St. John Bosco High School’s Cross Country team just completed another successful season, placing fourth in the Division Four CIF State Finals on November 29th.
Photo via Instagram (@boscoathletics)
Led by Head Coach and alumnus Tim McIntosh ‘79, the coaching staff is proud as the Braves ran their very hardest this year. Coach McIntosh proudly holds 17 consecutive Trinity League Championship titles. The Braves are already excited as they look ahead to next season, as many of the younger members of the varsity team performed exceptionally well during the back half of the season.
A lot of the credit for the great season can given to the coaching staff. The runners reported that not only would Coach McIntosh assist them in all typical duties associated with his position, but he also went above and beyond with time predictions for each individual runner. This process is called “doping-out.” The athletes even stated that his precision was uncannily accurate.
“[Coach McIntosh] is one of the few coaches that will dope-out races for us, and that really helped us,” said senior Harold Munoz. “He predicts this based off previous times and is always right on the dot.”
Assistant Coach Ruben Solorza, an alumnus of the Class of ’13, also dedicated his time by running alongside the boys throughout many of the harder team exercises, which the boys said had a major boost on team morale.
Bosco’s star runner this year was junior Aiden Aldana, as he played a pivotal role on the team throughout their season. Other notable runners on the squad were seniors Harold Munoz and Isaac Becerra. Through their seniority, they both respectably served as dependable runners and leaders for the team. All three of these runners saw improvement in their personal records and overall performance throughout the season. This only helped rack up more points for the cross country team by the end of the season.
“There has to be a lot of practice and a lot of time put into getting faster,” Isaac Becerra said.
The team persevered through many challenges as illness plagued them, particularly during their CIF State Championship. The team reported that they were feeling generally under the weather and that their performance could have surpassed their fourth place finish if the situation was different.
The Running Braves hope to use this motivation for their season next year. Junior Aiden Aladna will have had another year to grow and fully leave his mark on the team as senior next fall. Many of the Braves will continue running during the track and field season, and the team is currently valuing their offseason while making the necessary preparations to perform to the best of their abilities during the Spring season.
“Next year I’m going to go for all the records here,” Aiden said.
The Brothers of Bosco strive to make an impact on the communities of Baja California, Mexico. With the help of Co-Presidents Tyler Baligad and Christopher Facio, the club hopes to continue to unite the Brave community through service.
Photo via Instagram (@brothersofbosco)
As St. John Bosco Braves, students are called to be men of service, and one new club has certainly answered that call. The Brothers of Bosco, founded by seniors Brett and Tyler Baligad, is a new service club on campus that donates money and supplies to the communities of Ensenada, Mexico.
“We started the club earlier this year because my brother Brett and I saw an opportunity to give back to our grandparents’ church,” said Tyler. “During Covid-19, our grandparents retired in Ensenada, Mexico. Working with their pastor, Fr. Rodolfo, we saw an opportunity to do good.”
After recognizing the chance to help, Brett and Tyler reached out to their friends in the Bosco community for assistance in providing to these people. One person who answered the call to help is the club’s other Co-President, senior Christopher Facio.
“When Brett and Tyler brought up the idea, I was really excited and honored that they wanted me to be part of the moment,” said Christopher.
After assembling a group of students to lead the club, they needed a teacher moderator to officially become a club on campus. Luckily for them, science teacher Mr. Ruben Solorza, Class of ’13, was more than willing to help.
“After I heard how it got started and saw their personal connection with it, I was on board to help them get it going,” Mr. Solorza said.
While the Brothers of Bosco is a brand new club, they have already raised over $1,000 worth of supplies for the community of Ensenada, and are currently hosting a drive collecting warm clothes for the elderly.
“We raised $500 in our first project, $300 at the Dia de Los Muertos celebration, and $300 at the Culture Fair. One hundred percent of our donations have gone back into buying donatable goods for the communities of Ensenada,” said Tyler.
After completing each drive, a few members of the club drive down to Iglesia María Auxiliadora in Ensenada. From there, the clothes and other goods get distributed by the church to the people in the community.
