CEBU, Philippines - Dubbed "Don Bosco 200", the occasion is a celebration of the 200th birth anniversary of St. John Bosco, the founder of the far-reaching Roman Catholic religious institute, who was born on August 16, 1815 and was canonized by Pope Pius XI on April 1, 1934.
The celebration started with a Holy Mass at the Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Punta Princesa and was followed by a foot procession from the parish to the Don Bosco Technology Center (DBTC).
The celebration is more than a nostalgic looking back at the past for the institute, as it also serves as a fresh call for the entire Salesian community to engage in the worldwide Salesian movement to be of-service to the poor and the young.
The Salesian community is composed of priests, brothers, nuns and lay people who have been inspired by the life and teachings of St. John Bosco. It was brought to be Philippines by Fr. Carlo Braga in 1951 - initially in the Negros region, then to different parts of the country.
As of April 2015, there are 12 Training Centers, 11 Youth Centers, 7 parishes, 6 schools, 4 retreat houses, 4 homes for children in difficult circumstances, 2 schools for religious formation, 1 aftercare home for children in prison and 1 provincial office based in different parts of the country that are affianced with the Salesian community. (YRST)