SYMBIOS

September 2015,

Mumbai Province

After the conclusion to the Bicentenary Celebrations of Don Boscos

birth at SYM DON BOSCO 2015Turin, the INB Province 15 group
contingent decided to promote the Salesian Youth Movement (SYM)
in the various institutions of the province. SYMBIOS is the first fruit of
their commitment.
Symbiosis is rightly defined as the intimate living together of two
dissimilar organisms in a mutually beneficial relationship. For us,
SYMBIOS is simply SYM + BIOS! Bios means LIFE or in computer
language, it is the program a personal computer's microprocessor
uses to get the computer system started after you turn it on!
SYMBIOS is giving life to the SYM. SYMBIOS will connect youth into a
vast movement of committed educators and evangelizers.
Three little catch words LIKE-WITH-FOR spelt the entire animation program at SYM DON BOSCO 2015 in Turin from 10-16
August 2015. 5000 SYM youngsters from 58 countries journeyed together at Valdocco and finally at Colle Don Bosco through
deep reflective moments blended with characteristic Salesian joy and family spirit. Life inspiring testimonies from around the
world and a first hand encounter with the Rector Major Fr. Angl Artime Fernandes and Mother General Sr. Yvonne
Reungoat challenged us all to be LIKE DON BOSCO Disciples and Witnesses of the Lord Jesus, WITH the Young as joyful Educators and Companions, and FOR the Young as committed Evangelizers and living our daily Vocation with passion and soul.
SYMBIOS will carry forward this message LIKE-WITH-FOR into the next few issues. Going back to the very roots of our Salesian history, pedagogy and spirituality, and witnessing for our selves the very humble beginnings of the dreamer Johnny
Bosco to the great Father and Teacher of Youth, our hearts could only grow warmer while we whispered a thank you to
the one who enabled us to be all that we are today. From Becchi to the world, the Salesian charism has spread and multiplied to over 132 countries backed by a solid 450000 Salesian Family! The Salesian Youth Movement is fast shaping up into
an ecclesial movement of youth inspired by the
Salesian Youth Spirituality (SYS). One could only
sense the joy, enthusiasm and commitment of the
SYM across the various provinces and continents of
the world. In India, we must confess, we still have a
long way to go.
SYMBIOS is an animation resource to bring life to
the SYM and to carry it forward. We invite your
suggestions to make SYMBIOS a youth friendly
e-letter that provides news, insights, spirituality and
a way forward to building the SYM in the Province of Mumbai. God bless you all abundantly!
Fr. Glenford Lowe sdb

SYMBIOS
September 2015,

Mumbai Province

1. Rector Major, lets begin with an easy

question. What is your impression of this
celebration of Don Boscos birthday?
As you can imagine, dear young people, I
think it is a wonderful celebration, since all
of you are here, young boys and girls coming
from 58 countries. I am moved at the beauty of this meeting and the precious attitude
you, the young, show. I am moved by your
joy and the ease with which you pass from
music and dance to reflection and prayer. I
am moved by your sensibility and solidarity
towards the minority groups here present.
And then I want to tell you that we are celebrating a birthday that had to be celebrated.
Why do I say this? For two reasons:
Because we cannot remain indifferent to Don Boscos birthday (the Bicentenary of his birth), because Don Bosco does not
belong to us, but - as I said several times in the course of the year he is a gift of the Holy Spirit to the Church and to the
word, and he is still absolutely modern and continues to fascinate people all over the world, today like yesterday, as
Father and Teacher of the Young, as he was proclaimed by Pope John Paul II in 1988;
The second reason is that, in a Salesian environment and as Salesian Family, it is possible to imagine to celebrate Don
Boscos birthday only WITH THE YOUNG, AMONG THE YOUNG. What we cannot imagine is, for instance, if we had
chosen to hold a congress on the management and organization of labour as the central act of August 16th, 2015.
Impossible. On the contrary, we are holding an International Meeting of the Young.
For this I repeat that this seem to me a wonderful celebration of the Bicentenary.
2. How can we, the young, be of help especially to you Salesians and to the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians?
Letting the heart speak, and not only the mind, the first thing that comes to my mind is this:
My dear youth, help us to be like Don Bosco and Maria Mazzarello.
Help us to be ever more generous and to give you our whole life, as they did.
Remind us, every moment, with your presence among us, that the young boys and girls were always in the heart of Don
Bosco and of Mother Mazzarello.
Ask us to accompany you to pray together, ask us with greater strength to be always among you, ask us to help you in the
journey of life, especially when you are most in need of it. Do not be afraid to bother us. THIS MUST NEVER BE A
NUISANCE FOR A SALESIAN HEART.
Finally, I tell you the reason of what I just suggested to you: this is because we must never forget that also the boys of Valdocco and the girls of Mornese made Don Boscos heart and Mother Mazzarellos heart greater. Let us not forget that those
boys and girls, with their presence, their looks, their prayer made Don Boscos heart and Mother Mazzarellos heart
grow ever more with the passing of time.
And you too can do this with all those who live the precious, wonderful, beautiful challenge of being Don Bosco and Mother
Mazzarello today, i.e. all the Salesians (SDB) and the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (FMA) of the world.

