I am actually writing this for an article submission
to our Alumni website, Bosco91.com.
No worries. I have permission to write it here too.

—
It has been 18 years since we all walked the ceremonial aisle,
shook the Rector’s hand and received our diplomas.

18 years.
Wow!

Sure, there was a bit of a falling out with the communications
for a couple of years since then,
but that was a time when Mobile Phones are very rare,
and The Internet was not even heard of much.

Not to mention that everyone had to find his own self out in the world.
Bringing with us what we have acquired throughout our years in school.
Intellectually, Emotionally and most important of all,
Spiritually.

Now I would like to share with you,
one of the things I have always enjoyed during my stay at DON BOSCO.

Our “First Friday of the Month” Mass.

Not just because we get to skip whatever classes we had that morning,
but also because that’s where I have remembered most of the sermons
that I still carry around in my memory up to this day.

There are three major sermons that I so vividly remember.
And trust me, I am not good with remembering stuff.
But these three have stuck with me throughout the years.

First.
“70 times 7 times”

It was written in the Bible.
I am not sure what Chapter and Verse it was,
but anyway…
Jesus was asked, “How many times should I forgive my Brother?”
The Lord said. “Seventy times seven times.”

According to our math, that would be 490 times.
But I am confident that there are people you know out there
whom you are pretty sure have done you wrong more than that.
So, it’s not really 70 times 7.
It’s 70 and square that 7 times.

I remember Fr. Capelli saying this sermon, and said:
“Sinubukan ko ito, and nagdugo ang calculator ko.”
(My calculator bled when I tried this.)

Try it.
Get a scientific calculator,
Input 70 and press the X square button (X2) seven times and see your results.

I think, if you don’t have a scientific one,
Try to see what you get if you multiply 70 by 7, and press the equals (=) button 7 times.

Second.
“How to be Happy.”

People have always been on a constant search for their own happiness.
I myself am part of that major group.
And maybe it would have been easier if I follow this sermon to its full meaning.

To be happy in life, you must have J.O.Y.
And to have JOY, you have to follow the way it is spelled.

They are in that order for a reason.

“J” is for Jesus.
Who should be the first in your life.

As it has always been said, that God is the way to everything.
Once you start accepting your life begins with Him,
you will be guided into a path of happiness.

“O” is for Others.
You have to give yourself as a service for others.
This means everybody, but you.
Now this is the part where I am having some great difficulty.
As much as I want to give and offer myself to others for their benefit,
The “Others” always seem to find a way to abuse me and make me upset.
I guess that’s where the “70 times 7 times sermon” comes into place eh?

And “Y” is for Yourself.
This one goes hand in hand with “O.”
You put “Yourself” last.

If you consider everybody else’s feelings and understand where they are coming from,
it would be easier to follow this rule.
I think everyone knows how good it feels
when you have done something good to someone else and made their day.

If you genuinely want to be happy, follow these three letters
as they spell JOY, and bring real joy in your life.
That was sermon number two.

And Third.
“Nobody chooses to go and study at Don Bosco.”

Yes. No one decides to go to Don Bosco.
Nobody decides to spend their learning days at this school.
Why?
Because we are all chosen and called upon by our Mother,
Mary, Help of Christians.

It is in Her Will, through fate,
that we all meet and grow together,
in Faith.

I truly believe this one.
She had a purpose and a plan why we all went to that school.
She wanted us all to be there.
Out of the thousands of young kids our age,
who were more than eligible to go to different schools,
with bigger names and bigger buildings,
we ended up being together.
As Friends,
as Brothers,
as a Family.

That was just part of how I remember my school days
along with my Don Bosco brethren.

I am sure they too remember these sermons.

Our First Friday Masses were not a waste of time.
It was also part of our education.

Go Grey Wolves!!!