Why bother following you!

Where do the youth today challenge me?

I have spent some time with young people in Oceania (PNG), in south-east Asia (FIL), in central Asia (MNG), and north America (USA), and I will premise my response to the question by saying 'again' that the difference is barely a millimeter thick. 

 

After 20 years of ministering amidst a handful or less than a fraction of the diversity of youth of the world, I can easily say that their lives are really very contrasting and yet not disparate. They live through different habitats, contrasting societies and iconic style of 'domus.' They are so different and so identical. They are manifestly distinguished from one another through external appearances. Spend more time with them, the youthful prose of joys, pains and hopes have the same refrain. They are very much open and attracted to someone and something with the semblance of truth and goodness. They have a very keen sense of justice even though they find it hard to practice it themselves. But they do demand it with ferocity when circumstances come close to home. Its a desire of a human heart to be fill up with goodness and truth. Values that constitute the very material of the human spirit. This shared heart beat becomes so obvious when ask them why they are so angry, so depressed and so rebellious. They all have been hurt and deprived of goodness or betrayed of the truth that was meant to be theirs.

I have been privileged to witness the cycles of these young spirits. It is easy to see coldness or indifference of bearing, suspicion and their deafening silence on the first day of encounter. But as days move into months and into years being in their midst, I have seen their realization of hope. But when they once again see glimpses of 'inconsistency' ie. Obscurity vision, lack of clarity of thought and contradictoriness of message from their mentors, their “fathers/brothers”, they become suspicious again and fall back into their silence and secret world saying to themselves, “they are no different from the rest of the quarreling noise of the house.”

What is this inconsistency? These youth of today ranging from 16-21 years of age demand more from us Salesians. What makes them fall back into their secret and exclusive world of their own, is the confusion they see once again in those they thought they could trust. Thus the inconsistency is the contrasting and at times conflicting messages the Salesians convey to them. Once they have seen, tasted and appreciated the truth and the good of discipline from one Salesian, they get so disillusioned so quickly when another Salesian presents another paradigm of relativism and individualism.

What is then the challenge of the young? On their part, there is nothing to blame when they get upset because they are simply the fruits of what we have made them to be. They become another chip of the old block of the spinning world ie. another person confused. The onus of the challenge is with the expression of our consecrated life today. They or shall I say, we need to get our act together as consecrated persons. The message we impart in our very lifestyle must bear a single message of this truth. The very message we as a team of educators must communicate is a clear message. And we pray that this message is true. When an international group of persons in 'consecrated life' are lives their humanity faithfully according to the 'charismatic expression proper to their consecration' it becomes so difficult to be unattractive to the spinning world. Unity and communion are so good and so rare even to the eyes of the cynical youth that they say 'there is something special here... something cool.'

The youth are like litmus tests (it would not be politically appropriate to call them guinea pigs) strips that can easily indicate the timeless element of the word of God: “how wonderful it is to see, when brothers live in unity.” And by unity I do not mean the robotic unity of uniformity and conformity. By unity I mean an inexpressible harmony of mind, heart and soul. A unity of kindred SPIRITs I should say. What better expression verifies this expression of one spirit, when people testified that the “difference” between Don Bosco and Don Rinaldi was their voice. The rest of their mind, and life expressions was conveying the same sincere and clear “message” - a profound consecrated life.

I think, or better, I believe that because the youth who saw the truth and felt the goodness of Don Bosco was clearly understood as identical with what they saw and felt in Don Rinaldi or anyone who replicated Don Bosco's message of God's goodness and truth. These youth easily and willingly went further and beyond appreciation and asked to join and to be a consecrated Salesian. The the number of vocations increased and the number of missionary commitments quadrupled in the hands of Don Bosco's successors, his faithful spiritual sons.

Today, we find few applicants not even a handful. We not only find less applicants today but moreover, we even lose those young that entered and easily are disillusioned with the superficiality and inconsistency within the supposed brotherhood of consecrated persons. They lost track of the truth and the good that once compelled them to give up their companionship with their peers to become disciples of the Lord.

The youth challenges us today to renew our way of being consecrated Salesian before God and to each other again. The youth throw back the mission intention intended for them. We ought to be the first Good Christian and Honest Citizen. A fitting expression in my view is said in one portion of the prayer in preparation for the bicentenary of Don Bosco's birth in 2015. That is a “high standard of Christian living.” And any renewal of society and youth always seemed to begin with the renewal in spirituality and discipline of the clergy and consecrated persons. And this task of renewal is not only a millimeter thick. May Saint Carlo Borromeo help us with his wisdom and zeal for the house of the Lord.

c:ako
a reflection: "the youth challenges consecrated life and priesthood"

4 November, Feast of San Carlo Borromeo, my feastday!

ANS interview - Summer 2013

1. In service to the Church./How did the salesian mission start?
   

• By 1998 through the Salesian confreres in S.Korea, the Salesians received an invitation from the Apostolic Nuncio (Nunciature shared by S.Korea and the Republic of Mongolia) and the Missio Sui Iuris Superior of Ulaanbaatar (Msgr. Padilla, C.I.C.M./Scheute missionaries). The Salesian Provincial of So. Korea (Fr., Vaclav) made the first exploratory visits. Then the Councilor for the Missions (Fr. Odorico) likewise made his personal visit to Mongolia. These visits resulted in finalizing the proper response: a) that the Province of So. Korea could not accept an additional mission territory because they were already preoccupied with the Mission territory in Manchuria (Yanji). b) That the Mongolia Mission was offered to the Province of Vietnam instead. With the essentials in place the Provincial of Vietnam Fr. John Ty and his council accepted the challenge of the Rector Major who thus approved the creation of the Mongolia mission in the year 2000.
  

• As part of the Jubilee year celebrations of Third Millenium, and international set of 6 confreres were pulled from 4 countries (Vietnam, Korea, Slovakia and the Philippines) to do the pioneering work.
  
