What Will Become of Them

By Fr. Louis Molinelli, SDB, Province Delegate for Youth Ministry

We are in the midst of graduation season from our schools. During these weeks, we celebrate the accomplishments of our students as they move to the next phase of their growth and development—high school, college/university, work, military service, etc. The grace of God has accomplished wonderful things in them! Of the school graduations, I have had the pleasure to attend the ceremonies for Don Bosco Cristo Rey High School in Takoma Park, MD and Cristo Rey Tampa Salesian High School in Tampa, FL. In both of these schools, students participate in a corporate work study program where they partner with local businesses and industries, learn the specific skills of that job, and perform valuable service for the company. I heard from some of the corporate partners how much they appreciate the students from our schools and how they have become some of their most valued employees. Some of our students have even been offered a position right out of high school as they continue on to college! This is right out of the heart of St. John Bosco himself who prepared the young, through education, to become honest citizens and upright Christians.

We also congratulate the students from Don Bosco Prep High School, Salesian High School, and Mary Help of Christians Academy who graduated this weekend up in the northeast! We also congratulate the graduates of Archbishop Shaw High School and Academy of Our Lady High School in Louisiana, who were the first schools in our provinces to graduate. Along with them, we remember our Salesian family elementary schools in Louisiana who celebrated their seventh grade promotion ceremonies to high school: St. Rosalie School, Immaculate Conception School, and Our Lady of Prompt Succor School. We also celebrate with joy the commencement of St. John Neumann High School and Immaculata-LaSalle High School in Florida! Now we await the graduation of our elementary schools in the northeast and our Canadian Salesian affiliated schools at the end of June. Congratulations to all of our students throughout our province! We are proud of you!

As I write this letter, Fr. Steve DeMaio and Vicky Weekley from the province office are getting set to begin our Young Adult Retreat at the Marian Shrine in Stony Point, NY. Twenty-one young adults are coming from around the province for three days of prayer, reflection, and growth in their spiritual life. Let us pray that the Lord touch their hearts and give them guidance and direction to follow Him.