The Salesian parish in Mandaluyong City (Philippines)

Mandaluyong City is one of the 17 cities and municipalities which make up the Metropolitan Area of Metro Manila, considered the most populous region in the whole of the Philippines. Over 12 million people live there. In Mandaluyong City, the Salesians have been present for 60 years; first with “Don Bosco Technical College”, a large centre for formal education and since  1988 with a parish dedicated to Saint Dominic Savio.

The ministry in this parish is based on three foundations: Basic Ecclesial Communities  called “BEC”; evening schools for youngsters who for various reasons have given up their schooling; and community voluntary service which involves sharing time and personal talents with others.

The Basic Ecclesial Communities are groups of 10-15 families. In them they try to create an experience of the Chuirch in which every aspect of life, material and spiritual, is shared. In Mandaluyong City, where the bread of the poor is broken every day, telling the story of Jesus means making his message come alive in the various problems they experience. As well as the Basic Ecclesial Communities the normal parish activities are to be found in the provision of the sacraments, and in particular in courses of biblical information and formation.

The second pastoral focus of the community of the Saint Dominic Savio parish is that of evening classes for the young school drop-outs. The  project,  undertaken in collaboration with the Department of Education of the Philippines, aims at helping these youngsters who have given up their studies.

In a sharing community every resource is precious. In recent years a programme has been started involving the people. “The words of Peter to the blind man sitting at the gate in Jerusalem– “what I have I give you …” – are taken up in the invitation which is made to those who possess some talent and a little time to share them with others.