austraLasia 1228
Timor focus for volunteer groups
DILI: 9 August 2005 -- The first fortnight of August has seen a flurry of volunteer groups from around the region working in Timor Lorosae. A group of four Japanese volunteers with a long-standing specific project led by Fr Julian Sleuyter, a Korean group of thirty four young missionary volunteers working and animating parish life in the Oecussi enclave, a small separate section of East Timor about 8 hours away by boat. This group has been led by Fr Joseph Chong and Bro. Bosco Park. And a dozen youths from Fr Chris Riley's Youth Off the Streets programme from Sydney, led by Fr Riley and three of his staff.
The first-named group stems from Fr Sleuyter's 25 year long involvement in East Timor, each year bringing a group for a fishing boat project in the Fuiloro district. This group formerly came from what was the Tokyo-Ikuei Polytechnic. This latter institution has now moved to a new location.
It would seem that Timorese youth are particularly inspired by these acts of solidarity from within the region, while at the same time giving the volunteers, all three groups from very different backgrounds and cultures, a valuable experience of a lifestyle where happiness does not depend on material possessions. Timor Lorosae and particularly the Salesian communities there, has become one place in our region that the Salesian provinces have developed a special relationship with, to everyone's benefit.
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Timor focus for volunteer groups
DILI: 9 August 2005 -- The first fortnight of August has seen a flurry of volunteer groups from around the region working in Timor Lorosae. A group of four Japanese volunteers with a long-standing specific project led by Fr Julian Sleuyter, a Korean group of thirty four young missionary volunteers working and animating parish life in the Oecussi enclave, a small separate section of East Timor about 8 hours away by boat. This group has been led by Fr Joseph Chong and Bro. Bosco Park. And a dozen youths from Fr Chris Riley's Youth Off the Streets programme from Sydney, led by Fr Riley and three of his staff.
The first-named group stems from Fr Sleuyter's 25 year long involvement in East Timor, each year bringing a group for a fishing boat project in the Fuiloro district. This group formerly came from what was the Tokyo-Ikuei Polytechnic. This latter institution has now moved to a new location.
It would seem that Timorese youth are particularly inspired by these acts of solidarity from within the region, while at the same time giving the volunteers, all three groups from very different backgrounds and cultures, a valuable experience of a lifestyle where happiness does not depend on material possessions. Timor Lorosae and particularly the Salesian communities there, has become one place in our region that the Salesian provinces have developed a special relationship with, to everyone's benefit.
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