Don Bosco Sindabad!

Since this year's feast of Don Bosco fell on a Sunday--our community celebrated it with our staff, students and guests yesterday, the 30th of January. It turned out to be a simple yet meaningful day of celebration and thanksgiving.
The Archbishop of Lahore graced the occasion as well as other priests and religous from around Lahore area. We were also happy to welcome the family of our staff who came and joined us in this festivity.The day opened with the Holy Mass and then the blessing of our new classrooms and machines. It was shortly followed by a program that gave tribute first to St. John Bosco and then to his institution here in Lahore now on its 10th year. The event was capped by the delicious and generous servings of briani and chicken curry.

It was my first time to celebrate Don Bosco's feast in Pakistan. And I very much felt the love, support and appreciation of people here for the contribution of Don Bosco to the church and society.
And this helped me not only to appreciate God's graciousness in the life and mission of Don Bosco but also to look at my own Salesian vocation as a continuation of the outpouring of blessings from God through Don Bosco on behalf of all young people especially those poor and at-risk. Don Bosco sindabad! May Don Bosco live on-- in the many faithful and committed Salesians (i.e. priests, sisters, brothers, lay) around the world... in me... and in the lives of thousands of young people whom Don Bosco, I am sure now looks at from heaven with so much love and concern.

This last picture contains the lyrics, in Urdu, of our hymn to Don Bosco. "Don Bosco sindabad!"--it says, Long live Don Bosco! It was the continuous shout of all those present yesterday and it may be the best summary of our entire celebration. Don Bosco sindabad--has become a prayer and a statement by the grateful youth of Pakistan.