Advent greetings and blessings to all of you!

It was not long ago, on November 15-20, that our Province was blessed with the visit of the Rector Major, Fr. Angel Fernandez Artime. Many of you had the opportunity and the privilege to meet, to greet, to listen, to celebrate and to take photos, including selfies, with Fr. Angel.  Needless to say it was an awesome experience and an amazing encounter with the 10th successor of Don Bosco.

As I wrote to my Salesian confreres in similar words, the wonderful events in both Southern and Northern California would not have been possible without the hard work and preparation of the entire Salesian Family. Special thanks go to the Directors and the SDB communities, the members of the Salesian Family and our lay partners in mission in the local sites where the various events took place.  Appreciation also go to the many young people, the staff and the parishioners and others who contributed to the Salesian spirit of joy and optimism throughout the visit.  Some traveled from Laredo, Texas, and a good number traveled to the Bay Area for the events at Sts. Peter & Paul and Corpus Christi Churches.  Kudos to the Social Communications team who captured the spirit of the visit and spread the good news to the entire Salesian world.

The joyful spirit of celebration and the enthusiastic response of so many to the visit of the Rector Major left an impression to the Rector Major himself, to the Regional, Fr. Hugo Orozco, to the Salesians who came from the Eastern Province and to others among us that the Salesian mission and spirit is truly alive and well in our province.  I was personally touched and renewed by how well we all came together, to be so welcoming and hospitable and to be so joyful in spirit in the presence of Don Bosco among us.  I echo one of the young Salesians in initial formation who texted me that he “was honored and proud to be a part of our province.”

My hope and prayer during this Advent season is that the Salesian spirit that came with the Rector Major’s visit will continue to permeate our lives and our ministries, especially our mission to young people.  We celebrate 125 years of Salesian presence in the United States. I invite all of us to pray with deep faith for vocations so that the Salesian mission to the young will continue and thrive beyond our imagination.

Happy Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception on the 8th December!

Sincerely in Christ and in Don Bosco,

Fr. Mel Trinidad, SDB