6 April 2014 -- So much can happen in a handful
of days!
The General Chapter news is simply that a lot of work is
being done (over this weekend) to attend to all the 'iuxta
modums' (adjustments) that need to go into the various
sections of the final document that will be voted on in the
coming and final week. Fr
Pascual Chavez, RM emeritus, celebrates with EAO members at
the Chapter. The Solomon Islands - the main
island of Guadalcanal in particular - have been through
traumatic times. read a note from Fr Ambrose on this.
A group of young Belgians from Bishop Luc Van Looy's Diocese
meet the Pope in person and get to spend time asking him
questions - he also asks them one!
Bishop Carlo Ximenes Belo has launched a 4 volume history of
the Church in Timor Leste (East Timor)
Also in Timor - Bro Jose Ribeiro, the oldest ITM missionary,
doies at 89 years of age. In
Australia there is a major event just concluding - Ozbosco -
which brings together several hundred young people from all
over Australia. This year it is being held in Hobart,
Tasmania. More about this in a future edition Solomon Islands - a note from Fr
Ambrose Pereira
Dear friends,
Thanks for the remembrance and for supporting us as we went
through these past days of struggle. It was a difficult
time for all of us.
Saturday, has been a bright morning and together with the few
boys and girls that are with us we did a bit of cleaning the
gym and chapel as both
were flooded and filled with mud and silt.
It rained in the afternoon, but we are well at Don
Bosco. The people - especially the China Town area,
Tetere area and other parts are affected badly.
The water has receded and hopefully things will settle.
We had a few people who spent the night (2nd April) here at
Don Bosco - we put them in the classrooms on the 1st floor as
the gym was flooded. They left the next morning.
Many wanted to come - but were not able to - due to lack of
transport.
We mourn the loss of the ones who died and are sad to hear of
the destruction to houses and property. We trust help
will be underway for them.
We are just back from Tetere (6th April) and it is good that
the students have already cleaned up the place and are all set
to start and even help out if needed. The Good Samaritan
Hospital has lost an ambulance that got caught in the flood,
overturned and got stuck in the mud. They are pulling it
out today.
Do keep us in prayer as we strive to rise from yet another
disaster.
Blessings.
Ambrose sdb.
Fr Pascual celebrates with
EAO
I thank Fr Vaclav Klement for the invitation to preside at
this Eucharist for the Chapter Members of the East
Asia-Oceania Region. I accepted gladly, because it gives
me the opportunity to give praise and thanks to God for the
gift of the Salesian vocation of each one of you and all the
members of the Region.
As we draw near to the celebration of the Paschal Mystery, the
message of the Word of God urges us more and more to
contemplate the Lord and the Cross, which are
inseparable. To contemplate the Lord means to know him
more deeply, to love him more intensely, imitate him
more faithfully and follow him more radically. I think
this is perfectly in tune with the theme of our Chapter
which calls us to be "witnesses to the radical
approach of the Gospel.” ...
Belgian youth from Ghent
Diocese meet Pope Francis in person
The video is in Flemish; the Pope is speaking Italian. Bishop
Luc Van Looy organised for five young Flemish people (late
teens early twenties) to sit down with Pope Francis on 3 April
and ask him whatever they wanted to! At the end he asks them a
question - what or who is really the centre of their heart's
attention?
You don't need to understand Flemish or Dutch or Italian for
that matter - just watch the interaction! The video is lengthy
- they tell their own story, which includes WYD at Rio, being
around Rome, just doing what young people like doing.
But you can easily find the beginning and final sections with
the encounter with the Pope.
East Timor
Bishop
Belo has launched a 4 volume History of the Church in East
Timor, from 1562-2012. The link will take you to its
presentation (but in Portuguese). The Portuguese Salesian
Bulletin for April-May has further info.
The death of Senhor Jose Ribeiro, the oldest missionary in
East Timor, brings a long and dedicated missionary life to an
end- he died today (Sunday 6 April) at the age of 89. The
funeral will be held on 7 April at Lospalos.
