Hua Hin, Thailand, 7 March 2017 -- Day 1 of the East Asia - Oceania Team Visit past very quickly within a family spirit, due to the already well known wonderful Thai hospitality. The 94 participants of the 2017 Team Visit were welcomed in the opening session by Fr. John Bosco Thepharat: "Welcome to Thailand, welcome to Hua Hin, welcome to the house of Don Bosco, welcome to your home!'
The morning Eucharist was animated by the China province with a mixture of Latin and Chinese songs and Fr. Guillermo Basanes with his short and deep homily about the necessary 'sweat and blood 'watering of the EAO countries soil gave a missionary challenge to all. Rector Major as presider entrusted the whole Team Visit to Don Bosco.
The first two morning session were dedicated to the opening, presentation of all participants (absent only 4 members due to health, visa and own school commitment) - 11 provincial councils and 6 regional coordinators for the sectors together with Fr. Cereda, the Vicar of the RM, 5 General Councillors and Fr. Eusebio Munoz, the Delegate of the RM for the Salesian Family. Then followed the study of the EAO region statistics 2007-2016, introduced by the Regional Councilor and deepen in the Province working groups.
The two afternoon sessions were dedicated to the 'Reshaping of the Salesian presences' - one of the main theme of this 6 year period. Fr. Cereda introduced this First Theme of the 2017 Team Visit with a short overview of the EAO provinces survey on this theme, then followed 60 minutes workshop in the provincial groups. Last session of the day was an Assembly to share the provincial progress, difficulties and way forward.
At the end of the day the Rector Major offered his 20 minutes wrap up of the day, focus on the main emerging directions for the animation & governance of the provinces: To live with with a vision and don't be carried out by the emergencies, face with concrete action the reality of vocation fragility and consistently invest in the formation of formators and leadership in our provinces.
The EAO Team Visit is characterized by a very close fraternal environment among the members coming from almost all 22 countries. For each theme there are ready two short video clips with good practices ('Ad gentes missionary of Vietnam' was watched and appreciated). At the main stage there is a large map of the EAO region that is slowly becoming the face of Don Bosco, with the action resolutions of each province as fruit of the group workshops.
In the evening of March 7 all participants enjoyed the Salesian Family welcoming dinner animated by hundreds of students from almost all Salesian Schools of Thailand (from Hat Yai to Udonthani) with their wonderful dances, music performation that enchanted everybody. Great thanks to the hosting province: all of us really feel at home!
Click here for the high quality photos of EAO Team Visit 2017