This club has hit the ground running and hopes to continue that with its current warm goods drive. If you would like to donate, they will be collecting beanies, scarves, gloves, blankets and other warm clothing until December 15th in room 318.
The Brothers of Bosco are always looking for new members and will welcome anyone who wishes to join. They meet every Thursday in Mr. Solorza’s classroom, room 318.
Bosco Football finds itself on the cusp of another national title after winning the Division One CIF Southern Section Championship at the Rose Bowl against their bitter rivals, the Team in Red. The Bosco Braves take on the Northern Section champions, the Serra Padres from San Mateo, at Saddleback College on Saturday in the Division One CIF State Championship, as they look to secure their third national championship in ten years.
Photo by Bosco Football via Twitter
Bosco’s CIF-SS Championship match-up against the Team in Red was one of the most anticipated, if not the most anticipated, game of the season of the high school football season with nearly 16,000 fans in attendance.
The last time both titans met was on October 7th in Trinity League play, which ended in a close 17-7 loss for the Braves. The loss motivated the Braves to brush the dust off their shoulders and come back even stronger by the time the opportunity of the rematch came.
“After we lost to Mater Dei the first time, we changed our mindset and put full focus on winning the championship. Our focus every day leading up to the championship game has remained the same,” said defensive backs coach, Darnell Lacy.
When the time came to show the results of that championship focus, the Braves did not disappoint. Despite the team in red leading Bosco 7-0 in the first quarter, quarterback Pierce Clarkson completed a forty-five yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Jahlil McClain to tie it up 7-7.
After a defensive struggle in the second quarter, the third quarter saw Pierce Clarkson complete another touchdown pass on a jump ball to tight end Matayo Uiagalelei, making it a 14-7 lead for the Braves. The Team in Red answered with another touchdown, but Clarkson completed another touchdown strike to senior wide receiver DeAndre Moore. Mater Dei would answer back, but the Braves defense would make a critical stop on the Team in Red’s two point conversion attempt. The final score was a 24-22 championship victory for the Bosco Braves.
“It was a great win because it meant a lot for the team, especially all the seniors, and it just goes to show how we really came together as a team,” said junior safety Peyton Woodyard.
Because of the championship win against the Team in Red, the Braves will be taking on the Serra Padres from San Mateo, the Norther Section Champion, for the CIF State Championship, with Bosco needing the win to keep their national championship hopes alive.
Currently, the Braves have a 12-1 overall record, and the Padres are 13-0. Bosco holds the top ranking in the state of California and the nation, while Serra is ranked fifth in the state and 27th nationally. The Braves average 40.5 points and 72.3 tackles per game, while the Padres average 31.5 points per game and 36.6 tackles per game.
Get your tickets now to support the Braves in their journey to a third national championship on Saturday at Saddleback College. Kickoff is at 8 pm.
Prior to the Thanksgiving break, the Tenth Successor of Don Bosco, Fr. Ángel Fernández Artime, also known as the Rector Major, came to our campus to share with us his story and offer blessings to St. John Bosco’s students and staff.
Video by Noah Dawson
Father Fernandez was born on August 21st 1960 in Luanco-Gozon, Asturias, Spain and was ordained a priest on July 4th, 1987 in Leon, France. He went on to become the Provincial Superior of South Argentina in 2009, meaning he would oversee the religious operation for the Salesians in Argentina from Buenos Aires. He then went on to climb the ranks of the Church when he was appointed Superior of the new Province of Mediterranean Spain, dedicated to “Mary Help of Christians.”
He continued and took upon himself a new role on March 25th, 2014, when he was elected as the new Rector Major of the Salesian Congregation and the Tenth Successor of Don Bosco. The Rector Major position is one of the highest honors one can receive in the Salesian order, and the position holds much responsibility and power.
“The Rector Major is the succession of Don Bosco himself and has the expectation to not only continue but build upon Don Bosco’s mission,” said St. John Bosco’s Spiritual Director, Father Ted Montemayor.