• In the peak of one of the worst winters of Mongolia, the Salesians entered not to visit but this time to stay in February 7, 2001. Three days later the designated superior of the team (Fr. Carlo Villegas) was left behind with a fraternal hug and prayer by Fr. Odorico and Fr. Ty in Ulaanbaatar to found the Salesian mission works in (a) putting up at once a technical school (a commitment previously accepted); (b) preparing a place and home to live for the other pioneers that would be joining Fr. Villegas, 9 months later and (c) begin immediately daily classes in Mongolian language.
  

2. Describe the salesians presences in Mongolia? (in brief…)

• Nine (9) years after formal diplomatic ties were established (April 1992) between the Republic of Mongolia and the Vatican. The Salesians are the second (men) religious congregation to work in the mission of Mongolia. The Catholic Church Mission of Mongolia was entrusted and began by the congregation (men) C.I.C.M./ Scheute missionaries (July 1992). It is to the CICM that the ecclesiastical mission territory was entrusted by the Holy See.
• The Salesians serve the Church in both fields of Indirect and Direct Evangelization. There are currently two (2) Salesian Presences. One in the capital city of Ulaanbaatar and the other 220 Kilometers north of the capital, Darkhan. Chronologically, the first of the Salesians presence is a government certified technical-highschool that began with 30 students in 2001 and is now catering to almost 300 annually. The second service is an Orphanage of 20 kids, the remains of what was before a center for youth-at-risk, the defunct third presence that was undersized and merged with the Salesian community that operates the technical highschool. To these formal education and orphanage, the Salesians abide by Mongolian Laws that prohibit the teaching of religion. In the north of the Capital, the Salesian presence began in 2005 as a youth and educational center which in turn saw the formal establishment of the Parish of Mary our Help (2007). An agricultural farm apostolate was also added to the services later (2009). It is with the government registration as a branch of the Catholic Church of Ulaanbaatar, that Church services and catechesis are freely exercised within the walls and premises of the Church.
  

3. How did the salesian mission start?

• To be less formal and juridical in reply like the above, it would not be poetic only to say as always that the Salesian Mission began with St. John Bosco's Madonna, our Help. Because literally in every respect of trying to establish a Salesian presence in Mongolia, we made it clear that a medal of our Lady would be tossed into the barren semi-dessert Mongolian soil and would precede us. And indeed we are witness to these graces. Historically in time, we could also say that Don Bosco already began the Salesian work in its planning stages... when he mentions the name Tatar and Tataria (the old name of Mongol tribes) in the Biographical Memoirs of the Salesians. Moreover, the Salesian mission in Mongolia began consequentially also with the fruition of the Salesian Mission in China. It is to the Grand Mother – Salesian Province of China that the daughters of Salesian mission Provinces of Asia (Philippines, Vietnam, etc.) send forth her sons to other places as Mongolia, now one of the grand daughters. It is no wonder that the day before Fr. Carlo stepped into the Land of the Steppes, he sought out an aged and bent Fr. Mario Acquistapace, in Braga House in HongKong (China), Fr. Carlo vividly recalls Fr. Mario words and countenance when he was informed: Fr. Mario, tomorrow we enter Mongolia. To this Fr. Mario teary eyed said “This was always our dream, to enter Mongolia someday.” And to this day, Fr. Carlo keeps a stampita with the words Fr. Mario intentionally scribbled for him “(Mama) Maria will bless you.” And indeed she has and will always will.
  

3. How do you find the Mongolian youth?

• (personally speaking). Having been in Papua New Guinea for seven (7) years and now thirteen (13) in Mongolia, and definitely many years before that in the Philippines, It is clear for me that the differences in humanity can really only be a millimeter deep. Having said that, the youth of Mongolia like all other youth have its potential as well as its weakness. They do not differ I believe from any other youth of the world. They share the same aspirations of humanity and of youthfulness. They share the same courage and fearfulness as descendants of Chinggis Khaan. They share the same hunger for sympathy. They share the same receptivity to impartiality and goodness as well as sharing in the attractiveness to rationality and truth. They share the youth's daring to the point of even being imprudent. They need a friend who is faithful and constant to guide them in days of fickleness. They long for a teacher who helps them understand the beauty of life and the reality of pain. They seek a father and a mother who will protect them and call them as their own. When I asked these youth of various times and batches what are the kind of persons they like... the top three (3) answers I hear for the past decade... the ones who are joyful; the ones who are truthful and honest; the ones who are not drunkards, not a thief and not the ones who beat up others. If my students a decade ago were 18 years old, by now they are reaching 30... as they were young then and now as young adults, these values may get blurred by a society that is equally pandered by idols of economics, but definitely they do not disappear from their hearts. They simply lacked constant guide posts. If ever there is one picture to depict the resolve of the youth of Mongolia, it would be their resilience of spirit when I see them when it is still dark at early dawn... when its not only chilly nor cold but in very very freezing temperatures, they walk to school day by day when they could simply have stayed inside their warm beds. But they still came and wanted to learn... more.
  

3. What are the positive elements of Mongolia? (culture, people, religion, …)

• typical of the bloodline of Chinggis Khaan, they admire loyalty. Thus this is very well seen in their loyalty to their nuclear family and not to their extended family because of marriage. As a natural consequence they are loyal to their country's heritage like a true patriot; Moreover, this loyalty is expressed very deeply in their respect for elders so much so that their pronoun “Ta” (reverential 'you' for an elder) is used with differentiated from “chi” (for an equal or younger) for age differences. The accurate usage of these pronouns are means to resolve or even aggravate any confrontation.
  
