Dear Salesian sisters and brothers, I just returned from Southern California, where I visited our communities and made my way back to the Provincial House in San Francisco, stopping in Watsonville for the night. Thanks again to everyone’s hospitality. And, a big “Thank You” to everyone for their joyful witness of Salesian life even in the midst of these confusing times of Covid-19. Things change … Continue reading Provincial Letter July 18th, 2020
May our Blessed Mother, Mary Help of Christians, be with you. Dear Salesian family, greetings from St. Bridget Chinese Catholic Church. This year St. Bridget is celebrating our pastor Father John Lam’s 80th birthday. Fr. John Lam is a faithful apprentice of St. John Bosco, humbly serving God and his charge in all his ministries. Fr. Lam entered the novitiate in 1960, professed his perpetual … Continue reading St. Bridget Chinese Catholic Church Celebrates Pastor Father John Lam’s 80th Birthday
Fr. Gustavo Martagón, ministering at St. Luke’s parish in Stockton, CA, was called back to Spain. There he will be pastor at a church in Sevilla. He will join Fr. Diego Molina, SDB, a close friend, who has been assigned as his director. Three years ago, Fr. Molina was stationed in Los Angeles at St. Mary’s Church where Fr. Jesse Montes was pastor. Fr. Diego … Continue reading Spanish Salesian Priest tours San Francisco in turbulent times
During their Annual Retreat and from their respective communities, Brothers Khoa Pham, SDB, Quang Nguyen, SDB, Leo Imbert, SDB, Kris Tran, SDB and Damien Ho, SDB renewed their vows and their commitment to serving the young people. Please continue to pray for vocations especially for these young men as they continue their formation. Congratulations! Continue reading Renewal of Vows – Congratulations!
Dear Salesian sisters and brothers, We continue to struggle with all of the challenges which Covid-19 presents to us. With the resurgence of Covid cases in certain areas of our province (California and Texas in particular) changes are continuously taking place to assure the safety of all of our people, especially, our young men and women. While some of our sites are conducting virtual camps, … Continue reading Provincial Letter July 3rd, 2020
By: Andres Neria Province Delegate for Social Communication On June 28, 2020, candidates for the Salesian Cooperators Association, Spanish-speaking, met on Zoom for their third monthly meeting. Special formators, Judy Alvarez and Elizabeth Gamarra, presented material from their respective expertise. Fr. Ted Montemayor, our provincial led the opening prayer. He joined them for the entire program. There are seventeen candidates in the two-year program. Sister … Continue reading Spanish-speaking Cooperator candidates Zoom-ing
When Father Ed Liptak returned from Africa, he was assigned to Corpus Christi Church, San Francisco, where he joined his companion of ordination, Fr. Al Pestun, after years of separation. As a missionary in Africa for twenty-six years, Fr. Ed had worked largely in formation of the clergy, both diocesan and religious. He also served two terms as vice provincial of the newly formed East … Continue reading Corpus Christi Celebrates Anniversaries
By: Fr. John Itzaina, SDB Province Delegate for Formation In the past three weeks since the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, for the most part, anger has turned into resolve, looting has been overwhelmed by peaceful but forceful protests. House, Senate, and State Assemblies have proposed legislation for radical changes to police tactics, its militarization, and to the use of violent crowd control methods … Continue reading Open Wide our Hearts
Bosco Tech’s safe social distance graduation where students came individually with about 3 family members, practiced safe social distancing while posing for photos, and received their diplomas from a student-built and programmed robot. Congratulations! Continue reading Don Bosco Techs Graduation Ceremony
The Provincial and his Council of the Salesians of Don Bosco San Francisco Province, USA West announce the appointment of Fr. Fabian Cardenas SDB as Province Delegate for Youth Ministry beginning on July 1, 2020. Born in Bogota, Colombia on June 12, 1988 Fabian, grew up in a humble, hard-working, and welcoming family with strong Catholic roots. He came to know the Salesians of Don … Continue reading New Province Delegate for Youth Ministry
By: Fr. Jesse Montes, SDB Corpus Christi Church – San Francisco, CA Corpus Christi Church, San Francisco, reopened its doors to parishioners and the public on Sunday, June 14, 2020. With the most stringent regulations and a large crew of volunteers, the congregation will feel comfortable and safe in its surroundings. The organizations and volunteers who have offered their services have already held two meetings … Continue reading Corpus Christi Church in San Francisco Re-Opening!
By: Bro. Al Vu, SDB Province Delegate for Youth Ministry / Province Coordinator for Schools These past few weeks immersed in the current events of our country have left me struggling to understand and come to terms with why I feel so heartbroken and sometimes angry at what is happening in the world today. I have had many personal conversations with friends, family, and colleagues … Continue reading It is My Privilege…
By Bp. Enrico dal Covolo and Fr. Giorgio Mocci* On September 1, 1939, Hitler invaded Poland, touching off World War II. The German Army occupied the Salesian house of Poznan on Wroniecka Street and turned it into a storehouse. The youngsters continued to meet in gardens outside the city and the nearby woods. Many secret groups were created. In September 1940 Francis Kesy and four … Continue reading Blessed Francis Kesy & Companions, Martyrs (†1942)
By: Fr. Jesse Montes, SDB Corpus Christi Church – San Francisco, CA Sister Mary Link, FMA, is reviving the Salesian Cooperators program at Corpus Christi Church, San Francisco, after decades of inactivity. She heads the English-speaking group of twenty-two candidates. Fr. Jesse Montes, SDB, is forming the seventeen candidates in the Spanish-speaking group. Recently, Fr. Jesse held a Zoom meeting, enriched with the presence of … Continue reading Corpus Christi’s Salesian Cooperators Program Revived
By: Fr. Jesse Montes, SDB Corpus Christi Church – San Francisco, CA 45 minutes with a Salesian of Don Bosco and 45 Minutos con un Salesiano de Don Bosco are two daily programs started by Fr. Jesse Montes, SDB, to keep in contact with the parishioners of Corpus Christi Church in San Francisco. The program in Spanish begins at two in the afternoon. It is … Continue reading Keeping in touch!
Dear Salesian sisters and brothers, Yesterday, June 3rd, a huge protest and rally of 10, 000 people or more (some even reported 30,000) took place in the Mission district of San Francisco. The protest was peaceful. The march was organized by a 17 year old high school student and her friends. Simone Jacques and her friends organized the demonstration through an Instagram group called NOJusticeNoPeaceSF … Continue reading Provincial Letter June 4th, 2020
Get to Know – “GTK” By: Elizabeth Gamarra Newly appointed Delegate for Salesian Family Elizabeth Gamarra was recently appointed Salesian Family Delegate for the St. Andrew’s Province of the Western United States (SUO). Since 2011, Liz has been a member of the Salesian Family Commission. She collaborated with past Delegates, Frs. Jerry Bonjean, Chris Woerz, Tom Juarez, and more recently, Fr. Joseph Farias. She has … Continue reading GTK Newly appointed Delegate for Salesian Family