In the much anticipated visit, the Rector Major held a community prayer and a speech to the staff and students in the Bosco Thunderdome. Through his speech, he spoke on the importance of being a contributing member of the community we all inhabit and following in the footsteps and example of Don Bosco in every aspect of our lives.
While this has had a deep impact on everyone from students to teachers, our Dean of Attendance, Mrs. Margie Woods, felt particularly blessed, as this was her first experience with a Rector Major.
“Well, I followed him, of course, from the quad to the parking lot. Honestly, just around everywhere. He’s such a pleasant person to be around,” said Mrs. Woods.
After the Rector Major’s assembly, the school celebrated the Culture Fair, and Fr. Artime even climbed up to the Bosco Victory Bell and rang it for all our students to see. Even when the people around him told him to continue on because had a plane to catch, he insisted on staying to talk to the students and staff. Showing the care and attention that he has for Bosco’s mission.
He actively put the education and experiences of the youth in front of all other needs, mirroring Don Bosco, the very saint which the Rector Major succeeds. Father Ángel Fernández Artime’s visit has deeply impacted the school community and rekindled Salesian love throughout the school.
The St. John Bosco Braves are prepared to take on the Mission Viejo Diablos on the road and propel themselves to CIF Southern Section Finals.
Photo By Alex Diaz, Photo Editor
The Braves are only two games away from being CIF-SS Champions, but Bosco Football is staying focused on the task ahead of them, as Mission Viejo is ranked number 25 in the nation.
Heading into this contest, both semi-finalists have a record of 10-1. The Braves are currently riding a four game winning-streak, while the Diablos are on a eight game winning streak. So without a doubt, both teams are going into this game riding high with confidence.
“Everybody has been locked in. Our coaches have done a great job with helping us prepare for the playoffs, and this week is no different,” said senior wide receiver DeAndre Moore.
This is going to be one competitive game, and both teams are going to be seeing familiar faces heading into this matchup, as the Braves took on the Diablos in a seven-on-seven match over the Summer. The match ended in a loss for the Braves, but they’re now itching to face the Diablos in pads, where it counts most.
A familiar face in particular on the opposing sideline is Mission Viejo Head Coach Chad Johnson, who used to be the Offensive Coordinator of the Braves during their first National Championship run.
Both of these competitors have some of the best stats in the country this season on both sides of the ball. The Braves currently have 149 pass completions, 69 touchdowns, 853 total tackles and 32 sacks, while the Diablos have 177 pass completions, 62 touchdowns, 930 tackles and 41 sacks. The national averages of these stats, according to MaxPreps, are 75 pass completions, 60 touchdowns, 450 tackles and 13 sacks, numbers both teams comfortably exceed.
If the Braves win this match, it will be their first time heading into CIF-SS Finals since their seven year streak of playing in the championship was broken last season. This allows them to have a competitive edge heading into the big game this Friday at Mission Viejo, as the Braves seek redemption.
“Heading into this game, we have had a quiet confidence, which is what most of our team exudes and has been led by our senior group, as they have come together over the last few months.” said receiver coach Nate Munson. “So, we’re really excited to compete against some of the best teams in the state and that’s why we’re looking forward to tomorrow night.”
Prior to this game against Mission Viejo, the Braves played their quarterfinal game against a familiar Trinity League foe, the Orange Lutheran Lancers, at the Panish Family Stadium last Friday. The contest ended in a dominant 49-14 win for the Braves.
The Braves completed 22 passes and scored a total of seven touchdowns, which were scored by senior quarterback Pierce Clarkson, senior wide receiver DeAndre Moore, senior tight end Matayo Uiagalelei and senior wide receiver Israel Polk. The Braves defense also showed out with 38 tackles and five sacks.
Don’t forget to get your tickets to the game tonight, which starts at 7 p.m. at Mission Viejo High School.
Last weekend, St. Joseph’s High School’s Five Sisters Theatre Company presented their first musical of the year, Oklahoma!, with three more shows to come this weekend.
