Don Bosco Philippines South Province

by Aspirant Rhenz Jan Lamadora

As the year unfolds, our community embraces a new opportunity for growth, beginning the year meaningfully with an annual retreat in Mantalongon last January 9 to 11. The year 2025 brings with it a renewed sense of unity, as the community seeks something beyond our current circumstances—whether it be a better life, spiritual enlightenment, or a greater purpose.

The annual retreat was facilitated by Fr. Joseph Kunle Ogundana, SDB, whose wisdom illuminated the hearts of the aspirants, fostering a solemn and prayerful atmosphere. Through his guidance, the aspirants engaged deeply in personal reflection, inspired by questions posed in their booklets, as they sought to find their own “Bethlehem.” This introspective activity has prepared the aspirants to face the year ahead with confidence. Anchored in true hope, they emerge solid and steadfast, ready to embrace new challenges.

The retreat serves as a poignant reminder that, as we enter the jubilee year, we should take time to reflect on our spiritual journey and rekindle the faith and hope that sustain us through life’s trials. It calls us to return to our own Bethlehem—a place of genuine serenity, meaning, and renewal. This retreat provides each of us with the opportunity to start anew, realign our hearts with the divine mission, and commit to living with greater faith, compassion, and dedication. Just as Christ’s birth in Bethlehem marked the beginning of a new era, so too does this retreat inspire us to confront the coming year with renewed purpose, unified in hope and motivated by love.