SEOUL: 17th September '04 -- First Korean Provincial, Fr Paul Hwang, today welcomed the Rector Major as he stepped onto Korean soil with these words: 'A friend comes from afar - what greater happiness can there be!  You come not only as a friend and brother but also as the father of a great family'.  Fr Paul then went on to welcome Fr Chavez to the Land of the Morning Calm in the name of the entire Salesian Family.  The Salesian Family preparation for their 50th anniversary has been under the title of 'Don Bosco in This Land'.

After the brief arrival ceremonies and a short rest, Fr Chavez flies to Kwangju, the place where the Salesians first opened a school for youngsters still suffering the ravages of war - the first Salesians arrived in 1954.  In 1958 the Salesians were invited to Seoul to take a parish, and a few years later opened a young workers' hostel and seminary in that parish.  This gave the impetus to what is an astonishing growth not just of Salesians SDB but of the entire Salesian Family, which now numbers itself at 1,500 members.

The brief four day visit is organised around different themes.  On 18th, sitll in Kwangju, Fr. Chavez will 'celebrate the past with the young', then the following day 'the present, with the Salesian Family' and on his final day 'the future - with the Salesians'.

austraLasia hopes to keep you in touch with these events as they unfold.

'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