• Mongolia's constitution upholds 'freedom of Religion'. But the exercise and practice of it is limited to the citizens of the country. Which translates as foreigners (missionaries) are restricted in the practice within the confines of the Church building and its premises. Consequentially, the best 'evangelizers' in terms of mobility are Mongolians themselves since the law is favorable to them. The prophetic role of Salesian Cooperators is limitless.
• Mongolia is a country professed in Buddhism; exercising religious indifference on a daily basis for the majority, but fundamentally shaman or animist in practice during days of pain, suffering and difficulty. For the few who are familiar with Catholicism, the term Christian is attributed colloquially for Protestant denominations and Catholic is given as a distinction from Protestant sects. There is a small percentage of Muslims that are predominantly from one of the Mongol tribes called Kazakh, which name generally situates which part of the country they predominate ie. North West.
• Being of Nomadic geographically, they have a natural acceptance of new ideas and new people. The downside of which is that this ready-acceptance of ideas and people can also mean the quickness to change and that lead to lack of constancy and persistence. Like all nomadic virtues, to be welcoming is one of the outstanding traits. This welcoming attitude towards others promotes the attitudes of tolerance and of forgiveness for as long as the hurt is not that personal.
• They love their mothers... When the Salesians exercise their devotion to Mary, the Help of the faithful. The natural affinity of Mongolians to a Mother are aroused. This devotion to the Mother in heaven is a win-win formula for catechesis and devotion.

3. What are the challenges?

• Without prejudice to the free exercise of Religion within the premises of our parish church, the preventive system in our schools and orphanage is without religion, like a three-legged stool lacking one leg. It does not bring depth in the work for a 'man fully alive' (Ireneus) or 'human transformation' this is so when the laws of the land welcome Reason and Loving-Kindness but not freely Religion (Christian).
  
• Salesians must face isolation... not loneliness. Because isolation (location in reference to the comfort zones of one's own shoreline) does not necessarily result in loneliness (social need). A depth of one's Christian faith and a healthy understanding of one's consecration results in a missionary who is 'at home' despite being geographically and sociologically isolated.
  
• Rampant urbanization and high percentage of unemployment are natural challenges for a post-socialist economy that may have the revenue sources but do not have the experience to apply the correct methods for economic sustainability. Of the three million population of the country more than a third is in the capital city of Ulaanbaatar.
  
• Mongolians love to read. They have one of the highest literacy rates in the world. The Salesians in general have failed to master the language as to be able to write and be a fruitful force of communicating and sharing horizons through the apostolate of publication... a tool of Don Bosco and St. Francis de Sales that has more longevity than the spoken word of a homily or lecture.
  
• I smile with frustration when I am reminded by one of our Mongolian staff who translated the book about Don Bosco by saying at the end... “I love Don Bosco but not Jesus” (a bias borne of the fall out with the prosetylizing of protestant fundamentalists that condemn everybody except themselves). When Salesians are confused of their consecration and identity as religious, the result is confused messages to the people. The challenge of 'a high standard of Christian Life' (daily prayer to Don Bosco) is very true. I have said it many times before, it is not enough to say that we “love” Don Bosco. Because multi-national communities of Salesians are by-products of different novitiates from different countries and formed by different novice masters, the interpretation (method) of the supposed knowledge of Don Bosco is so diverse that it breeds disparity and not only diversity of values. It is primarily important for the Salesians to have the knowledge and love of “The Christ” of the Apostles and of Don Bosco. And the very method of knowing and loving Christ is fundamentally reflective on how we do Theology today.
  
• It is true that the immediate indication of suitability for mission ad extra and inter-gentes is health. But freezing cold of Mongolia was not the main factor for 'return-to-sender' confreres. Neither is it the food, nor the people and the culture or language. The most common denominator for fall out is the inability live the Christian Faith in high standards ie. Naturally translates into a happy and prophetic living life as a consecrated person.
• Government laws, People hostile to the Church and its various presence are not only a handful but are but natural reactions to a Christian history that began on the wrong foot as the fundamentalist protestants may have antagonized the indigenous Buddhist and Shamans brothers of ours. Moreover the natural flaws of 'nationalism' contributed to this animosity to anything 'foreign'. And the Socialist's preservation of the Buddhist status quo would be favorable to politically preserve their control of power than to deal with by-products of a true democratic society with the bio-diversity of beliefs. Yet the silver lining is basically healthy “interaction.” The lack of it breeds ignorance and with ignorance comes suspicion and animosity. But after 13 years interacting with hundreds of parents, students and government officials, I saw them come to the door with lots of suspicion and when they leave (specially the alumni that leave after three years with us) they leave not only with awe and admiration but with the eagerness to tell their relatives and friends to send over their sons and daughters at the soonest.
  
• Viva Cristo Rey!
   c:ako

TOUCHDOWN! Mongolia!2001, Feb 7. 3:45pm thirteen winters ago today.

When I received my "obedience" from Don Odorico and blessings from Don Vecchi to lead the founders of the mission in Mongolia, I began deliberately to filially seek out a way to meet the remaining (living) Salesian pioneers of my country of origin (Philippines). In the last winter months of the Jubilee year (2000) of North American west coast, I sought out Fr. Anthony DiFalco and met him in a nursing home in California. In the early days of February 2001 a day before my entry into Mongolia I was was privileged to be brought to "Braga House" in Hong-Kong... and meet Fr. Mario Acquistapace. Bent with age, he listened to what "good news" I was eager to tell him. "Father Mario, tomorrow we enter Mongolia." Upon hearing this his eyes teared up and said "this too was our dream. This too was Don Bosco's dream." I then asked him to write a note on a stampita that i could carry with me as an encouragement to what lies ahead. He wrote in the stampita of Pope Paul VI, "(mama) Maria, will be with you." And indeed she was, is and will be.

At 3:45 pm our Mongol Airlines (MIAT) Airbus wheels "touchdown"-ed in Buyant-Ukhaa airport (Mongolian: Буянт-Ухаа нисэх онгоцны буудал) in the coldest capital city of the world, Ulaanbaatar (The Red Hero), outer Mongolia. The temperatures then were nothing compared now a days.

