Countdown to DB's Day

Preparations for the coming feast of Don Bosco on the 31st of this month keep us occupied these days. It's my first time to celebrate Don Bosco ki Id in Pakistan and that adds up to my excitement. Tomorrow, we begin the novena (nine days of preparation) in honor of St. John Bosco. And everyday, other than the usual games and activities, we are setting aside some moments of prayer for particular intentions assigned to each of the novena days.

We offer our first day of prayer for Haiti--for those who are sick, suffering, struggling to survive, for the soul of those who died among them our confreres and students and also for those who are now working in the relief and rescue operations and rebuilding of Haiti.

Here's a little information as well about Don Bosco in Haiti (from Salesian Missions and Intentional Disciples weblog). Alot more news can be found at salesians.org, sdb.org and CNN ireport site.

At the time of the earthquake, there were 66 Salesians in the Vice Province of Haiti. The Salesians worked in six houses that served the poor in a variety of ways: technical education, job training, primary education, food distribution, care of street kids, outreach to the unemployed.

The Salesians in Haiti have reported the death of three of their confreres: Bro. Hubert Sanon, aged 85 (the first local Salesian Brother) and the two young Salesians in formation Atsime Wilfrid, aged 28 and Vibrun Valsaint, 26.

The most tragic news is the death of the Salesian pupils. After a first estimate which was of over 200 youngsters buried under the ruins with some of their teachers, the latest figure has now been out at about 500... The other Salesians in Port-au-Prince are safe and well, although some were injured; some of them have lost family and friends.

KEY POINTS:
SOME OF THE BEST AND BRIGHTEST OF PAP HAVE BEEN LOST, AS THEY WERE IN CLASS AT THE TIME OF THE QUAKE ("National School of Arts and Trades" referred to as ENAM or “Don Bosco Institue” locally in P-A-P. Those who were learning the vocations needed to rebuild were the ones in class and lost. At least 200 and up to 500 students were buried in the rubble of the renowned ENAM school. 200 young women studying to become teachers are believed to have been killed with the building collapsed, or are still buried in the rubble. We have received no word that they have received any search and rescue assistance.

BASIC INFO: In the wake of the earthquake that devastated Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Salesian Missions is working around the clock to pull together emergency response teams and fundraising efforts to assist in the relief efforts. Among those in need of assistance are those at Salesian buildings in the Cité Soleil area of Port-au-Prince. At least 500 students are believed to be buried in the rubble of the compound that houses the renowned "National School of Arts and Trades" and other schools operated by Salesian Missions. Salesian Missions not only operated schools for thousands of students in Port-au-Prince, but services of all kinds for 25,000 of Haiti's poorest children. Funds raised for Haiti relief will go to purchase emergency relief kits, food, tents, bottled water, clothing, medical items and satellite telephones to re-establish communications.

DESCRIPTION OF ENAM/LAKAY: there is a vast Salesian compound: Enam is the high school. LAKAY is the home of the young adult street children program. The first priority is try to re-insert the young adults with their families while receiving guidance and vocational/technical education to enable them to be self sufficient contributing members of society. For those that cannot be united with their families we have a residential program. Fr. Atillo Stra and Bro Hubert served in the LAKAY Program. Also in another section of the compound we have central admisinstration of the Little Schools Program, one of the central elementary schools, a medical clinic, guidance and social service offices, numerous vocational/technical training programs and shops for teens and young adults, as well as well as the main kitchen (23) cooking stations.