One Mission.

Today is the feast of:

St. Jerome Emiliani.

     It may be good for us to remember on this day that many different persons are indeed called to the same mission. In our case, the mission is to bring God's Providence to the poor and the youth.
St. Jerome may not have been associated with:

St. John Bosco.

He may not have studied with the:

Salesian Seminarians and Formation Staff.

     But this does not mean that he did not love and serve God through his ministry with the poor and the youth! For many are called to similar missions in many different ways. For instance, under the Salesian name, there are many different works: Lay missionaries, Salesian Cooperators, religious sisters, religious brothers, religious priests and bishops and cardinals, teachers, youth ministers, and many other works. There are many ways of giving oneself to a particular mission.

     St. Jerome Emiliani is a wonderful example of how one does not need to be a Salesian to serve the youth. Yet he shares in a very similar ministry.

     We, ourselves, choose the mission of Don Bosco to serve the poor and the youth. This is not necessarily what we always desired, but Our Lady--Mary, Help of Christians--has a way of bringing those she loves to the places she desires them the most. And for us, it is here that she desires us to be. So, in giving our lives completely to the Blessed Virgin Mary, we give our lives completely to the youth and the poor we serve.

     Today, let us follow Mary's example and ponder these things in our hearts.