SYMBIOS
September 2015,

Mumbai Province

3. Fr. ngel, as Rector Major, what do you think would Don Bosco tell and ask the young here present today, and the
young of the world?
Undoubtedly, he would say what he always said to his boys: to keep Jesus as the sense of their lives, as the Centre of their
lives. That they never abandon Him, never put Him aside in their lives. And that they always keep Mary Help of Christians
in their hearts, because she will do everything for you.
And he would tell you, just as I tell you now, that we believe in you, that we really believe you are good and that in the heart
of every young boy and girl there are always the seeds of goodness and kindness.
He would tell you never to cease to be the true leading characters of your life.
And reminding you to be honest citizens and good Christians, and knowing our world today, he would tell you to be men and
women of goodness, to be honest, to work honestly, to be just with the others, to be people who never exploit the
others. He would tell you to have a merciful heart towards those who are suffering, those who have less (than we do),
those who are immigrants, defenseless I AM CONVINCED THIS WOULD BE DON BOSCOS LANGUAGE TODAY.
4. And in tune with Don Bosco, what is the dream of the Rector Major for us, the young of today?
You know, I often ask myself this question, as I go to know the youth of the world. And in my heart, this is what I feel:

I dream, as Don Bosco would say, that God be always in the life of each young boy and girl who is in a Salesian house, and
then throughout their lives. My dear youth, the best thing we can offer is WHAT HAS FILLED OUR LIVES TO THE POINT OF
CHOOSING TO BE SALESIANS AND DAUGHTERS OF MARY HELP OF CHRISTIANS;
I dream of something Mother Yvonne already said yesterday: that nothing and nobody may stifle or steal your dreams of
goodness, of kindness, of a better humankind;
I dream that the youth of the Salesian houses in the world be capable to be an alternative, to be counter-cultural in what is
important and necessary to go against the mainstream. I dream of youth who, for the fact that they think and are just
and have a great heart, are capable to say YES and NO with great freedom.
5. The Rector Major has chosen as motto for the Strenna 2015 the slogan Like Don Bosco, with the Young, for the Young
just as Pope Francis entitled his letter to the Salesian Family. What does this mean to us, the young of SYM DON BOSCO
2015, and for the youth of the whole world, this message for the Young?
This message does not only have much significance, but rather it has ALL ITS SIGNIFICANCE for you, because you are not the
young people of the Salesian environment only to receive, but also to GIVE and to GIVE YOURSELVES. I am convinced that for
the fact that you are here you have a special sensibility, to understand that many thousands and thousands of youth all over
the world need you. As you know, Pope Francis invites us to be Christians (as the Church herself does) who go forth, who
reach out, to the encounter with others. Well, you have a lot to give and to offer to other youth.
The Pope invites all Christians, and you too, the young, to be RADICAL: well, to my mind, the concrete Salesian way to be radical,
both for you and for us is this being-for-the-others, trying to
reach out to those who are far away, making concrete and
valid choices for the poorest, the outcast of our societies.
ULTIMATELY, WE MUST FEEL UNEASY AS LONG AS the poor
are beside us, or even far way from us, (as long as there are)
homeless people, persons who suffer from violence, persons
who are exploited.
I CANNOT THINK OF A BETTER WAY THAN THIS FOR BEING THE
YOUTH OF SALESIAN ENVIRONMENTS, OFFERING SOMETHING
VALID AND BECOMING THE VOICE OF THE VOICELESS.
This is all, from me. I thank you, dear youth, for your welcome and your listening. Many thanks.

