Last January 28, 2023, Archbishop Francesco Panfilo, SDB officiated the Holy Mass at Mary Help of Christian Parish Better Living, Paranaque in honor of the Feast of Don Bosco. In his homily, he said that Don Bosco is a saint not only worthy of veneration but imitation.
Abp. Panfilo said that Don Bosco is someone who loved young people with the same love of Christ. He went against the mentality of his time by searching for the young in the most unthinkable places. He invited and befriended the youth in order to make them friends with Jesus. Don Bosco made himself young among the young by sharing their problems, aspirations, joys, and sorrows; he loved what they loved with the goal of bringing them always to God.
Abp. Panfilo further said that “Don Bosco does not love the young because they are good; he loves them so that they will become good. He did not impose his own ideas and mentality but instead allowed the boys to make a free and mature choice of their life.”
The style and method of education of Don Bosco does not grow old because his method is based on LOVE. In fact, his method is more applicable today than yesterday in as much as the youth seems to be in greater need of love today than in the past. The challenge to all of us is to love and educate the youth as Don Bosco did. How? By making ourselves AVAILABLE to the young. We have to stay with them, speak to them and listen to them. As Don Bosco said, “It is not enough that we love the young; they must know that they are loved”. This requires additional effort from all of us who care for the young: We must be less selfish and more loving not only by words but also by actions; and by being true examples and role models for the young to imitate.
In ending, Abp. Panfilo also gave a special message addressed to the youth. He encouraged them to “Be young and stay young” by
fighting against the evil and sin in them and around them through the frequent reception of Confession and Communion plus devotion to the Virgin Mary. He also encouraged them to dedicate themselves to the salvation of their own fellow young who are in need.
At Don Bosco School of Theology, we give honor to God and our patron saint by instilling in the seminarians, religious and lay partners the Salesian Spirituality of love and care for the Young. As in our tagline, “We accompany. We grow.”, we want to make the youth feel that there will always be someone to journey with them as they discover their gifts, reach their full potential, and use their talents to give glory the Lord.
