A UNIQUE REGIONAL SEMINARY WELCOMES SALESIANS
Julian Fox
SUVA (Fiji): 8th February -- Salesian seminarians from the Pacific were welcomed, today, into the Pacific Regional Seminary, a unique institution serving some twelve nations of whom seven are presently represented: Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Kiribati, Futuna, Ponape, Vanuatu. The prayerful words of welcome from the existing community of seminarians bear repeating:
"In a time beyond memory, our ancestors sailed into the South Pacific in search of new lands. Their canoes were wonderfully made and they used a system of navigation which was the most advanced of its time. They followed stars and found atolls with palm trees and islands of rich red earth wrapped round with coral reefs and warm seas filled with fish.
At another time, in another place, three wise men followed a star and found a baby filled with promise. The disciples of the Christ later brought his Good News to our islands. Today we gather during the last year of a millenium. In this year of the Father, we look with hope to the next 1000 years. Like our ancestors and those wise men before us, we still follow stars. We believe that Christ lives in us and travels with us. Though sometimes he may appear to be sleeping during a storm, he still challenges us with the possibilities of a great catch and it seems sometimes that he invites us to trust enough to walk on water.
Today, too, we mark a moment when another canoe has come to travel with us. The Sons of John Bosco have always believed strongly in tomorrow as they dedicate themselves to the youth of today. Today, they bring their charism to us to enrich us as we continue the journey together.
My brothers, Salesians of Don Bosco, May the winds of the Spirit sent by the Father fill your sails. You have been a blessing to the Church and to Samoa for many years. Now you are a blessing to us also. Let us use our time together well. Let us learn to navigate and follow those stars. Let us always be mindful of the precious gift we are called to bring to the world".
At which point, Brother Isaia Bourne, on behalf of the Salesian community, brought up a model (but large model) canoe and placed it before the 100 other seminarians.
