8 April 2014 -- Again another collection of bits
and pieces.
The EAO
Regional, Fr Klement, has taken the Chinese character
for 'Listening' with all its multiple connotations, as a
special watchword for these six years.
Meanwhile
the Chapter is till going! Close work being done on the
final document. Once something is final and ready, we
can give some further info on it.
Fr Angel
writes a note to ITM on the death of their oldest
missionary Bro José Ribeiro. It begins to give us
a small insight into his style.
And
meanwhile, the events in the Solomon Islands have not,
thank God, prevented all students from returning to
school.
Deacon
Joseph Vu will be ordained priest this coming Friday
(11) He studied theology in Manila, not in HK.
Please pray for him.
Listening to serve
Dear brothers and friends!
Heartfelt greetings from Rome, where we are busy
trying to bring the General Chapter 27 to a successful
end in a week’s time. Thank you for all your
prayers before and during the GC27.
Our new General Council is complete with the arrival of
Fr. Ivo Coelho (Formation Councillor) from Jerusalem. All in
all, now Fr. Angel Fernandez Artime as the 10th successor of
Don Bosco has thirteen (13) councillors (one fewer than Fr.
Chávez). And we are very proud to have amongst us the
first African confrere - Fr. Americo Chaquisse (Mozambican),
with only 2.5 Italian confreres in the Council (Frs. Francesco
Cereda, Stefano Martoglio and Natale Vitali - who was living
and working as a missionary in Chile since 1975).
First of all I would like to share with you some
personal insights after 50 days of the General Chapter
experience. The whole 'Chapter community' breathes a very nice
family spirit in daily life, well animated by different people
(liturgy, communications, sports, secretaries, translators,
infirmarians, document drafting). Among the main daily
'rituals' is the reading of the Gospel at the beginning of the
Assembly and installation of the Bible on the main stage,
sports animation by the Congolese 'chaplain' at the end of
each lunch time, prayers and serious work in the commissions
and personal reflections.
Apart from the whole 220+ confreres at the General
Chapter, we were able to enjoy some special regional moments.
There are some 'famous' speakers at this GC, among them also
Fr. Lanfranco (CIN), Fr. Eli (FIN), Fr. Mariano (MYM), Fr.
Alex (FIN), Fr. Boedi (ITM), Frs. Andy and Václav
(RMG). Especially many deep, radical and joyful
interventions from the CIN provincial were appreciated
quite often (5 diamonds)!
We have already twice celebrated the EAO regional
Eucharist and will continue until April 11. The new Rector
Major will preside and all Councillors for the sectors will
participate in our EAO Mass next Monday. During the election
time we met a few times for our regional contribution to
discernment and celebrated the new Regional Councilor
and a few days later the Silver jubilee of profession (Br.
Raymond Callo, FIN - Regional).
So all of us could appreciate the nice family spirit within
our region, be interested in getting to know each other more,
to link and try to share more among our 10 provinces and 4
delegations.
Now I'm handing over to the new Councillor for the Missions -
Fr. Guillermo Basaňes: multiple tasks, contacts and
information about the sector (starting with Cagliero11
newsletter, blog, AGORA on www.sdb.org)
and slowly connecting to our main available EAO regional
digital platforms: http://blogs.sdb.org/eao.php
(EAO BLOG); http://agora.sdb.org/index.php?board=59.0
(EAO Agora reserved area for sharing) http://www.bosconet.aust.com/pmwiki/pmwiki.php
(EAO documentation website) http://sdl.sdb.org/cgi-bin/library
(Salesian Digital Library) - sections available in Bahasa,
Burmese, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Tagalog, Tetum, Thai and
Vietnamese http://eaosalesianbrothers.wordpress.com/
(EAO Salesian Brothers, Manila) https://www.facebook.com/groups/1576979272526655/
(Salesians EAO region)
Last week when my life changed overnight from the global
attention and care for the missionary spirit in the
Congregation, again to the beloved EAO region, I tried to
figure out how to animate the Region more effectively. Indeed
within the past 12 years, when I was elected for the first
time as the Regional councillor, a lot of communication tools
and approaches have significantly changed. And my conclusion?
Probably the Cagliero11 newsletter effect suggests to me that
the best way might be one "Good Night " for all confreres in
the EAO Region.
In this first EAO regional 'Good Night' I would
like to share just one of the General Chapter 27’s key words -
'Listen'.
Already the three-step method of GC27 discernment
process (Listening - interpreting - way ahead) starts by
listening to life as it is.
