austraLasia #1942
Loke ita neon hare ba futuro: Open your minds to the future!
DILI-COmoro: 8th September 2007 -- Dili saw the last of the animation visits for the 2002-8 six year period. Fittingly it concluded with a Mass and dinner offered by the three DIli.Comoro communities with representatives of the Salesian Family present from Timor Leste: a total of 30 SDBs, 6 FMAs, 2 ADMA, 3 ASCs, 5 Past Pupils attended. Perhpas the entire event was summed up by a slogan on the mural in front of the Comoro compound: Loke ita neon hare ba futuro, in Tetum, meaning 'Open your minds to the future'. Unfortunately the Provincial, Fr Calleja, was unable to be there as he is laid up in hospital for a checkup. He was represneted by the Vice-provincial Fr Antonio Pinto.
The president of the Past Pupils in Timor Leste, Mr Joao Cancio Freitas, was present. He has recently been apppointed as Minister of Education in the new Government, and was able to share with those present some of the features of his first month in office. It was mainly good news for the 88 schools both large and small entrusted to the Salesians in the country - an increased education budget and subsidies for all schools. The current parliament has no fewer than 10 past pupils in its ranks, amongst 65 deputies.
The Regional's view of things after a five day visit was that there is a much more positive outlook for the country, which has been through difficult times. Only the Viqueque region is still troubled, and schools there have yet to return. Mind you, there are still major problems with displaced persons. Three and a half thousand remain in the Comoro compound. Amongst the better news is the help constantly being received, including from some Salesian visitors. Bro Michael Lynch from AUL, Fr Chris Riley, also from Australia, Fr Julian Sleuyter from GIA - all offering concrete examples of solidarity.
The Regional's visit focused on GC26 preparation and the spirit of Da Mihi Animas. Given the fact that ITM has to be one of the youngest and most vigorous vice provinces in the Congregation vocationwise (170 confreres with 18 novices), the focus was also on formation. The three basic stages of formation for those candidates coming from Timor Leste are now gradually establishing themselves in-country without the need to go outside. Los Palos has the prenovitiate with 23 newcomers who started on 5th September; the novitiate is at Fatumaca with 12 novices and a new novicemaster (Fr Virgilio Da Costa, recently graduated in Spirituality from UPS); the postnovitiate, named after Blessed Artemides Zatti at Dili-Comoro, with 4 formators and 8 students (5 candidates for priesthood and 3 Brothers). They are still located in the provincial house, but construction has begun on their eventual lodgings nearby.
The outlook, then, is true to the wall's slogan - a bright future if people look forward. October will see the ordination of four new priests as well.
_________________
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
Loke ita neon hare ba futuro: Open your minds to the future!
DILI-COmoro: 8th September 2007 -- Dili saw the last of the animation visits for the 2002-8 six year period. Fittingly it concluded with a Mass and dinner offered by the three DIli.Comoro communities with representatives of the Salesian Family present from Timor Leste: a total of 30 SDBs, 6 FMAs, 2 ADMA, 3 ASCs, 5 Past Pupils attended. Perhpas the entire event was summed up by a slogan on the mural in front of the Comoro compound: Loke ita neon hare ba futuro, in Tetum, meaning 'Open your minds to the future'. Unfortunately the Provincial, Fr Calleja, was unable to be there as he is laid up in hospital for a checkup. He was represneted by the Vice-provincial Fr Antonio Pinto.
The president of the Past Pupils in Timor Leste, Mr Joao Cancio Freitas, was present. He has recently been apppointed as Minister of Education in the new Government, and was able to share with those present some of the features of his first month in office. It was mainly good news for the 88 schools both large and small entrusted to the Salesians in the country - an increased education budget and subsidies for all schools. The current parliament has no fewer than 10 past pupils in its ranks, amongst 65 deputies.
The Regional's view of things after a five day visit was that there is a much more positive outlook for the country, which has been through difficult times. Only the Viqueque region is still troubled, and schools there have yet to return. Mind you, there are still major problems with displaced persons. Three and a half thousand remain in the Comoro compound. Amongst the better news is the help constantly being received, including from some Salesian visitors. Bro Michael Lynch from AUL, Fr Chris Riley, also from Australia, Fr Julian Sleuyter from GIA - all offering concrete examples of solidarity.
The Regional's visit focused on GC26 preparation and the spirit of Da Mihi Animas. Given the fact that ITM has to be one of the youngest and most vigorous vice provinces in the Congregation vocationwise (170 confreres with 18 novices), the focus was also on formation. The three basic stages of formation for those candidates coming from Timor Leste are now gradually establishing themselves in-country without the need to go outside. Los Palos has the prenovitiate with 23 newcomers who started on 5th September; the novitiate is at Fatumaca with 12 novices and a new novicemaster (Fr Virgilio Da Costa, recently graduated in Spirituality from UPS); the postnovitiate, named after Blessed Artemides Zatti at Dili-Comoro, with 4 formators and 8 students (5 candidates for priesthood and 3 Brothers). They are still located in the provincial house, but construction has begun on their eventual lodgings nearby.
The outlook, then, is true to the wall's slogan - a bright future if people look forward. October will see the ordination of four new priests as well.
_________________
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
