Don Bosco Asia

Rev. Dr. Fr. Martin Macasaet, SDB, was born in Manila in 1962. He did his doctorate in Pastoral Theology in the Salesian Pontifical University of Rome with a specialization in youth ministry and catechesis. Currently, he is the rector of the Don Bosco Technical College in Mandaluyong, Philippines since 2008.

This month he was invited by the Saint Paul Province to preach the retreat in Hua Hin for the Salesians of Thailand and Cambodia. He dedicated his conferences and reflection to the 2012 Strenna of the Rector Major, Let us make the young our life's mission by coming to know and imitate Don Bosco.

He underlined the importance of The Memoirs of the Oratory, as a corner stone to enter in direct contact with Don Bosco and his mission and spirituality.

Dr. Macasaet connects his theological and Salesians reflections to the daily life of the mission among the youth. Using his own experience as a Salesian of Don Bosco in the Philippines, in Italy during his times of studies in the 1980s or in his encounters with the Salesians of the Asian region or the Catholic Church, he finishes always in the charismatic figure of Don Bosco and how the Saint of Turin talks to our time and, especially, to our Asian context too.

He made references to Fr. Timothy Radcliffe, former Master of the Order of Preachers, which popular books talk to the Church of today with simplicity and wisdom for the young, the religious and the priests: 'What I make today, must have any connection to what I did before.'

Another interested mention in the Dr. Macasaet's conferences was of Fr. Ricardo Tonelli, professor at the Pontifical Salesian University of Rome. From professor Tonelli, Dr. Macasaet said that the current challenge in youth ministry isn't religious but anthropological: who the young people are becoming.

Don Bosco Asia talked with Dr. Martin at the end of his preaching on March 9, 2012.

DBA: How is the situation of Salesian vocations in the Philippines?

Dr. Martin Macaset: It is going up once more. We are very optimistic, because numbers are growing, even for other communities like the Jesuits. I think there’s a reason: after a period of purification of the Church, it is coming again. We realize we should be real witnesses.

In the Philippines the coming of the Don Bosco casket was a very important moment for our spirituality. We put all ourselves in this great event. Even other persons and groups joined our welcome of the casket in Manila, for example the major of Makati requested to have the casket first in the coliseum.

In the north province of the Philippines we have about 12 post-novices, 4 young Salesians in practical training, 3 novices and between prenovices we have about 40 young men. We are around 200 Salesians in the north province.

DBA: What the Salesians of the northern province of Philippines are doing and what are your challenges?

Dr. Fr. Martin Macasaet: We are dedicated to many kinds of work. In the cities we have schools, youth centers, technical education and we work with street children. We have also rural training centers. Our challenge is to be able to focus in what God calls us to be. Many young people do not know what God really wants from them to do. But we face many distractions and also possibilities, straggles. Now we have too much distraction from the media.

DBA: How to talk to the young people of Asia about Don Bosco, now that the Rector Mayor invites to know and imitate Don Bosco. Is it possible in a big continent like Asia with so many differences and religions?

Dr. Fr. Martin Macasaet: Just as a person, a man who did a lot of good for his people, in his society. A man that could give answers to his own problems. In Asia many persons appreciate Don Bosco, even in non-Catholic contexts, so we need to emphasis the human aspects of Don Bosco. I see for example in a country like this, like Thailand, which most of the people is Buddhist, but you find a great appreciation for our work.

DBA: Please father, send a message to the Asian youth.

Dr. Fr. Martin Macasaet: Coming here to Thailand, I realize that I am quite excited of the idea of ASEAN, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations where countries like Philippines, Thailand and Cambodia are members. It is a land of unity, even in the diversity, because we are so different countries, with so much cultural diversity and languages.

I think we can think in talk about something like 'DON BOSCO ASEAN.' For example meeting together in music, sport and many ideas we could do in our Salesian style in the region. This is important because it could be a way to connect our works and young people. Now it’s cheaper to travel between our countries, before it was more difficult. Imagine a band competitions that would give the opportunity to our youth to discover a bigger world. It is globalization. If you see Europe now and its European Community, it is almost as a single country. That could happened with ASEAN, so we Salesians should think our ASEAN region almost as a single country too. Why no?