My beloved "chaperons" (they would leave me behind two days later) then were Fr. Odorico and Fr. Ty, my new Provincial now that this mission was entrusted to the Salesian Jurisdiction of Vietnam. And after the brief introductions to the mission by some missionaries I was left to live in the mission center for a while whilst preparing our place, our school our educative-mission work. For us Salesians, we Educate by Evangelizing and we Evangelize by Educating. This implies that with a new Evangelization requires a New Education (a topic for next)

Fr. Odorico and Fr. Ty's prayers were and are really strong it seemed. Since the last words to their parting fraternal embrace to me were "I will pray for you; learn the Mongolian Language well; prepare the coming of the rest of the team; and ...the school,...a yes the school, it must open in September" (6 months from now). To my knowledge I think with Mama Mary's help I fulfilled MOST of that with the means available with the exception of the Language studies, that was not only impossible but foolish to say the least in hindsight.

To my knowledge... I have prepared the school to the best of my God given formation and experience (with 11 year as technical student of DB-Makati, 11 years as a Salesian-Educator-Priest in the making in DB Canlubang, DB Mandaluyong, DB Paranaque; and to my first mission territory as a very young priest – ie. 7 beautiful years in Papua New Guinea)

To my knowledge... my confrères then, now and in the future will always have a place warm enough to keep the presence of St. John Bosco thawed and unfrozen if they have enough means to pay the bills.

To my knowledge... my Mongolian proficiency is our 'corporate' lacunae which I hope and pray, may someday be realized and filled.

After twelve and a half winters, nearing 500 Mongolian Youths have passed through the doors of our home, eleven graduation ceremonies, from thirty (2001) to three hundred (2012) Mongolian students per year, from seven to sixty staff, from a Russian 'cold-war' military Forgon van to a Hyundai Hybrid, from a "domboo" (colloquial for stupid) to clearly a "Дон Боско, хатуу шуударгаа гэвч маш сайн сургуул. Манай Монголд энэ шиг хэрэгтэй" (Don Bosco, very strict and honest, but is a very good school. Our Mongolia needs more of this kind). Tengerburkhan (God of the heavens and of earth) is good.

A ministry of labor official once told me to my face after pinning a medal of honor on me, that he believes we ought to be a model school for the rest. A year later he was "mysteriously" killed... and words on the street say ... because he was an honest man. A dying man usually tells the truth. God rest his good soul.

I always told the students and staff and parents, "It is useless to gain knowledge and skills without moral values. Let us produce not only students with a high school diploma. Let us produce not only students with a technical skill. Let us produce also honest, truthful, respectful, hardworking and grateful citizens of Mongolia." ...and it all begins with a good foundation of educators in good homes (parents) and good schools (educative staff).

The secret?... I come to realize that people, young as well as older ones, do not reflect much. If we all did... reflect, the possibilities for transformation are limitless. Even the first pillar of the Preventive System is Reason. Rationality in the very human conscience is open to truth, to goodness, to transformation.

From plus 40 hot temperatures in summer to minus 40 deep freeze temperatures in winter... a non issue even for people like me born in the tropics. Our subsistence in the great steppes of the central plains of Asia, should serve as a myth-buster for naysayers since freezing climates are not Waterloos for mission. You should try listening to our confrères in Siberia. Yet my baptism into subzero 45s degree Celsius was very real when I had to go by foot and public transportation to and from my 5 month stint at Mongolian language school. But the warm reception of the Mongolian youth and elders to the truth and goodness within themselves makes it worth all the while for a Salesian to prepare the seed bed for their own generations to come to embrace the fullness of Truth and Goodness in the very Person whom Khublai and Temujin aka. Chinggis Khaan called prophetically as Tenger (Burkhan).

Its humbling to be chronicled in history specially from the Rector Major... yet at great risk and responsibility when one's main task is simply to live up to what the baptist said... That He must increase, and I must decrease. I believe we ought to have more courage to implement the “correct” and “unified” charism at all cost... learning from the past twelve years, not ever again to be compromisingly soft to the clamor of a few who demanded their individualism.... and in the end, are sadly lost. May the Lord and St. John Bosco grant us mercy.

When all things failed to convince my superiors, I asked Fr. Odorico why on earth did he choose me to be the founder among founders, he said... "because you're crazy." ...nuff said. :)

Viva JMJ! Christo Rey!

c:ako

--- (excerpt)----

ACTS 397: Letter of the Rector Major
Una Región misionera

La Región ha sido bendecida con la presencia de grandes misioneros, pioneros en algunos países: Mons. Luigi Versiglia (1881-1930), Mons. Ignacio Canazei (+1946), don Carlo Braga (+1972), don Mario Acquistapace (1906-2002) en China; Mons. Vincenzo Cimatti (1883-1965) en Japón; don Andrej Majcen (1905-1999) en Vietnam; don Archimede Martelli (1916-1984) en Corea del Sur: Mons. Ernesto Coppo, Señor Celestino Acerni (entrado en 1923, primer salesiano en el suelo australiano, en Kimberley) y don Joseph Ciantar (1893-1967) en Australia; y muchos otros personajes de gran relieve.

Quiero recordar también los nombres de Salesianos, pioneros en el período más reciente, 'fundadores' en los respectivos países de la Región: don José Carbonell en Indonesia; don Valeriano Barbero en Papúa Nueva Guinea; Señor José Ribeiro en Timor Este (1946); Señor Roberto Panetto y don Walter Brigolin en Camboya (Phnom Penh, 1991); don Pedro Balazar y Señor Francesco Tanaka en las Islas Salomón (Tetere, 1995); don Pietro Zago y don Hans Dopheide en Pakistán (Lahore y Quetta, 1998); don Julian Fox en Fiji (1999); don Carlo Villegas en Mongolia (Ulaanbataar, 2001).

a pasahero's two sentimos pasaje

"7 pasaheros" as i would like to refer to my 'kuya' in the brotherhood of the ministry... were taken up in a ride, some knowingly and others unknowingly. the end never justifies the means - as a principle and as common sense would tell sensible ones from the foolish ones. To be called foolish in the eyes of God is a judgement but also a scary rebuff. To be called foolish in the eyes of men... i'd even understand it as a lonely compliment at times, when it stood for siding with the truth and for honestly good things... and you are left alone on one side of the room.

