EAO Salesian Brother's Congress 2013

Message to the participants - Thailand, Hua Hin

Dear Brothers and Fathers!

Seven years after the Cambodia - Phnom Penh 2006 EAO Regional seminar on Salesian Brothers vocation I'm glad to greet you from Latin American country of Perú during a visit to the Andes and Amazon region missions!

What changed in the Congregation during this 10 years regarding the Salesian Brother? There are some 320 Brothers less in the Congregation (which is diminishing some 200 confreres every year) but there are some important signs of Brother's vocation growth:

1. One of the Salesian Brothers is carrying the role of the General Economer with a great charismatic ability and energy, offering an important role in the government and animation at the world level. We are proud of Br. Jean Paul Muller, former Mission Office director in Bonn!

2. Salesian Brother is taking slowly stronger and more identified charismatic image. Some special fields of the Salesian mission like social communication (at the moment all 3 staff of the ANS news agency are Brothers!), among the formators there are more brothers then before etc.

3. The four lines of action launched by late Fr. Vecchi for the Salesian Brothers, confirmed by the Rector Major in 2003 are bringing lasting fruits of more visibility, more stable and quality specific formation courses offered already in all continents (America - Guatemala, Africa - Ghana and Cameroon, Europe - Valdocco, South Asia - India and in Manila), better vocation promotion of Brother's vocation. Also the awareness of Brother vocation among the Salesians did improve.

Looking at the number of Brothers in past 10 years (attachment), we realize that only two among the eight Salesian regions are growing - Africa and EAO region! That means, our EAO region is blessed and in the same time does carry an important responsibility to the Salesian Lay Consecrated life in the whole Congregation!

During the days of the EAO Salesian Brothers Congress I remember you all and each one of you in the daily Eucharist. Without a Salesian Brother our Congregation and Salesian Charism is not complete!

With heartfelt fraternal greetings in Don Bosco

Salesian Brother statistics 2002-2012 (2012.12.31)

During past 5 years

During past 10 years