The new Rector Major Fr. Ángel Fernandez Artime
in his first homily (March 27) invited us many times: 'Listen
to His voice today... Listening together to the Word of God
helps us to go out of ourselves, to overcome our
self-centredness and listen to the needs of other, especially
to the young.'
Also the Rector Major emeritusEast Timor, Fr.
Pascual Chávez in his deep and passionate homily for
the EAO members today: 'Everything depends, hinges on our
ability to listen to Jesus and to accept him, and our
willingness to make him 'Our Living Rule'. This is the only
way our Salesian life can become relevant, credible, visible
and fruitful (April 5).
I should honestly acknowledge that a solid
Salesian life and mission depends on the listening attitude in
any sense of this term: Listening is the start of any solid
communication amongst us (community building, personal talk to
the rector), listening is the basis of serious discernment
(obedience), listening is the first step of Gospel
proclamation (if we want to listen, first we should listen to
others), listening is the first step of effective youth
ministry (youngsters are strongly asking: 'Listen to us!'). To
listen well is not easy!
Starting my service as the 'recycled' Regional
councillor I'm asking you to pray for me especially to be a
good listener to the all of 1400+ EAO confreres and many other
Lay Mission partners, Salesian Family members and youth that I
will meet during the next 6 years. The Chinese letter 'Ting -
Listening' in the attachment is part of my personal plan of
life for these six years!
In Mary Help of Christians and Don Bosco, yours,
Fr Václav Klement sdb
Fr Ángel writes a note
to ITM on the passing of Bro Ribeiro
Dear confreres of the ITM Vice Province (Indonesia-Timor).
Your dear Provincial, Fr Joao Paulino has told me of the
death, today, Sunday, of our confrere Bro Jose Ribeiro, 89
years of age, originally from Portugal.
Although the death of one of our confreres is always a loss
and a sorrow, at the same time it is a great day. “a great
triumph" for the Congregation as our Constitutions, Article 54
say.
I know that our dear Bro. Josè has been a great
missionary, that he worked for many years in the community at
Lospalos as catechist, worker and assistant, a model of
prayer. I know too that he worked in the fields and in
construction for many years as well.
He was always very close to the people and their culture and
language.
I know that he was one of the Salesian pioneers who arrived as
part of the second expedition after the war in 1946, following
Saint Callistus Caravario and others.
An entire life dedicated to the young, the people and the
Gospel.
With great joy I greet you all, dear confreres and all of our
beautiful Salesian Family.
I am praying for you and let us pray for our dear confrere
José. Without a doubt, our Mother, Mary Help of
Christians has received him, along with Don Bosco, and brought
him to the Father.
My affection and an embrace for you all with a great desire to
be able to meet you all personally.
May the Lord bless you. With all my affection,
Fr Ángel Fernández Artime
Students lead the way
8th April, Honiara: Don Bosco Technical Institute, Henderson
commenced Term 2 on Tuesday 8th April, with 80% of its
students in attendance.
Motivated and inspired they demonstrate their ability, despite
the odds, to put in their best and do all they can to acquire
skills and knowledge and return to their daily study and
routine of life.
Heads bowed in prayer they recalled the tragedy of the past
week and remembered their own families, relatives and friends
who have lost lives, houses and property. Every one has
been personally affected - directly or indirectly - and the
week long floods have left painful memories that will be hard
to heal.
It came as a welcome announcement for the students of the
school as Fr Rector welcomed all those who are struggling to
travel each day to reside at the school campus. The boys
will reside in the gymnasium and the girls will reside in the
Savio Aspirantate. "It is important that your studies are not
hampered due to long hours of exhausting and tense travel" -
said Fr. Dominic Kachira sdb, Rector. Principal of the
Institute, Fr. Srimal Priyanga sdb is keen that the normal
school programme gets on its way as soon as possible.
The only main road leading to Honiara has now become a
three-lane road with traffic moving at a gentle pace.
The trip, which would take three quarters of an hour from
Henderson to the center of town, now takes two hours and
more. While motorists wait their turn to cross the
bridge in a single file, several hundred pedestrians are seen
walking - right through the day in the heat of the blazing sun
- till late at night.
"I recall my days in 1999, when I would walk from Honiara to
the centre of town or SIBC on a daily basis. It's sad
that the country that progresses so gradually has now slid
back several years", recalled Fr. Ambrose Pereira sdb.
We seek the help of the Lord and spiritual strength to enable
us look for solutions, do what is needed and give hope to our
people and our country. Thank you for your support.
