A Tumultuous Feastday
ENGADINE (Aus): 31st Jan -- For the Salesian Community in Engadine (Sydney, Australia) the celebration of the Feast of St John Bosco was marred by two tragedies: a fatal train accident and the destruction of the Youth Centre by fire. On the same day the community also celebrated the 25th anniversary of profession of Fr Bob Bossini, the Rector of the community.
Waterfall Train Disaster
While the community was gathering for morning prayer on 31 January, a south bound commuter train from Sydney to Wollongong crashed just south of Waterfall, 10 km south of Engadine and part of the Parish of St John Bosco. Eight people died as a result of the accident and more than 40 were injured, some seriously. Railway authorities have not yet been able to determine the cause of the accident. The authorities co-ordinating the rescue efforts requested the Rector of the community, Fr Robert Bossini, and the Parish Priest, Fr Peter Rankin, to attend the scene of the accident to provide chaplaincy services to the bereaved and injured as well as the emergency services personnel. The Premier of New South ! Wales, Mr Bob Carr, visited the site of the accident and personally thanked Fr Bossini and Fr Rankin for their assistance.
Students from St John Bosco College use trains on the line where the accident occur and had their journey to school for the first day of the new academic year disrupted because the line was closed. Thankfully, there were no students on the train as it was heading in the opposite direction. Parents brought children to school and alternative travel arrangements were made by the transport authorities.
Fire Destroys Youth Centre
Just prior to Morning Prayers the community learnt that the St John Bosco Youth Centre had been destroyed by fire overnight, causing in excess of $200,000 damage. The fire is believed to have been the result of arson. The main structure of the building was severely damaged, most memorabilia was destroyed along with some equipment and the canteen facilities. Some records were able to be recovered. Almost all of the sporting equipment was safe, as it was stored in shipping containers sightly removed from the building. Engineers will inspect the site in the next few days to determine whether the building is structurally sound or whether it will need to be demolished.
The Youth Centre, which is conducted under the auspices of the parish and run by volunteers from the local community, provides recreational and sporting opportunities for in excess of 3,000 children and young people each week. The Management Committee of the Youth Centre have responded quickly to re-assure members of the local community that the centre will be rebuilt and that the sporting programmes will not be interrupted. A spokesperson for the Youth Centre said that within forty eight hours of the fire, temporary accommodation had already been arranged and planning for the reconstruction of the youth centre had commenced.
Parish Celebrates Feast of St John Bosco
Despite the tragedies to beset the community on the feast of St John Bosco, the Salesian religious community joined with the Parish community for a typically uplifting and optimistic celebration of the feastday and the 25th anniversary of profession of Fr Bob Bossini, the Rector of the community. Approximately 350 people joined the celebration. The parish choir was at full strength and assisted in providing an celebratory and prayerful atmosphere in which to reflect upon the feastday and its meaning. In the homily, Fr Bossini spoke of his gratitude to God for the many blessings that he had received over 25 years of service of the people of God and invited the congregation to join him in continuing the journey with God into the future. At the end of the Eucharist the Parish Priest, Fr Peter Rankin, made a presentation to Fr Bossini and spoke on behalf of the parish to congratulate Fr Bossini on his anniversary. He thanked Fr Bossini for his service to the church in the local community especially through his ministry, his preaching, his sense of humour and his example of prayer. In good Salesian tradition, the Eucharist was followed by a hearty supper.
