Jakarta, Indonesia, 19 September 2019 -- During two days and one night of this month (17-19/09/2019), the Economer General of our Congregation, Brother Jean Paul Müller SDB was in the vice-Province of Indonesia (INA). He arrived in Jakarta, the capital of the country that is also the seat of the INA Vice-Province, on 17 September evening.
A welcoming ceremony was offered to him with a speech from the Rector of the Provincial community, Fr Noel Villafuerte SDB, welcome songs by the Post Novitiate Community, then local-traditional clothing items were put on him.
According to him, this was his second time coming to this country. He already came for the first time about more than twenty years ago when he was much younger and still worked in a Salesian mission procure office. The purpose of his visit to INA this time is in relation to his responsibility of animation of the Salesian provinces worldwide.
Especially to INA vice-Province, this animation is something very significant in the sense that it gives encouragement and accompaniment with regards to the economy and financial sectors of this newly erected Salesian Vice-Province in the EAO region. Since the time for this visit was short, Brother Müller spent much of his time in the Provincial House involved in the activities that were already scheduled for him.
The whole of Wednesday (18/09) he completed his job of animation. From morning until lunch time he met with the Provincial and the Provincial Economer. Around mid-afternoon, he took the opportunity to meet the local economers who have been doing their formation for the whole week (16-21 September). On this occasion, the Economer General inspired his listeners with an address on how the management of money and goods in our local communities is to be done in the light of our Salesian spirituality.
After evening prayers and before supper time, Brother Müller had an opportunity to give a confrerence to the post novices. He enlightened them regarding the major challenges of the SDB Congregation as one of the largest male congregations in the Church. One of those challenges is our true witness as apostles for today's youth. There are many problems and the Congregation should face them, the Salesians also offer much hope. The youth place their hope and trust in the Salesians.
As a general impression, the confreres say that Brother Müller’s keen spirituality ensures that all of his talks on the economy and especially money are never separated from Salesian spirituality. He said on one of those occasions that a spiritual person will do better in the management of the material and physical things.
On Thursday (19/09) after Morning prayer and breakfast, Brother Müller said goodbye to the Salesians of Indonesia. Unfortunately he could not visit all the presences in Indonesia. He visited the community at Tigaraksa, where there is the novitiate, and had lunch here, before proceeding to the airport and flying back to Rome.