Photo via Instagram (@sj.theatrearts)
The St. Joseph’s and St. John Bosco go back in time with their rendition of Oklahoma! This musical marks Ms. Kateryn McReynolds directorial debut, as she has taken the reins from long time theatre director Mr. Larry Vandeventer. Ms. McReynolds is an alumna of St. Joseph’s and is a recent graduate of Princeton University.
The musical Oklahoma! takes place in the mid-1800s. A cowboy, Curly, played by senior Connor Sheehan and ranch hand, Jud Fry, played by junior Grant Hidalgo-Villanueva, both fall in love with the town’s sweetheart, Laurey, played by St. Joseph’s sophomore Gemma Villalobos. The classic western love story is chock full of romance, singing and hoedowns.
Oklahoma! is a unique and interactive play. The Five Sisters Theatre Company featured a stage in the round that had audience members sitting around nearly the entirety of the stage. The musical truly has no bad views, as the audience members witness the action from just a few rows back.
“A round has a couple of platforms in the middle and back for cast members to perform on,” said actor and senior Jack Scalas. “In the very front row, a lot of the actors could sit next to viewers of the play which is pretty cool. Throughout the play, we also call on people, which is pretty interesting as well.”
This concept was received well by the stage crew and audience on opening night.
“I know this type of musical can be done in different ways. However, the way it was done was really good,” said stage crew member and freshman Kai Maldonado.
New actors also had positive feedback on adjusting to the interesting style of delivering the play.
“Although this is my first time performing, I have seen a lot of the [St. Joseph’s and Bosco] plays and seeing the way they set it up. It was cool to have the audience interact and have them see everything that is going on,” said actor and freshman William Pearce.
One of the highlights of the experience were audience members getting picked out of the crowd to come dance with the actors.
“I was happy to see my friends perform,” said audience member and senior Joaquin Ramirez. “However, I was really shocked to be called up. It was really funny.”
With much of the lead cast starring in the previous, Bosco Theater Company’s Peter and the Starcatcher, Oklahoma! came with only three weeks of uninterrupted rehearsals for the cast. With actors Jack Scales ‘23 and Grant Hidalgo-Villanueva ‘24 coming off their debut performances this past October, there was a lot to look forward to as each of them respectively had a major role in the success of Oklahoma!.
“We had to rely on Ms. Reynolds, the director, a lot. She did really well at preparing us and getting the cast ready for opening night,” said Jack. “I am really thankful for getting casted and I felt ready for the transition to a bigger role in Oklahoma!”
Overall, St. Joseph’s and Bosco both opened strong in their respective plays, with two more productions to come in the second semester. It is not too late to go out and support the arts. The St. Joseph Theater Company invites everyone to come and see their closing weekend performances this Friday and Saturday at 7:00 pm as well as a closing Sunday performance at 5:30 pm. They also invite anyone interested in the arts to come out and audition for future plays.
Anyone who has walked into Mrs. Becky Ellison’s office has been the beneficiary of her kindness, compassion and selfless attention.
Mrs. Ellison is a treasure to the Bosco community. As the dean of enrollment, she has helped many students of St. John Bosco High School in their admissions process. She works with many eighth graders with their incoming freshmen interviews, along with giving tours of the St. John Bosco campus. However, her biggest work comes with the responsibility of planning and organizing Open House.
As part of the admissions department, Admissions Coordinator Mrs. Patty Lazcano works alongside Mrs. Ellison and has developed a strong friendship with her.
“I think there is no better person than Mrs. Ellison. She has a strong faith that is lived out everyday. She is always serving others and being a role model to our Bosco community. Her laughter is contagious and her heart is huge. I feel very honored and blessed to be working alongside her,” Mrs. Lazcano said.
“Smart, funny, committed, honest, Godly woman. A wonderful Mother and hard working.”
Even though they have only been working together for the past two years, they still relish each other’s company, especially when working together on admissions events. The admissions department teams up to give many stellar presentations about the four pillars of St. John Bosco to schools and families throughout Southern California.