SYMBIOS
September 2015,

Mumbai Province

Pearl Dsouza DBYS - Mumbai

We all know Don Bosco to be a visionary par excellence and a friend of the young. We know about the immense love
and faith he had in Jesus and his special devotion to Mama Mary. However what made him love the Church and serve the
Lord? What made John Bosco, the young boy, Don Bosco the teacher and friend of the youth? To find answers to these questions and to learn more about the workings of Salesians across the globe, 30 of us from the Salesian Youth Movement (SYM)
India had the good fortune of being a part of the Bicentenary Celebrations of Don Boscos birth in Turin, Italy. Of this large
number, 15 of us happened to be from the Mumbai Province. We spent a week in Turin and Becchi, the places where Don
Bosco lived and worked. 5000 Youth from Salesian institutions and associations across 58 countries of the globe participated
in this SYM DON BOSCO 2015.
The theme for the week was LIKE Don Bosco, WITH the young and
FOR the young. Popular among the participants as Like With For. Each day was devoted to understanding and internalizing
one part of the theme. The first half of the day included action
songs, interviewing an experienced and famous Salesian like the
Rector Major, dance performances and mimes highlighting the
sub-theme of the day and people from different countries, playing
different roles in the Salesian movement sharing their experiences. The first half of the day always concluded with the celebration
of the Holy Eucharist. Post- lunch in order to keep the youth active and also as a way of seeing the important places in Turin
various groups were taken to visit various important Shrines, Basilicas and places of religious importance, especially those
connected with Don Bosco. Each group was free to carry out their own form of prayer and reflection at every place. One such
place that was very special to me and to most of us on this pilgrimage was Valdocco. Valdocco is where the Shrine of Mary
Help of Christians stands, one of the first churches ever built by Don Bosco. It contains the Pinardi Chapel, which was Don
Boscos first oratory. Standing inside the Pinardi chapel one feels such inspiration and awe to see the place where it all began
and how that tiny place was the beginning of hope and a better life for millions of young people around the world. It also
houses Don Boscos room with its original furniture well preserved and
the chapel behind the main altar where Dominic Savio was elevated
while praying. Visiting Valdocco made me feel like someone who had
been given the opportunity to be inside the holy of holies.
A similar feeling enters ones heart at Colle Don Bosco and at
Becchi. This ecstatic feeling could be felt in the singing, dancing and
clapping of all the 5000 youth as we hiked from Colle Don Bosco to Becchi. Even the heavy rains could not dampen our spirits. If anything it
made us feel all the more like soldiers on a victory march going to claim
our reward. The opportunity to visit the ancestral house of Dominic
Savio en route to Becchi was like icing on the cake. Once there at Becchi
two things struck me deeply:

SYMBIOS
September 2015,

Mumbai Province

Firstly, gratefulness to Mama Margaret, Don Boscos mother, for it was her guidance, prayers and upbringing that made Don
Bosco the kind of man he was. She becomes a role model for all parents especially in a world today where parents want their
children to be ambitious and successful, here is a woman who wanted her
son most of all to be a good and loving person, a person of God. In that
very place of Don Boscos birth I thanked God for Mama Margaret, without
whom all of this would not have been possible. The second thing that
struck me was the humble origins of Don Bosco. Looking at his house and
the area around, which even today is not very developed, I think of Don
Boscos ability to dream big and his fore-sightedness. That someone with
such little means could think of offering everything he had, even his talents in order to bring souls closer to Jesus and to take
up Gods plan for him made me question what I am doing in with all the resources and talents God has given me. The town
of Becchi even on that cold stormy night had vibes of warmth, love and laughter as if Don Bosco and Mama Margaret themselves were present there. The Rector Major Don Angl in his interactions with the youth made sure everyone felt Don
Boscos welcoming embrace. Something that I have felt with all Salesian priests Ive met. In fact the birthday celebrations of
Don Bosco took place just as Don Bosco would have liked it, with a lot of youth,
fun, laughter, games, cheerful dance and song and thanking God for him.
Having seen and felt for ourselves what made Don Bosco the great Man he was
and the place where the seeds of this massive tree of the Salesian Youth Movement were sown, we are now ready to take up new challenges just like Don
Bosco to strengthen the roots of this Salesian Youth Movement in our respective provinces. In order to welcome more youth into the Salesian Youth Movement and make them a part of the Salesian family we the youth from the
Mumbai province have decided that each of us will get at least 10 more of our
friends to join the movement. We shall organize events and gatherings at Salesian houses across Mumbai to familiarize
youth with the Salesian Youth Movement and Salesian spirituality. We also plan on having our very own Salesian Youth
Movement cross to be circulated around the different Salesian houses of the Mumbai province, which could become a symbol and torch of the movement. Most importantly like Don Bosco we shall never be disheartened or discouraged when
things dont fall in place and shall continue to persevere and bring the love of Don Bosco to as many youth as we can. For we
are determined now more than ever to be Like Don Bosco, With the Young and
For the Young.
It was a wonderful opportunity for me to see the Eifel Tower, to visit the holy
place of Lourdes Pilgrimage, Paduas St. Anthony, Valdocco and Colle Don
Bosco, the Major Basilicas in Rome, St. Peter Church and finally to meet the Holy
Father in Vatican city and our beloved Rector Major too I am so privileged. to see
these places. Overall the experiences with the youth for a direct exchange
between young people coming from different parts of the world; to share the
ongoing good practices of social experience; the witness of those groups
engaged in favor of the disadvantaged; to elaborate educative proposals for a
permanent formation in leadership and animation was the most learning experiences for me

