austraLasia #2993
Don Bosco Was a Great Storyteller
ROME: 19 January 2012 -- Given the Salesian Family Spirituality Days in Rome, an annual 'appointment' that just seems to grow (this year is the 30th such event, starting 19 January and concluding 22 January), and is often replicated elsewhere, for example yesterday's #2992 on the China Province event by that name, it might be interesting to tie in this year's series of addresses with the theme set for the 2012 Salesian Mission Day.
But first, a brief comment on Salesian Mission Day. At one point in fairly recent history this was known as DOMISAL. That term is now deprecated, for several reasons. One is that it derived from just one language (Italian) therefore could hardly be regarded as universal. Another is that it referred to a Sunday, as if it had to be celebrated that day - and in fact then ran into confusion with the Church's Mission Sunday. So it became Salesian Mission Day - on a day suggested, but not necessarily obligatory for a province to follow - they can have it when it best suits them, essentially. SMD in English, and obviously varies for each language.
Now back to the Salesian Family Spirituality Days. This year's series of addresses and discussions focus very much on the story of Don Bosco's life and in particular two things - his own special autobiography (a term which will be clarified by Fr Aldo Giraudo, if I can say this without letting the cat out of the bag) in his own very informative and fascinating address. Of course we are talking of the Memoirs of the Oratory. So, Don Bosco was a great storyteller. We are also going to hear this from Fr Bruno Ferrero, who will be 'resurrecting' the Biographical Memoirs, in a sense, since Bruno himself is a great storyteller! Both these addresses, by the way, will be made available through austraLasia once they occur - and equally through ANS, sdb.org SDL whatever! They are well worth following up - you will find them warming your heart.
And what has all this to do with Salesian Mission Day 2012? And for that matter with our EAO Region? Lots in fact! The 2012 theme was inspired by the 'Telling the Story of Jesus' Congress in Chiang Mai, Thailand, in 2006. It will be a focus on Asia, so very much a focus on a substantial part of our Region. "Don Bosco was a great story teller", says Fr. Václav Klement, Councillor for the Missions, "and we today are still fascinated by his Good Nights, by his accounts in the Memoirs of the Oratory and the many stories which the last 150 years can tell us. When we want to share our faith with others, story telling is a very simple method, a very lively way of passing on the faith. The faith we are living as we talk about it to others. This occasion of telling the story of Jesus to others is an invitation to all of us to make more friends, to build bridges with others, and at the same time to share what is welling up in our hearts; hearts filled with Jesus".
You should by now have received the DVD and Booklet that goes with it, in your Province. If not, seek it out. There is excellent material in there. Through the medium of austraLasia over the next few weeks we'll run some reminders and excerpts to whet your interest. But as a starter, why not begin with Chiang Mai and the 'Salesian sto' there, since that town-city is where the idea began?
Video no. 6, 'The seeds of evangelisation' takes us to Chiang Mai. On 4 April 2003 Fr Eleuterio Tapay left for the north of Thailand to begin a foundation in the Diocese of Chiang Mai. Thanks to the support of the Bishop, the other religious orders and the solidarity of the Salesian world some centres were set up and developed for poor youngsters from the local tribes: the first seeds of missionary passion!
The Salesians fitted in to the local cultural, social and ecclesial world and were open also to people of other faiths. At Mae Ponn, right in the middle of the forest, they are working with the Sacred Heart Fathers in a centre for hundreds of youngsters coming mainly from the Kaarian Tribes, who can attend elementary and middle school, share their free time together learn to be self-sufficient, and with catechism lessons be trained in the Christian faith. At Mae Ponn, priests, religious and young lay volunteers help the youngsters with a unique happy and joyful education which teaches them to know their own culture and to become self-sufficient. The girls, for example, learn dress-making to prepare clothes for their own wedding and for the members of their future family and to make things to sell at the market.
The “Don Bosco Farm” in Saankampheng and the Don Bosco Centre in Doi-Saket offer youngsters from Mae Ponn two educational opportunities. Like Thonoh, who having finished middle school, can go to “Don Bosco Farm” in Saankampheng and become qualified in agriculture. Those who want to take up other studies are accepted in the Don Bosco Centre in Doi-Saket, a community where the youngsters living their everyday lives together can go out to attend the state schools. Among these there are also youngsters who are preparing for a life of special consecration.
