2566 Happy New Year
austraLasia #2566
 

'Tell the story of Jesus' - an appropriate New Year's Greeting!

ROME and elsewhere: 1st January 2010 -- In one half of the world it is already 2010 while the other half is in the throes of the changeover!  This seems like an appropriate moment, then to wish readers a Happy New Year.  austraLasia has been silent for the week between Christmas and New Year - not for lack of news, nor for lack of willingness, but while some of the world is able to enjoy holidays, too many things just happened to fall on a certain plate at this time of the year, and like the Christmas and New Year repasts, it all gets somewhat indigestible after a while!  Make of that what you will!
    The Strenna presentation on 31st, a traditional event in the Congregation that has received its own particular twist under the current Rector Major, was mainly taken up by the video of this year's Strenna. (The commentary, which many have been asking for, is now available on sdb.org, by the way, in seven languages).  The message of the Strenna recalls the Emmaus event and the importance of telling the story of Jesus (a theme already well explored in the Asian context now for several years) and 'bringing the Gospel to the young'.  Hopefully the video has reached all corners of our Region by now.  It is a particularly good one.  In fact, over the recent years, much of the work of preparing this media presentation has gone to Fr Donato Lacedonio, whom many would know as the director of ANS.  His skills and heart lie particularly in the film medium and this year's Video is an example of what can be achieved under his direction.
    The same theme was taken up at Christmas time in Cambodia under the heading of 'Tell the Story of Jesus in three days!'.
as our correspondent puts it:
    "R.I.C.E. (or Rich In Christ’s Experience) was the theme of the renewal and inspiration of the “little flock” of the newly-established parish in Phnom Penh City, Cambodia. It was, then, an opportune moment to launch the strategy of “tell the story of Jesus” during the Christmas celebration 2009. Through the drama “the greatest story ever told” we shared and unfolded the joy and the enthusiasm of the birth of Jesus as narrated by St. Luke,  contemplated and portrayed in Cambodian language, songs, music, dances,  symbols and cultural mixtures to the audience of Don Bosco Phnom Penh whose cast was mainly composed of non-Christian children and youth. To deepen the awareness that Jesus was born also for the Cambodian people, Fr. Leo Ochoa, Rector of Don Bosco introduced the message during his homily of the Christmas Eve (24th December) celebration for the Salesian Family audience with a focus on the celebration of the history of salvation. Fr. Cef Ledesma continued to focus on the babe as the cause of blessings and joy for the hearers on Christmas Day Solemnity (25th December) with the teachers and students challenging them to be renewed and inspired to become bearers of joy and be blessings to their family and compatriots. Fr. Roel Soto animated the whole evening of joyful celebration (26th December) in music, sports, games, bazaars and lotteries to the public. YAsia Fiesta Fever invaded the celebration with their typically animating action songs. Culture dances and songs were also there with their youthful body language movements to conclude the joyous and memorable celebration of Christmas 2009".
    That was Christmas 2009.  Now it is the New Year of 2010. Happy New Year to all!
  _________________
 AustraLasia is an email service for the Salesian Family of Asia Pacific.  It also functions as an agency for ANS based in Rome.  For queries please contact admin@bosconet.aust.com . Use Bosconet-wiki to be interactive. RSS feeds - just go to Bosconet, click on austraLasia 2009 in the sidebar. You will see the RSS orange icon in your browser address bar - add it from there.  Or be interactive with the EAO blog Cetera Tolle. Avail yourself of the Salesian Digital Library at http://sdl.sdb.org


Title: australasia 2566
Subject and key words: SDB General 2010. Strenna
Date (year): 2009
ID: 2000-2099|2566