Aberdeen, Hongkong, 24 January 2017 -- The blessing of the newly renovated Aberdeen Technical School (ATS) SDB Community Room and Senior Aspirants Dormitory was held on 24 January, the feast day of the patron of Salesians, St. Francis de Sales.
The ATS community is composed by the school with 400 students including 120 boarders, 6 confreres and 2 senior aspirants.
During the ceremony, Provincial, Fr. Fedrigotti Lanfranco, shared a story of St. Francis' gentleness. He invited all Salesians, Senior Aspirants and Lay Mission Partners of the boarding section to pattern their work on the meekness and gentleness of the patron saint so as to love all young people, especially those who are poor and abandoned, as Don Bosco did. He also prayed to Our Lady of Fatima for more religious vocations in this occasional visit of the statue of Our lady of Fatima for the celebration of the 100 Anniversary of Our Lady's apparition (the statue is blessed by Pope Francis in 13 January, it will be brought to all countries in Asia). After the vespers and benediction, Fr. Lanfranco blessed the community room and the aspirants dormitory.
The Rector of ATS, Fr. Simon Lam, expressed his deep sense of gratitude to the benefactors for supporting the renovation project. As the mission of Salesians is to serve the young who are underprivileged, Fr. Lam deeply believes that working at the boarding section of ATS is a unique experience in vocation discernment for young people.
When the ceremony was ended, the confreres, the aspirants and the members of staff at the boarding section had the reunion dinner in the refectory to celebrate the Lunar New Year.
Let us continue to pray for more Salesian religious vocations in CIN.
