austraLasia #1998
Dalat Diocese Youth Day under Salesian leadership
DALAT (Vietnam): 4th December 2007 -- To celebrate the 80th anniversary of mission to the ethnic minority of the area, Dalat Diocese decided to hold a Youth Day on 1st December in the Salesian Post-novitiate compound. It was well-recognised that amongst the 25 Congregations in the Diocese, the Salesians have made a significant and active contribution through their pastoral and educational work in parishes, technical centres, mission stations and houses of formation (exemplified in this instance by the post novitiate). Currently more than one third of the confrères and works of the Province are located in Dalat Diocese.
The Youth Day theme was 'to become missionaries in loving and serving ones neighbours, in particular the poor and the ethnic minorities'. The participants, almost 4,000 of them, were representatives of all parishes and young members of religious congregations in the diocese.
After a solemn Mass at which the bishop presided, joined by 60 concelebrants, the young participants gathered for dinner and then a religiously oriented programme. The Salesians contributed not only with their facilities and with the logistics of the day but also, led by Fr Peter Hoang sdb, contributed many important items which spoke loudly of the mission of all disciples of Jesus Christ, whether they come from minor or major ethnic communities.
Entrusting the organisation of this first Diocesan Youth Day to the Salesians was yet further evidence of the local Church's confidence in the Salesian mission and their pastoral and educative approach to the young. It is also an appeal for missionary zeal on the part of Salesian confrères working for ethnic peoples to renew and improve their services to this poorest of the poor in Vietnam.
Dalat Diocese Youth Day under Salesian leadership
DALAT (Vietnam): 4th December 2007 -- To celebrate the 80th anniversary of mission to the ethnic minority of the area, Dalat Diocese decided to hold a Youth Day on 1st December in the Salesian Post-novitiate compound. It was well-recognised that amongst the 25 Congregations in the Diocese, the Salesians have made a significant and active contribution through their pastoral and educational work in parishes, technical centres, mission stations and houses of formation (exemplified in this instance by the post novitiate). Currently more than one third of the confrères and works of the Province are located in Dalat Diocese.
The Youth Day theme was 'to become missionaries in loving and serving ones neighbours, in particular the poor and the ethnic minorities'. The participants, almost 4,000 of them, were representatives of all parishes and young members of religious congregations in the diocese.
After a solemn Mass at which the bishop presided, joined by 60 concelebrants, the young participants gathered for dinner and then a religiously oriented programme. The Salesians contributed not only with their facilities and with the logistics of the day but also, led by Fr Peter Hoang sdb, contributed many important items which spoke loudly of the mission of all disciples of Jesus Christ, whether they come from minor or major ethnic communities.
Entrusting the organisation of this first Diocesan Youth Day to the Salesians was yet further evidence of the local Church's confidence in the Salesian mission and their pastoral and educative approach to the young. It is also an appeal for missionary zeal on the part of Salesian confrères working for ethnic peoples to renew and improve their services to this poorest of the poor in Vietnam.
