By Taichi Miranda

       EAO online, 31 March 2021 -- On the occasion of the solemnity of the feast of Annunciation, 25 March 2021, the EAO Eco Team gathered online to also share the good news of how each Province or Delegation in the region joyfully moves towards radical ecological conversion which responds to both the cry of the poor and cry of the earth. The sharing of best practices, environmental activities and awareness campaigns created a venue to (1) allow the coordinators to be familiar with what’s happening and get in touch with the right people in their respective Salesian localities; and (2) enrich and inspire each other on how to animate the Don Bosco Green Alliance and involve more young people to be active stewards of our common home. It was also commendable that Fr John Ko Shine Win, SDB, one of the team member representing the MYM Vice-Province, was able to attend the meeting despite the socio-political crisis in Myanmar.

       The second agenda of the meeting was to put a collective effort as one region in preparation for the World Earth Day on 22 April 2021 with the theme “Restore the Earth”. Truly moved by hope, various suggestions and ideas were solicited from the Eco team members and still in the process of discussion. This first concrete eco-solidarity in the region hopes to boost up awareness and formation among our Salesian youth and help them live the spirituality of ecological conversion in a Salesian way.

       The presence and accompaniment of the EAO regional councilor, Fr. Joseph Nguyen Thinh Phuoc SDB, was also very helpful and encouraging. He also emphasized the Salesian way of bringing our youth into this direction, “We are evangelizers. We tackle these issues not only on human perspective but mainly from faith perspective. That’s why we have to read Laudato Si' carefully and be connected with the creation”. He also shared, “From the Congregation perspective, we are implementing the line of actions according to the Rector Major’s guidelines related to our eco groups and have discussed during the Provincial meetings, among the Economers and many more. In the next meeting of the General council these issues will be brought up into discussion to see how the regions are moving and animating. I’m very happy that in the EAO region we have doing a lot of things and overcome language barriers. Thanks to Fr. Vaclav Klement, SDB for setting up this one very effectively.” He affirmed everyone and uplifted them with his words, “The system is very fluid. Continue the movement no matter how little it is and may this movement become a tree for everyone to benefit.”

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