We are merely stewards of every God given good thing seen and unseen... and are accountable to both God and to our neighbor. its so trite (lame) to say 'lapse of judgment' now a days... better to simply call a spade a spade... a 'stupid call' then? not even close (stupid is too mild)... SPECIALLY when and if one asked for a birthday gift in writing from a public official with public funds... the nerve even to ask as a joke as pinoys do.

ask for nothing, refuse nothing... would even be dangerous nowadays. nothing is given free.... always with payback-time in mind? i still believe in the free-neess of generosity... without anything in return. yep its rare but not extinct. i still can believe because i still am standing... sometimes alone, but not everytime... its possible to increase free-ness of giving... it simply needs practice. c:

The carpenter's son from galilee would be best heeded in these days were devilish and angelic ways are not as distinct to the untrained eye... its not enough to be 'gentle as doves, but ALSO be cunning as snakes.' i hope being born in the year of the snake does not only bring me good luck but also its senisitivity to the signs of these times (and places)

'test everything and keep what is good... what is holy' is what we heard from the PASTORAL epistles.

Despite the 'return' of the vehicles and the 'won't take it back' melodramatic stance of some (i would have done the same, but with receipts of no-return-no-exchange... if only to find a 'sense and humor' in all these mess); the fact remains that inspite of sincerely providing these 'seen goods' of the earth for the good of the people in need... there will always be a way to discredit the good that was done. Let the poor speak for themselves, some say. But even if the poor were to so speak in the defense of the few 'branded' damasos, who would you think would listen... listen to the poor?... listen to the 'branded' damasos? it is not easy to do good today... it is not easy to be holy today... when what is holy, what is good news... is 'edited' as not good or relegated to the pile of "not worthy of news"... sittinhg on the bodega shelf that reads... probably 'next time' nalang.

very few puiblications publish good things... why? 'no one buys them' monetarily and reputably. inadvertenly then... very few want to do good things... why? ...again 'no one buys them (same rationale).

its already an insult (racist, profiling to put it bluntly) to be branded a DAMASO just by looking at you... when one has striven never to be one.

Yet what is more frustrating is when we 'supposed' damasos give them reason to say so and reason to trumpet it.

these two sentimos pasaje... is from a beleagured damasito who still believes in the goodness and goodwill in a heart created in the image and likes of God.

its easy to do good... its not hard even if others make it discouragingly difficult.... learning always from the old wisdom of the ages and holy book... servus inutile summus. its easier to smile becasue we are merely another "pasajero" in God's calesa... let him lead the way not us.

c:ako

(from a pasahero of one good calesa driver, God.)

Visit from Diane

Medal of Honor from the Mongolian Government

On the 2nd of February, I was asked to go to the Government house for a supposed meeting. I was told a few days before that the meeting was to be short. When I asked for the details they said 'just come'.  At mid morning of that day, I found myself in a room with other young people (with my salt n pepper hair I was a shoo in).  To make this article shorter, the Government was conferring their annual awards to the persons in the education field. They gave achievement awards to the university and college student awardees for excellence and role modelling in student activity and organization. Where was I in all this? I was asked to sit in the foremost place (being the only Educator/Director of the School at that present) and was asked to receive the famous "Medal of Honor" from the office of the Mayor and the Governor of the Capital city of Ulaanbaatar. They conferred a plaque for which the rationale for the award was described (just read from the pix) and the rare Medal of Honor. Only a few hours later did I realize that It was conferred only to a few. A few in terms of the history of the Country - i.e. to be the first Educator to be a recipient of such a medal. Later on in the week, trying to fathom the significance of the Medal, I realized it was given only to 'really a few' - Mongolian's who gave their Motherland pride as in Olympic medalists in the last Beijing Olympics as well as to the Mongolian 8 time Yokozuma - Grand Champion of Sumo. After further inquery, it was the first time a School Director (record shows not even in the Mongolian Academe), a Catholic, a Missionary, a Salesian and a Filipino seemingly has received it in this part of the world (do correct me if I'm wrong). What can I say, but that 'I am what I am because of those who have formed me to be what I am today. It gives me joy to know that my formators from birth till the present would have a reason to be happy if not proud.' I'm all the more grateful to God, that the Educative wisdom and Pedagogy of Don Bosco and the valuable presence and witness of Catholic Missionaries are being seen, understood and much appreciated not only by the poor youth but also by the Mongolian Government. An award to a Salesian in their 150th year anniversary of existence, a short 8 year presence in Mongolia, has been a humbling honor as well as a gratifying experience to see "some" fruit in the vineyard of the Lord - where usually one only get to sow things and another reaps.  Ad Maiorem Dei Gloriam! Thank you, Lord!