Anything in the realm of admissions, from applications to interviews and class presentations to high school fairs, Mrs. Ellison is essential behind the scenes.
Another coworker that thinks highly of Mrs. Ellison is Mr. Michael Crawford who has been part of the Bosco community since 2015. While he started as a Bosco Football coach, he was brought on in 2020 to work on admissions with Mrs. Ellison.
“She is the most selfless person I know. There is not a kinder human being than Mrs. Ellison,” said Mr. Crawford.
Mr. Crawford is not the only person that looks up to Mrs. Ellison. Her son, sophomore Andrew Ellison, believes that she is fantastic at her jobs of being Dean of Enrollment and also a great mom.
“I think that she’s a very caring person and that she treats everyone equally with the same amount of love and respect,” said Andrew.
Much like Mrs. Lazcano, Andrew also believes that his mom is a huge help in the admissions process for students.
“She’s helped get a lot of people into the school, and she’s helped a lot of kids working with ambassadors,” Andrew said.
In the perspective of mother-to-son, Mrs. Ellison is kind and caring to her family as well as the students she has helped out in her time at Bosco. Not only is she helpful around her own family, but she is also helpful around the Bosco family, and because of her sons – Andrew as well as Jake Ellison who graduated last year – she has been involved in the Bosco community for years and hopefully will be for years to come.
St. John Bosco and St. Joseph’s High School seniors brought back an old tradition of swapping campuses and enjoying a “day in the life” of fellow Braves and Jesters.
Photo by Megan Nash, Director of Digital Marketing & Social Media
Brave and Jester seniors were given the opportunity to enroll in a raffle that gave them both a chance, if chosen, to trade places with one another to experience what life is like in each other’s shoes.
Bosco made sure to accommodate the St. Joseph’s Jesters as much as possible, as faculty members designed specific lesson plans for their visitors.
“The faculty has been really nice. They’ve helped me out with any questions I’ve had,” said St. Joseph’s senior Cynthia Ortiz.
Braves and Jesters alike were contributing in classes and were given a fun chance to bond, making many envy the co-ed schooling system.
Bosco’s Senior Board provided lunch inside the MPR with pizza for all the seniors to share together. Seniors were able to converse with their peers without being separated by their gendered schools. Throughout the entire experience, many new friendships were made, as people interacted that typically never would.
The level of friendliness that was shown throughout the school impressed the Jester visitors. Any negative dispositions held against the Bosco Braves were quickly disproved, as new perspectives were gained.
Many Jesters spoke of being apprehensive regarding their journey to Bosco, although all were happy they did. Most credited the Braves for helping them with tasks that would be difficult without prior knowledge of the school. Jesters were specifically grateful that the Braves helped guide them throughout campus and walk them to their classes.
Jesters were even given the opportunity to attend classes that normally would not be offered to them, such as courses within the Academic Pathways.
“Definitely my favorite class was [Biomed Pathway] Medical Genetics. That’s the one that I found the most interesting and most applicable to my major,” said senior Xochitl Moreno.
This event helped reinforce a bond that is frequently overlooked. The Jesters and Braves need this connection to help hold the legacy of being brother and sister schools. The positive interactions between the two schools on Monday helped promote perspective and happy relationships. Hopefully, the administration at both schools will decide to continue this tradition past the Class of 2023 for all future seniors to experience.
St. John Bosco High School welcomes SJB Global Director Mrs. Diane Gihring, as she works to serve all students on campus and around the world with St. John Bosco High School’s innovative online learning option.
Photo by Christian Angel, Managing Editor
Q. Where did you grow up?
A. I grew up in Corona, California.
Q. What school did you attend for university?
A. I got my Bachelors degree at Concordia University Irvine. I studied English and got my Teaching Credential at Concordia University. I also attended Chapman University and got my Masters degree in English. I am currently attending Claremont Graduate University and pursuing my Doctorate degree in English.
