By Fr. Manuel Pinto, SDB
ITM - Timor Leste delegate for the Don Bosco Past Pupils

Dili, Timor Leste, 6 October 2016 -- The 11th Congress for East-Asia-Oceania for Salesian Family organized by Past Pupils of Don Bosco with the theme: SERVING GOD THROUGH OUR FELLOWS BY PROMOTING GOOD EDUCATION, ECONOMIC SOLIDARITY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE - concluded in Dili, Timor Leste - its second full day.

Very remarkable is the first historical presence of the new World Delegate for the Don Bosco Past Pupils, Fr. Raphael Jayapalan (Chennai India, provincial), who shares his first impression: "So beautiful to be here in Timor. I'm amazed at the presence of Don Bosco all over in the capital of Dili as well the presence of Salesians in East Timor. I was happy to visit Don Bosco Comoro with three communities - Provincial house, Postnovitiate and Philosophy Study Center and Don Bosco Centech. I'm happy to share the presence of Delegates and Don Bosco Alumni from 10 different countries of Asia and Oceania, including India. The 7 priorities of World Confederation Strategic Planning (2015-2021) are beautiful....it needs only to be translated into different languages and into action."

Also the ITM provincial delegate for the Past Pupils express his satisfaction: 'We have total of 380 participants from 11 countries and from 8 Provinces of EAO region: Korea, Japan, Philippines North and Philippines South, Australia, Thailand, China, Timor Leste - Indonesia. From ITM we have 212 participants and 30 from each Local Chapter - Association. Of course we are happy also with many participants from other Salesian Family groups, especially the FMA and their Past Pupils as well the Salesian Cooperators."

He adds: "There are no special events, but the participants have opportunities to visit FMA and SDB community of Don Bosco Comoro (Provincial house, Centec and Postnovitiate). During the rich program many of the speakers were Timorese Alumni in high responsibility positions in the government, education, army and Catholic Church. Bishop of Dili, Mons. Virgilio Da Silva, SDB presided the Eucharist of Opening and Closing Ceremony. The participants appreciated a lot fraternal atmosphere and interaction among the various provinces. We missed only PGS (Papua New Guinea-Solomon Islands), VIE (Vietnam-Mongolia) and MYM (Myanmar) provinces. Hopefully next time!

The presence of the World President Mr. Michal Hort with two members of the Alumni Confederation Presidency helps the national or provincial Federation to get grasp about the direction of our Association. The talks of the President and two Vice-presidents on the Strategic Plan of World Confederation (2016 - 2021) has been warmly welcomed by all National Federations of Asia - Oceania.

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