530 Sisters welcomed in Honiara

#530

Salesian sisters welcomed in Honiara

 - Fr. Ambrose Pereira sdb

Honiara: March 2nd -- At the invitation of Fr. Luciano Capelli, Rector of the Salesians of Don Bosco, in Solomon Islands, Sr. Ciri Hernandez fma, Councillor for the Missions of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, commonly called Salesian sisters, accompanied by Sr. Mercedes Alvarez fma, her secretary, visited Solomon Islands on 24th February, 2002.  Several girls who are at the moment on a 5 week ‘Kindy Course’ gave them a custom welcome at Henderson airport.  The sisters will spend the next few days looking at possibilities and visiting the different educational institutions and villages to get a first hand understanding of the situation and life of the people here.

 Their first visit on 24th February, was to Christ the King parish, Tetere, where the Don Bosco Fathers and Brothers run the Catholic parish.  Present on the occasion was the Premier of Guadalcanal, Honorable Ezekiel Alebua, who expressed his thanks and joy at the visit of the sisters and hopes that they may be inspired by the spirit to care for the education and health of the people.

 

At a simple opening for the new students of form one, on 25th February, 2002, Sr. Ciri Hernandez fma, commented on the spirit of joy for any young man or woman, attending a salesian school, and if there is something wrong they are able to fix it quickly.   “Sanctity”, she stated, “is always being cheerful as was Dominic Savio, who was raised to the altar of sanctity at the very young age of 15 years”.  She highlighted the fact that young people are capable of understanding the plan of God for them.  They must make this plan come true with great responsibility and together with their teachers they discover their talents and gifts.  They in turn must share their gifts with others in their families.  The young know how to change society and they can do it by becoming ‘Good Christians and Honest citizens’.

 

22 students have commenced their three-year Training  programme at the school and join their older brothers of Technical programme in the first and second year.  Several older men have opted for an intensive training programme to commence in June 2002.