austraLasia #1916
EAO Regional seminar for Rectors
HUA HIN: 1st August 2007 -- With more than 60 participants now in place, the long-planned seminar for Rectors of the EAO Region got underway on 1st August at Hua Hin, Thailand. It will conclude on 10th August. Involving rectors-to-be, recently appointed and some long-term rectors and even an ex-provincial or two, participants hail from AUL (2, one each from Samoa and Fiji), CIN (2 from Hong Kong and 1 from Taiwan), FIN (12), FIS (8), GIA (3), ITM (4), PNG/SI (6), THA (12), VIE (5). In addition there are 5 facilitators, Frs Winstanley (GBR), Marsiglio (GIA), Gustilo and Torres (FIN) and the EAO Regional Fr Klement.
The first day began with a Eucharist celebrated with Bishop Joseph Prathan SDB in whose diocese Hua Hin is situated. Bishop Prathan reminded those present that the diocese stretched to the Malaysian border, an area comprising 15 provinces, 9 million people, amongst whom 7 thousand are Catholic. It is a vast mission territory then, with 10 diocesan priests, 20 Salesians, 15 Stigmatines, and a number of Religious Sisters of various Congregations. Bishop Prathan shared his own daily and spiritual life, with a stress on time spent before the Blessed Sacrament and with the Word of God in hand.
In the first formative session of the day Fr Gustilo outlined the objectives of the 10 days together, a time long enough to form a prayerful and listening community, verbalise the profile of the Salesian community leader, understand Don Bosco as our father....and to gain a strong sense of the region. There was a moment to welcome the Thai provincial Fr John Bosco Dheparat Pitisant and his secretary Fr Joseph Kriengsak.
Fr Michael Winstanley introduced his theme of Don Bosco's Gospel Way, the title of a book he wrote several years back, reflecting on Salesian experience via the Scriptures. In particular, on this first day, he developed the idea of the presence and action of God in our lives - God who is free and faithful, a saving God. God who is also the Spirit, so clearly marked in our Constitutions: "With a sense of humble gratitude we believe...". Fr Winstanley invited the group to a time of silence, of recognition of this God and his action in our lives.
Each day has a similar timetable involving three major presentation sessions, but there will be time for creating that sense of community too, in prayer, with games, and a whole Sunday outing hosted by the Thai province.
austraLasia will continue to report on the event as it unfolds. ANS and www.sdb.org will present photos as they come in, and Bosconet contains all materials as they come to hand, available from the home page. It is worth adding that sdl.sdb.org is now resurrected on its new server and being added to daily, with easily searchable materials in a variety of languages.
AustraLasia is an email service for the Salesian Family of Asia Pacific. It also functions as an agency for ANS based in Rome. For queries please contact admin@bosconet.aust.com . Use BoscoWiki to be interactive. RSS feeds - subscribe to www.bosconet.aust.com/RSS/rssala.xm Avail yourself of the Salesian Digital Library at at http://sdl.sdb.org
EAO Regional seminar for Rectors
HUA HIN: 1st August 2007 -- With more than 60 participants now in place, the long-planned seminar for Rectors of the EAO Region got underway on 1st August at Hua Hin, Thailand. It will conclude on 10th August. Involving rectors-to-be, recently appointed and some long-term rectors and even an ex-provincial or two, participants hail from AUL (2, one each from Samoa and Fiji), CIN (2 from Hong Kong and 1 from Taiwan), FIN (12), FIS (8), GIA (3), ITM (4), PNG/SI (6), THA (12), VIE (5). In addition there are 5 facilitators, Frs Winstanley (GBR), Marsiglio (GIA), Gustilo and Torres (FIN) and the EAO Regional Fr Klement.
The first day began with a Eucharist celebrated with Bishop Joseph Prathan SDB in whose diocese Hua Hin is situated. Bishop Prathan reminded those present that the diocese stretched to the Malaysian border, an area comprising 15 provinces, 9 million people, amongst whom 7 thousand are Catholic. It is a vast mission territory then, with 10 diocesan priests, 20 Salesians, 15 Stigmatines, and a number of Religious Sisters of various Congregations. Bishop Prathan shared his own daily and spiritual life, with a stress on time spent before the Blessed Sacrament and with the Word of God in hand.
In the first formative session of the day Fr Gustilo outlined the objectives of the 10 days together, a time long enough to form a prayerful and listening community, verbalise the profile of the Salesian community leader, understand Don Bosco as our father....and to gain a strong sense of the region. There was a moment to welcome the Thai provincial Fr John Bosco Dheparat Pitisant and his secretary Fr Joseph Kriengsak.
Fr Michael Winstanley introduced his theme of Don Bosco's Gospel Way, the title of a book he wrote several years back, reflecting on Salesian experience via the Scriptures. In particular, on this first day, he developed the idea of the presence and action of God in our lives - God who is free and faithful, a saving God. God who is also the Spirit, so clearly marked in our Constitutions: "With a sense of humble gratitude we believe...". Fr Winstanley invited the group to a time of silence, of recognition of this God and his action in our lives.
Each day has a similar timetable involving three major presentation sessions, but there will be time for creating that sense of community too, in prayer, with games, and a whole Sunday outing hosted by the Thai province.
austraLasia will continue to report on the event as it unfolds. ANS and www.sdb.org will present photos as they come in, and Bosconet contains all materials as they come to hand, available from the home page. It is worth adding that sdl.sdb.org is now resurrected on its new server and being added to daily, with easily searchable materials in a variety of languages.
AustraLasia is an email service for the Salesian Family of Asia Pacific. It also functions as an agency for ANS based in Rome. For queries please contact admin@bosconet.aust.com . Use BoscoWiki to be interactive. RSS feeds - subscribe to www.bosconet.aust.com/RSS/rssala.xm Avail yourself of the Salesian Digital Library at at http://sdl.sdb.org
