austraLasia #1919
"Please switch off your mobile phones, in the name of the Father...."
HUA HIN: 5th August 2007 -- Not all moments at the Hua Hin gathering of Rectors from EAO Region are serious, and who better to introduce a lighter tone, than Fr Mosese Vitolio Tui, Rector and Novice master in Fiji (and therefore member of the AUL province). Fr Mosese was introducing the idea of 'selling' Don Bosco to the confreres by being a happy Salesian, and he drew on a recent Samoan mobile phone marketing campaign which has meant so many of the gadgets swamping a small population that the priest now has to remind his people to turn them off before Mass!
The point being made was, of course a serious one. The AUL province took responsibility for Friday 4th, commemoration of St. John Vianney. Each day a province leads the liturgy and other events, to give it a particular flavour. On Friday 3rd, when the day's theme was of compassion, the votive mass of the Sacred Heart was chosen (the day was sponsored by FIS), and the homilist that time was Fr Gene Taqueban, former missionary in Ethiopia and now in charge of Davao Boys Town. He reminded his listeners of the hearts of Jesus, Don Bosco and the Salesian.
The days have continued to follow a similar pattern - two major input sessions in the morning, one by Fr Michael Winstanley offering a biblical reflection, the other by one or other of the other facilitators (Fr Gustilo FIN or Fr Marsiglio GIA or Fr Danillo Torres FIN), then some presentations by participating Rectors, in order to enable others to learn from their companions' experiences, but also to build up a sense of community and indeed region. There are other moments which build this sense of community too - basketball, darts or other games, and participants have been divided into teams (coloured T shirts provided by FIN), and a photo exhibition enabling each province to present something of itself.
A powerful formative moment has been the exchange of ideas after province groups have met together, and where some of the practical and/or difficult matters are aired. "How can we overcome the challenges to living our charism" was one question put to the groups, and the obvious 'challenges' emerged in discussion - secularism, relativism, lack of knowledge of the preventive system, the challenge of fraternal correction, inculturating the faith (especially in areas where syncretism is a risk)....
The rectors have given thought to the personal project of life, in fact held an open forum on it and what it means, can mean for them and for the confreres in their community.
Meanwhile, the 'Mobile Team', a concept especially designed for a far flung and disparate region such as EAO, has been meeting (Fr Klement, Fr Gustilo, Fr Marsiglio) to consider the progress of this meeting, and to plan ahead for further formation events in the region, and ways of responding to formation needs, their own organisation, and so forth.
Sunday is a day of rest - and a day organised by THA province to show some of the Thai countryside to visitors. Day of rest, yes, and much needed. One wonders, though if mobile phones will really be switched off!
_________________
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.xml Avail yourself of the Salesian Digital Library at at http://sdl.sdb.org
"Please switch off your mobile phones, in the name of the Father...."
HUA HIN: 5th August 2007 -- Not all moments at the Hua Hin gathering of Rectors from EAO Region are serious, and who better to introduce a lighter tone, than Fr Mosese Vitolio Tui, Rector and Novice master in Fiji (and therefore member of the AUL province). Fr Mosese was introducing the idea of 'selling' Don Bosco to the confreres by being a happy Salesian, and he drew on a recent Samoan mobile phone marketing campaign which has meant so many of the gadgets swamping a small population that the priest now has to remind his people to turn them off before Mass!
The point being made was, of course a serious one. The AUL province took responsibility for Friday 4th, commemoration of St. John Vianney. Each day a province leads the liturgy and other events, to give it a particular flavour. On Friday 3rd, when the day's theme was of compassion, the votive mass of the Sacred Heart was chosen (the day was sponsored by FIS), and the homilist that time was Fr Gene Taqueban, former missionary in Ethiopia and now in charge of Davao Boys Town. He reminded his listeners of the hearts of Jesus, Don Bosco and the Salesian.
The days have continued to follow a similar pattern - two major input sessions in the morning, one by Fr Michael Winstanley offering a biblical reflection, the other by one or other of the other facilitators (Fr Gustilo FIN or Fr Marsiglio GIA or Fr Danillo Torres FIN), then some presentations by participating Rectors, in order to enable others to learn from their companions' experiences, but also to build up a sense of community and indeed region. There are other moments which build this sense of community too - basketball, darts or other games, and participants have been divided into teams (coloured T shirts provided by FIN), and a photo exhibition enabling each province to present something of itself.
A powerful formative moment has been the exchange of ideas after province groups have met together, and where some of the practical and/or difficult matters are aired. "How can we overcome the challenges to living our charism" was one question put to the groups, and the obvious 'challenges' emerged in discussion - secularism, relativism, lack of knowledge of the preventive system, the challenge of fraternal correction, inculturating the faith (especially in areas where syncretism is a risk)....
The rectors have given thought to the personal project of life, in fact held an open forum on it and what it means, can mean for them and for the confreres in their community.
Meanwhile, the 'Mobile Team', a concept especially designed for a far flung and disparate region such as EAO, has been meeting (Fr Klement, Fr Gustilo, Fr Marsiglio) to consider the progress of this meeting, and to plan ahead for further formation events in the region, and ways of responding to formation needs, their own organisation, and so forth.
Sunday is a day of rest - and a day organised by THA province to show some of the Thai countryside to visitors. Day of rest, yes, and much needed. One wonders, though if mobile phones will really be switched off!
_________________
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.xml Avail yourself of the Salesian Digital Library at at http://sdl.sdb.org
