By Bro. Ephrem Santos, SDB

Rome-Turin, Italy – During last week (October 3-9) was celebrated the Fifth Statutory Assembly of the World Confederation of Past Pupils of Don Bosco (DBPP), including the election of the new president and the Council that will lead the activities of this important group of the Salesian Family. The Rector Major of the Salesians, Fr Ángel Fernández Artime, 265 delegates from 30 Federations of the DBPP Association including 49 delegates from the EAO countries were among those present.

The new President of the Past Pupils is Michal Hort, of Slovak nationality. Born on 12 October 1977, he is married to Martina Hortová, with whom he has two children, Teresa and Filip aged respectively four and three. He attended the Salesian High School of Šaštín (1995) and did his studies in Political Science and International Relations at the University of Bologna (1996-2001). He later studied international economic relations at the University of Economics in Bratislava (2001-2006).

As a Don Bosco past pupil he held various positions: Vice-President of the Association of Past Pupils in Slovakia; Promoter of the "Business Platform" of the Past Pupils; and Member of the Executive Committee of the Association of Slovakian Past Pupils for international relations. He was elected among 13 candidates from four continents.

In the opening address, the new President praised the work done by his predecessor, Dr Francesco Muceo, and those who served with him in the Council. He also stressed the importance of working together as a Confederation. For the AustraLasia news readers Mr. Hort shared his emotions at the beginning of his 6 years term:

"Thanks be to God and thanks for your prayers! It’s a completely new feeling to serve at the world level. I have experienced in the Congress a strong guidance from God. I understand this task that Don Bosco has a special plan with me and I would like to be his tool”

The following were also elected: Edoardo Cavalcante Pessoa (Brazil) and Fresia Mendez Mora (Costa Rica) for GEX - Young past pupils - for America; Rajesh Gupta (India) for Asia; Fernando Arce Núñez and Ángel Gudiña (both of Spain) for GEX Europe. Dony Sapienza (Italy) was chosen as Secretary and Bryan Magro (Malta) as Bursar.

There were three items on the agenda of this Congress: the election of the World Presidency for the period 2015-2021; the study and final approval of the Statute of the World Confederation; and the reports of more than twenty-five federations from different parts of the world.

In his thought for the Goodnight, the Rector Major emphasized the role that the Salesian Past Pupils are called to play. He highlighted two basic expressions for the Salesian Family and for the past pupils in particular: "No complaining" and then "Communion, Communion, Communion"! He also stressed that "today the world puts us in a privileged position to work and develop our mission among young people and society."

The Fifth Assembly of the World Confederation of Past Pupils of Don Bosco ended in Rome on October 6 and some of the Past Pupils who attended remained in Italy for a pilgrimage to the Salesian places in Piedmont: Valdocco, Chieri and Colle Don Bosco, until October 9.

From the EAO province this time there was a good presence of the SDB Delegates to the Past Pupils:

Fr. Louis Ponchit (THA), Fr. Rui Gomez+5 SDB (ITM – Timor Leste), Fr. Suzuki Masao (GIA) and Fr. Mathew Chan (CIN).

Total of 49 EAO participants in the 5th World Confederation assembly came from:

• China - Hong Kong – Macau (Mr. Joseph Law Sek Hung+1),


• Cambodia (Mr. Cheam Sovanna+1),


• Japan (Mr. Teteishi Mitsuhiro+3),


• Thailand (Mr. Francis Wichai Srisura+3),


• Timor Leste (Mr Agostino dos Santos+20),


• Vietnam (Mr. Nguyen Thi Diem + 6).