Deeply transformed by a strong Salesian Family experience – Cebu 2016

By Our Own Correspondent

Cebu, the Philippines, 27 November 2016 -- The last of the three EAO Formation sessions for the Salesian Family delegates was concluded on the 1st Advent Sunday evening (Nov 27) in the Don Bosco Retreat House in Lawaan, Talisay City - Cebu, FIS.

On the last day each of the four province delegates (FIN, FIS, ITM and PGS) shared the fruit of 3 days seminar ‘Action Plan 2017-2020’ for the growth of Salesian Family at personal, community, province and regional level. And Fr Eusebio Muñoz, Delegate for the SF, summarized main key words of these 3 days:

TOGETHER – invitation to pray, plan, reflect, form and contribute to the mission of Don Bosco. That means to learn the co-responsibility and communion in the mission.

FORMATION – highlights the overall need for of formation for all involved – as important condition for the ongoing renewal of each group, for all SDB and FMA for the Salesian Family, for all Delegates.

LAY PEOPLE – invitation to take seriously three important signs of our times: Hour of Laity in the Church – recognizing a common baptismal consecration; Growth of each SF group in terms of leadership and quality membership; Growth of self-awareness of each group and sharing between lay people, consecrated and priests.

The non-assuming but proactive presence of Mrs. Noemi Bertola was a true blessing. In her personal evaluation the World Coordinator ASC shared her deep believe in the Family, in the Young and in the Salesian Family. All 50 participants came from 9 countries (Philippines, Timor Leste, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Pakistan, China, Japan, Cambodia and Thailand) – SDB priest, brothers and novices, FMA sisters, Salesians Cooperators, VDB, Don Bosco Past Pupils and ADMA members - experienced deeply charismatic moments of growing together as one united family of Don Bosco.

Thanks to the creativity of organizing FIS province (SF delegate Fr. Orlando Borres) during the formation day were two evening spent outside the Lawaan Sacred Heart compound – in DB Pasil and Lourdes Parish. Sunday Eucharist and Vespers celebrated with the Don Bosco Formation Center of Lawaan – Aspirants, Prenovices and Novices (Rector: Fr Mel Racelis) – was an interesting insight into dynamics of international multicultural formation community. In the name of all participants Fr Manuel Ximenes (ITM) expressed the thanksgiving to the resource persons (Rome – SF Secretariat, World Coordinator ASC), hosting province of FIS and all participants.

---

---