By Fr. Ed Liptak, SDB The season of yearning is upon us. Again, it is Isaiah who prompts us to beg that God return and ease our struggling, “Oh, that You would rend the heavens and come down,” or as the Psalmist says, “Make us turn to You; let us see Your face, and we shall be saved.” When You restore your presence to us … Continue reading Come Down Lord

By Fr. Ed Liptak, SDB La temporada del anhelo está sobre nosotros. Una vez más, es Isaías quien nos insta a rogar que Dios regrese y alivie nuestras luchas, “¡Oh, si rasgaras los cielos y descendieras!”, o como dice el salmista, “Haz que nos volvamos hacia Ti; déjanos ver Tu rostro, y seremos salvos.” Cuando restauras tu presencia entre nosotros mediante la venida de tu … Continue reading Baja Señor

Archival Photo On November 22nd, numerous monuments around the world were dyed red, to remind the world of violations of religious freedom. The initiative, called “Red Wednesday”, is part of the so-called “Red Week”, promoted by the pontifical foundation “Aid to the Church that suffers” (ACS). On this occasion, the aim was to raise awareness among Institutions, policy makers and public opinion regarding violations of … Continue reading Reminding the World of Violations of Religious Freedom

O GOD, in whom we live and move and have our being, you are the Lord of yesterday, today, and tomorrow. You are our refuge and our hope. We thank you for your abundant blessings and the challenges  through which we grow as a family, community, and nation.  In particular, we give you thanks for: (Those gathered name blessings and challenges.) Loving God, we praise … Continue reading A Communal Prayer for Thanksgiving Day

From Salesian H.S. Bishop Mora The Salesian H.S. community is rooted in the mission of St. John Bosco, and have the opportunity to make a significant difference in the lives of others. The students and faculty embrace the spirit of Thanksgiving by embodying gratitude in action. Thank you to the students, teachers, and parents of Salesian H.S. for the donations made for the Thanksgiving Canned … Continue reading Thanksgiving Canned Food Drive

From St. Francis H.S. Congratulations to St. Francis H.S. music maestro and trailblazer extraordinaire, Senior Felipe Romero-Vega! This year, he secured a spot in not one, not two, but THREE Honors Choruses—CCS, State Regional, and National Regional! The National Regional Honors Chorus is taking him on a musical journey through the American Southwest, and there’s a chance he’ll steal the spotlight at the National Association … Continue reading St. Francis Music Maestro

By Luis Chacon On November 18th, we commemorate a significant milestone as the Asociación de Damas Salesianas (Salesian Women’s Association) of St. Dominic Savio Parish celebrates its 25th anniversary. Founded by Maria Márquez and Father Miguel, with the unwavering support of Gael Sullivan, this remarkable organization has grown to include 24 dedicated members, with 20 of them having fulfilled their commitment to the cause. The … Continue reading The Anniversary of Asociación de Damas Salesianas at St. Dominic Savio Parish

By Fr. Ed Liptak, SDB “Llamar a Cristo Nuestro Rey” puede resultar bastante carente de significado para nosotros en el Estados Unidos de hoy en día. Nunca hemos vivido bajo el gobierno de un rey. Pero ciertamente sabemos lo que es la “autoridad”, y este domingo nos insta a reconocer la plena autoridad de Jesús, el Hijo Amado de Dios, por Quien y para Quien … Continue reading Jesús es Rey

By Fr. Ed Liptak, SDB “To call Christ Our King” can be rather meaningless for us in today’s United States.  We have never lived under a king’s rule. But we certainly know what “authority” is, and this Sunday calls on us to acknowledge the full authority of Jesus, Beloved Son of God by Whom and for Whom all things are made. Jesus rules over this … Continue reading Jesus is King

By Sheila Kun RN, BA, BSN, MS If you read my article “The Day is Getting Dark Slowly: A perspective on Aging (Part 1), you have been promised that I would translate a leading article on aging written by a famous author from China. Mr. Daxin Zhou depicted the aging process for the seniors 60 and above as “scenes”. He persuades us to examine these … Continue reading A Perspective on Aging (Part 2)

To make more accessible and engaging the “Letter to the People of God” from the 16th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, a multimedia version has been released. This new format provides a dynamic and immersive experience that complements the text of the Synod participants. The letter expresses gratitude for the Synod and details the work done during the assembly. It also expresses … Continue reading Multimedia Version of the Synod “Letter to the People of God”

By Luis Chacon On November 9th, the Salesian Social America Network orchestrated the third formative meeting. The focus of this engaging gathering was the effective communication of Salesian social works, exploring key criteria, defining roles, and devising strategies for content creation across contemporary languages and platforms. Setting the Stage: Under the guidance of Father Walter, a Salesian of Don Bosco, the event commenced with an … Continue reading Navigating the Seas of Salesian Communication in the Digital Era

