After three years of being hosted online, the Salesian Family Vocation Festival, or SFVF, was successfully held in person at Don Bosco Canlubang on April 6, 2024, catering to a total of 284 young people from all across Luzon and attended by 122 Salesian family members.
The theme of “Monk or no monk, I will stay with Don Bosco” brought this event together. It allowed participants to learn about Salesian family groups in the Philippines and urged them to join and stay with Don Bosco forever.
It began with a vibrant opening event with an upbeat flash mob led by the Aspirantate community and Voctok volunteers, which everyone actively
participated in, raising their energy and desire for the next activities.
After the energy-boosting experience, the participants moved on to the next activities with their assigned groups.
The seven groups were supposed to spend 20 minutes each within the eight stations.
Each station was led by a Salesian Family Group, with their own well-planned activities and speeches promoting and providing information about their place and role in their vocation.
Those eight stations consist of the Salesians of Don Bosco or SDB, Daughters of Mary Help of Christians or FMA, Association of Salesian Cooperators or ASC, Association of Mary Help of Christians or ADMA, the Past Pupils of Don Bosco and Past Pupils of FMA, Caritas Sisters of Jesus, Association Damas Salesianas or DAMAS, and lastly the Women Volunteers of Don Bosco or VDB and Men Volunteers of Don Bosco or CDB.
After the carousel exercise, each person’s expression indicated enlightenment and consideration, hoping they might find a place in this family one day.
As part of the program’s aim, the Principal of the Senior High School Basic Education Department of Don Bosco Canlubang, Sir Herbert Delaresma, recounts and discusses his experience as a part of the peculiar and special dream of Don Bosco. He highlighted that Don Bosco’s dreams were never crazy; rather, they were special, adding that we don’t dream crazy, we dream extraordinary and because of that his visions were guided and shaped by this special dream of his where we, all of us, are part of it. That there is more and more from his dream because each of us is a crucial part of it.
He ended his speech with a memorable statement that everyone in the vicinity was looking forward to hearing. “Be someone Don Bosco dreamt of. Be someone who dreams with Don Bosco.” He stated, expressing his pride in being a member of the Salesian family.
This was followed by the talk of Rev. Jojo Valenzuela, SDB, which highlighted his incredible journey from being a member of the Association of Salesian Cooperators or ASC to wishing to be a part of the Salesians of Don Bosco.
The event ended with a Mass and was blessed by the exceptional homily delivered by the Salesian Youth Movement Delegate, Fr. Ramil Maranan, SDB.
His homily highlighted three stories that have similar endings; all of the ones involved in the story choose to stay with Don Bosco forever, signifying their unconditional love and passion for Don Bosco and the youth. “Love is the only reason to stay with Don Bosco despite the challenges, pains, struggles, and difficulties. Despite the problems and suffering, love can make us stay. Monk or no monk, I will stay with Don Bosco.”
