austraLasia #2371


SFSW FIN 2009 - for 'translation' read on!

BATULAO: 5th March 2009 -- If the notice was sent via text message, it would have been like this:
“Gud am.  SFSW FIN 2/27 pm 2 3/01 2009 in Ba2lao 4 SDB, FMA, ASC, DBV, AMHC, FADS, PPFMA, CSM, DBAPNF. C u.”
    The decoded message would have been:  “Good morning!  Salesian Family Spirituality Weekend (Phil. North Province) afternoon of February 27 to March 1, 2009 in Batulao for Salesians of Don Bosco, Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, Association of Salesian Cooperators, Don Bosco Volunteers, Association of Mary Help of Christians, Familia Damas Salesianas, Past Pupils of the FMAs, Caritas Sisters of Miyazaki, Don Bosco Alumni Phil. National Federation.  See you!” And we came, saw and interacted with 56 members of the Salesian Family representing 8 out of 9 branches established in the Philippines.
    The talks and inputs consisted of an overview of the Salesian Family, the 2009 Strenna of the Rector Major made by Fr. Bobby Roxas, SDB and the Charism of Don Bosco by Fr. Francis Gustilo, SDB.  The discussions on some sections of the Common Identity Card and the Common Mission Statement were divided among the representatives to the Salesian Family Commission.  Group sharings were facilitated by guide questions provided by the speakers.  Results were presented in the subsequent plenary sessions.
    It was not all talk.  We had moments of praying together – the Lauds and Vespers, the holy rosary, the Stations of the Cross, and Holy Mass presided by Fr. Nestor C. Impelido, SDB.  There were moments of recreation with a movie and fun games meant for team building.
    The Eucharistic Celebration presided by Fr. Eli Cruz, SDB, FIN Provincial culminated the Spirituality Weekend.  To the Salesian Family gathered, he asked the same question posed by the Rector Major to the participants in the last Spirituality Week in Rome:  “Without you, who are we?”  After all the talks, reflections and sharings, that was indeed a good point to ponder upon not only by the SDBs but also by us who belong to this vast movement called The Salesian Family.

A footnote on the SF Spirituality Weekend

It was our second SF Spirituality Weekend in this format.  The first was held in November, 2007   However the Salesian Family (FIN) encounters date back to Feb. 2, 1996 with a seminar held in Don Bosco, Sta. Mesa, Manila.  This was followed by the Holy Week Retreat that same year, held in the Don Bosco Center of Studies in Paranaque City and preached by Fr. Jose Reinoso SDB who was then based in the Pisana as Delegate for the Salesian Cooperators. Subsequent annual Holy Week Retreats were organized up to 2006. 
    That was how we started and it is always good to remember.
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On another topic: sincere apologies to the correspondent who sent news of the FIN Provincial Day (he knows who he is). Due to change of computers while travelling, the email was received on one but not transferred to the other and....well, you know what it's like! And by now it's all getting a bit late for that news item, but suffice it to say that on 28th Feb FIN held its Provincial Day with much festivity, some solemnity, and lots of good fun.

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Title: australasia 2371
Subject and key words: EAo Provinces, FIN Salesian Family
Date (year): 2009
ID: 2000-2099|2371