From St. John Bosco H.S. St. John Bosco’s Engineering Pathway students have been busy! Last week they had the opportunity to attend the Bright Minds Student Summit at the WESTEC Manufacturing Technology event held at the Long Beach Convention Center.  The bridge project that these young engineers worked on culminated in the pathway’s lessons on statics and trusses. Students were tasked with designing a bridge … Continue reading St. John Bosco at Bright Minds Student Summit

By Sheila Kun RN, BA, BSN, MS How many of us seniors would sign up for a training course on the topic of “How to age gracefully?”. I am not sure if there is such a course, however the need to get proper training on what to do with the years creeping up on us is imminent and urgently needed. A hot topic that retirees … Continue reading The Day Is Getting Dark Slowly: A Perspective on Aging (Part 1)

By Judy Alvarez Don Bosco found profound purpose in his life through three great loves: Jesus in the Eucharist, Mary Help of Christians, and the Holy Father, the Pope. The Salesian Family actively expresses its devotion to Jesus and the Blessed Mother through practices like Sunday/daily Mass, visits to the Blessed Sacrament, the Holy Rosary, and reciting three Hail Marys. However, the question arises: how … Continue reading Praying for Pope Francis

From Don Bosco Tech On this Veterans Day, Bosco Tech alumnus Mario Diaz (ME ’86) has presented to Don Bosco Tech senior Anthony Ramirez a $92,000 ROTC scholarship to a UC or CSU, on behalf of the U.S. Army.  Mr. Diaz is the Deputy Under the Secretary of the Army. Don Bosco Tech is very grateful to him for coming back to his alma mater, … Continue reading Passing the Torch this Veteran’s Day

By Luis Chacon As members of the Salesian family, our commitment revolves around the comprehensive growth of children and young people. This duty mirrors the ethos of our founder, Don Bosco, who stayed abreast of technological advancements to better educate the youth. In this spirit, Juan Carlos Montenegro and I participated in the “Education Summit,” an event organized by the Los Angeles Area Chamber of … Continue reading The Vital Role of Interpersonal Relationships: The Human Component and Artificial Intelligence

By Fr. Ed Liptak, SDB Esta semana, después del 33º Domingo del Tiempo Ordinario, prestemos plena atención al mensaje del Evangelio de Jesús. Mateo lo sitúa sentado en el Monte de los Olivos, mirando hacia atrás hacia el Monte del Templo, aún dorado bajo el sol de la tarde. Estamos en la Semana Santa. El comentario de un discípulo sobre lo hermoso que es todo … Continue reading Hablar Claramente de las Escrituras

By Fr. Ed Liptak, SDB This week following the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, let’s give full attention to the Gospel message of Jesus. Matthew places Him seated on the Mount of Olives Looking back toward the Temple Mount still golden in the evening sun. It is within Holy Week. A disciple’s remark on how beautiful it all is prompted Jesus to give a detailed … Continue reading Plain Talk from Scripture

By Fr. Ángel Fernández Artime We have a dream. And it is our greatest wealth Two hundred years ago, a nine-year-old boy, poor and with no future other than to be a farmer, had a dream. He told it in the morning to his mother, grandmother and siblings, who laughed it off. The grandmother concluded, “Don’t pay attention to dreams.” Many years later, that boy, … Continue reading Memoirs of the Future

From St. John Bosco H.S. St. John Bosco High School (Bosco) hosted a media day on Thursday, November 2, 2023, for all six boys basketball teams in the highly competitive Trinity League: Bosco, JSerra, Mater Dei, Orange Lutheran, Santa Margarita and Servite. The event took place on campus in the school’s gymnasium and was produced by their Film and Media Arts Pathway students for live … Continue reading St. John Bosco High School Hosting Trinity League Boys Basketball Media Day

By Fr. Vien Nguyen There is the time for sowing, time for planting, time for nurturing, and time for harvesting. While the harvest is abundant, the laborers are few (Mt 9:37).  November 2nd, 2023, was the first “In Ministry Dinner” event hosted by the Province Vocation Office and the community of Corpus Christi in San Francisco. Twenty-five participants were there from Oakland and San Francisco, … Continue reading In Ministry Dinner

By Monica Nguyen, Youth Leader from Mary Help of Christians, Stockton, CA In an age where young people often grapple with questions about their future, two Northern California youth groups gathered together to explore the fascinating and profound topic of vocation. Don Bosco Youth (MHOCC, Stockton) and St. Anthony’s Youth Group (St. Anthony’s, Oakland) had a group gathering on November 5th. Both groups were eager … Continue reading Youth Gathering and Vocation Animation

By Luis Chacon Father Héctor Franco, beloved pastor at St. Mary’s Parish and Santa Isabel, recently marked a significant milestone – the 35th anniversary of his priestly ordination. This extraordinary achievement was celebrated with great joy and reverence, highlighting the impact Father Héctor has had on the Boyle Heights community during his nearly two-year tenure. The anniversary, which fell on October 30th, brought together the … Continue reading Celebrating 35 Years of Dedication: Father Héctor Franco’s Priestly Journey

