The 3rd Salesian Educators Congress was perhaps the biggest gathering of all Salesian Educators in the Philippine North Province. Serendipity may have graced us 738 participants who gathered together for three days last October 27-29, 2008 as a fitting conclusion to the Rosary month. It was so heart-warming to meet such a huge number of Salesian Educators from DB Tarlac, DB Mabalacat, DB Mandaluyong, DB Canlubang, DB Tondo, DB San Jose in Nueva Ecija, DB Legazpi, DB Naga, Tuloy sa DB, DB Center of Studies in Parañaque, and Caritas DB School. For DB Makati hosting such a historic event, the presence of these Salesian Educators has more than ever provided the inspiration to allow all our teachers and academic non-teaching personnel compose the biggest delegation. For us, more than an opportunity to be of service, it was a blessing to see in our revered institution the unfolding of the realization of the noble objectives of the Congress as follows:
reflect on the directions given by Gen. Chapter 26 regarding the educational apostolate.
define strategic directions that would orient our educational apostolate in schools and training centers towards the fulfillment of the paradigm shifts proposed by Gen. Chapters 26.
draw lines of actions that fulfill the strategic directions defined.
deepen the spirituality of the Salesian Educator toward the status of becoming a member of the Salesian Family.
enhance the bond of collaboration and partnership among the Salesian and the Lay Mission-Partners in the educational apostolate of the Salesian Philippine North Province.
The depth and breadth of the journals and the output papers in those three days showed the guiding presence of the Holy Spirit in the reflection on the theme “Starting Afresh with Don Bosco: Education with a Soul” through a Congress Statement that acclaims:
“Inspired by the spirit of St. John Bosco, we, Salesian Educators, uphold our mission to educate by evangelizing, and evangelize by educating.
We look back and recommit ourselves to form servant-leaders.
We look to the present and are challenged by the Church’s call for us to become agents of social transformation.
We look to the future, threatened by ecological degradation, conscious of our calling to help build up God’s Kingdoom.
We commit ourselves to become prime movers of responsible stewardship and use of God’s gifts of nature.”
This Congress Statement charts the direction of our educational apostolate. Singularly and collectively, this will give deeper meaning to our role as Salesian educators. It will be our rallying point. We hope that by aligning our concerns and synergizing our efforts to this Congress Statement, the young people will see in us the “heart and mind of Don Bosco.” Let this Congress Statement become the beacon of light guiding our thoughts and actions to resonate among the young Don Bosco's words "Da mihi animas, coetera tolle."