Mongolia - Savio Children`s Home promoted as model institution

Mongolia - Savio Children`s Home promoted as model institution
(ANS - Ulaan Bataar: 29 September 2006) - Mongolia's Weekly, the Millennium Messenger, has promoted Savio Children's Home, run by the Salesian community at Amgalang, near Ulaan Baatar, as a model for all such institutions in Mongolia. The newspaper article included interviews with some of the 45 children housed there, and focused both on the background of the children and the quality and effectiveness of the service offered by the Salesians and their many helpers. There are three full-time Salesians involved in the work, and many volunteers who help either full or part-time including at least 100 foreign volunteers (mainly from Korea) who have passed through the institution offering a helping hand this year. Now that the Amgalang Centre has come up to full strength in terms of Salesian personnel, the desire is to complete the building and to establish stronger links with the Don Bosco technical and skills centre in Ulaan baatar itself. Already some 23 students are commuting daily to UB from Amgalang by truck to continue their studies. They join 230 students who attend the city technical centre. Savio Home is not the only such institution run by the Salesians. A similar institution exists now in Darkhan further to the north of the country. The Darkhan educational centre has 87 students who daily attend class for English and computer classes. other students come to enjoy the oratory experience. The Salesians have established a name for themselves in both formal and informal education. Mongolia has its universities but very few institutions which respond to the needs of skilled training, and the building industry is booming now in the urban centres in Mongolia, requiring skilled workers. Salesian presence in Mongolia, only 3 in number in 2001, will jump to 10 with the arrival of Fr Paul Leung from China province. The Salesians are now the largest male Congregation amongst the Catholic communities in the country. Hopes for 2007 include, besides the completion of the Savio Children's Centre, the building of a gymnasium at the Ulaan Bataar Don Bosco Techncial Centre and buying and/or building a proper Church in Darkhan.

There is a time to work an a time to pray

Mongolia's Darkhan now has an official Catholic Church

from "austraLasia 1618"

Mongolia's Darkhan now has an official Catholic Church - Don Bosco Darkhan

ULAAN BAATAR: 28th July 2006 -- The recent Nadaam festivities, briefly reported in an earlier austraLasia, had their benefits for the new Salesian presence in Darkhan in Mongolia's northern region, though it would be truer to say that the Salesian witness both in Ulaan Baatar and Darkhan is what has convinced the authorities.
Darkhan city authorities had already made a decision not to accept new churches in the city - they believed they had too many. Several Christian groups have thus been turned down. The Salesians were there, though not officially as Church in Government terms, but the authorities have closely and with appreciation, followed what they describe as the 'humanitarian work especially in education' of the Salesians. The Salesian Superior in Mongolia, Fr Carlo Villegas, speaking with Darkhan city authorities, pointed out that Salesians work 'in the world' even before they seek official presence as Church, and that they as Catholic Church work for the total development of the person anywhere in the world. The authorities were impressed, as were their immediate predecessors, with the educational and holistic development of youngsters resulting from Salesian presence.
Fr Carlo and the Darkhan authorities' discussion was somewhat reminiscent of the Don Bosco-Ratazzi discussion well documented by Don Bosco himself. Fr Carlo pointed out that he was not seeking permission for Church identity and within that to run educational services, as that would in fact run contrary to the Mongolian Government's education department policy, which expressly forbids religious activities as part of education. The authorities also found that impressive! They asked in the bygoing if Fr Carlo and the Salesians could help out, perhaps, with the Nadaam festivities in the%

Ugluuni mend!

Thanks Ma!

The Short Talk each day in all Don Bosco Schools and Centers... is a Legacy of Love and Concern, a wise Mother, Mama Margaret Bosco has left behind to her children.

Daily Good Morning Talk is also relived in Mongolia's DBITSC Students and Staff.

The pedagogy of Mama Margaret's "Buona Notte" (Good Night, in Italian) is a pedagogical wisdom and educational legacy, a simple Mother left behind - to find time each day for a 'parent' to speak from the heart to her sons and daughers.

Margaret Bosco not only loved her children but understood how to love them. She taught it to her sons. Don Bosco later continued this filial tradition which later became a characteristic methodology of Forming the Young to be "God fearing Believers and Honest Citizens of their Nation." This now famous "Salesian" tradition was passed on to all Salesians, Students and Collaborators who walk the paths inside the schools and centers inspired by the Educational Methodology of St. John Bosco.

This Salesian Educational Tradition is so simple yet with its constancy, it enables that needed constant 'reflection' to the youth and to everyone who may take things for granted without distinguishing essentials from non-essentials in life. Mama Margaret wisely taught it to Don Bosco then and she still does teach it to her sons and daughters 150 years later after her death (1856-2006). What is even more amazing is that as years and boundaries go by, The Love and Art of Educating the Heart of the Young with this Methodology is effective where ever the Salesian Spirit is grown in the world... even to Mongolian Youth.

Fatherhood. Being all things to all men

Family? That entails parenting not adopting.

(Left) DBITSC Technical Students doing community service clean-up of the mess left over by the construction company. (Right) DBYC Kids from the streets and neighboring village undergoing literacy classess and elementary studies

(Left) DBEC-Darkhan Fr. Lawrence staying with the people and kids after a regular sunday quasi-parish celebration; (Right) DBEC-Darkhan Fr. James making sure that the smaller kids would also have time to play after the bigger 'bullys' have had their fill of play.

Peace is a human need. Unity is human responsibility.

In Unity, Peace!

Mongolia and from Mongolia as it celebrates its 800^th year of statehood
Mother Alan Qo’a had two sons by Dobun-mergen, namely Belguenuetei and Bueguenuetei. After her husband died, Alan Qo’a bore three more sons Buqu-qadagi, Bugatu-salji, Bodonchar-munchqaq. The first two, Belguenuetei and Bueguentei were secretly red with jealous anger of the other three. As a mother, Alan Qo’a knew their thoughts and one day called all 5 sons to her presence. To each she gave a shaft of an arrow. And to each she asked this to be broken into half. The 5 sons readily broke the shaft still wondering what their Mother was up to. Then Mother Alan Qo’a took from a quiver a bundle of 5 arrows which she bundled together and gave to them to break. None of 5 was able to break the bundle of arrows into half. Then Mother Alan Qo’a said, alone you can easily be broken by anyone. Together and of one mind, like a bound arrow-shafts none can easily vanquish you. (19-22. “The Secret History of the Mongols”, Prof. Urgunge Transl.)

