137th Don Bosco Feast Day

From January 31 to February 1, 2025, the Mary Help of Christians Parish celebrated the 137th feast day of its patron, Saint John Bosco. Spearheaded by Rev. Fr. Rex Carbilledo, SDB, the parish organized a variety of activities to commemorate this significant event.

Leading up to the culmination, ball games such as basketball, volleyball, and table tennis were held on January 18 and January 25, 2025. These Saturdays set the stage for the festivities, fostering community spirit and friendly competition.

The celebration kicked off with a solemn procession, providing the community with an opportunity to come together and honor Saint John Bosco. This was followed by a mass presided over by Rev. Fr. John Cardinal, S.D.B., who was also celebrating his 37th year as a priest. In his homily, he emphasized the importance of reflecting on the blessings received through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin and Saint John Bosco, and highlighted the significance of giving thanks and honoring these blessings through celebration.

After the mass, the parishioners gathered to share prepared meals from each zone and were entertained by the Juventus Band, composed of the parish’s youth. Following the thanksgiving dinner, the festivities continued with trivia about the life of Don Bosco, hosted by Fr. Rex, and a talk show featuring individuals from various vocations who shared their experiences and inspirational messages. The theme of the talk show was “Different vocations, but only one purpose—to become holy.”

The evening concluded with a session of singing worship songs led by the Juventus Band, followed by a Taizé prayer, marking the overnight activity.

The next day, February 1, 2025, the festivities continued with the highlight of the celebration: the “Perya Games.” Parishioners were divided into eight color-coded groups, and the games began with preliminaries similar to a school’s intramural event, including the lighting of the torch, banner raising, oath of sportsmanship, and the declaration of “Boscolympics.”

The Perya Games featured a variety of traditional Filipino games such as Beach Volleyball, Chinese Garter, Patentero, Touch Ball, and many more. After the games, the participants united to enjoy a boodle fight prepared by the facilitators. In the afternoon, the championship games for the ball games held on the previous Saturdays took place, bringing the celebration to an exciting and competitive close. After that the celebration ended with the awarding of prizes to the participants and expression of gratitude to everyone.

Indeed, through this series of activities, the Mary Help of Christians Parish not only honored their patron saint but also strengthened their community bonds and created lasting memories for all involved. The events exemplified how the Salesian community fosters a joyful and united atmosphere, which aligns with the main goal of Saint John Bosco, who is regarded as the father and teacher of youth and those who are abandoned. His legacy continues to inspire and guide the parish in creating a vibrant and supportive community for everyone. (Lycell Ann Batobato | Photos: Mary Help of Christians Parish)