austraLasia #1912
Volunteers of Don Bosco - General Assembly concludes
ROME: 29th July 2007 -- The Volunteers of Don Bosco, a Salesian Secular Institute for Women founded at the time of Fr Philip Rinaldi and with his direct involvement, concluded their General Assembly in Rome on 27th July. Further details about that Assembly can be read in ANS. austraLasia takes a look at the VDB as represented in its own region.
In some ways, though not all, the VDB mirror the situation of growth or otherwise of their consecrated brothers and sisters SDB/FMA. Europe has seen a gradual decrease in numbers, other areas are steady, while 'Asia' has seen growth. One can view their statistics either as totals of membership or as 'groups'. Asia has grown from 13-15 groups (and from 124-130 members). In terms of total numbers, the VDB are 1301, just 30 down on what they were 6 years ago.
Of the 78 delegates who were represented at the Rome Assembly, 6 came from the Asian region: 1 from Honk Kong/China, 2 from Thailand, 3 from the Philippines and 1 from each of Korea and India. The most recent development in what we call our EAO region (for them either Asia or Oceania) is the advent of two groups in Timor Leste, where they also have 7 aspirants. Given that they have 88 aspirants world wide, this is a significant number.
The recent General Assembly has seen an internationalisation of the Council at top level - the new General President of the Institute is Olga Krizova, 57 years of age, from Slovakia. Amongst the 9 councillors one from the Asia region was re-elected, and additionally there are members from Latin America, Slovakia and Italy. There has also been a major effort to present the Institute very attractively through updated and well-prepared multilingual literature. An excellent example of this is a small brochure produced in 9 languages, called 'A Life Given As Gift', 14 colour pages presenting the VDB identity as a lay person amongst lay people to be a sign; Mission, Consecration... They have also produced a CD with the main official documents and 5 European languages. The 'English' part is now to receive a boost with the help of Fr Bernard Grogan, who will find time to update materials that have not as yet appeared in English.
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AustraLasia is an email service for the Salesian Family of Asia Pacific. It also functions as an agency for ANS based in Rome. For queries please contact admin@bosconet.aust.com . Use BoscoWiki to be interactive. RSS feeds - subscribe to www.bosconet.aust.com/RSS/rssala.xm Avail yourself of the Salesian Digital Library at at http://sdl.sdb.org
Volunteers of Don Bosco - General Assembly concludes
ROME: 29th July 2007 -- The Volunteers of Don Bosco, a Salesian Secular Institute for Women founded at the time of Fr Philip Rinaldi and with his direct involvement, concluded their General Assembly in Rome on 27th July. Further details about that Assembly can be read in ANS. austraLasia takes a look at the VDB as represented in its own region.
In some ways, though not all, the VDB mirror the situation of growth or otherwise of their consecrated brothers and sisters SDB/FMA. Europe has seen a gradual decrease in numbers, other areas are steady, while 'Asia' has seen growth. One can view their statistics either as totals of membership or as 'groups'. Asia has grown from 13-15 groups (and from 124-130 members). In terms of total numbers, the VDB are 1301, just 30 down on what they were 6 years ago.
Of the 78 delegates who were represented at the Rome Assembly, 6 came from the Asian region: 1 from Honk Kong/China, 2 from Thailand, 3 from the Philippines and 1 from each of Korea and India. The most recent development in what we call our EAO region (for them either Asia or Oceania) is the advent of two groups in Timor Leste, where they also have 7 aspirants. Given that they have 88 aspirants world wide, this is a significant number.
The recent General Assembly has seen an internationalisation of the Council at top level - the new General President of the Institute is Olga Krizova, 57 years of age, from Slovakia. Amongst the 9 councillors one from the Asia region was re-elected, and additionally there are members from Latin America, Slovakia and Italy. There has also been a major effort to present the Institute very attractively through updated and well-prepared multilingual literature. An excellent example of this is a small brochure produced in 9 languages, called 'A Life Given As Gift', 14 colour pages presenting the VDB identity as a lay person amongst lay people to be a sign; Mission, Consecration... They have also produced a CD with the main official documents and 5 European languages. The 'English' part is now to receive a boost with the help of Fr Bernard Grogan, who will find time to update materials that have not as yet appeared in English.
_________________
AustraLasia is an email service for the Salesian Family of Asia Pacific. It also functions as an agency for ANS based in Rome. For queries please contact admin@bosconet.aust.com . Use BoscoWiki to be interactive. RSS feeds - subscribe to www.bosconet.aust.com/RSS/rssala.xm Avail yourself of the Salesian Digital Library at at http://sdl.sdb.org
