austraLasia 875
EAO Initial Formation: Sweep though Oceania completes the picture
ROME: 11th Sept. '04 -- General Councillor for Formation Fr Francis Cereda and team member Fr Chrys Saldanha have returned to Rome after gaining an overview of the initial formation communities particularly in Oceania: PNG, Fiji, Samoa, Australia. This sweep through the islands and the great continent of Australia fills in the Formation Department's overview of initial formation communities throughout the Salesian world.
The general aim of such visits is precisely that of overview, information and animation. From the wider perspective it is sometimes possible too, to suggest ways of regional cooperation and to strengthen the existing formation processes. In the case of Oceania there is an aspirantate, pre-novitiate and post-novitiate setting in Port Moresby, a post-novitiate and theologate community in Fiji (attending a diocesan/religious combined seminary), pre-novitiate and novitiate in Samoa, theologate in Melbourne (also attending a diocesan/religious combined seminary) while Australian pre-novices are assigned to a number of selected apostolic communities.
EAO Initial Formation: Sweep though Oceania completes the picture
ROME: 11th Sept. '04 -- General Councillor for Formation Fr Francis Cereda and team member Fr Chrys Saldanha have returned to Rome after gaining an overview of the initial formation communities particularly in Oceania: PNG, Fiji, Samoa, Australia. This sweep through the islands and the great continent of Australia fills in the Formation Department's overview of initial formation communities throughout the Salesian world.
The general aim of such visits is precisely that of overview, information and animation. From the wider perspective it is sometimes possible too, to suggest ways of regional cooperation and to strengthen the existing formation processes. In the case of Oceania there is an aspirantate, pre-novitiate and post-novitiate setting in Port Moresby, a post-novitiate and theologate community in Fiji (attending a diocesan/religious combined seminary), pre-novitiate and novitiate in Samoa, theologate in Melbourne (also attending a diocesan/religious combined seminary) while Australian pre-novices are assigned to a number of selected apostolic communities.
Already there is regional cooperation - the novitiate in Samoa has one candidate from PNG and one from Japan, in addition to locals. Practical trainees from AUL have been assigned to PNG as well as throughout the province.
The visiting team has left recommendations for further consolidation and regional cooperation in the near future.
The visiting team has left recommendations for further consolidation and regional cooperation in the near future.
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'austraLasia' is an email service for the Salesian Family of Asia-Pacific. It functions also as an agency for ANS, based in Rome. Try also www.bosconet.aust.com
