HUA HIN: 7th March 2005 -- 'Not just another simple meeting but an important gathering of Christ's disciples' is how the Rector Major, Fr Pascual Chávez described the gathering of delegates from all over East Asia and Oceania with himself and many General Council members, as he opened the Team Visit today.  He invited those present to dream, not just to assess.

    The EAO Region, the RM pointed out, is the furthest in distance from Rome and thus it deserves an even greater attention from himself and his Council.  He invited delegates to have an open mind and heart, a deep sense of belonging 'since how we want to live and be known is at stake'.  He invited everyone to try to put aside either tiredness or even pressing concerns, to ensure responsible participation and to be fully mentally present during the order of each day.

    At 10.45 this morning (you are getting these reports as close to 'real time' as is possible) Fr Cereda offered a first glimpse at the matter of the primacy of God in Salesian life.  He focused on the spiritual life of the confreres, the community and the province, and drew on much preparatory work already accomplished locally in each province as they prepared for this Team Visit.

    For the spiritual life of the confreres, Fr Cereda encouraged personal prayer, often connected with the traditional Salesian moments of meditation, sacraments, visit to Blessed Sacrament, rosary, daily examen, prayer of the Church, union with God.  He highlighted lectio divina as a form of meditation.  He then drew from the treasure house of new and old (my phrase not his) items such as personal study and reflection, apostolic zeal, a personal plan of life, spiritual direction, and grace of unity.

    Major documents of this kind will be available on Bosconet if you wish to access them.  Just tap in www.bosconet.aust.com to download Fr Cereda's intervention.

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