This new upcoming pastoral year will be filled with many exciting changes in the Province Youth Ministry Department and Office.

We are excited to have Bro. Al Vu return as Province Youth Ministry Delegate while still taking on his role as Province Coordinator of Schools. We want to thank Fr. Mel Trinidad for his leadership this past year as the Province Delegate.

Gina Robles (middle), Youth Ministry Associate with her two daughters Amanda (left) and Justine (right)

Over the past 21 years I have been working for the province in various capacities. In 1998 I was hired to be the secretary for the Province Vocation Office under Fr. Ted Montemayor, who was serving as the Province Vocation Director.  Eventually I assumed responsibilities under the Province Youth Ministry Office. Throughout these years, I have grown in my various roles and deepened my love of the Salesian mission. All of this helped me discern and ultimately commit my life as a Salesian Cooperator this past Spring.

 

I am grateful to the many SDBs and Salesian lay people who have accompanied me in these years. I am incredibly grateful to Fr. Ted and the Provincial Council for having the confidence in me and giving me the responsibility of Province Youth Ministry Associate. Under this role, I will be assisting the Province Delegate for Youth Ministry in animating and coordinating the many youth ministry initiatives in the province. I am excited to help move our province’s vision of youth ministry forward and work collaboratively with the many leaders and administrators in our local communities.

In order to help run our office smoothly with all of these new transitions and changes, we have brought on our new Office Support Assistant, Marisol Becerra. You read a little about her in last week’s Intouch. In the next few weeks I hope to introduce Marisol to the many members of the Salesian Family in the province so she can get acquainted with you.

I look forward in working alongside each of you in this new role. Please continue to pray that the Spirit may inspire us this year and may our Blessed Mother, Mary Help of Christians, guide us!

 

Our fundamental task is then to “propose to the young with courage and joy that they live their lives in the way Jesus Christ lived his” (GC26.NO.36)