By Editorial board
Ko Samui, Thailand - The translation is vital to the growth of the Salesian Charism, especially in our Region of East Asia and Oceania. Again it was confirmed by new breaking news from Thailand. Indeed after four months of patient and hard work the Salesian Youth Ministry Framework (La Pastorale Giovanile Salesiana, Quadro di Riferimento, Roma 2014 - 3rd edizione) was published in Thai language and its digital version reached the General Councilor for the Youth Ministry. Hopefully it will be soon uploaded also on the official YM sector website with the other seven languages. (http://donboscosym.org). History goes back to last November 2014, when during the EAO annual Youth Ministry delegates meeting in Lysterfield, Australia, the Thai delegation of three young confreres pledged to make ever first full translation of this 3rd edition of the Youth Ministry Framework as soon as possible. We wish that many of our youth animators, lay mission partners in our schools, parishes and youth centers in Thailand – Laos – Cambodia province will benefit from this effort!
The translator of the YM Framework, Fr. Michael Adulkasem, parish priest of Ko Samui in the Suratthani diocese does share his feeling: "Thanks, for confirmation of my effort. Indeed it took me quite an effort to translate this book into Thai. I did it alone. My difficulty was when I have to refer to Italian reference. I do not know Italian language, I have studied in the Philippines. In the future if I would like to be of any help to the Congregation in translating some other material. I am ready for this service." Indeed you need lot of skills, passion and patience to translate the whole 314 pages book into an Eastern Asian language.
One year after the Vietnam, K’Long EAO translators first historical meeting we can see some fruits in many provinces. There is growing awareness about the translation as ministry, vocation that needs a specific spirituality. Among the most important steps at the provincial level, the EAO translators asked to ‘work out a Salesian Term Glossary with the Salesian Family for each EAO language’ (from the Follow up letter, EAO-013 from 12th October 2014).
Indeed also the Salesian Youth Ministry Framework contains its own Glossary [p.310-314]. On the other hand the China province Salesian Cooperators together with their SDB and FMA delegates when finalizing the translation of the new edition of the ‘Project of Apostolic Life’ (ed.2014) also felt a strong need of the Salesian Cooperators Glossary. On the Boscolink are available some similar fruits (CIN, KOR, THA, VIE province) in the Free Board – Resources corner (https://www.bosco.link/index.php?document_srl=4254&mid=resource). With the constant drive of the Rector Major to make sure ordinary communications to the confreres (Dear confreres – quarterly video clip greetings - in all possible languages, we can feel that Fr. Mike will find many other followers in this sacred ministry of translation, make speak Don Bosco in all of our East Asia – Oceania languages.
