News from Here and There

TIJUANA, Baja California (Mexico) -- The Salesian Family of the Guadalajara province celebrates 10 years of "Project Salesian" in Tijuana. Proyecto Tijuana includes 10 locales in various sectors (or "colonias") of the city. Most of these "oratories" combine facilities for recreation, technical preparation or job training, alphabetization classes, and youth clubs. Central to the project is the presence of young women and men who come as lay mission volunteers. The majority of these young adults (between 21 and 24) are from Mexico. Other volunteers come from Europe, the United States and Canada.
LOS ANGELES, CA -- On a rainy Wednesday, January 15, Cardinal Roger Mahony of Los Angeles kicked off the Centennial Celebrations for the Salesians by celebrating liturgy with over 1000 young people. The Salesians have six works in the East Los Angeles/Chinatown area. Members of the staffs from the Salesian Family Youth Center, the Salesian Boys and Girls Club, St. Bridget's Chinese Catholic Center, the entire elementary school of St. Mary's School, St. Mary's Church staff, plus the entire school community at Salesian High were in attendance. Salesian High's next-door neighbor, Santa Isabel Elementary School, also participated. Cardinal Mahony spoke of the need to be peer ministers after the example of Don Bosco. "Youth-to-youth ministry is the Salesian style!" exhorted the Cardinal. He went on to ask from the young people present concrete ways of presenting themselves as "signs and bearers of God's love toward each other."
ALBUQUERQUE, NM -- The new San Jose Salesian Youth Program began with over 300 young people who came through the center the first week. "We really don't want to get into a numbers game," says Bro. Ernie Martinez, SDB, youth coordinator at San Jose Parish. "The important thing is that the kids feel at home." The parish is mobilizing to upgrade a number of facilities, including the Religious Education Center. Work is underway to convert a small courtyard at the Religious Education Center into a small gymnasium
LOS ANGELES, CA -- The Exalumnas y Exalumnos Salesianos -- Salesian alumnae and alumni of Latin America now living in southern California -- gathered at the Salesian Family Youth Center in the Boyle Heights district of Los Angeles to honor Don Bosco by sponsoring festivities among the children and young people of that area. The sports competitions and tournaments were organized by Bro. Steve Gomez, SDB, and Bro. Jesús Hinojosa, SDB.
LAREDO, TX -- Bishop Roberto Gonzalez came to celebrate the feast of Don Bosco with the people of San Luis Rey parish on Sunday, February 9th. The bishop celebrated Mass with a large number of parishioners. The parish hosted games and activities for the children and young people. The following week, a group of parish teens and young adults joined Bro. Tom Mass in the Senior Youth Spectacular in Corpus Christi, Texas.
LOS ANGELES, CA -- The Salesian Lettermen Society of Salesian High School, Los Angeles, continued their commitment to be advocates for the young and educators in the Salesian way by the various induction ceremonies which took place at the end of the year. Five young men (sophomores and juniors) took a promise of service, combining their leadership on the field/court with their commitment to the Salesian Family, pledging to be peer educators in school and the local community. Five more renewed their induction promises for another year. At the end of the senior year there is an option of making a perpetual commitment to this service, extending the Salesian presence outside the local community to the various college communities.

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