HUA HIN: 1st August 2007 -- With more than 60 participants now
in place, the long-planned seminar for Rectors of the EAO Region got
underway on 1st August at Hua Hin, Thailand. It will conclude on 10th
August. Involving rectors-to-be, recently appointed and some
long-term rectors and even an ex-provincial or two, participants hail
from AUL (2, one each from Samoa and Fiji), CIN (2 from Hong Kong and 1
from Taiwan), FIN (12), FIS (8), GIA (3), ITM (4), PNG/SI (6), THA
(12), VIE (5). In addition there are 5 facilitators, Frs Winstanley
(GBR), Marsiglio (GIA), Gustilo and Torres (FIN) and the EAO Regional
Fr Klement.
The first day began with a Eucharist celebrated with
Bishop Joseph Prathan SDB in whose diocese Hua Hin is situated. Bishop
Prathan reminded those present that the diocese stretched to the
Malaysian border, an area comprising 15 provinces, 9 million people,
amongst whom 7 thousand are Catholic. It is a vast mission territory
then, with 10 diocesan priests, 20 Salesians, 15 Stigmatines, and a
number of Religious Sisters of various Congregations. Bishop Prathan
shared his own daily and spiritual life, with a stress on time spent
before the Blessed Sacrament and with the Word of God in hand.
In the first formative session of the day Fr Gustilo
outlined the objectives of the 10 days together, a time long enough to
form a prayerful and listening community, verbalise the profile of the
Salesian community leader, understand Don Bosco as our father....and to
gain a strong sense of the region. There was a moment to welcome
the Thai provincial Fr John Bosco Dheparat Pitisant and his secretary
Fr Joseph Kriengsak.
Fr Michael Winstanley introduced his theme of Don
Bosco's Gospel Way, the title of a book he wrote several years back,
reflecting on Salesian experience via the Scriptures. In particular, on
this first day, he developed the idea of the presence and action of God
in our lives - God who is free and faithful, a saving God. God who is
also the Spirit, so clearly marked in our Constitutions: "With a sense
of humble gratitude we believe...". Fr Winstanley invited the group to
a time of silence, of recognition of this God and his action in our
lives.
Each day has a similar timetable involving three
major presentation sessions, but there will be time for creating that
sense of community too, in prayer, with games, and a whole Sunday
outing hosted by the Thai province. austraLasia
will continue to report on the event as it unfolds. ANS and www.sdb.org
will present photos as they come in, and Bosconet contains all
materials as they come to hand, available from the home page. It
is worth adding that sdl.sdb.org is now resurrected on its new server
and being added to daily, with easily searchable materials in a variety
of languages. AustraLasia is an
email
service
for the Salesian Family of Asia Pacific. It also functions
as an
agency for ANS based in
Rome.
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