austraLasia #3174
Two little steps by China Province into the Digital Continent
HONG KONG/TAIPEI: 23 December 2012 -- On Saturday, 22 December, China Province confreres took a little second step into the world of digital long-distance communications. The occasion was an Open Forum in preparation for PC13 (Provincial Chapter 2013) and GC27 (27th General Chapter 2014). The Hong Kong Salesians and the Taiwan Salesians gathered separately in two different locations distant from each other 1,500 kilometres The Hong Kong Salesians gathered in Salesian Missionary House, Shau Kei Wan. The Taiwan Salesians gathered in St. John Bosco Parish, Taipei. Notwithstanding the long distance, thanks to the Skype linkage, the two groups could communicate instantly and intensely, looking at one another and listening to one another.
Being the first experience of this kind, some technical problems were to be expected. Twice, interference between WF and landline connections interrupted the distance communication. But these interruptions turned out to be boons, the first giving time to print reference material needed for the exchange of views, the second allowing for an unplanned, but welcome, tea-break.
The participants were all thrilled by the distance-conquering experience. They are grateful to the organizer of this first-ever event, the Vice-Provincial Fr. Andrew Fung Ting Wa, and to his technical support, Fr. Antonio Leung Wai Choi and Sc. Carlos Cheung Sam Ioi in Hong Kong, and Fr. Andrew Edgar Carbon in Taipei.
They are grateful also, and in the first place, to Salesian Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze Kiun, Bishop Emeritus of Hong Kong, whose generosity and catechetical-pastoral zeal has made a viable Skype link between Shau Kei Wan and Taipei possible.
The story of this possibility is also worth telling in some detail. More than half a year ago, thinking about the beginning of the Year of Faith on 11 October and in response to the Holy Father’s suggestions in Porta fidei, the retired (imagine!) Cardinal began planning a Province-wide and year-long catechetical course on the Catechism of the Catholic Church. The SalesianCooperator from the China Province offered their whole hearted cooperation. Salesian Missionary House in Shau Kei Wan offered the necessary logistical support for the lessons held every Wednesday evening in the Seminary hall from 07:00 p.m. to 09:00 p.m., concluding with half an hour adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in the Seminary chapel.
The subscriptions to the course surpassed all expectations. To satisfy everybody, Cardinal Zen and the Cooperators, with the kind assistance of the staff of the Diocesan Audio-visual Centre, began thinking of a Skype link with other locations in Hong Kong and Macau. When the course opened at the beginning of September this year, about 100 places were made available in Salesian Missionary House and 80 more, through Skype link, in St. James’ Parish in Yau Tong (Kowloon) and in Instituto Salesiano (Macau).
To improve the reception in these two other locations, the Cardinal, at considerable expense, arranged for an upgrading of the signal-transmitting from Shau Kei Wan. That is why also our Open Forum today could be held with very satisfactory audio-visual effects. Of course, digital technology is neither omnipotent nor omniscient. Technical mishaps have also touched, but not marred, the Cardinal’s catechetical course. The Cardinal made up for the missed lessons by going in person the following day to give again the same lesson, once in Yau Tong and twice in Macau. Long-live this kind of Salesian retirement!
Two little steps by China Province into the Digital Continent
Being the first experience of this kind, some technical problems were to be expected. Twice, interference between WF and landline connections interrupted the distance communication. But these interruptions turned out to be boons, the first giving time to print reference material needed for the exchange of views, the second allowing for an unplanned, but welcome, tea-break.
The participants were all thrilled by the distance-conquering experience. They are grateful to the organizer of this first-ever event, the Vice-Provincial Fr. Andrew Fung Ting Wa, and to his technical support, Fr. Antonio Leung Wai Choi and Sc. Carlos Cheung Sam Ioi in Hong Kong, and Fr. Andrew Edgar Carbon in Taipei.
They are grateful also, and in the first place, to Salesian Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze Kiun, Bishop Emeritus of Hong Kong, whose generosity and catechetical-pastoral zeal has made a viable Skype link between Shau Kei Wan and Taipei possible.
The story of this possibility is also worth telling in some detail. More than half a year ago, thinking about the beginning of the Year of Faith on 11 October and in response to the Holy Father’s suggestions in Porta fidei, the retired (imagine!) Cardinal began planning a Province-wide and year-long catechetical course on the Catechism of the Catholic Church. The SalesianCooperator from the China Province offered their whole hearted cooperation. Salesian Missionary House in Shau Kei Wan offered the necessary logistical support for the lessons held every Wednesday evening in the Seminary hall from 07:00 p.m. to 09:00 p.m., concluding with half an hour adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in the Seminary chapel.
The subscriptions to the course surpassed all expectations. To satisfy everybody, Cardinal Zen and the Cooperators, with the kind assistance of the staff of the Diocesan Audio-visual Centre, began thinking of a Skype link with other locations in Hong Kong and Macau. When the course opened at the beginning of September this year, about 100 places were made available in Salesian Missionary House and 80 more, through Skype link, in St. James’ Parish in Yau Tong (Kowloon) and in Instituto Salesiano (Macau).
To improve the reception in these two other locations, the Cardinal, at considerable expense, arranged for an upgrading of the signal-transmitting from Shau Kei Wan. That is why also our Open Forum today could be held with very satisfactory audio-visual effects. Of course, digital technology is neither omnipotent nor omniscient. Technical mishaps have also touched, but not marred, the Cardinal’s catechetical course. The Cardinal made up for the missed lessons by going in person the following day to give again the same lesson, once in Yau Tong and twice in Macau. Long-live this kind of Salesian retirement!