By Sheila Kun RN, BA, BSN, MS You must be puzzled as to why I am sharing the highlights of this outstanding grand round, given by Dr. Alaine P. Vidmar, Medical Director, Obesity Medicine & Bariatric Surgery, Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles. I know most of the readers for InTouch are adults. You are right, the key points I am sharing below might not be … Continue reading Lessons Learned from Pediatric Obesity Grand Round Talk

(Vatican City) – On November 6th the Paul VI Hall welcomed about 7,500 children from all five continents who arrived to meet Pope Francis as part of the event sponsored by the Dicastery for Culture and Education entitled “Children meet the Pope”. After the initial greeting by Cardinal José Tolentino de Mendonça, Prefect of the Dicastery for Culture and Education, and a performance by singer … Continue reading Pope Invites Children to Teach World Through Their Joy and Purity

From Don Bosco Tech Don Bosco Technical Institute (Bosco Tech) is pleased to be part of the Space Shuttle Inspiration Pathfinder Project, where the goal is the restoration of the original full-scale mockup of the space shuttle. Named “Inspiration,” the mockup originally was used to earn approval of the space shuttle program and assist in the final design. Utilized for hardware and software development in … Continue reading Bosco Tech to Participate in Space Shuttle Restoration Project: Tech Alumni Who Were Original Shuttle Engineers to Guide Students

By Luis Chacon On November 1st, a special and heartwarming celebration took place at the Santa Isabel Elementary School. This Eucharisty and the commemoration of All Saints were presided over by Father Steve Way SDB, and the event was a testament to the strong Salesian spirit that thrives in the community. The highlight of the day was the enthusiastic participation of children who brought the … Continue reading A Joyous Celebration of All Saints and Eucharist at Santa Isabel Elementary School

By Fr. Ed Liptak, SDB Qué hermoso que un recuerdo tan dulce perdure en mi primera visita a un hogar cercano a nuestra parroquia. Una familia solidaria había enviado noticias de que uno de sus ancianos estaba pasando. Cuando me vio, la anciana de la familia supo por qué había venido. Juntos, ella y yo oramos. Con los últimos ritos concluidos, continuamos conversando. Sus ojos … Continue reading “Quiero ver a Jesús”

By Fr. Ed Liptak, SDB How nice that a memory so sweet should linger over my first sick call to a home near our parish. A caring family had sent word that one of their elders was passing. When she saw me, the family elder knew why I had come. Together she and I prayed. With the last rites concluded, we continued to chat. Her … Continue reading “I Want to See Jesus”

By Fr. Kristian Laygo Last October 16th-18th, Fr. Vien and Mr. Adrian Fulay organized the Vocation Panel Presentations days at Salesian College Preparatory in Richmond. Together with Sr. Mary Link, Fr. Joe, Fr. Itchan, Br. Jorge, Salesian Cooperator Ms. Zuleyma Guardado and Candidate Joseph Vu graciously sat in for different panels on the religion classes. The presentation was delivered to individual instructors and classes as … Continue reading Vocation Awareness Day at Salesian College Preparatory, Richmond

From Bishop Mora Salesian H.S. Join our Salesian High School community on November 11th, in celebration of our Veterans! For more information on the event, scan the QR code or contact the Advancement Office. Tickets can be purchased at Go Fan website under “Salesian High School Alumni Association Memorial Breakfast” Continue reading Veterans & First Responders Breakfast

From Don Bosco Tech Congratulations to Tech running back Andrew Shahin, named among stat leaders by the San Gabriel Valley Tribune, with 1,613 yards, 161 avg., 16  TDs. Andrew is a senior in the Tech’s Integrated Design, Engineering & Art program. Check out his article at the San Gabriel Valley Tribune. Continue reading Tech Running Back Named Among Stat Leaders

By Luis Chacon The Salesian Volunteers, an embodiment of Don Bosco’s mission to serve the less fortunate, embarked on a mission to bring food to those who are homeless and in need. It was a day that showcased the power of collective action, compassion, and the profound impact that a united community can make. The Restless Hearts Foundation, instrumental in making this event a reality, … Continue reading United in Service: A Day of Hope with Salesian Volunteers

From St. John Bosco H.S. A beautiful day to serve our community! From the beach and the park to their next door neighbors and their own backyard, the St. John Bosco junior class showed up with loving kindness to serve their community today for their yearly retreat.  Through various projects including a beach cleanup, the beautification of 3 local parks and collaborative work next door … Continue reading St. John Bosco Beautification Works

Abstracted by Sheila Kun, RN, BA, BSN, MS From the WHO guideline, people with hypertension, type 2 diabetes, HIV and cancer survivors, might benefit from the recommendations below: Your homework from the Care Ministry this week: identify activities suitable for people with chronic conditions.  Love to hear from you: kunlouis@gmail.com  Continue reading How Much Physical Activity Is Recommended For People Living with Chronic Conditions?