austraLasia #3319
EAO Meetings in Melbourne
MELBOURNE: 23 November 2013 -- The first question visitors ask when arriving in Australia is whether they will see a kangaroo, or perhpas even a koala. At least that was the question on the lips of many Provincials or Superiors of Vice Provinces and Delegations, and Formation Delegates as they arrived in Melbourne over the past week.
They were not to be disappointed. While kangaroos are not a regular sight in Melbourne's busy metropolis (thankfully!), they are natural inhabitants of open spaces around the city, and are very much at home - at a respectful distance - at Lysterfield, the Salesian Retreat Centre, usually towards evening, grazing in the peaceful valley. Koalas? Always possible too, but one needs time and good eyesight to work out the koala from the camouflage of thier natural habitat, the 'gum tree'.
The symbol of the 'roo and her joey would not have been lost on the 32 people taking part in the first meeting (and pretty much a similar number for the second) at Lysterfield. Fr Cereda, Councillor for Formation, and Fr Andrew Wong, Regional Councillor for EAO joined Provincials, Superiors of Vice Provinces, Delegates (in the case of PNG/SI and Indonesia), and the Formation Delegate for each circumscription, to focus on the question of formation. The meeting welcomed Archbishop Timothy Costelloe sdb from Perth, Western Australia, on Friday 22 November. He celebrated Mass for the group. Archbishop Tim is staying on for the ordinations (see below) and will return to Perth on Sunday.
The Provincials' meeting concludes today, Saturday 23 November. Most will stay on for the ordination of Deacons Peter Wathana (John) Seesawan sdb and Francis Xavier Ronachai Mathavabhandhu sdb by Archbishop Timothy Costelloe (Perth) sdb on Saturday evening 23 November at St John the Baptist's Church Clifton Hill. John and Ronnie, both from the Thai Province, have been resident at the Salesian Centre at Clifton Hill, which welcomes Salesian students from various parts of EAO. They attend Catholic Theological College, nearby.
The following week will see a second meeting, this time of EAO Formation team members. Fr Chrys Saldanha from Rome will be guiding proceedings for this.
EAO Meetings in Melbourne
MELBOURNE: 23 November 2013 -- The first question visitors ask when arriving in Australia is whether they will see a kangaroo, or perhpas even a koala. At least that was the question on the lips of many Provincials or Superiors of Vice Provinces and Delegations, and Formation Delegates as they arrived in Melbourne over the past week.
They were not to be disappointed. While kangaroos are not a regular sight in Melbourne's busy metropolis (thankfully!), they are natural inhabitants of open spaces around the city, and are very much at home - at a respectful distance - at Lysterfield, the Salesian Retreat Centre, usually towards evening, grazing in the peaceful valley. Koalas? Always possible too, but one needs time and good eyesight to work out the koala from the camouflage of thier natural habitat, the 'gum tree'.
The symbol of the 'roo and her joey would not have been lost on the 32 people taking part in the first meeting (and pretty much a similar number for the second) at Lysterfield. Fr Cereda, Councillor for Formation, and Fr Andrew Wong, Regional Councillor for EAO joined Provincials, Superiors of Vice Provinces, Delegates (in the case of PNG/SI and Indonesia), and the Formation Delegate for each circumscription, to focus on the question of formation. The meeting welcomed Archbishop Timothy Costelloe sdb from Perth, Western Australia, on Friday 22 November. He celebrated Mass for the group. Archbishop Tim is staying on for the ordinations (see below) and will return to Perth on Sunday.
The Provincials' meeting concludes today, Saturday 23 November. Most will stay on for the ordination of Deacons Peter Wathana (John) Seesawan sdb and Francis Xavier Ronachai Mathavabhandhu sdb by Archbishop Timothy Costelloe (Perth) sdb on Saturday evening 23 November at St John the Baptist's Church Clifton Hill. John and Ronnie, both from the Thai Province, have been resident at the Salesian Centre at Clifton Hill, which welcomes Salesian students from various parts of EAO. They attend Catholic Theological College, nearby.
The following week will see a second meeting, this time of EAO Formation team members. Fr Chrys Saldanha from Rome will be guiding proceedings for this.
