the Risen One!” We have known Him well, understood Him better, discerned His will for us and obeyed the promptings of His Spirit (Don Bosco’s and Mother Mazzarello’s included) alive and working in each one of us throughout this SYM Summer Workshop 2010!The “anamnesis” (n. “background”, “profile”) of the sixty four participants matched the simple yet warm environment provided: nine Salesian Sisters, eight lay growth mission partners, forty young people, one aspirant, three past pupils and three vocation prospects frequenting the Life Direction Encounter (LDE) were welcomed in thirteen foster homes belonging to the Immaculate Conception Parish of San Teodoro, Oriental Mindoro. This message aims to thank Sr. Sarah Garcia for her motherly support and inspiring words which had accompanied usthroughout the five days. Our heartfelt gratefulness goes to Sr. Phebe Lacse and the sisters of Parang, Calapan with all thetrainees, trainers, staff and past pupils. We could never go this far without their sisterly and fraternal presence, andcommunitarian support. The same sentiment of gratitude goes to all the community animators who have sent the “best”among their sisters, lay and youth. Appreciation goes to the community of ICP, San Teodoro, in particular their St. DominicSavio Youth Center, under the servant-priest Fr. Arnold Magboo. We salute his very able Parish Pastoral Council and ParishYouth Ministry, without whose loving presence and collaborative support, the SYM Summer Workshop would never be thatwonderful. We are also indebted to Fr. Andy Peter Lubi, the rector of St. Augustine Seminary of Barangay Suqui, CalapanCity and also to Fr. Antenor “Pops” Hernandez, the parish priest of the St. Joseph’s Parish of Baco, whose mere presencemade visible to us the Eucharistic Lord and King. The short yet meaningful visit to the children, youth and elders of theAlangan Mangyans of the village called “Paraiso” in Dulangan 3, Baco, was the most unforgettable culminating encounter ofa kind. We are nobody and would have nothing at all without the generous availability and support of the thirteen familieswho had welcomed our participants in their homes, including all our benefactors, whose names are better written in thescrolls of the heavens! P.S. (Pastoral Script)

K.U.D.O.S. (Know…Understand…Discern…Obey…the Spirit)-Sr. Vena Dominguez, FMA

Just like in all other good news come the not so pleasant ones which could be soconsidered as learning experiences and subjects of prayers and unity: one of thespeakables is the experience of the Alangan Mangyans who were disturbed for sometimeearly during the week because of three men who had attacked some houses during thenight with the threat of abducting Alangan Mangyan children. The apparent motive,listening to the elders, was: organ trafficking. Nevertheless, this has never dampened theatmosphere of joy and peace lived in loving relationships with one another.For certain, the Salesian Youth Spirituality was revisited and again re-experienced. It is achallenge to the Salesian Youth Movement then to keep it alive and to re-live the storywhich goes way back and to continue to narrate it in the future interweaving it with ourpersonal lives and that of the poorest and the neediest!Till we meet again next summer… specifically the week after Easter 2011… for theSALESIAN YOUTH DAY! Onward we journey together towards the preparations forWorld Youth Day 2011 in Madrid Spain. We entrust it to Our Lady, our Help, whose silentyet active presence accompanies us all the time. Again, to all, K.U.D.O.S.!