By Fr. Joebeth Vivo, SDB
EAO Coordinator for Youth Ministry

K’Long, Vietnam, 14 November 2017 -- The Youth Ministry delegates from the provinces of the East Asia-Oceania Region gathered and met at K’Long Retreat Center in Vietnam. Fr. Fabio Attard, the General Councilor for Youth Ministry, together with Fr. Patrick Anthonyraj facilitated the 5-day long experience of formation, brotherhood and in-depth study of the responsibility of the Youth Ministry Delegate in the province.

Fr. Klement Vaclav, the EAO Regional Councilor, has shared his wise contribution in the proceedings based on the needs of the Region and preached about the life and holiness of Bl. Artemide Zatti in the Mass. Fr. Attard led the YM delegates in the deeper appreciation of the Salesian Youth Ministry Frame of Reference, the important role that the Salesian congregation plays in the preparation for the Synod of Bishops on Youth 2018, the timely exposure to Salesian Missionary Volunteering through the orientation on its manual, and the discussion on other significant programs which concerns Youth Ministry both in the world and provincial levels.

This well-attended meeting of YM delegates was also an opportune moment to discuss with the EAO delegates for Social Communication led by Fr. Filiberto Gonzales, the General Councilor for Social Communication, about the roles of both commissions in the province and the venues for greater synergy in fulfilling the mission. Some resolutions were made from this fruitful encounter and, when approved, will yield beautiful results for the confreres of the Region.

Very striking for many Youth Ministry Delegates were the celebration of diversity and sharing of concerns. In all the moments of guided sharing, noticeable were the spontaneity, confidence, seriousness in fulfilling the responsibility and desire to do the apostolate with zeal.

This encounter would never have been productive and fun without the responsible leadership and generous assistance of our Vietnamese confreres who hosted this meeting. They organized the visits of the delegates to the formation houses; exposure to Da Lat XQ Historical Village, Preserved Flower Showroom and Pastoral Center to see respectively the wonderful world of embroidery, the flowers preserved in their natural beauty and freshness, and the history of Christianization of Vietnam. Thanks to the great effort of the Province of Vietnam who made this encounter conducive for formation and updating, celebration of Salesian identity and memorable cultural enrichment.

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