USA West Province Newsletter • San Francisco, California January 08, 2017

PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR SICK

Dear Salesian Sisters and Brothers,

I wish all of you a very Happy New Year! I hope it has begun well. I wish you all the best for a 2017, filled with God’s many blessings and beautiful surprises! As we live out the strenna for this year, “WE ARE FAMILY! Every home, a school of Life and Love!” may we become one Salesian Family work-ing together for God’s Kingdom and for the young, especially, the poor ones.

I spent most of the Christmas holi-days at the Provincial House. On the 24th, as a provincial house com-munity, we finished the Christmas novena and celebrated a festive Christmas Eve dinner together. A few of us attended Midnight Mass at Sts. Peter and Paul’s Parish with Fr.

Al Mengon as presider. I enjoyed the well prepared liturgy with its ex-cellent music, composed of profes-sional musicians and the Sts. Peter and Paul’s choir. I remembered all of you in my prayers that night.

On Sunday morning, the provin-cial house community celebrated the Eucharist together, went out to breakfast and, later in the day, joined the Northern California SDBs for a wonderful meal and time together at Don Bosco Hall, Berkeley. My sincere THANKS to Fr. John Roche and Fr. Marc Rougeau and their team for putting together a very enjoyable family gathering. At the end of the meal, we all played “White Elephant,” a game that in-volves picking a gift from under the tree and trying to keep it from being taken by someone else. It was a fun evening.

Fr. John Itzaina...................07Fr. Jesse Montes,,...............10Br. Tony Matse...................17Fr. Bill Keane.....................20Fr. Jack Gibson...................28Fr. Arthur Lenti...................31Br. Steve Standard..............31

JANUARY BIRTHDAYS

Doris Roche (Mother of Fr. John Roche who is

in a critical condition)

Connie Boenzi(Mother of Fr. Joseph Boenzi)

Br. Bruno de Pretto, SDBFr. Mario Rosso, SDB

Fr. Armand Oliveri, SDBFr. Arthur Lenti, SDB

Maria Mau Thi VuGrandmother of novice Quang Nguyen

December 28. Age 92

Sr. Refugio Gallardo, FMARIP on December 24, 2016

Salvatore BillanteMay 6, 1939 - Dec. 4, 2016

Salvatore was a Salesian 1964 - 1993

REST IN PEACE

1 INTOUCH • January 08, 2017

During the Christmas holidays and up to January 2nd, I was blessed to spend a few days at Camp St. Francis. I enjoyed the beautiful and spectacular scenery which that area of Northern California offers. I also spent some quality moments with my brothers in Watsonville, celebrated Fr. Joseph Mathew Para-dayil’s 25th anniversary of Priest-hood and helped with the Spanish Masses over the weekend (Fr. Luis Oyarzo is in Chile visiting his fam-ily). It was a very enriching time with my brothers and the people of the parish.

On Tuesday, January 3 – 5, the pro-vincial council met in Richmond for our January provincial council

meetings. I wish to thank Fr. Mel Trinidad and the community for the wonderful hospitality offered to us. The house was beautifully deco-rated for Christmas, which added to the festive and warm mood. It was good to be with the community and, in a special way, with our nov-ices and Br. Jhoni Chamorro who is studying at St. Mary’s University in Moraga.

Although our provincial council meetings were intense, we were able to go through our agenda and we covered many important agenda items. We have begun to discern our assignments for next year. This part is always a challenge as we are fewer and older but the needs re-

main great. I have placed formation and vocations as a priority. We must all work together in these two areas. While we are blessed as a province for the young people we have in formation, we must intensify our ef-forts (not just our daily prayers) and act with courage and wisdom for the sake of the future. It might be easy to ask the Rector Major for permis-sion to pull out of certain ministries for lack of personnel or resources, but the challenge is to find ways to continue Don Bosco’s mission in the Western United States. I often reflect that I am about to end three years as provincial but often ques-tion myself as to our growth as a province and our increase in passion for Don Bosco’s mission and voca-

2 INTOUCH • January 08, 2017

January, 2017

1 SU Mother of God8-10 SU-TU Provincial Council Meeting, Salesian Preparatory, Richmond 9 MO Provincial Council Presentation:

Care of the Elders 10 TU Provincial Council: Report on Novitiate 12-20 TH-FR Provincila Visitation, Salesian Community Bellflower 16 MO Martin Luther King, Quarterly Day 18 WE Board Members @ 1:30 PM SJB Bellflower 24 TU St. Francis de Sales, Patron27-30 FR-MO Provincial Visitation, Corpus Christi, San Francisco 31 TU St. John Bosco, Founder