Q. Do you have any prior experiences working in constructing an online school program as SJB Global?
A. Yes! I helped build Orange Lutheran Online starting 20 years ago. I created online classes, trained and taught online as a teacher, became an administrator and oversaw the day to day running of the online school and visioning for the future. This included hiring, training, and supervising online teachers, developing and overseeing curriculum creation, and working with students and our office team to support everyone in their roles.
Q. For how long have you been teaching?
A. This is my 29th year in education. I taught full time high school English in the classroom for 11 years and now have been working in online education for 21 years.
Q. How did you find St. John Bosco and what made you interested in working here?
A. Mr. Crawford, our Dean of Admissions, is one of my former English students and we have been co-workers in the past. He recommended me as someone who could successfully build an online school for Bosco. I was interested in moving to a new school because of the opportunity and challenge of starting at a new school, being reinvigorated as an educator, and I believe God led me to this school.
Q. What is your favorite part about St. John Bosco thus far, why?
A. I love the general atmosphere at Bosco. I feel very peaceful here on campus and with the students. I also love the Salesian Mission and the commitment to the students. Don Bosco set a great example for us and I hope to follow in his footsteps.
Q. How has your time at St. John Bosco been so far?
A. I have loved being at Bosco. The administration is incredibly supportive. The teachers are all on a mission together, which I especially appreciate. The best part, of course, is working with individual students and seeing them succeed.
Q. What is your favorite aspect of your job as Director of SJB Global?
A. At this point, I love checking in with our students who work in the Learning Commons every day. I really enjoy supporting and encouraging students. I also like doing the same for our online teachers. I am a nurturer so I like taking care of and coaching those around me to be their best. I also really appreciate working with the administration and teachers and being a part of the overall mission of the school.
Q. What do you hope to accomplish with the launch of SJB Global?
A. What I have seen happen at a school with an online option is that it becomes a normalized part of the day and schedule. It offers more flexibility and options for students to help pursue their passions and be involved in everything they want to. It also helps grow the school because we can have more students with the opportunity to be a part of the Bosco community. Right now we have online students living in the Pacific Northwest, Northern and Southern California, New England, and China who are full-time online students. That’s pretty cool!
Q. What are your favorite hobbies?
A. I like to pretend I am living on the frontier! I garden and make jam. I make beef jerky and dried fruits. I like to make quilts for special people. I work on my house.
Q. What do you do in your free time?
A. I am a little bit obsessed with Star Wars right now and am trying to watch all of the movies and series in order. I am watching Rebels right now. I also love to travel, bake, swim, paint, and walk!
Q. Do you have any pets? If so, what are they and what are their names?
A. Yes, of course, we have the best pets! I have 2 tortoises. Truman is a desert tortoise. He is about the size of a dinner plate. Sheldon is a Russian tortoise and is about the size of my hand. They are great pets because they sleep all winter–so we don’t have to take care of them at all, and then when spring comes around, they wake up and they get to start living their best life again exploring our backyard. I grow foods they can eat all over the yard.
Q. What is your favorite type of food?
A. That’s a tough one! So many favorite foods! I guess I’ll say chips with salsa and Coke are a perfect combination! Having tacos with them is even better!
Q. What is your favorite sport and what team is your favorite?
A. I love baseball and the Angels! I live only about 1.5 miles from the Big A so I can hear their fireworks when they hit a homer! I usually go to about 20 games a season with my dad, husband, and or other friends. I am glad we have a few other Angels’ fans here on campus!
Q. Do you have any favorite athletes?
A. Trout and Ohtani are stand-out professional athletes for me for sure. They are both incredible athletes who, in addition to being naturally gifted, also work hard to improve and be the best they can be. I appreciate their work ethic and their fair play.
Q. If you could go on vacation anywhere in the world, where would you go?
A. I always want to go somewhere warm and tropical! Hawaii, Bora Bora, the Bahamas, Mexico, anywhere with warm blue ocean water!
Q. What is your favorite holiday and why?
A. That’s a hard one. I am not sure I have a favorite holiday. I like celebrating any holiday, major or minor. I especially love the candy associated with holidays. I always decorate the house for each holiday, make special foods for each one, and listen to special music.
