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USA WEST PROVINCE NEWSLETTER • SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA NOVEMBER 7TH, 2018 community for their efforts to bring possible. Where this is not possible the Salesian spirit to Stockton and, we respect our differences and especially, to St. Luke’s, which acknowledge our cultural includes the Vietnamese Center and differences. The more united we are community. as Salesians, the greater the witness of Don Bosco’s diverse but united Our brothers from the Eastern and Family. As one travels throughout New Rochelle Provincial Council the region and the world, one sees have arrived today for our joint the Salesian spirit and life lived so meetings with our provincial council differently. Yet there are always from the West. Tomorrow, while common elements that can be some of us attend the Trust meetings spotted very clearly. Don Bosco had at the provincial house and the a gift of respecting the differences of Members meeting in Richmond later the young in his care and yet also had in the afternoon, the provincial a gift of maintaining a special unity in council from New Rochelle will meet the Oratory. We pray for that gift in for their own council meeting in our province, especially, in those who Richmond. On Thursday and Friday, lead. Dear Salesian Sisters and Brothers, both councils will come together for our joint meetings. On Thursday, we The Synod 2018 has concluded and Today I visited our Salesian will meet in Richmond, at Salesian we are still waiting for the English community in Stockton. At St. Luke’s College Preparatory and on Friday, at translation. I have been able to parish, we have four Salesians: Fr. the Provincial House. In the evening, peruse through a bit of the Spanish Ramon Zarate, Director and Pastor; we will take the councils out to edition. The document seems very Fr. Paul Tran, in charge of the dinner. Please pray for the success Salesian in that it stresses the theme Vietnamese community and Center of our gatherings. While we are of accompaniment with the young several miles away; Fr. Marc different provinces with different and discernment to some call of Rougeau, associate pastor and Fr. cultures, we are part of the same service. This is what the Lorenzo Avelino, associate pastor. family, the Salesian Family. We want Congregation has called us to at the The community treated me to a great to work together, support each other last General Chapter and with this lunch prepared by Fatima, their cook, and, where possible, work on year’s strenna: “Sir, give me this and we sat for a few hours sharing common projects. Many of us water,” Let us cultivate the art of stories and updates on province studied back East during our listening and accompaniment.” This news. The community has a healthy formation years and had some very art of listening and accompaniment rhythm of apostolic activities, prayer memorable and formative years. We was stressed throughout the Synod and fraternal life. The four share a have continued to bond and document. It challenges us to be house which is situated on the maintain our friendships. We must with and for the young. Taking the property of the Church and they get continue to dialogue and work story and image of the journey to along quite well. I wish to thank the together as Salesians wherever Emmaus from St. Luke’s Gospel, the INTOUCH NOVEMBER 7TH, 2018 1 Synod document is divided into many prayers for so many of us who in Richmond where Fr. Harry was also three segments: He walked with she faithfully followed and kept in buried. Harry was always very them; They opened their eyes; They touch either through phone calls or encouraging and endured his many left without delay. In the 2018 other means of communication. All illnesses with patience and grace. He document, the Synod Fathers the Salesian Sisters are special to us was always a man of integrity and stressed the accompaniment of but Sr. Angelita had a special place in had a great love for the Blessed Christ with his disciples, the issues in the lives of so many of the Salesians, Mother and for Don Bosco. May He today’s society that present past pupils and friends of Don Bosco. continue to pray for us and intercede themselves as we open our eyes, Perhaps, her gift was to reach our for this province he loved so much. such as sexual abuse, social media hearts through our stomachs. But and all its ramifications, migration, Sr. Angelita also had that Salesian With warm regards and gratitude, cultural diversity and a society that is love which touched us at a very less God-centered and more human level. She accompanied us in secularized. We live a world of ways that gave us joy, strength and compartments where we might love. She always made us feel very believe that we are disciples of Christ much at home and part of