austraLasia 1030
Don Bosco with an Asian face
BANDEL: 6th February 2005 -- The 8th Asia-Australia Congress of Past Pupils of Don Bosco has reached its final day, this time at Bandel, home of the famous Marian Shrine. In fact the Congress has experienced something of the original Oratory experience of Don Bosco as it has found a different setting each day for its meeting and other events.
One of the Delegations (Thailand), has presented the Congress with a bronze statue of Don Bosco weighing some 30 kg and approximately 80 cm tall. It was sculpted by a past pupil and produced at his factory. Don Bosco looks very Asian, and is leading a bare-foot lad by hand, the boy wearing shorts symbolic of his Thai rural setting. Both Don Bosco's and the boy's face are red, symbolic of life as the National President, Mr. Francis, of the Thai Delegation explained.
The statue was blessed by the Vicar of the Rector Major, Fr. Adrian Bregolin.
The final work of the Congress is being conducted at the Bandel school, near the Shrine. Amongst other matters, the location of the next Asia-Australia Congress will be settled on, to take place in four years time. It's a little bit like waiting for the announcement of the 2012 Olympiad! The Japanese Delegation, which has members at this Congress for the first time, has already expressed an interest in the possibility of hosting a future Asia Australia Congress.
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