austraLasia #2819
Selamat Datang Don Bosco - welcome
JAKARTA: 11 March 2011 -- As readers will have realised, the Don Bosco Relics are, perhaps for the first time along this lengthy five year pilgrimage, in two places at the one time! Naturally both items - the Casket and the Statue, contain a distinguished ('insignis') relic. So while the Statue is at St Joseph's College in Melbourne, right at the moment, and we are awaiting further news and hopefully some photos for ANS, in the interests of 'even-handedness', all puns aside, here is a report from Jakarta on events surrounding the Casket there.
On arrival at Jakarta's international airport on 7 March, the Casket was brought to a special place in the airport where a short Bible Service and Welcome Ceremony was held, with the Provincial Delegate, Fr. Yohanes Boedihararjo Soerjonoto officiating at the Rite. After the simple but touching welcome, the relic was put on top of a beautifully decorated, special vehicle and was brought, slowly winding through the streets of Jakarta, accompanied by a convoy of several cars, to the Postnovitiate in Sunter. It was well past midnight, already the 8th of March, when the procession reached the house, seemingly on tip-toes, not wanting to disturb the people of the city who were already sleeping. But once the Casket was taken down, a lively chorus of “Giu dai Colli” by the Prenovices, Novices, SDB confreres, Salesian Sisters,on which were written the words “Selamat Datang, Don Bosco! Welcome Don Bosco! Welcome to your home!” The Casket was then placed in the Postnovitiate Chapel, after which the Acting-Rector said a prayer of welcome, and the Community recited Compline. After the prayers, in the silence of the night, several preferred to stay awake for a much longer time accompanying Don Bosco and contemplating in his presence.
In the morning, almost all Salesians from all the Houses in Indonesia and the Novices from Sumba gathered in Postnovitiate Chapel for their recollection, preached by the pioneer of DB’s work in the country, Fr. Jose Carbonell, who spoke about the personality of Don Bosco symbolized by his right hand which he used to bless people, write letters, ask for funds for his manifold works of charity, teach his boys skills in the shops, crack chestnuts, shake the hands of his benefactors, etc. In the afternoon, Salesian Family groups in Indonesia also made their recollection with the Provincial Delegate preaching. This was followed by the Mass at which Fr. Carbonell presided, and the representative of the Apostolic Nuncio, Mgr. Joseph Forro, concelebrated. The latter stressed, in his few words before the final blessing, how the spirit of St. John Bosco is much needed in today’s world as it was in his time. More than a hundred years after his death, “he continues to invite us – both lay and religious – to be educators in the faith at every opportunity.We are invited by him to walk side by side with the young so as to lead them to the Lord Jesus, and “to discover in Him and His Good News the deepest meaning of their existence, and thus grow into new men.”
Following the Salesian Family Mass, the glass Casket bearing Don Bosco’s relic was again put on top of the special vehicle, and transported to the only parish church in Jakarta bearing his name. There the parishioners with their Pastor, Fr. Petrus Pehan Tukan, welcomed him with great solemnity, amidst fireworks, sacred songs and the pealing of bells. After a short Welcome Service the Casket was put near the altar for everybody to behold. The last activity of the day was the vigil organized by some of the young Salesians from the Postnovitiate and attended by the people of the 8 villages under the parish.
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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 . RSS feeds - just go to Bosconet, click on austraLasia 2011 in the sidebar. You will see the RSS orange icon in your browser address bar - add it from there. Or be interactive with the EAO blog Cetera Tolle. Avail yourself of the Salesian Digital Library at http://sdl.sdb.org
Selamat Datang Don Bosco - welcome
JAKARTA: 11 March 2011 -- As readers will have realised, the Don Bosco Relics are, perhaps for the first time along this lengthy five year pilgrimage, in two places at the one time! Naturally both items - the Casket and the Statue, contain a distinguished ('insignis') relic. So while the Statue is at St Joseph's College in Melbourne, right at the moment, and we are awaiting further news and hopefully some photos for ANS, in the interests of 'even-handedness', all puns aside, here is a report from Jakarta on events surrounding the Casket there.
On arrival at Jakarta's international airport on 7 March, the Casket was brought to a special place in the airport where a short Bible Service and Welcome Ceremony was held, with the Provincial Delegate, Fr. Yohanes Boedihararjo Soerjonoto officiating at the Rite. After the simple but touching welcome, the relic was put on top of a beautifully decorated, special vehicle and was brought, slowly winding through the streets of Jakarta, accompanied by a convoy of several cars, to the Postnovitiate in Sunter. It was well past midnight, already the 8th of March, when the procession reached the house, seemingly on tip-toes, not wanting to disturb the people of the city who were already sleeping. But once the Casket was taken down, a lively chorus of “Giu dai Colli” by the Prenovices, Novices, SDB confreres, Salesian Sisters,on which were written the words “Selamat Datang, Don Bosco! Welcome Don Bosco! Welcome to your home!” The Casket was then placed in the Postnovitiate Chapel, after which the Acting-Rector said a prayer of welcome, and the Community recited Compline. After the prayers, in the silence of the night, several preferred to stay awake for a much longer time accompanying Don Bosco and contemplating in his presence.
In the morning, almost all Salesians from all the Houses in Indonesia and the Novices from Sumba gathered in Postnovitiate Chapel for their recollection, preached by the pioneer of DB’s work in the country, Fr. Jose Carbonell, who spoke about the personality of Don Bosco symbolized by his right hand which he used to bless people, write letters, ask for funds for his manifold works of charity, teach his boys skills in the shops, crack chestnuts, shake the hands of his benefactors, etc. In the afternoon, Salesian Family groups in Indonesia also made their recollection with the Provincial Delegate preaching. This was followed by the Mass at which Fr. Carbonell presided, and the representative of the Apostolic Nuncio, Mgr. Joseph Forro, concelebrated. The latter stressed, in his few words before the final blessing, how the spirit of St. John Bosco is much needed in today’s world as it was in his time. More than a hundred years after his death, “he continues to invite us – both lay and religious – to be educators in the faith at every opportunity.We are invited by him to walk side by side with the young so as to lead them to the Lord Jesus, and “to discover in Him and His Good News the deepest meaning of their existence, and thus grow into new men.”
Following the Salesian Family Mass, the glass Casket bearing Don Bosco’s relic was again put on top of the special vehicle, and transported to the only parish church in Jakarta bearing his name. There the parishioners with their Pastor, Fr. Petrus Pehan Tukan, welcomed him with great solemnity, amidst fireworks, sacred songs and the pealing of bells. After a short Welcome Service the Casket was put near the altar for everybody to behold. The last activity of the day was the vigil organized by some of the young Salesians from the Postnovitiate and attended by the people of the 8 villages under the parish.
_________________
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 . RSS feeds - just go to Bosconet, click on austraLasia 2011 in the sidebar. You will see the RSS orange icon in your browser address bar - add it from there. Or be interactive with the EAO blog Cetera Tolle. Avail yourself of the Salesian Digital Library at http://sdl.sdb.org
