austraLasia #3113
An oath of faith and holiness
HONG KONG: 11 August 2012 -- The confreres of the China Province, coming from Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, gathered in the chapel of Salesian House of Studies to show their support and to pray before the Eucharist for their outgoing Provincial, Fr Simon Lam and their new Provincial, F. Lanfranco Fedrigotti. The surname Fedrigotti is certainly not unfamiliar to Salesians worldwide. Fr Fei (the Chinese surname of Fr. Fedrigotti) is the 14th Provincial of the China Province. He arrived in China 46 years ago. He indeed qualifies being called Chinese.
It was emphasized in the addresses given both by Fr Lam and Fr Fei that we Salesians are called to holiness. “With the two pillars of the Eucharist and Mary Help of Christian, confreres, joining hands with lay collaborators and the young, grow together towards holiness.” Fr Fei would like to continue the pathway of holiness that has been laid down by Fr Lam. Like Fr Lam, Fr. Fei encouraged every confrere to be a true believer in the Eucharist and Mary Help of Christians. Fr Fei quoted the example of St. Clare. When her monastery was under the thread of being invaded by the Saracens, Jesus promised her in the Eucharist, “Ego vos semper custodian (I will always protect you).” Together with the daily practice of short prayers, we might be united with God and that would urge us to be with the young in the mission.
In humorous tone, Fr Fei shared that he accepted the provincialship with faith, and what’s more, the confreres had to accept him as the Provincial with even greater faith. “I have faith. Help my lack of faith!” (Mark: 9:24) Fr Fei, inviting everybody to do similarly, asked the intercession of Fr Charles Braga who had been the Provincial of China Province for 22 years. He hoped to imitate Fr Braga’s fatherly love. It was an interesting co-incidence that Fr Braga ended his term as Provincial at the age of 63; whilst, for Fr Fei, he has just began to be Provincial at that age.
An oath of faith and holiness
It was emphasized in the addresses given both by Fr Lam and Fr Fei that we Salesians are called to holiness. “With the two pillars of the Eucharist and Mary Help of Christian, confreres, joining hands with lay collaborators and the young, grow together towards holiness.” Fr Fei would like to continue the pathway of holiness that has been laid down by Fr Lam. Like Fr Lam, Fr. Fei encouraged every confrere to be a true believer in the Eucharist and Mary Help of Christians. Fr Fei quoted the example of St. Clare. When her monastery was under the thread of being invaded by the Saracens, Jesus promised her in the Eucharist, “Ego vos semper custodian (I will always protect you).” Together with the daily practice of short prayers, we might be united with God and that would urge us to be with the young in the mission.
In humorous tone, Fr Fei shared that he accepted the provincialship with faith, and what’s more, the confreres had to accept him as the Provincial with even greater faith. “I have faith. Help my lack of faith!” (Mark: 9:24) Fr Fei, inviting everybody to do similarly, asked the intercession of Fr Charles Braga who had been the Provincial of China Province for 22 years. He hoped to imitate Fr Braga’s fatherly love. It was an interesting co-incidence that Fr Braga ended his term as Provincial at the age of 63; whilst, for Fr Fei, he has just began to be Provincial at that age.
