austraLasia #3303
CIN and ITM/Indonesia: 23 October 2013 -- The Beatification of Stephen Sandor, Salesian Brohter and now declared a Martyr for the Faith, was celebrated in Budapest Cathedral in Hungary on 19 October. There may well have been celebrations to honour this event in other parts of the region, and in a very recent letter to regionals, the Rector Major has epxressed the wish that there be something along these lines - he is particularly happy with what has occurred in China Province which has a certain 'fellow-feeling' with the circumstances of Blessed Stephen Sandor's road to the altar. He will be equally pleased, no doubt, with what has happened in the Delegation of Indonesia.
China Province decided to organise a series of contemporary events in Hong Kong, Macau, Taipei and Tainan at about the same time that the Beatification was taking place in Budapest. It went something along these lines:
In all four places there was a presentation of the life of Brother Sandor by a Salesian Brother, or more than one, who was well-prepared for this. The Salesian Family was invited, there were opportunities to share, and then a Mass of thanksgiving was celebrated. The pan-province aspect of it was coordinated by the vice province Fr Andrew Fung.
Hong Kong: the event took pace at St Anthony's, and Cardinal Zen was the main celebrant of the Thanksgiving mass.
Macau: the bishop of Macau José Lai was the main celebrant at Yuet Wah College.
Taipei: St John Bosco's Parish - emeritus Bishop and Salesian Cooperator Joseph Ti Kang.
Tainan: Mary Help of Christians Parish, where the Provincial, Fr Lanfranco Fedrigotti was main celebrant.
In HK Cardinal zen drew an analogy between Blessed Sandor and the Salesian Priests and Brothers in Mainland China who were put in jail for long years last century. "We should treasure the liberty we still enjoy, thank God for our precious faith , and ask the saints in heaven, like Blessed Sandor, to help us imitate their example, to become light and salt to the world", he reminded his listeners.
We have also become aware that the Taiwan Church has begun moves towards the beatification of many priests, religious and laity who spent years in Communist prisons and died for their faith - this group includes Salesians. More about that when there is news to hand.
In Indonesia, instead, the main event was at the newly opened community for Brothers' Formation in Serpong, West Java (think Jakarta if you need a reference point, though it is very much on the outskirts of that huge and sprawling city). There are 11 confreres there, 9 Brothers working on their qualifications at the Serpong Technical Institute, and 2 priests. They decided to link World Mission Sunday and the Beatification of our Salesian Martyr, following the lead presented in austraLasia on 18 October, which gave a link to the report on the Church in Need. That Report named Indonesia as one of the countries of concern for potential persecution of the Faith (in certain areas especially). The community "prayed for Christians who have to suffer for their faith in many mission lands "with a heavy cross on their shoulders" - missionaries and people alike!
If there are other celebrations that have taken place or which are planned in coming weeks, austraLasia would like to know and have the opportunity to report on them.
CIN and ITM/Indonesia: 23 October 2013 -- The Beatification of Stephen Sandor, Salesian Brohter and now declared a Martyr for the Faith, was celebrated in Budapest Cathedral in Hungary on 19 October. There may well have been celebrations to honour this event in other parts of the region, and in a very recent letter to regionals, the Rector Major has epxressed the wish that there be something along these lines - he is particularly happy with what has occurred in China Province which has a certain 'fellow-feeling' with the circumstances of Blessed Stephen Sandor's road to the altar. He will be equally pleased, no doubt, with what has happened in the Delegation of Indonesia.
China Province decided to organise a series of contemporary events in Hong Kong, Macau, Taipei and Tainan at about the same time that the Beatification was taking place in Budapest. It went something along these lines:
In all four places there was a presentation of the life of Brother Sandor by a Salesian Brother, or more than one, who was well-prepared for this. The Salesian Family was invited, there were opportunities to share, and then a Mass of thanksgiving was celebrated. The pan-province aspect of it was coordinated by the vice province Fr Andrew Fung.
Hong Kong: the event took pace at St Anthony's, and Cardinal Zen was the main celebrant of the Thanksgiving mass.
Macau: the bishop of Macau José Lai was the main celebrant at Yuet Wah College.
Taipei: St John Bosco's Parish - emeritus Bishop and Salesian Cooperator Joseph Ti Kang.
Tainan: Mary Help of Christians Parish, where the Provincial, Fr Lanfranco Fedrigotti was main celebrant.
In HK Cardinal zen drew an analogy between Blessed Sandor and the Salesian Priests and Brothers in Mainland China who were put in jail for long years last century. "We should treasure the liberty we still enjoy, thank God for our precious faith , and ask the saints in heaven, like Blessed Sandor, to help us imitate their example, to become light and salt to the world", he reminded his listeners.
We have also become aware that the Taiwan Church has begun moves towards the beatification of many priests, religious and laity who spent years in Communist prisons and died for their faith - this group includes Salesians. More about that when there is news to hand.
In Indonesia, instead, the main event was at the newly opened community for Brothers' Formation in Serpong, West Java (think Jakarta if you need a reference point, though it is very much on the outskirts of that huge and sprawling city). There are 11 confreres there, 9 Brothers working on their qualifications at the Serpong Technical Institute, and 2 priests. They decided to link World Mission Sunday and the Beatification of our Salesian Martyr, following the lead presented in austraLasia on 18 October, which gave a link to the report on the Church in Need. That Report named Indonesia as one of the countries of concern for potential persecution of the Faith (in certain areas especially). The community "prayed for Christians who have to suffer for their faith in many mission lands "with a heavy cross on their shoulders" - missionaries and people alike!
If there are other celebrations that have taken place or which are planned in coming weeks, austraLasia would like to know and have the opportunity to report on them.