The Excerpt above was taken from the famous “The Secret History of the Mongols”. It is of tradition that the lineage and heritage of the great Mongols come from this great Mother. For the historian of Mongols the arrow is not only a deadly projectile for hunting and for war. It was also called with a “term that meant ‘straightness of mind’ – in itself implying overtones of moral integrity” (Urgunge, a translator of this edition of the Secret History…)

The title of this article may initially be seen as far fetched with the person of Chinggis Khaan (Genghis Khan, Anglicized version) characterized by some historians as one who mercilessly took many lives and literally cut them short. But after a few 12 years of missionary life (7 in Papua New Guinea and 5 in Mongolia), I have been taught by my mistakes to listen and be left in Wonder. More than war, a man loves peace. And Peace is a fruit of communion.

After five years or shall I say in more poetic words as the Chinggis would have had it said, after five winters with the people of the felt-walled tents, Life has been WONDER-full.

A Life of wonder is something one cannot exchange for all the price tags a sight-seeing tourist-package can offer. Lest the readers be misled, Wonder should not be equated with only the scent and the velvety touch of roses or be equated with only the thorns. Wonder comes with the fact that the roses come ‘packaged’ with the thorns. Just as snow is not only a matter of immaculate whites and fluffy flakes but also bringing freezing chills and bone racking.

With more than 300 Mongolians registered (not counting the ex-patriates who are in country for reason of business or diplomatic services) in the Liber Baptismorum, the Sunday Eucharist of the Lord is celebrated in three parishes churches and three chapels (soon to be quasi-parishes) simultaneously each Sunday morning. And the wonderful part is that, the larger portion of those who attend the Eucharist are Mongolians not yet baptized – and still faithfully come. The reason being, they too would like to gather and to pray. (all liturgies are in the vernacular; missionaries are obliged to make the 2 year Mongolian Language Course first before diving into the fray of the vineyard of the Lord).

Our Local Church is led by Bishop Padilla, CICM. With him are 50 of us missionaries from 8 religious congregations and 2 dioceses that have lent support with a couple of priests. We Salesians are the 5^th Religious congregation that arrived 5 years ago. And to make things more prophetic 18 nationalities are shared among missionaries. The Top two nationalities are Indians and Koreans, mostly are sisters.

Under communistic laws and atheistic ideologies, no religious instruction is allowed in an establishment other than a duly state recognized Church building. In the early years after 1992, when the Mongolian Communist State established diplomatic ties with the Vatican, Socio-Humanitarian works for the poorest of the poor have been the main face of the Catholic Church. Only in recent years, have the people and government have matured in their understanding that being a Catholic Church and Religion in Mongolia meant the integral development of the person – body AND soul, and I dare even say, the development of the community as a body and like wise a soul. Our Buddhist brothers readily come in support of us Catholics as saying that we are not Christians (other Christian Protestants or Sects), nor Orthodox (Russian Orthodox, recognized not for its Christian roots but by diplomacy with the Russian Communist Involvement from of old) but Catholics. We believe that Catholic relationship with the Buddhists (94% of the population’s 2.7 million people) has gained high ground (if not the highest) recognition among brothers who have more things in common than differences. This last phrase too brings tinges of pain but also of challenges of hope when in the eyes and lips of the Mongolians, we hear their questions as they wonder why there are so many divisions even among Christians.

The mentioning of the Salesian works (should) come only within the context of the situation and life of the people and of the Local Church.

Thus, we Salesians cater to the poorer youth from those on the streets to the underprivileged youth without a job because they were not given a chance to study well and finish a high-school and college education. From the very beginning a school was asked of the Salesians by the Apostolic Nuncio (to Mongolia and Korea) and the Mission Sui Iuris Superior (then Msgr. Padilla). Otherwise, the Salesians would have opened an oratory instead and worked itself up the ladder of human services. Don Bosco Industrial Training Skills Center that follows a Competency Based Training has been established for the youth 6 months upon the arrival of the first Salesian in 2001, a Jubilee Gift for the Millennium. What started with 30 co-ed students 5 years ago now enrolls annually about 190 students these past two years. By the Start of the new school year in September 2006 the 3-year level upgrade in all trades: carpentry, industrial sewing, automechanics, plumbing-welding, and secretarial would see 250-300 youth from 16-24 years of age coming in to the school of St. John Bosco. Added to the technical curriculum are the compulsory subjects of English and Computer Literacy. Needless to say, for those who did not finish a high school diploma, academics are offered and these students are the majority. Currently the only Catholic high-school, trades-school, with more and more years in contact with the Salesians, the Salesian Pedagogy in “Good morning talks” and Salesian Spirituality in morning prayers (nothing written in the constitution we can’t pray for loved ones) all these infuse and makes the Mongolian youth in our school (99.9% who are not Catholic), imbibe richer human values, the very basis and foundation of any believing faith to speak of. And provide families well-discipline responsible bread-winners and productive workforce for a developing Mongol Republic in the modern world. In comparison with the other institutions, the three Salesians Centers now established in Mongolia employ one of the largest number of local professionals (a policy we try to uphold) to thus bring more support (by way of employment opportunities) to the Mongolian families.

After the establishment of the Technical School, the Oratories naturally came forth from the abundance of the heart of the Salesians. Currently, we have two Youth Centers operating: Don Bosco Youth Center- in a nearby district called Amgalang and Don Bosco Educational Center located 220 km north of the Capital (100 km before the boarder into Russia).

The Don Bosco Youth Center in the Capital, 10 minutes away from the Technical school caters to 50 boarders taken from the streets and man-holes of the capital. 40 other kids (Day kids aging from 5-10) from the neighborhood come to avail of Elementary and rudimentary Literacy. The Boarders (majority boys) range from as young as 10 years old till 18 as of the present. The Mission of this youth center is to ‘fish’ out these kids from living off the streets as beggars or petty thieves. With enough re-habilitation when these kids reach 16 they enter the main Technical School of Don Bosco after passing the usual technical entrance exams which they too get apprehensive about. Then hopefully, in three years, these graduate with enough skills, but moreover the competency and discipline to keep and not only find a decent regular job like all graduates of Don Bosco. Currently, 15 students from our Youth Center are among those studying to make a difference in their life.