Q. What are some difficulties that you went through to get to where you are today?
A. I am a recent breast cancer survivor. I was diagnosed in July 2020 with Stage 2 cancer. I underwent chemo, 4 surgeries, and radiation. God healed me and has allowed me to use this experience to give him glory and to share my experiences with others and support them through similar circumstances. I have no evidence of cancer for almost 2 years now.
Q. What is your favorite movie and tv show?
A. My favorite movie hands-down is Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. It came out when I was in middle school and I have loved it ever since. I have probably seen it 100 times. And for TV, my favorite show right now is The Curse of Oak Island. I am waiting for them to get the gold!
Q. What is your favorite drink?
A. There is nothing better than a Coke from a fountain with lots of ice, or ice-cold bottled Mexican Coke.
Q. What are some hidden talents that you would like to share?
A. I make a pretty good amateur Disney Tour Guide. I worked there in college, and I have had a pass for several years. I still go several times a year, and I love learning Disney Trivia. Let’s go!
Filling the Mary Help of Christians Quad with lights and colors, Dia de los Muertos brought the solemnity and unity of the Brave community, as they mourned and celebrated the lives of their passed loved ones. The successful event was filled with clubs and organizations from across campus honoring family, friends and fallen Braves.
Dia de los Muertos is a special celebration within the Catholic faith, specifically in the Los Angeles Archdiocese. With a large influence of Hispanic culture within the Bosco community, Dia de los Muertos celebrations have always been a significant part of the Bosco community. Preparations for this annual event have been going on for months, as altars, vendors, and artists became the stars of the evening.
Last Wednesday, students could find clubs setting up for the evening as early as the start of school that morning. Altars lined the center of the quad honoring different loved ones, such as former St. John Bosco staff, grandparents, family members, pets and veterans. These altars were hosted by on-campus organizations, such as the Religion Department, World Language Department, Parents Association, ASB, Golf, Football and many more.
Accompanied by the altars were marigolds and ofrendas. Marigolds are orange flowers that use their scent to attract the souls of the dead toward the ofrendas. The ofrendas are offerings that are typically the deceased loved ones favorite foods or items.
“The altars were beautifully decorated, and it was nice to see previous members of our campus represented, such as the former director of security and my friend, Ish,” said Mr. Solorza, Class of ‘13. “One of my personal favorites was the pet altar.”
As the night began, Fr. Ted Montemayor brought the Brave and Jester community together in prayer, as he blessed all of the altars with incense and Holy Water and remembered the loved ones that stood upon them.
“I really enjoyed the blessing. It was an impactful integration of our faith and our schools rich Mexican heritage,” said senior Ryan Gutierrez. “The Dia de los Muertos blessing was really powerful and well done by Fr. Ted.”
Following the blessing, vendors sold all sorts of foods and desserts for people to purchase. Food vendors were sponsored by organizations such as the Compa Club, Black Student Union, Spanish Honors Society, Brothers of Bosco and more. The event had a wide selection of goods to choose from with the most notable items being tacos, nachos, tamales, champurrados and cookies.
“I really enjoyed the food. My favorites were the nachos and tacos. Even though I’m not usually a fan, the Jamaica drink was tasty as well,” said senior Sebastian Lim.
To keep the entertainment going, live performances from the St. Joseph Folklorico Club and a mariachi band filled Bosco’s campus with excitement and color for the rest of the evening. With the amazing help of the Dia de los Muertos Committee, the coordinators of the event, the night was spearheaded by Ms. Edna Ramirez, Mr. Daniel Benitez and Ms. Patricia Martinez, and their efforts made the evening a huge success.
The Dia de los Muertos Committee invites all of those who missed out to stop by next year, as there will be more goods and entertainment to enjoy. Through the love and tradition of the St. John Bosco community, Dia de los Muertos will always be a grand gesture to the lives and legacies of those who have impacted us and the Bosco community at large.
The Brave News 