- Royal Dsouza, DBCLKurla

SYMBIOS
September 2015,

Mumbai Province

SYM 2015 (Salesian Youth Movement) event was lively and well planned. Got to visit all the
places where Don Bosco began his first Mission. We got an opportunity to share, deepen,
and look at the future of the experience of the Salesian Youth Movement in the world. The
youth everyday gathered to participate in the Eucharist, and to prepare ourselves for reconciliation. It also helped us to discover the places were Don Bosco lived at Becchi and Colle
Don Bosco - Francis Dsouza, DBYS Matunga

Marina DCosta, Antop Hill

My association with Don Bosco was before my birth, it was passed from my mother to
me, when she called me a gift of Don Bosco. She always taught me to love Don Bosco and
said you will be cheerful if you are with this saint. I really didnt understand what she
meant by that until I reached Becchi where the friend of youth was born. My mother connected to the heart of Don Bosco and that is exactly what I carried back from Becchi. It is
the heart of Don Bosco, it is the willingness to be LIKE Don Bosco. It is impressive to see a
man born in 1815 can actually move 5000 youth who gathered from 58 countries in 2015.
Times have changed, people have changed, but what remains alive is the heart of Don
Bosco that beats in all young people who have experienced his warmth closely.
When I close my eyes and recall my time in Torino, all I can see is the faces of young people all over the world smiling, singing, dancing, shouting slogans for Don Bosco and the presence of Don Bosco himself among the young. We young people just
had one reason to celebrate, that was the joy of having this saint in our lives. Don Bosco said, Give me souls, take away the
rest, such a deep thought to reflect on. I ask myself, What will I do to save a soul? What will I do to educate the hearts of
the young? What will I do to help young people find meaning in life? If I have to be like Don Bosco, I need to have a heart like
Don Bosco. Young people need that smile, that warmth, that someone who can hear them out. Don Bosco was there, his duties as a priest didnt stop him to be with the young. His love for Mother Mary moved me immensely, that firm devotion he
had in her made me believe that it is her love and presence in the life of Don Bosco that made him so strong. It is true, Don
Bosco has brought me close to mother mary and the basilica of Mary Help of Christians moved me to tears. I am so happy to
have connected to the life of Don Bosco standing in places where he once dwelt, that was the hallmark of SYM 2015. Young
people often need to see to believe, and for me the journey in Torino, Castelnuovo, Becchi did have immense significance to
connect to the life of Don Bosco and also reflect on my own being. Don Boscos story is so simple, yet it is so powerful. He
was right when he said, Do your daily duties in an extraordinary way. That is what I am called to do in my daily life. My
walk to Colle Don Bosco in the rains is something I will always cherish. Also dropping at the house of St. Dominic Savio on the
way, who is the patron saint of my Parish made me feel so special. It is indeed a blessing when I know that I was the chosen
one to be part of this historic moment in the Salesian history and so now is the time to redefine my mission for the works of
Don Bosco. 200 years of birth celebration is not a moment to romanticize the life of Don Bosco, but is the time to renew my
vow as young leader of Don Bosco to live in the presence of young people and change their lives to build a better world. We
thank you lord for Don Bosco, in him we see the wonders of your love. We thank you lord, for the Salesian family.