The second Oratory is a budding Educational Center by day and Recreational Center by Night

It has 40 co-ed students that avail of the In-Formal Computer and English Language Lessons offered. And as the late afternoon comes, more than 100 youth and kids avail of the recreational services offered. On Sundays, a quasi parish community is being developed. Currently 15 adults have freely and willingly enrolled for catechesis. Unless the Catholic faith and gospel values are not from within the Mongolian people, the Beautiful work and dedication for the poorer youth will not be as effective and faithful. The work in the north, the second biggest concentration of Catholic presence outside of the Capital is well on its way.

80% (a very generous estimate) of youth and kids in our centers (the school and the oratory) located in the capital are from single parents. Most of the cases are due to divorce. Poverty is something they were unfortunately born into. The easiest to see is the poverty of economics… not enough tuition (many can pay only 20$; hardly 15% pay the yearly tuition of 200$ we ask in public; No one can pay the 400$ needed per student if the school should run on its own to pay at least its salaries to local teachers and for electricity and heating in a sub-zero climate half of the year). Yet the more bitter and stark poverty is when you still WONDER why out-of-school youth STILL drop off from our school with the excuse of bad-influence of the pull of companions they had from the streets, then Ill-Health and worse, unsupportive if not non-existent parents.

The poverty of values is poorer than the poverty of economics indeed. The poverty of the soul is poorer than the poverty of the mind or of the skill. The nourishment we feel is again only possible through a family. It would be a cliché even to say that a family is not a family if it is always divided and never acted as one.

800 years ago the great divided tribes of the steppes were united into the first Mongol state. This year, 2006 the people and government of Mongolia celebrate the eight centennial anniversary of their statehood in the founding of their great unity – the Mongols.

With God’s grace and the intercession of the Mama Mary, Help of those who Believe, who has gathered her poor and young children to be sheltered under the homes of Don Bosco would make the Salesians worthy enough to be men steeped in prayer as and stooped with undying work for building unity in a person and thus contribute to making the great Mother and Mongolian youth of 1206 and 2006 fulfill their dreams - to be gathered strong and whole as family in communion.

“In the year of the Tiger, the people of the felt-walled tents gathered around the river Onon, the Tatars, the Onggirats, the Tayichi’ut, the Kereyit, Naiman, Merkit and Jadaran tribes and various smaller tribes” (202.The Secret History of the Mongols) to form what the world now forever remembers as the Mongol people. In the same gathering of all these chiefs of the tribes, they chose a man, the one who had in fact fought to the point of death, to gather them as one. That day, 1206 the great tribes of the steppes chose Chinggis to be their Khaan, their King.”

Perennial Mission Challenge... Is between the eyes.

Its People that make places chilly or cozy, not the Weather.

(Left) DBYC-Darkhan monuments of the city in Mongolian Winter snow and ice; (Right) Salesians of Don Bosco - Mongolia from 5 nationalities in 2005 for the Annual Retreat in Summer preached by The Regional, Fr. Klement

Legit Moms and Dads

Upset, one teacher stayed back at school. I asked why? She said she had to talk, more or less pacify, some students of her class who en masse would like to leave their dormitory-like home with the nuns. Knowing the nuns, I knew I was missing something. I dug deeper and asked what's the source of all the "commotion" this time (as though it wasn't the first of many encounters). The teacher said the students expressed that they could not live longer with the nuns. Without skipping a beat I said sarcastically as usual, 'oh, that would be good! At least the nuns would have less mouths to feed and focus on more deserving kids.' Any way, the nuns never forced them to stay with them in the first place.

I know for one, that the nuns would have at least some reason why they would blow their top and put a lid on things in their house. The nuns had reasons... vaguely known?... or not understood enough, ...probably. A large critic of the nuns as I am, deep down I believed these nuns had their greater reasons for the good of these kids in the long run. And this ought to be respected.

The Teacher's eyebrows were twitching by this time. I guessed she really was having a hell of a time figuring out how to reconcile her previous notion of nuns as charitable 'creatures' with her current perception of a stern mother hen who was shooing off the chicks back to their 'places of origin' (in her mind) - their homes.

Thinking out loud to her I said, I would have done the same had I known that these kids have their own parents, single, divorced or in whatever lot they came. The first responsibility to take care of these kids are theirs not ours as 'social-workers'. As many of the cases of these kids have shown, they have a mom or have parents that literally are glad to send their kids to stay and live with the nuns. A free bed space, food and bus-fares are an attractive come-on. And surely enough, an irresistible opportunity not to pass by to lighten the burdens of a crowded home.

Staying with the nuns, for some, it truly helps alleviate the burdens of their home. But on an equal plane the numbers are high of moms or parents who literally take advantage of the kindness of some naive yet well intentioned NGO (religious or not).

The bottom line is, no one replaces a mom or a dad whether she or he be poor or richly endowed. They retain their right as well as the responsibility to be their children's Legitimate Moms and Dads.

The job of NGO's is not to replace families nor replace the role of parents in families. The jobs of NGO's or even of nuns is to build families not separate them. Parents, no matter how shrewed or "opportunistically" talented they may be, they retain their right as well as the responsibility to be their children's Legitimate Moms and Dads. - not the nuns (nor us).

This 'commotion' will give parents a chance to be legit moms & dads again. This commotion will give the kids a real chance to grow into legit moms & dads themselves someday. With this 'commotion' I'm glad that the kids will have an opportunity now to go HOME.

Family is where the heart learns to be truly human

Being a Father, Mother, Brother, Sister, Teacher and Friend to the Young, makes the world go round.