February, 2017

1 WE Mass for Deceased Confrere1 WE Members Board w/Dinner @ 4:00PM St. Francis High School 2 TH Members Board @ 12:00 PM Salesian, Richmond 2-6 TH-MO Provincial Visitation, SS P&P, San Francisco 7 TU Pius IX9 TH Bl. Eusebia Palomino Yenes, vir.12-14 SU-TU Provincial Council Meeting, Don Bosco Tech, Rosemead 13 MO Provincial Council Presentation:

Sharing the Mission with the Laity 17 FR Board Meeting, Bosco Tech, Rosemead @ 10:00 AM 17-20 FR-MO Provincial Visit, St. Mary’s Parish, Los Angeles 20 MO President’s Day 23-26 TH-SU Religious Ed Congress 25 SA SS. Louis Versiglia & Callistus Caravario, Salesian Protomartyrs

March, 2017

1 WE Ash Wednesday 3-6 FR-MO Provincial Visit, St. Dominic Savio Parish, Bellflower 8 WE Board Members @ 1:30 PM SJB Bellflower 10-17 FR-FR Provincial Visitation, Don Bosco Hall, St. Ambrose, Berkeley 12-14 SU-TU Provincial Council Meeting Don Bosco Hall, Berkeley 13 MO Provincial Council Presentation:

On-Going Pormation 17 FR St. Patrick’s Day19 SU Rock Out Poverty, Bellflower 29 WE Directors-Pastors Meeting, 10:00 AM to Dinner,

Corpus Christi, San Francisco

April, 2017

6-7 TH-FR Provincial Council Meeting, St. Joseph’s, Rosemead 11-17 TU-MO Provincial Visitation, San Luis Rey, Laredo 16 SU Easter Sunday 24-26 MO-WE North American Salesian Conference New Hampshire 28 FR Board Meeting, Bosco Tech, Rosemead @ 10:00 AM 28-3 FR-WE Provincial Visitation, Provincial Residence, San Francisco

May, 20174 TH Members Board w/ Dinner @ 4:00 PM Salesian, Richmond 6 SA St. Dominic Savio 7-9 SU-TU Provincial Council Meeting,

St. Luke’s, Stockton 12-14 FR-SU Provincial Visit, St. Bridget Parish, Los Angeles 13 SA St. Mary Domenica Mazzarello16 TU St. Louis Orione17 WE Members Board @ 10:00 AM St. Francis High School 18 TH Board Members W/ Dinner @ 1:30 PM, SJB Bellflower 24 WE Mary Help of Christians29 MO Memorial Day

June, 2017

4-10 SU-SA Arrowhead Days, Arrive 3:00 PM8 TH Bl. Stephan Sandor 16 FR Board Meeting, Bosco Tech, Rosemead, @ 10:00 AM 18-23 SU-FR Retreat at Three Rivers 19-24 MO-SA SYLC 2017, Camp St. Francis23 FR St. Joseph Cafasso

July, 2017

4 TU Independence Day 7 FR Bl. Maria Romero Meneses, FMA9-11 SU-TU Provincial Council Meeting Provincial Residence, SF 17-21 MO-FR SUE-SUO Directors’ Workshop, Berkeley 30-4 SU-FR Retreat, San Juan Bautista

August, 2017

13-15 SU-TU Provincial Council Meeting, St. John Bosco HS, Bellflower15 TU Assumption of Our Lady 25 FR Blessed Maria Troncatti26 SA Blessed Zeffirino Namuncurá

Province Calendar

tions. We must be creative (but, not creative for the sake of doing new things) but creative in finding ways to strengthen our communities, be a quality presence as people of depth and faith, seeking ways to attract more vocations to the Priesthood and Religious Life and seeking ways to help our poor youth. We are not speaking of one ministry or site but of a greater region, we call the Province.

As we enter a new era in our coun-try with the inauguration of a new president, let us not allow ourselves to become complacent and water down the Gospel values of compas-sion, inclusivity, justice and care for the poor, the young and our en-vironment. We must speak boldly

and work together for what Jesus preached as we read in the Gospels and for what Pope Francis continu-ally calls us to live.

