By SocCom correspondence

Lawaan, Cebu, The Philippines, 25 October 2023 -- Five Salesian provinces from the East Asia-Oceania Region joined the Curatorium meeting on October 24, 2023, in Don Bosco Retreat House, Lawaan, Talisay City, Cebu, to discuss the Pre-novitiate and Novitiate formation programs of Don Bosco Formation Center-Lawaan, which is the initial formation house of the entire EAO Region.

The meeting was facilitated by Fr. Fidel Orendain, SDB, Provincial Superior of the FIS, and was attended by the EAO Regional Curatorium President, Fr. Joseph Phuoc Nguyen, SDB. Other attendees were: Fr. Gerardo Martin, SDB, FIN Provincial Superior; Fr. Adrian Mendoza, SDB, FIS Formation Commission delegate and pre-novitiate director; Fr. Roneldo Vilbar, SDB, novice director; Fr. Adriano Satura, SDB, FIS provincial economer; Fr. Rhine Marco Bollozos, SDB, FIS formation team member; Fr. Eligio Cruz, SDB, FIN post-novitiate rector; Fr. Jake Adrian Lopez, SDB, FIN Formation Commission delegate; Rev. Paul Dunca, SDB, DBC Philosophy head; Fr. Anthony Nguyen, SDB, EAO formation coordinator; Fr. Leo Neng Khan Mang, SDB, Myanmar delegate; Fr. Gregorio Bicomong, SDB, PGS Provincial Superior; Fr. Eugene Xalxo, SDB, Thailand-Cambodia delegate; and Bro. John Dominic Coral, SDB, curatorium secretary.

The Curatorium is a regular meeting of formation stakeholders that discusses the formation of Salesian candidates in regional formation houses. Four resolutions were achieved:

• Reporting on the status of the pre-novitiate and novitiate in DBFC; the post novitiate in DB Canlubang;
• Information on the integration of the pre-novitiate centers of FIN and FIS; agreements in preparing the candidates to be sent;
• Reports and proposals for improving the Philosophy courses in DB Canlubang and preparation of formators and professors;
• Contributions and commitments of the member curatorium in these formation centers.

These developments aim to further improve the Salesian initial formation for candidates by streamlining the curriculum of studies and strengthening the coordination between formation houses in the region.

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