the family. because we fight for an injustice or But, we also knew that she prayed for against some life issue but are us and challenged us to be holy blinded to other injustices and lack of Salesians, whether consecrated inequalities around us. The young through vows or through our call us to be holy and people of Baptism. We loved her and she will integrity. Integrity means living out be missed. May she Rest In Peace. the values we profess and ought to profess, if we are Christians and Next Sunday evening, the provincial followers of Jesus. Young people are council will begin its November turned off by duplicity and being meetings. The meetings will take dishonest. We pray that as Salesian place in Berkeley, at Don Bosco Hall. leaders we may always be known for On November 14th, I will be back at our honesty, humility and integrity. the Provincial House to attend a We may not be perfect (and, young Provincial Finance Advisory meeting. people are aware of this) but we are Then, on the 15th, I am off to challenged to be honest, vulnerable Bellflower for a Members meeting at and open to growth and change. I St. John Bosco High School. On encourage all of us to take the Synod Monday, I will attend a Salesian Boys 2018 document and reflect and pray and Girls Club meeting in Los with it. I believe Pope Francis will Angeles. On the 20th I will fly to come up with a final document in the Texas and will spend Thanksgiving near future. Day and a few extra days with my family and visit our parish, San Luis This coming Sunday, in Corralitos, at Rey, before flying back to LA on the Salesian Sisters School, I will be Monday, 26th and drive up to celebrating a Mass to remember Sr. Watsonville for a members meeting Angelita Guzman. The Mass will be at St. Francis High School. at 11am. All are invited to participate and remember This month we honor our deceased Sr. Angelita’s life. As many of you brothers and sisters. We just buried already know, Sr. Angelita worked in Fr. Harry Rasmussen. We Watsonville, at St. Francis Seminary, remembered him for his many for many years. She later spent time accomplishments and contribution to in Ipswich where some of us were the Congregation and the Province. novices and returned to Corralitos Let us pray for and to him. We before retiring in San Antonio, at the remember him especially for his love FMA provincial house. She also for the Salesian Spirit and spent time in Laredo and other Congregation. Harry touched many houses in the East. She is well lives. Some beautiful and funny known by so many people who stories were shared at his funeral remember he motherly touch, her Masses at St. Dominic Savio, love for cooking and baking and her Bellflower and at the Salesian Chapel INTOUCH NOVEMBER 7TH, 2018 2 Don Bosco Technical Institute Open House - November 18 tour extensive lab facilities while By Karen Krynen learning about all the school offers, Communications Officer including interscholastic sports, extracurricular clubs, service Don Bosco Technical Institute (Bosco organizations and honor societies.” Tech) will host its Open House for prospective students and their families Shadow tours and details about on Sunday, November 18, 2018, from financial aid will available during the 12 noon to 4 pm. event. Middle school students are invited to Bosco Tech is an all-male Catholic high tour the school’s extensive school that combines a rigorous engineering and applied science labs college-preparatory program with a and participate in Bosco Tech’s technology-focused education. The signature Explore and Create innovative curriculum allows students workshops. Offered to boys in grades to exceed university admissions 6–8, these free sessions allow middle requirements while completing school students a chance to extensive integrated coursework in experience Bosco Tech’s uniquely one of several applied science and integrated, hands-on STEM education. engineering fields. On Niche.com’s list Workshop space is limited of top boys high schools and Catholic high schools in California and the U.S., New this year is information on the Bosco Tech boasts a college launch of the school’s Biological, acceptance rate of 100 percent, with Medical & Environmental Technology the majority of graduates pursuing (BMET) program that starts in Fall STEM-related post-secondary majors 2019. BMET courses will prepare and careers. Visit www.boscotech.edu. students for advanced post-secondary studies in health care, environmental For more information about the Bosco engineering and biomedical research. Tech Open House or to participate in The BMET program joins the school’s a workshop, contact: existing engineering majors: Architecture & Construction Director of Admissions John Garcia Engineering (ACE); Computer Science Email: [email protected] & Electrical Engineering (CSEE); Phone: (626) 940-2009.