These days, I am at St. John Bosco, Bellflower. I am making the offi-cial visitation of the St. John Bosco community. I will also travel to Texas (January 20 – 28) for several events in San Antonio and Laredo and visit family. I will be back in Los Angeles to celebrate the feast of St. John Bosco and preside at the induction of new cooperators at St. Dominic Savio Church on the 31st. May this month of January, often called a Salesian month, because of all the feasts celebrated in the month, be a time of growth, deep reflection and gratitude for the holy

men and women we Salesians hon-or and try to imitate: Blessed Louis Variara –January 15th, Blessed Lau-ra Vicuna – January 22, St. Francis De Sales- January 24, Blessed Bron-islaus Markiewicz – January 30th, and St. John Bosco – January 31st. Let us honor them in our Liturgical celebrations, promote them in our ministry among the young and imi-tate them in our own lives.

With warm regards,

Fr. Ted Montemayor, SDB

3 INTOUCH • January 08, 2017

The Salesian Family is on the way, “on the way out” paraphrasing Pope Francis.It was the year 1841, and Don Bosco, a great charismatic and holy man, founded the oratory as a great youthful family, beginning with the Pious Society of St. Francis de Sales (later Salesians of Don Bosco, for his inspir-ing and patronizing). Thus began his path to form “good Christians and honest citizens.”The oratory is a place of action and prayer, where young people are formed learning to think, work and pray to-gether.

“In things that are of advantage to the youth in danger or serve to win souls to God, I run forward to temerity,” Don Bosco.

The Salesian Family, is a spiritual family, not a simple affinity or sympathy, has a charismatic and spiritual inte-rior communion. A single spirit that maintains the origi-nal characteristics of each group of laity that conforms it, in defense of human dignity, the family and promoting justice and peace.A family with plurality of expressions converging to-wards a single center, the Eucharist. A spirituality of the everyday with mysticism; there is no apostolate without asceticism and there is no asceticism without mysticism.

A great family to join, open doors, that helps and serves to build a better world; with fidelity to the Pope, and con-secrated to the service of the church, the youth, the poor and unevangelized peoples.

A family founded on Salesian humanism, with hope, giv-ing meaning to life and future to humanity taking the per-son as the axis, loving it without prejudice or exclusion.

A family that today surpasses thirty groups or branches in each country and that has in mind its “grandparents” who constitute the ring of conjunction between generations, and ensure the transmission of traditions and customs in which the youngest can find their own roots, their future.

Life is a network of roads, and gives us the option to choose. It is in us which and the “ways” of how we are going; if we blindly believe in the weather satellites out-side our borders or if we trust our people.

John Paul II, founder of the World Youth Days, used the metaphor of the “road”, he proposed Jesus as a stone for the “improvement” of them and longed to live the rain-bow of young people’s hopes.In history, the Romans 300 years BC have achieved roads, Via Apia, was a key engineering work for its de-velopment.

In 1875, ten missionaries who became “huelleros” ar-rived in the country (first from the American continent), who thanks to the advice of Don Bosco in only 13 years sowed much of South America with a “preventive sys-tem” supported by reason, religion and affection. Colleg-es and Oratories, were the initial groups of the Salesian Family.

Today is with us the tenth successor of Don Bosco, Rector Major Angel Fernández Artime, who along with his team of collaborators continue to project aggiornadas traces of enduring and challenging roads of this daily rally. “We

Salesian Family on the way

4 INTOUCH • January 08, 2017

are all necessary, we must let ourselves be molded by God, so we will find every project of life”.

The complex dynamics of our lives, leads us to analyze the paths we choose and the “ways” of how we use them. Human relations, in their intimate essence, can not be defined in terms of domination and personal interest, nor of false “gods” with a worship of material goods, pos-sessive love or power that lead to ruin in violence, social discard and Forced migration.

“The” spirit of the world “offers many mirages, many parodies of happiness. The greatest source of unhappi-ness is the mirage of finding life apart from God, and of attaining freedom by excluding moral truths and per-sonal responsibility “(JP II).

Many of the darkness that advances in life, often fright-en and generate “false comforts” that fall asleep to face the challenges and inherent fears. It is advisable to carry light luggage, to drive us with austerity, at an adequate speed and with a spiritual light.

Consumerism, social ruin and lack of education, gener-ate a thick fog that can very easily smash a society that demands as a fundamental budget the vertigo of a speed that gives us temporary “blindness” against attacks on human dignity. We are all responsible for all, in the face of forced migration and all kinds of violence.

“Give advice to those who need it, and teach those who do not know,” Francisco tells us.

