austraLasia 1470

"There is energy about - let's make it synergy": Oz Provincial returns with upbeat message

MELBOURNE: 1st March 2006 -- Events in Hong Kong recently - meaning not only the Centenary, but the gathering of Provincials, EAO Bishops, Youth Ministry delegates... have had their impact elsewhere in the region.  The Australian Provincial, Fr Frank Moloney, returned with positive impressions which he has shared with the province, highlighting the strong need, in simple terms, to 'belong' to a region that despite being one of the most disparate in the Congregation (geographically, culturally), is also one of the healthiest.  As he put it, "there is energy around....let's make it synergy".  It could well be an important catch cry for the region as a whole, but he intended it to draw attention to signs of vitality and growth in the Australian Province along with others in the region.
    Australia as a nation has gradually come to learn that it belongs geographically, economically, politically to South East Asia.  The moot point has always been how it belongs culturally.  In terms of Salesian region this is also just as true but, as Frank pointed out, 'they' are anxious to have 'our highly specialised and at times sophisticated support' and 'we' also have 'a great deal to learn from them'.  The Australian Province has received endorsement at the level of the Councillor for Formation, Fr Cereda, for what it can offer by way of Formation in the region - there are many factors: good possibilities for structured teaching and learning of English, the lingua franca of the region, the study of theology, places for practical trainees amongst them.
    The Australian Province has just appointed its first Samoan born Rector, Fr Petelo Vito Pau, in Samoa itself.  This is a significant appointment, signalling the steady growth in that part of the province over the 25, now 26 years of its establishment, a growth which has seen the ordination of at least six Samoans, most of them holding key roles in parish, school, formation and now in community leadership, and a steady flow of younger ones behind them.  In the Australian continent itself, after a period of several years without novices, there is movement too.  One candidate begins his novitiate this year (he will do that in the Philippines novitiate at Lawaan), and another has been admitted to the prenovitiate.

GLOSSARY
Oz:  'Oz' now has formal recognition as a term, albeit colloquial, for an Australian.  It has nothing to do with the famous Wizard!  In Salesian terms, 'Oz' actually helps distinguish from 'AUS' which happens to refer to Austria!  These confusions do happen - I was once introduced to an international audience as 'the man from Tanzania'.  Problem is I'm a Tasmanian, though I did get the opportunity, via the error, to meet the President of Tanzania who lives and worships in a Salesian parish!
moot: arguable, up for discussion.  This word has an interesting background (and fascinatingly, is the name of a board game about the etymology of English words!) In Old English it was an assembly of the people for making judicial decisions.  J.R. Tolkien had 'ent-moots', meetings of 'ents' or tree-like creatures. But a 'moot point' in today's sense is a tricky thing indeed, legally speaking...here's an example: "On Thursday 2nd February when the sun rises, you will pay me a million dollars".  Sorry, but the sun doesn't actually rise - it only looks that way.  Contract is invalid.  THAT is a moot point!
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