SYMBIOS
September 2015,

Judeline Rodrigues, Mahim

Si Vede
Si Sente
E Don Bosco e presente

Mumbai Province

We see
We hear/ feel
That Don Bosco is present here

The presence of Don Bosco was truly felt through the euphoria amongst the 5000 Salesian
youth, brothers, religious, Priest and Our beloved Rector Major Angel Fernandez Artime. All
the youth were welcomed by Rector Major with a warm hug and loving smile. Just the way DB
would have greeted the youth. It was a wonderful experience seeing so many youth who
came to celebrate the bi-centenary birth of our ever loved San Bosco, Living the Salesian
spirituality with Joy & cheerfulness. The theme of our gathering LIKE Don Bosco, WITH the
youth, FOR the youth was well explained in a span of 3 days, through 3 inspirational Ideas
Like (Disciple & Witness), With (Education & Accompaniment) FOR (Vocation & Mission) thus
enabling us to a better understand the SYM.
Visiting the Pinardi Chapel and Mary Help of Christians Basilica at Valdocco, his room, the
sanctuary of Our Lady of Consolata, the Cottolengo, Castelnouvo and Colle Don Bosco, made
me feel like a part of Don Bosco's life. It was a wonderful experience meeting youth from
across the globe and making new friends, even though there was a language barrier at times. I
feel blessed to be part of the SYM and been chosen for this trip. Meeting the 10th successor of
Don Bosco and seeing Papa Francesco was an icing to my cake.
My most memorable part of this trip was when I got separated from my group at Colle DB and
was guided by a volunteer to enter a bus which took me to Valodocco and this gave me some
time to spend at the Pinardi Chapel. I shall cherish these memories all my life and I am glad to be a part of the 200 th birth celebration of this saint who is loved even today a century after his death. And I will continue to be part
of his mission and help it to grow. Viva Don Bosco!!! Mary Help of Christians, Pray for us

Rebecca Pereira,
The motto of John Don Bosco. Born of poor parents in a little cabin at Becchi, He has taught the youth
many values that are important for to follow in today's life. If Don Bosco alone could spread patience,
generosity, fear of God, courage among the young... So can we!
The celebration of the Bicentenary of Don Bosco, 2015 was simply amazing with nearly 5000
youth from across the globe. It was a totally different experience with different countries, different
cultures and different people. I felt blessed to be a part of this wonderful celebration, especially being
at the birth place of Don Bosco. During this program, we visited Basilicas and the Oratories of Don
Bosco, interacted with other youth, shared laughter, and exchanged gifts. Then came 16-08-2015, at
the stroke of midnight, joy flooded, church bells rang....the most awaited day had arrived. The church was lit up with the face
of Don Bosco and Mary Help of Christians. What a beautiful site! Never to be forgotten. Those memories will be cherished! The world is a big place but with Don Bosco it is small. We are all one big family. NO MATTER WHO YOU ARE OR WHERE

SYMBIOS

Mumbai Province

September 2015,

The INBSYM Contingent: 120 participants

Region

Animator

Fr. Osborn

29/9 at 4:30am, Swaraj Exp

01/10 at 9:30pm by Sarvodaya Exp

DBCLKurla (18) Mr. Royal

10

28/9 at 4:30am, Swaraj Exp

02/10 at 10:40pm by NZM TVC SF Ex

DB Gujarat (27)

Fr. Mayank

15

10

28/9 at 4:30am, Swaraj Exp

02/10 at 10:40pm by NZM TVC SF Ex

DB Nagar (16)

Fr. Vishwas

28/9 at 10:00am Karnataka Exp

01/10 at 9:00pm by Karnataka Exp

DBYS (30)

Fr. Cleophas

16

11

28/9 at 4:30am, Swaraj Exp

02/10 at 10:40pm by NZM TVC SF Ex

DB Nagpur (13)

Fr. Allwyn

DB Pune (7)

Fr. Cletus

Alirajpur (9)

Arrival

28/9 at 4:00pm

Departure

01/10 midnight to Agra