To be ex-student, to belong to one of the groups of the Salesian Family, is not to remember pleasant memories, to attend dinners, meetings or masses. It is a Christian commitment to action towards society, to be a motor and generator of tendencies alien to globalizing ideologies, is to work “side by side” for the needs of others; be co-responsible for the story using the few gifts or talents received.In the ex-student there are projects and attention to cli-mate change and the 4th. Industrial revolution, we have ideals, dreams, joy and in “shirt sleeves”, wanting to go further by turning the walls into bridges. High octane love, it is the fuel of our acts.

“With the tumbles of the road enter to twist the loads, but it is a law that in long footprint must be accommodated, and he who wishes to forget them must pass bitter”,(“ Don Ata “Yupanqui).

Happiness does not consists to reach the horizons, nei-ther to be in front of the mirror of the screens, nor with the air less than 24 degrees; is the fruit of a certain life-style with dreams, utopias and accepting the own cross.

As the “Our Father” prays, Francis, in November of 2015 gave us a message: “You cannot live without forgiveness, or at least you cannot live well, especially in the family.”

Beyond 2017, religions, their communities and families will forever be “bulwarks against all totalitarianism” (JP II), “auroras” of peace, ways of meeting and reconcilia-tion that make a decisive contribution to fraternity and human dignity.

The future of humanity is forge in family, growing to-gether!!!

Gabriel Alsó

Pio IX ex-student, Argentina.salesssga@gmail.comSource: Charter of the charismatic identity of the Salesian family of Don Bosco, Pascual Chávez, 2012.Thanks to Salesian Family Counselor Father Abel Iglesias Cortina SDB.

5 INTOUCH • January 08, 2017

(ANS – Rome) - For the Salesian Family, 2017 will be a year dedicated to a journey together with the motto “We are Family.” Fr. Angel Fernandez Artime officially pre-sented the strenna on December 28 at the Generalate of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, accompanied by Fr. Filiberto Gonzalez, general councilor for commu-nications, and other members of the SDB Generalate community.

In the auditorium of the FMA Gen-eralate, the Rector Major met Moth-er Yvonne Reungoat, a large repre-sentation of the FMAs, and some other members of the Salesian Fam-ily. There he presented the theme and structure of the 2017 Strenna, encapsulated as “We are family: ev-ery home, a school of life and love.”

Fr. Fernandez’s presentation high-lighted some of the features of the third strenna of his rectorate: The family is fertile soil only if there are welcome, respect, and enthusiasm that overcome life’s

difficulties. The family includes people of different ages and varied customs. Some are in faraway countries. There are pain, disability, different cultures, etc. The family is a diversity that makes union of hearts. The family finds enrichment in its many differences and in discovering that it is happiest and most complete when

the journey is made together.

After some time for the responses and questions to the Rector Major from the audience, the evening ended with Mother Reungoat’s greeting to Don Bosco’s succes-sor and a moment of Salesian con-viviality.

The full text of the commentary on the strenna in Italian, Spanish, and French is available at www.sdb.org. This year’s video, made by Salesian Info at the request of the Communications Department, is available on the ANSChannel

YouTube in different languages (5 with dubbing).

Rector Major presents 2017 Strenna

6 INTOUCH • January 08, 2017

We Are A FamilyUN CONCIERTO PARA SAN JUAN BOSCO PRESENTADO POR LA SINFONICA IRVINE

Symphony Irvine : A Concert to Saint John Bosco

Somos Una Familia

Friday January 27, 20177:30 Pm

Saint Dominic Savio Church 13400 Bellflower Blvd. Bellflower CA 90706

Courtesy Ticket / Boleto de cortesía

Sponsored by the Sales ian Family / Patroc inado por la Famil ia Sales iana7 INTOUCH • January 08, 2017

Every year the Salesian Volunteer program sponsor a mission trip to Tijuana. This year we had the bless-ing to have two novices, Quang Nguyen and Damien Ho, in our group. Here in Tijuana, we have work with the homeless, orphans, Haitians and cleaning anything that you can imagine.

For this New Year we will be serv-ing the Haitians and later on we will celebrate with the Salesian commu-nity. This year our community has over 40 people.

From here we will like to wish you a happy New Years full of God bless-ing and love.

Juan Carlos MontenegroSalesian Volunteers Delegate

Salesian Volunteer program sponsor a mission trip to Tijuana

8 INTOUCH • January 08, 2017

JANUARY SALESIAN MISSIONARY INTENTION

For all Salesians

That they may always and everywhere be men of the Church and of unity.