Don Bosco Was a Great Storyteller
But first, a brief comment on Salesian Mission Day. At one point in fairly recent history this was known as DOMISAL. That term is now deprecated, for several reasons. One is that it derived from just one language (Italian) therefore could hardly be regarded as universal. Another is that it referred to a Sunday, as if it had to be celebrated that day - and in fact then ran into confusion with the Church's Mission Sunday. So it became Salesian Mission Day - on a day suggested, but not necessarily obligatory for a province to follow - they can have it when it best suits them, essentially. SMD in English, and obviously varies for each language.
Now back to the Salesian Family Spirituality Days. This year's series of addresses and discussions focus very much on the story of Don Bosco's life and in particular two things - his own special autobiography (a term which will be clarified by Fr Aldo Giraudo, if I can say this without letting the cat out of the bag) in his own very informative and fascinating address. Of course we are talking of the Memoirs of the Oratory. So, Don Bosco was a great storyteller. We are also going to hear this from Fr Bruno Ferrero, who will be 'resurrecting' the Biographical Memoirs, in a sense, since Bruno himself is a great storyteller! Both these addresses, by the way, will be made available through austraLasia once they occur - and equally through ANS, sdb.org SDL whatever! They are well worth following up - you will find them warming your heart.
And what has all this to do with Salesian Mission Day 2012? And for that matter with our EAO Region? Lots in fact! The 2012 theme was inspired by the 'Telling the Story of Jesus' Congress in Chiang Mai, Thailand, in 2006. It will be a focus on Asia, so very much a focus on a substantial part of our Region. "Don Bosco was a great story teller", says Fr. Václav Klement, Councillor for the Missions, "and we today are still fascinated by his Good Nights, by his accounts in the Memoirs of the Oratory and the many stories which the last 150 years can tell us. When we want to share our faith with others, story telling is a very simple method, a very lively way of passing on the faith. The faith we are living as we talk about it to others. This occasion of telling the story of Jesus to others is an invitation to all of us to make more friends, to build bridges with others, and at the same time to share what is welling up in our hearts; hearts filled with Jesus".
You should by now have received the DVD and Booklet that goes with it, in your Province. If not, seek it out. There is excellent material in there. Through the medium of austraLasia over the next few weeks we'll run some reminders and excerpts to whet your interest. But as a starter, why not begin with Chiang Mai and the 'Salesian sto' there, since that town-city is where the idea began?
Video no. 6, 'The seeds of evangelisation' takes us to Chiang Mai. On 4 April 2003 Fr Eleuterio Tapay left for the north of Thailand to begin a foundation in the Diocese of Chiang Mai. Thanks to the support of the Bishop, the other religious orders and the solidarity of the Salesian world some centres were set up and developed for poor youngsters from the local tribes: the first seeds of missionary passion!
The Salesians fitted in to the local cultural, social and ecclesial world and were open also to people of other faiths. At Mae Ponn, right in the middle of the forest, they are working with the Sacred Heart Fathers in a centre for hundreds of youngsters coming mainly from the Kaarian Tribes, who can attend elementary and middle school, share their free time together learn to be self-sufficient, and with catechism lessons be trained in the Christian faith. At Mae Ponn, priests, religious and young lay volunteers help the youngsters with a unique happy and joyful education which teaches them to know their own culture and to become self-sufficient. The girls, for example, learn dress-making to prepare clothes for their own wedding and for the members of their future family and to make things to sell at the market.
The “Don Bosco Farm” in Saankampheng and the Don Bosco Centre in Doi-Saket offer youngsters from Mae Ponn two educational opportunities. Like Thonoh, who having finished middle school, can go to “Don Bosco Farm” in Saankampheng and become qualified in agriculture. Those who want to take up other studies are accepted in the Don Bosco Centre in Doi-Saket, a community where the youngsters living their everyday lives together can go out to attend the state schools. Among these there are also youngsters who are preparing for a life of special consecration.
