Port Moresby, PNG, 9 July 2016 -- I’m very glad to share this memorable day with the Papua New Guinea – Solomon Islands provincial community, sent by Rector Major to make feel his fatherly concern about the youngest provincial community among the 87 provinces around the World.
(1) Thanks for the journey of past 36 years
Greetings from the Rector Major and the whole General Council, as well special fraternal greetings from Fr. Val and Fr. Alfred. Starting this year a new stage in the growth of Salesian Charism in the Pacific (AUL – Pacific Delegation of Fiji – Samoa and New Zealand; PGS – new Vice-province) we should be grateful to God for his call and his mission, grateful for all Salesians who gave some years of their life in Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea. In a special way we remember all former FIN and GIA province superiors who did accompany the Delegation over the years. Tenk yu tru!
(2) ‘Provincial community’ and ‘Vice-province’?
What does it mean to be a vice-province? Yes, there is a big leap from a Delegation life to be an ‘independent’ Vice-province. In our Constitutions there is mentioned a slight difference between a Province and Vice-province (C 157-158), and as main goal is ‘to promote the life and mission of the Congregation’ with the autonomy that belongs to it.
There are some 14 Vice-provinces in the Congregation: 8 in Africa, 3 in Asia, 1 in America and 1 in Oceania (+1 Special circumscription in Europe). Numerically the largest is the ITM (Indonesia-Timor Leste: 200 SDB) and the smallest is PGS (47 SDB).
To build day by day your provincial community (C 58) is a responsibility not only of the superior but each of the confreres can offer a valuable contribution, according these verbs - “loving concern, takes care, rejoices, grieves, attentive, coordinates, evaluates, stimulates, cultivates the spirit of brotherhood, provides for continuity…”
(3) Blessed Philip Rinaldi – Patron and ongoing Model - inspiration
Each province and each canonical community is dedicate to some Saint. What does it mean for you to be a ‘Vice-province of Blessed Philip Rinaldi’?
Pondering on your choice that emerged during last twelve months of preparation to start the new vice-province, I realized that third successor of Don Bosco is indeed a very fitting model for the PGS. I would like to suggest just a brief invitation to discover your Patron from many different angles:
- Second Don Bosco: Faithful disciple of Don Bosco and his Charism
- Missionary zeal: Wise animator of the Congregation with a missionary slant – 3000 missionaries sent, Ivrea and other missionary Aspirantate, Vicariates
- Man of God: Deep faith and spiritual guide, ‘Meditation … meditation’!
- (Re) Founder of Salesian Family: Past Pupils, Cooperators, VDB…
- Son of Mary: Mary did it all – strong devotion to Mary Help of Christians
(4) What could we learn from the consultation process?
As you know the consultation process is not just a simple formality. It’s part of the ongoing community discernment (listen – interpret – way forward) with many fruits!
I handed back to Fr. Peter the main results of the consultation – summary of the 43 contributions about your situation with its light and shadows and next 6 years priorities.
It’s exciting to confront the 3 main elements of our identity: mission – consecration – communion (art. 3 SDB Constitutions) and your provincial vision emerging from the consultation. According your opinion among the main priorities are the following:
- Strengthen formation: qualifications, structures, aspirants (75%)
- Give special importance to the vocation ministry and care for local vocations (50%)
- Answer the needs of poor youngsters, go beyond our institutions (50%)
- Send more (new) missionaries to the Vice-province (25%)
- Consolidate the quality and quantitative consistency of our communities (25%)
(5) PGS Vice-province within the EAO region and world-wide Congregation?
Our Congregation is welcomed and shares Don Bosco Charism in 132 countries. What does it mean to growth in communion within the SDB world community (C59)?
To grow in communion with the Rector Major and the whole Congregations is a matter of death or life. We know how to end the provinces who took ‘their own course’!
There is nobody so rich that does not need the gifts of others and there is nobody so poor that he can’t enrich the others provinces. I’m not sure if you are aware about the opportunities that your vice-province can share with the region and the congregation!
During the discernment in the General council was pointed at one special quality of the PGS Vice-province. Probably you are among the best Salesian ‘missionary training places’ around the EAO region and around the Congregation – both for lay mission volunteers and for the consecrated Salesians who are looking for confirm of their missionary vocation (especially during the period of practical training). This special gift should be developed for the good of the Congregation!
(6) Growing with the charismatic inspiration of GC27
Our Congregation points and deepens every six years one important charismatic element for the growth of all 15.000 Salesians, 2000+ communities and 87 provinces.
During the recent General Chapter 27 we were given three-fold path leading to the future of Congregation, in order to make our confreres and communities deeply rooted. in Jesus and Don Bosco. During this 6 year period “Witnessing is our First Mission”
- First: focus on our journey with Jesus in the Spirit (MYSTICS in the SPIRIT)
- Second: focus on family spirit amongst us (PROPHETS of FRATERNITY)
- Third: focus on our mission for & with the youth (SERVANTS of the YOUNG)
Take the GC27 Biblical Icon of “Jesus – Vine Tree” not only as decoration of your community chapel, but as the ongoing inspiration and animation in our life!