Full ecclesial communion is what Christ himself left us as his testament: “Father, that they may be one” (Jn. 17,21). The first step to fulfill this ardent desire of the heart of Christ is to pray as he did. Prayer will be followed by fra-ternal charity, which, as Pope Francis shows, reaches out to all believers, all the sons and daughters of God, in concentric circles. Being present in 132 countries is in itself a great ecclesial responsibility in the field of ecumenism: the sons of Don Bosco are called to become prophets and teachers, first through example.

9 INTOUCH • January 08, 2017

-

10 INTOUCH • January 08, 2017

11 INTOUCH • January 08, 2017

St. Mary’s Chronicles

The Nativity Scene

FR. BETO’S BIRTHDAY

CELEBRATION

The Legion of Mary celebrated Fr. Beto, S.D.B.’s birthday with a get together, doubling as a farewell lunch. The following day Fr. Beto returned to Mexico for a two week vacation. Invited guests from the other church groups also celebrated. Picture was taken by Fr. Jesse.

The nativity scene and decorations for the church were set up by the youth group. The background was hand painted by Fr. Jesse. By placing the nativity scene in front of the altar an aura of excitement was created by birth of Jesus. Sr. Rose, F.M.A. recited the daily rosary in front of the nativity scene for all the parishioners.

12 INTOUCH • January 08, 2017

Salesian Community Day Out The Salesian Community was invited to the Santa Anita Race Track by Michael Gutierrez, Salesian High graduate for the holidays. He is pictured here with Frs. John, Jesse, Jim, Beto, Joe, and Br. Steve.The big winner at the world famous track that beautiful sunny day was Bro. Steve.

For Safety’s Sake: New Garage Doors The St. Mary’s garage now has two automatic doors. By replacing and adding a new door now

two cars can fit in the garage. This was also done for safety reasons. Some time ago the drawbridge type door conked someone on the head. Luckily the injury was minor.

New System, Better Protection

A new safety measure was taken when six cameras were installed

around the church property. They have up to 5 MP recording

resolution. An HDMI output at 1920X 1080. Live view from cell

phone or Internet. And, there is an easy smart search for motion event

during playback. Although the system is from HIKVISION, one of

the more trusted names with security professionals, it was installed

and is managed by ADT.

The system has already shown to be beneficial not only for the Church

community but also for the community at large. A week ago there was

a serious automobile accident right in front of the church. A Los

Angeles police officer noticed that we had a camera surveillance

system. He came to the office and asked the secretary, Julia, if he

could review the recording of the accident. He left pleased because of

the objectivity the system had provided him with.

The next project will be providing the school with a similar system.

In our parish one important priority is the safety of our parishioners,

especially the children.

13 INTOUCH • January 08, 2017

ROSEMEAD, CA. – January 3, 2017 - Don Bosco Technical Institute (Bosco Tech) will host a mathemat-ics competition for fifth through eighth grade students on Saturday, February 4. The 45th annual event will offer awards to the highest scoring individual and teams.

“The competition is always a great opportunity for mid-dle school students to challenge themselves while testing their critical thinking and math skills,” said Bosco Tech President Xavier Jimenez. “Mastery of complex problem solving is key to future success in STEM fields.”

Competition check in begins at 7:45 a.m. and the one-hour test starts at 9 a.m. Food will be available for pur-chase. An award ceremony will begin at approximately 11 a.m., following the competition. The competition cost is $8 per student and registration ends January 27. To register, email mathcompetition@boscotech.edu or call (626) 940-2009 for more information.

Bosco Tech is located at 1151 San Gabriel Boulevard, Rosemead, 91770. Visit www.boscotech.edu or call

(626) 940-2000 to learn more about the school. Celebrat-ing its sixty third year, Bosco Tech is an all-male Catho-lic high school that combines a rigorous college-prepara-tory program with a technology-focused education. The innovative STEM curriculum allows students to exceed university admission requirements while completing ex-tensive integrated coursework in one of five applied sci-ence and engineering fields. Each year for the past sev-eral years, one hundred percent of the graduating class has earned college acceptances. Visit www.boscotech.edu for more information. According to Niche.com, Bosco Tech ranks in the top three of all-boys schools in the Los Angeles metro area and among the top 100 all-boys high schools in America. Founded in 2002 by Carnegie Mellon University stu-dents as CollegeProwler.com, Niche provides reviews from everyday experts on neighborhoods, colleges, and K-12 schools to provide students, families and profes-sionals with insight into important life decisions.

