2766 Pot pourri
austraLasia #2766
 

Pot Pourri

FROM ALL AROUND: 9 December 2010 -- 'Pot pourri' or a mixed bag of goods!  it is just that so much has been coming in these last days, and your austraLasia coordinator, though much improved healthwise, has been anywhere but sitting in front of a computer, so maybe the best thing for now is simply to list the materials coming in and offer a hint from each, and I'll catch up in the next day or two with something more substantial.
    But first, of your charity please pray for the repose of the soul of Fr Peter Him Sam Tsang, member of the Australian Province, originally from China Province, who has worked in the province of his adoption (and which adopted him) for the past 28 years at least (haven't got all the details at hand). Fr Tsang died today after a brief illness. Fr Tsang was a gentle, determined missionary and pastor to thousands of Chinese families who have migrated to Australia, and a much appreciated member of the Chadstone community, Melbourne - he worked in Melbourne throughout his years in Australia.
    Fr Nick Castelijns has resumed his interesting Samoan episodes, after a long break. He now finds himself back on the 'main' island (Nick used wirte from the island of Savai'i). This time he writes up the Don Bosco Tech Graduation for this year. Deserves its own full space - later.
    From Japan two items of news. One is that the Cagliero11 mission newsletter coming from the Missions Department can now be found online (
http://salesians.jp/library/cariero) , and while you may not understand much Japanese, it is interesting to see how they have 'converted' the item to this medium. Also from Japan an item on the Golden Jubilee of the Yokohama School, celebrated on 4 December.
   
The 8th December always brings important events. In Philippines North the priestly ordination of two young men - at least one of those (and possibly the other, not sure) studied abroad. Reggie Porlucas certainly did his theology at the Crocetta. Glenn Joseph Protacio was the other Salesian candidate for ordination. In the South, it was Kabankalan City's turn and privilege to receive the Casket on 8 December, and as our correspondent puts it, "the expected 3 hour trip from Victorias took just about 2 hours! With police escorts and about two dozen motor-bike police leading the way it was quite a sight. The organizers were being careful not to require the use of sirens because of a presidential announcement that even he (the president) "would never use such means to weave through traffic". But a street-wise cop's retort was hard to beat: "It's ok, we are escorting a saint, not the president".
    And finally, a Christmas greeting from Beijing where a member of the region is teaching Latin at the University, and reflects wistfully on Christmas in other climes. He writes all this down in verse - but the verse is in Italian and I would not dare attempt to translate it.

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