From: Julian Fox
[jbfox@connect.com.fj]
Sent: Friday, 7 November 2003 5:05
PM
To: Undisclosed-Recipient:@mail.sdb.org;
Subject:
'austraLasia' #751
austraLasia 751
SAMOA: 25 YEARS OF SALESIAN PRESENCE IN
2004
APIA: 7th November -- After 25 years of
Salesian presence and activity in Samoa, the Australian Province of Mary Help of
Christians has much to be thankful for. This is the overall message to
confreres from the Provincial, Fr. Ian Murdoch, as the province readies
itself to celebrate this mission achievement in 2004 with first professions,
renewals, a commemorative issue of the Salesian Bulletin, a focus of the
Province Assembly and Chapter, a Retreat, and a visit by the Rector Major next
October. It will be a year of celebration!
Salesians in Samoa (formerly called Western Samoa)
are responsible for Moamoa Theological College (a four-year training course for
catechists and their wives as well as a three year pre-seminary course for
aspirants to priesthood), The Don Bosco Technical Centre at Alafua on the
outskirts of Apia with its three year course in basic trade skills for young
adults (with 200 students), the Parish of St. John Bosco at Sinamoga, which
includes Alafua, and St. Michael's Parish at Leauva'a, arguably Samoa's most
youthful of parishes, closer to the airport. Additionally, Samoa is also
an important Salesian initial formation centre with the novitiate (five novices
presently) and a prenovitiate, and several members doing practical
training.
Samoa has been and continues to be a healthy source
of vocations for the Congregation. After 25 years there are four ordained
Samoan members, all holding important roles in the works in Samoa and Fiji, and
a further twenty one men in various stages of formation, including
novices. Additionally there is one Tongan Salesian at theology stage and a
Fijian novice.
The work in Samoa has also been blessed, over the
years, with the presence of missionary Salesians from Holland, India, Poland,
Slovakia, Burma and of course Australia, to which province all these men
belong.
As the provincial puts it, "all in all, an
extraordinary amount of hard work in evangelisation, education and Salesian
formation is being done in Samoa by a relatively small group of Salesian living
in two communities....not without its difficulties but we should not
underestimate the full extent of what has been achieved in twenty five
years".
____________
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