Subject: 'austraLasia' #324

Apologies - you were promised #324 in tandem with t'other, but it got lost!

CYCLONE SWEEPS THROUGH SOUTH PACIFIC!

Julian Fox

SUVA: 3rd April -- Misleading headline? Perhaps. Perhaps not. Fr. Odorico,

en route from Colombia to Rome, swept through the South Pacific via Samoa,

Fiji, PNG, this week past. Following the recent Team Visit in Hong Kong,

which included the Australian Province and the PNG Delegation amongst its

ranks, Fr. Odorico wished to view for himself the progress made in these

areas, and in particular the foundation which is the most recent of the

post-novitiates in the Congregation worldwide. This is not a record that

will stand for long, Fr. Odorico revealed, as there are new foundations

planned in the near future, and as there is considerable vocational growth

in some regions.

It is the very issue of vocational growth that made it worthwhile for this

mini 'cyclone' to veer through Oceania. The CEPAC Bishops, at a recent

meeting in Suva at which the writer was present (re the development of

Pacific Regional Seminary) have to - and wish to - face the 'problem' of too

many candidates from the Region! Amongst those candidates are presently a

dozen who form part of the Australian Province. There are already local

hopefuls knocking on the door from around Fiji itself. The Bishops project

that the present phase of growth has at least a ten year life in it,

possibly more, but at this stage are prepared to entertain a ten year plan!

Undoubtedly the Salesians must do something similar.

No decisions, just options, possibilities - and prayerful hopes for the

future! Fr. Odorico has moved on but while the palm trees return to

customary languidness, hearts have been stirred and minds set awhirl. I

think it's what we term, in a world that easily handles abstract nouns,

animation. In these parts we judge it by the spirit of the trees.