Profile: Fr. Mel Trinidad

Fr. Mel Trinidad was born and raised in Tarlac, Philippines, where the first Salesian school in that nation was started on the island of Luzon. He attended Don Bosco School, an elementary and high school, and entered the pre-novitiate in the Philippines. Most of the family moved to the United States in 1975, where he applied for the novitiate in Newton, N.J., the same year.
	Fr. Mel Trinidad, SDB, Campus Youth Minister, Salesian High School, Richmond, California.

After graduating from Don Bosco College in 1978 he taught at St. Francis School in Watsonville, Calif., and St. Mary’s School in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. He went to the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio, in 1981 for theological studies and was ordained a priest in 1985.

After ordination he went back to Edmonton for two years as Director of Religious Education (DRE). Assigned to Don Bosco Technical Institute in Rosemead, Calif., in the same capacity, he remained until 1992. His next assignment was Salesian High School, Richmond, Calif., where he presently lives and works.

At Salesian High, Fr. Mel wears many hats. He is campus minister, DRE and chaplain. Fr. Mel also enjoys teaching three classes of religious studies and says, "it is my way of keeping in touch with the students." His pride and joy is campus ministry and his enthusiasm pervades the entire school. He is capably assisted by 16 young men and women who form the executive council of the campus ministry activities. Together with Fr. Mel they plan and work on retreats and service projects.

One of these projects is called Project Santa, which, for the last 10 years, has touched500 children from ages three to five from low-income families in the San Pablo/Richmond area. As a Christmas project every student and faculty member sponsors one or two of these children. The children and their families come to the school gym, which has been decorated and prepared for a Christmas party. Some students become Santa Claus and elves; others run games. Refreshments are provided by the Parent Association.

On-campus projects for the student body include class Masses and other spiritual formation and experiences. Fr. Mel organizes the service hours project in which students choose their own projects on and off campus. These projects involve on-campus retreats for freshman, sophomore and junior classes held at the West Contra Costa Salesian Boys and Girls Club, which shares the campus. An overnight retreat for the senior class is held at Camp St. Francis on Monterey Bay near Watsonville.

Fr. Mel was attracted to the Salesian way of life when he experienced the Salesians' special relationship with young people. He would stay after school and join in recreational activities until 5 or 6 p.m. "The Salesians were always around and I really enjoyed them, especially in their relationship with the kids. Somehow that began the attraction, of being part of the family."

	Fr. Mel Trinidad is an enthusiastic Salesian priest who has great rapport with the students of Salesian High School. He is unprepossessing and goes about his tasks with a real Salesian sense that youth work is what it is all about.
The Executive Committee of the Campus Youth Ministry with Fr. Mel.