Tampa: How Our Salesian Family Grows God’s Kingdom

By Chioma Okoye, Director of Communications, Mary Help of Christians Center, Tampa, FL

(Tampa, FL – February 7) – At Mary Help of Christians Tampa, we are blessed to have not only the spiritual but also the physical components of Don Bosco’s oratory model present on campus: a home that welcomes, a school that prepares for life, a parish that evangelizes, and a playground where friends can meet. Although we are privileged to have a number of priests and brothers who minister to all members of the Salesian Family, as Fr. Ángel highlighted in this year’s Strenna, "the richness of being part of this human and Salesian family where so many in this Family are laymen and laywomen, [and where as consecrated persons] we must enrich ourselves with this complementarity" (Strenna 2023, 11).

This year, we are being invited to focus on the collaboration between religious and laypeople. We, as a Salesian Family, are also being called to grow the kingdom of God. Since we know that the "Kingdom of God is in your [our] midst" (Luke 17:21), it is clear that we all have a distinct role to play. This year’s festivities to celebrate the Feast of St. John Bosco give a snapshot into how Mary Help of Christians Tampa lives out the Salesian mission and specifically this year’s strenna: "As yeast in today’s human family."

The celebrations included the Annual Don Bosco Festival hosted by Mary Help of Christians Parish, Don Bosco Day hosted by Cristo Rey Tampa Salesian High School, and the Don Bosco Gala hosted by the Mary Help of Christians Center. The festival consisted of carnival games, great International food, line dancing, farm animals, and lots of fellowship. Prior to the festival, Don Bosco Day was celebrated on the Feast of St. John Bosco, Tuesday, January 31, and consisted of games, obstacle courses, tournaments, faculty-prepared lunch, and a spectacular talent show. Last but not least, the annual Don Bosco Gala included dinner, live and silent auctions, and dancing. Each event was headed by the laity with the cooperation of Salesian religious.

There is beauty and holiness in the partnership of a Salesian Family that participates in the building of God’s kingdom. Here at Mary Help, we entrust everything to Our Blessed Mother Mary, Help of Christians and ask for her continued intercession in being the yeast that germinates the world.

St. John Bosco, pray for us! Mary, Help of Christians, pray for us!