2009 -- 12/18 --Salesians celebrate 150th Anniversary of founding by St. John Bosco
In keeping with their confreres all over the world, The Salesian Society of priests and brothers at Don Bosco Prep, Ramsey NJ, celebrated the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Salesian congregation by St. John Bosco (Don Bosco) on December 18, 1859, with a dinner and recommitment prayer service.
With more than 200 students, faculty, and family members in attendance, the Saleisans, who administer Don Bosco Prep, rededicated their commitment to serving the young and the poor as did the confreres throughout the world. The Salesians are the third largest religious order in the world.
Students and faculty members joined together for an informal dinner and entertainment in the cafeteria, wherein students played guitars and sang, and faculty members joined in. The students followed with a skit, wherein one student played the part of St John Bosco and several took the roles of his original students and priests in a re-enactment of the founding of The Salesian Society in Turin, Italy, and its educational mission to serve the young and the poor.
In witnessing his experience at the school, one student proclaimed, "I want to thank all of the Salesians at Don Bosco Prep for helping me to mold my faith to what it is now." Another student witnessed, "Oh sure, kids can say that they came to Don Bosco Prep because it's an athletic powerhouse or an academic stronghold, but the core of this school is the Salesian presence and influence on all that we do here." A recent graduate of the school spoke about having discovered his vocation to join the Salesians, which he said, "was nurtured" when "the Salesians helped me to look at this in a spiritual way." Several current students and recent graduates are contemplating vocations to join the Salesian congregation.
The students then gave gifts to each of the priests, which included hand written letters expressing their gratitude for the inspiration and guidance they had received from each Salesian.
A recommitment ceremony, wherein the priests rededicated their vocations to the Salesian priesthood, followed during the prayer service in the school's Mary Help of Christians Chapel.
Fr. Louis J. Molinelli, SDB, Director/President of Don Bosco Prep, also gave gifts to the faculty and staff members present in gratitude for their collaboration in carrying out the Salesian mission.
After the evening's celebration was over, Fr. Molinelli reflected, "Friday night was so beautiful for the Salesians. The dinner and entertainment, the recommitment ceremony and especially the witness of our young people gave all of us Salesians a sense of gratitude to God for our vocation and also gave us an impetus to greater zeal for the mission."