BOSCO TECH HOSTS MATH COMPETITION FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS ON FEBRUARY 4

By Kare Krynen

14 INTOUCH • January 08, 2017

15 INTOUCH • January 08, 2017

I am approaching the subject of weight gingerly. Why? I

don’t want people to think that I am critical of you just

because you might be on the “heavy” side. I want to

have a deeper understanding of weight and how that

affects your health. For the coming weeks, we will

unravel how our weight could change our health and

more importantly what can we do about it. I dare not

offend you by making broad statements about weight

or obesity. Hence I was extremely happy to come across

this website “Weight Matters” in their introductory

statement about why weight matters. It begins with an

opening statement which reflects my belief and my

motivation to begin our conversation on weight.

The issue of weight matters to people in many different

ways. It evokes many different emotions and can often

be difficult to talk about with your healthcare provider,

spouse, friend, loved one or others.

The most important reason why weight matters is

because of your health.

There are many health implications that accompany

excess weight, such as diabetes, hypertension, sleep

apnea and others. Sometimes weight can even affect

emotional health as well. It is not uncommon for some-

one dealing with weight issues to be affected by

depression or a lack of self-confidence.

Gaining excess weight and realizing the health implica-

tions is not always the easiest thing to recognize. In fact,

most Americans do not realize that they are affected by

Weigh In OnYour HealthBy Sheila Kun RN, BA, BSN, MS(Salesian Cooperator)

excess weight or obesity, or even at risk for weight-

related conditions. This is why it is so important for you

to realize that YOUR WEIGHT DOES MATTER!

Let me begin by going into the physiological compo-

nent of a fat cell this week. From Wikipedia in its defini-

tion of Adipocyte: Adipocytes, also known as lipocytes

and fat cells, are the cells that primarily compose

adipose tissue, specialized in storing energy as fat.

Your homework assignment from the Care Ministry this

week: get your weight and height ready. Next week we

will need these measurements to know your BMI (Body

Mass Index).

The Care Ministry welcomes your

comments/suggestions: kunlouis@gmail.com

Free Medicine for Longevity?

Louis warned me: “Don’t talk about medical conditions in the beginning of a new year!” Okay, okay, what about something that every one of us wants to have – longevity? I have a free prescription for all of you. You don’t have to sign up for a health plan, you don’t have to drive to see the doctor, and all you have to do is to do an inventory within your home. Here is the recipe for longev-ity…

This prescription does not need FDA approval, nor do you have to brew it like Chinese herbal medicine. Yet this prescription works for genera-tions, bringing good health and hap-piness to many. Enjoy taking this “medicine of longevity!” Please try to take it every day: adherence to therapy will bring you immense health benefits.

There are 4 types of medicine in the world that are free and would im-prove bodily functions:

First: drinking water. Water is free-ly available - you don’t have to go to the pharmacy to get it. Water is the primary source for longevity. Think about how water works; it

flushes toxics away from your body, it maintains your circulation, it sus-tains your electrolytes, it makes you feel full when you are craving for junk food and best of all, it prevents constipation.

Second: Sleep: we don’t quite un-derstand how it works in our brain and why we need it. We do know that animal studies had shown sleep deprivation led to death in animal studies. In real life, many car ac-cidents are results of fatigue and sleepiness while driving. You need your beauty sleep to be freed of

wrinkles; you need quality sleep to preserve your wakefulness in the morning. Think about this, you can save a lot of money by not taking melatonin or other insomnia medi-cine if you have cultivated a good sleep hygiene habit. Sleep is the number one “maintenance care” ap-proach to better health.

Third: Walking. The benefit of ex-ercise needs no introduction. Ex-ercise is part of many therapeutic recommendations for a variety of diseases such as diabetes, heart, and even for healthy folks in their aging

By Sheila Kun, Cooperator

16 INTOUCH • January 08, 2017

process. Walk a mile a day, and you will keep the doctor away (I invent this as I am writing.)

Last, but not the least is singing. Karaoke wherever you are, in the shower, driving to work, among your friends and co-workers. In an-other words, spread the words of joy by singing praises. Positive attitudes get you a lot of miles, both physi-cally and mentally.

So let us re-capture the prescriptions for longevity which are absolutely free: drink water, sleep, walk and sing. Since you get these prescrip-tions from InTouch, you have the Good House Keeping Seal that they are good for you.

The Care Ministry wishes you all a very Happy New Year 2017 !

Your homework assignment from the Care Ministry this week: Enjoy the prescriptions for longevity and twitter or e-mail to your friends and families.

The Care Ministry welcomes your comments/suggestions: kunlouis@gmail.com

17 INTOUCH • January 08, 2017