Don Bosco Asia

Near-death experience of a teenager

Albeiro Rodas Oratorio - Young people

'There was this bright light above me,' Ben Breedlove

Kep City, Cambodia. This 21st globalized century brings many things online. A teenager of 18 died on Christmas eve in Austin, Texas. His name was Ben Breedlove. He did not write songs or appeared in any movie of Hollywood. He was just a good boy. Then he used to talk through Youtube probably in front to the computer of his bedroom, as many other teenagers are doing right now - we hope that more good young people would talk more good things on the Internet too. A week before he died of a cardiac arrest, he suffered hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), he produced his last Youtube that is now so popular as any Justin Bieber video - I mention Bieber because also he began his career on Yotube, by the way.

'This is My History' is the title of his last production. With written message, Breedlove relates the story of his sickness that put him three times at the edge of death. In 2009 he began as a Youtuber giving advises to other persons. But in his near-death experience, Breedlove relates how he saw a bright light over him that gave him peace. In one of those moments he even saw his favorite artists, rapper Kid Cudi, a mention that moved the singer:

'I am so sad about Ben Breedlove. I watched the video he left for the world to see, and him seeing me in detail, in his vision really warmed my heart. I broke down, Iam to tears because I hate how life is so unfair. This has really touched my heart in a way I cant describe, this is why I do what I do,' wrote Cudi in his blog.

Finally, Breedlove concludes with a question: 'Do you believe in Angels or God?' and he replied 'I do.'

He died on December 24 six days after he published the video on Youtube. The news of his death made lines on December 27 in U.S. first, covered by Nine Network's Ninemsn, Los Angeles Times, AMC, CBS News, MSNBC, Fox News, MTV, Daily Mail, Washington Post and others. It is already reaching other main languages. His funeral was hold on December 29 in his native city, Austin, Texas. It is easy to guess, from our Faith, where is now Breedlove... It is a beautiful legacy. His short life has been just meaningful.

Comments (2) Hits: 1755

Last Updated ( Friday, 30 December 2011 14:00 )

2012 Doomsday

Albeiro Rodas Good Night - Hope

Dear young people, as many others dedicate themselves to make predictions about the Doomsday, I will do quite the opposite: I will predict that 2012 will not be the Doomsday and to warn you about Doomsday-afflictions.

It is well written on Matthew 24: 36-42: 'But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.' Matthew says also that we must be ready all the time, because you do not know on waht day your Lord will come. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

Now well, if the Lord himself was so humble to say that nor even He knew it, how is possible that we let our minds to be confused by any sort of sects, false prophets and subjective predictions? Our ancient ancestors, the Mayas, did not predict the end of the world by December 21, 2012. They created their amazing calendar in which one era, known as the baktun, ends on December 21, 2012.

Of course, it is possible that the world ends in 2012. If we continue sending to the atmosphere tons and tons of carbon, destroying thousands of hectares of jungles and woods, putting in danger animals and plants, contaminating the planet with nuclear radiation and wars and conflicts, the Doomsday can come anytime. We Christians do not believe in death, as Mgr. Romero says. We believe in the protection of life, in resurrection and hope. We do not fear any doomsday, because we believe in the power and compassion of our Father... May 2012 will be a year full of love, good health, happiness, union with your family and dear ones and love for Don Bosco our father, teacher and friend of the youth.

Add new comment Hits: 429

Last Updated ( Friday, 30 December 2011 23:19 )

Catholic schools must give testimony, says Fr. Tobin

Tuesday, 12 August 2008 17:00 Albeiro Rodas Salesian Missions - Missioners

Rome. The educative mission of the Church must not be reduced to just give contents but testimony. The words of the Redentorist Secretary of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, MR Joseph William Tobin in an interview to Spaniard Catholic newspaper La Razón after the closure of the 9th Congress of Catholic Schools. 'The Catholic school must be a community with different gifts, mutual respect and the will to communicate the Faith,'he says. It is possible by 'giving testimony to the new generations, to the youth in search, without making violence to the conscience,' concludes Fr. Tobin, who was born in Detroit, US, in 1952. 'A young man told me about a person who convinced him: 'He believes what he preaches.' It is the key of the new Evangelism,' he says.

Father Tobin said also that in 40 years more the religious life will continue their mission as voices in the middle of the dessert to remind the powerful about the poor. They will give testimony of fraternity to all races and cultures, said the Redentorist.

Add new comment Hits: 1686

Last Updated ( Friday, 09 December 2011 18:14 )

Tokyo Salesian Youth Festival

Australasia News Japan - Salesians

Tokyo. Sunday 6 November saw the by now traditional Youth Festival take place at Chofu (Tokyo). This was the 27th such event; something is regarded as 'tradition' once it reaches twenty in Japan!

The day began with a lively dance in honour of Don Bosco, not far off celebrating 200 years, but still amongst us in today's Salesians and their young people. The dance involved all the 400 or so participants who came together from seven parishes around Tokyo and Yokohama. Mass, solemn and also lively, was celebrated by Fr Aldo Cipriani, Provincial, who appears to be recovering well from his recent illness. A particularly significant moment was the sharing on the part of three groups from the Salesian Youth Movement; they spoke about their experience last summer. The first group gave a happy account of their close-up view of the Holy Father at World Youth Day celebrations in Madrid. The second group spoke of their volunteer experience at Tetere in the Solomon Islands. The third group expressed satisfaction that they found themselves able to be of use following the earthquake and tsunami which devastated Japan on 11 March last. Lunch, abundant and tasty, was seen to by a team of some thirty mothers from the same parishes. In the afternoon there were games and other events which, as Don Bosco himself would have desired, had a focus that went beyond mere enjoyment to provide some aspects of formation. Tired as they all were by the end of the day, the young people were nevertheless very happy to have shared in the knowledge that they are a substantial number when they all come together. Their parishes tend to be small and can lack this sense of the larger group, so when Fr Sato Naoki, who had organised the gathering, indicated that “we'll see each other again next year” there was an immediate and sincere 'yes' to that!

Last Updated ( Friday, 30 December 2011 23:20 )

Cambodia - Don Bosco looking North?

Australasia News Cambodia - General

Sihanoukville: 27 September 2011 -- Sihanoukville is about as far south as one can be in Cambodia. Ratanakiri province is almost - not quite - as far north as one can go before entering Laos further north or Vietnam further east. Fr Al Rodas, from Sihanoukville, writes about a recent adventure to that spot:

'Dear All, on September 23 I visited the Ratanakiri province, about 600 kilometers north of Sihanoukville. I went with 8 instructors from the social communication programs, Sihanoukville and Kep. The purpose was to get to know the province and the situation of the indigenous Cambodian communities.

This year, we engaged the two first indigenous young men in a Don Bosco technical section, Mr. Bun Heng and Mr. Bunpeach, who belong to the Kreng ethnic group. They will travel from Ratanakiri to Kep this coming Saturday, October 1st. Thanks to all of you who made a contribution to support their travel, enrolment, uniforms and academic materials in order to guarantee their involvement. In the beginning there were about 10 indigenous youth recommended by IDEAS organization (ideasratanakiri.blogspot.com/) "Indigenous Education in Ratanakiri", one of the three NGOs working with the seven indigenous communities in that province. Finally, four of them travelled to Sihanoukville in order to do the interview and exam in August, but only two passed (Ban Heng and Banpeach). I hope they will be the first of many to come.