Growing stronger with a joyful heart
By Br. Paul Giligiljaw Tamauwlul, SDB
Taiwan, 27 November 2017 -- Br. Paul was born in Pintong (South Taiwan) in a good traditional Christian - Catholic family. Both mother and father come from the first Catholic families baptized about 160 years ago. His grand - grandmother was among the first baptized Catholics in Taiwan, from the Kazazaljan tribe. A wonderful synergy of family and tribe dynamics is at the root of his Catholic faith. As young student Paul spent 6 years in the Salesian Boys Town in Chau Chow (Taiwan) and recently one year as practical trainee. During this school year Br. Paul is among the three practical trainees in Tainan Salesian Technical School. He is also learning some technical skills like motorcycle and car repair.
What makes you happy as Salesian Brother?
For me as Salesian Brother I feel happy, when I make somebody happy in his own situation or when some good work is going smooth. Another experience of joy happens when I meet superior, who comes to see me. I trust him and we meet in a very positive manner.
Who is your Salesian Brother model?
For me one of the Salesian Brother models is Br. Paul Li. He is humble, organized and easy accessible for talk and sharing. When I was living in the Hong Kong formation house, we spent always some time chatting and sharing our life. He was always close to me.
What is the specific contribution of the Salesian Brother to our mission & community?
The contribution of Salesian Brother is not happening through the sacraments. Like in the parish youth ministry, I’m happy to prepare the Christmas Cribs (Manger) with the youth or help them in the musical practice. Our lay faithful are talking: ‘Oh, our brother brings our young to the manger making!’ It makes the Salesian brother more visible. Meanwhile in the SDB community I help our economer in the kitchen, support our cook lady, prepare the community Mass or play guitar during the recollection.
How to make the vocation of Salesian Brother more visible in the Church?
Our youth ministry, involvement with some youth group in the parish or school makes us visible. This direct contact foster more direct knowledge about lay consecrated Salesian. When I made the vocation choice as Salesian Brother, I sent my message to one young prenovices who later have chosen to become a Brother. Can you call it a coincidence? Indeed our presence in the world of the young Catholics makes the Brother more visible.
How can the Salesian priest contribute to the Salesian Brother Vocation promotion?
There was one Salesian Brother, who was for me a good example – like Br. Cheung in Hong Kong. The priest can introduce these good examples of Salesian Brothers to the wider public as parish priest, principal or superior in many occasions. They have more opportunity to speak out.
What does sustain your Salesian vocation?
I growth stronger when I’m working with a joyful heart. When I focus and live happy my mission, I’m giving good example of Salesian – servant to the Young. I’m convinced that Holy Family spirituality is a model for Salesian Brother. Salesian Brothers are praying always the Rosary like St. Joseph. Although they are silent like St. Joseph, they witness with their joyful life.
My vocation is growing slowly when I learn how to relate to the young in Don Bosco’ Way in the parish, through personal relationship with the young.
As practical trainee - animator of the Catholic Youth Group?
Our eight members of Catholic Youth Group are facing the challenge to be Catholics inside the Catholic school of 1200 students. We gather in eight person, but only three are coming together regularly. Slowly with playing music are coming together. We share face to face, about their parish, family and their faith. I can discover about their shallow Catholic life, that needs deeper roots. So I share with them my faith experience.
Any expectations, suggestion for the path towards the 2018 Salesian Brothers Congress?
Why do have Congress of Salesian Brothers? In order to confirm the Salesian Brother vocation and its meaning, to reshape the idea. For me it would be the first time. We can exchange our idea, built many new relationships. For example, we never had Salesian Brother as preacher at our annual retreat and there are many good Brother, who can help us to enrich. To help each other.
Two years ago I attended the provincial Brothers meeting. I felt it was it was too light. It was about personal experience sharing, lunch and mutual bonding. I would prefer to share more deeply, especially learn from the past times difficulties. We were told, before there was a wonderful Salesian Brother experience in the province, but now we can’t experience it. I would expect to share, how can we sustain now our Salesian Brother vocation.
