Duke first starting coming around to Don Bosco Hall 8 years ago, when he was a senior in high school and a member of the Vietnamese youth group at St Anthony's parish in Oakland. When he began university, on scholarship at Cal Berkeley, he began to drop by more often, since our house is a block north of the University. He told us tonight how one of the young Salesians invited him to come for mass and dinner on December 8th that year. He had no idea that was a feast day, and was surprised by the party that we held that night… he never told us that it was also his birthday, because his family never celebrated Duke's birthday (they only celebrated his younger sisters and brother's birthdays). Still, it was the first time that he ever celebrated on his birthday, and was inspired to learn that he shared the day with the Immaculate Virgin Mary.During his sophomore year at Cal he moved in with us at Don Bosco Hall… and we celebrated his birthday every year. "This is the place," he said tonight, "where I first celebrated my birthday, and I am grateful that it is with you that I can continue to celebrate year after year."
This may be his last birthday with us. Last month he finally landed a full-time and solid job, working in the computer support services of the University of California. He got his first good paycheck on the 30th of November. With this he will be able to pay of his family's debts within the next year, and start to put money aside to assure that his three younger siblings can go to college. He may not stay with us much longer. But Duke is a gentle presence, and we are happy that he can call Don Bosco Hall his home. He's welcome to stay with us as long as he wants to really.
Happy birthday, Duke!
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