Living Don Bosco's Legacy
By Justin Ortega
One of my favorite quotes fromDon Bosco is, “Do good while you still have time.” Every day I wake up, and I take time to look over my life, what I’ve done well and what I could use a little brushing up on. Blessed to be a Salesian, it reminds me that I should strive to live my life towards sainthood, and to live my life to the fullest. As we live through the Christmas season, and later the bicentennial of Don Bosco, we have to ask ourselves, “Are we living our life striving towards sanctity?” When I hear or talk about Don Bosco, I can’t help but be inspired by his life and how he lived it for others. He lived his life for Christ and showed that through his love for others, especially the young.
Living our lives to become saints should become a goal all of us strive for. Just like anything we might face in life, it is good to recall our roots and remind ourselves of who we are: WE ARE SALESIAN! Through our Salesian schools, activities, and the upcoming bicentennial of Don Bosco, we are reminded of how great being a Salesian really is! We mustn’t forget what we live for, and who we want to become, because it is when we do this that we become someone greater. A little phrase that I like to use when I’m in this constant question of “who am I?” is “when in doubt seek, Donny B out!” I know that his prayers for me will help lead me to Jesus.
Don Bosco has inspired me constantly over the years! His ministry and his time with the boys in the Oratory are a few reasons Don Bosco has inspired me. His witness has increased my faith and has taught me to enjoy the little things in life that give me joy—I’ve also learned to seek that same joy throughout the things in life that bring me sadness. In this joy, we can appreciate what we have been given and be grateful; in the sadness we can ask, “what could we have done better?” When we take this initiative toward examining what we have, we begin to transform our own lives. In response to the opening quote, in order to do the good in our lives, we must first find the good in our life. When we find this good, we can become channels of goodness for others. Don Bosco also inspired me to go out and be Christ to anyone I might meet at any time. You never know what someone might be facing in their life, so what better to do than to be the source of Christ in their life. Our daily mission is to lead others to Christ, in our actions and in our words. Don Bosco couldn’t have said it any better when he said, “Give me Souls take away the rest”.
My life has been transformed by the Salesians, and I will never be able to repay what has been given to me by them. Through them, I have learned so much, and I constantly pray and strive to live a life of love to all, to the best of my ability. As a senior in high school at Archbishop Shaw, I can say I have experienced a new life, a Salesian life!
My favorite thing about living the Salesian life is the Oratory. During my four years at Shaw, I can say I’ve never experienced anything quite like it. Archbishop Shaw has prepared me for life in faith and education, and has given me the tools I need to be successful. On Friday nights, Shaw becomes a Playground where Friends can Meet, as we host our very own oratory open to all students. This Parish that Evangelizes and School that Prepares for Life has blessed me with resources and tools through the March Leadership Retreat, and the October Leadership Retreat Young Team, to lead school-wide retreats, and to be the source of light to all I meet while I strive to spread the Good News. Finally, through my Salesian family, I experience a Home that Welcomes. Anywhere I go and anything I do, I know I have the best family that will back me up and be there for me--that feeling is so overwhelming!
As Don Bosco’s 200th birthday approaches, let us be mindful of the legacy and love he left for us to carry on. Through the gift of God’s Spirit, he left behind much! Through Don Bosco’s example and prayers, let us allow God to transform us to live a life for others.
Living our lives to become saints should become a goal all of us strive for. Just like anything we might face in life, it is good to recall our roots and remind ourselves of who we are: WE ARE SALESIAN! Through our Salesian schools, activities, and the upcoming bicentennial of Don Bosco, we are reminded of how great being a Salesian really is! We mustn’t forget what we live for, and who we want to become, because it is when we do this that we become someone greater. A little phrase that I like to use when I’m in this constant question of “who am I?” is “when in doubt seek, Donny B out!” I know that his prayers for me will help lead me to Jesus.
Don Bosco has inspired me constantly over the years! His ministry and his time with the boys in the Oratory are a few reasons Don Bosco has inspired me. His witness has increased my faith and has taught me to enjoy the little things in life that give me joy—I’ve also learned to seek that same joy throughout the things in life that bring me sadness. In this joy, we can appreciate what we have been given and be grateful; in the sadness we can ask, “what could we have done better?” When we take this initiative toward examining what we have, we begin to transform our own lives. In response to the opening quote, in order to do the good in our lives, we must first find the good in our life. When we find this good, we can become channels of goodness for others. Don Bosco also inspired me to go out and be Christ to anyone I might meet at any time. You never know what someone might be facing in their life, so what better to do than to be the source of Christ in their life. Our daily mission is to lead others to Christ, in our actions and in our words. Don Bosco couldn’t have said it any better when he said, “Give me Souls take away the rest”.
My life has been transformed by the Salesians, and I will never be able to repay what has been given to me by them. Through them, I have learned so much, and I constantly pray and strive to live a life of love to all, to the best of my ability. As a senior in high school at Archbishop Shaw, I can say I have experienced a new life, a Salesian life!
My favorite thing about living the Salesian life is the Oratory. During my four years at Shaw, I can say I’ve never experienced anything quite like it. Archbishop Shaw has prepared me for life in faith and education, and has given me the tools I need to be successful. On Friday nights, Shaw becomes a Playground where Friends can Meet, as we host our very own oratory open to all students. This Parish that Evangelizes and School that Prepares for Life has blessed me with resources and tools through the March Leadership Retreat, and the October Leadership Retreat Young Team, to lead school-wide retreats, and to be the source of light to all I meet while I strive to spread the Good News. Finally, through my Salesian family, I experience a Home that Welcomes. Anywhere I go and anything I do, I know I have the best family that will back me up and be there for me--that feeling is so overwhelming!
As Don Bosco’s 200th birthday approaches, let us be mindful of the legacy and love he left for us to carry on. Through the gift of God’s Spirit, he left behind much! Through Don Bosco’s example and prayers, let us allow God to transform us to live a life for others.