Ascot Vale, Melbourne, Australia, 2 April 2023 -- The Centenary Year (1923-2023) of the Salesians in Australia is full of meaningful events of gratitude, awareness and launching the charismatic future. The Salesians arrived in Australia, Fremantle (West Australia) on Friday, 30th March 1926 to work in education with the indigenous people in the Kimberley region (north-western area of Australia).

       The first celebration in the Centenary year was the blessing of the Monument to Benefactors on 24 January 2023 in the Mother House (Sunbury, Melbourne).Then followed the ordination of five Australia-Pacific Salesian priests in Melbourne.

       During March an Autumn 'Centenary' edition of the Salesian Bulletin was published with an overview of the past 100 years of Don Bosco's charism history since the landing of the first missionaries with Bishop Coppo in Kimberley in 1923.

       On 30 March - the actual Centenary day - a large number of Salesians gathered at the provincial house in Ascot Vale (Melbourne) for a thanksgiving Eucharist for the graces received since 1923 in Australia and the Pacific (Samoa, Fiji and New Zealand). The Eucharist and fraternal celebration photos witness to their grateful heart.

       Among the Centenary events scheduled throughout the year, the animation visit by the 10th successor of Don Bosco, Fr Angel F. Artime will stand out, fronm 22-28 April. It will involve all Salesian houses and works in Melbourne area (Sunbury, Ascot Vale, Chadston, Clifton Hill and Ferntree Gully with Lysterfield), but also in Sydney (the very large Salesian complex at Engadine: Boys Town, schools, the Parish, youth centre...) filled with meetings and celebrations with the SDBs, Salesian Family, lay mission partners and Salesian youth.

       The Autumn 2023 (March) issue of the Australia-Pacific Salesian Bulletin offers a range of important moments from 1923 until now, a presentation of the 'Don Bosco in Australia and the Pacific 1923-2023' publication by Fr. Francis J. Moloney, SDB. Fr Frank states in his book: 'Over the past 100 years several hundred Salesians have worked in Australia and the Pacific. Each one deserves to be 'remembered' by name.

       Further celebrations during the 2023 as follow:

• July - September: Pilgrimage tour of the relic of Don Bosco in the province
• August 11-12: AUL province Salesian Principals Association (APSPA) Centenary Salesian Education Conference
• September 24-30: Salesian Province Retreat preached by Fr. Chris Ford
• September 30: Salesian Family Day and closing of the Centenary celebrations

       While we congratulate the Australia - Pacific province of Mary Help of Christians on this occasion, we pray that this Year of Grace may bring many concrete charismatic growth for the Salesian Family in all 4 countries of this province.

• Resources: Centenary Salesian Bulletin - Autumn 2023 (Australia-Pacific)
• Related news article: AustraLasia 5936 (III) Australia Centenary celebrations with 5 newly ordained Salesian priests

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