MT HAGEN: 28th August 2007 -- The Michaelites, a
relatively new member of the Salesian Family (2001) with a
comparatively long association with Don Bosco (Blessed Bronislaus
Markiewicz made his final vows before Don Bosco in 1887), have joined
the austraLasia list from Mt Hagen in PNG. Welcome!
Fr Zdzislaw (Ziggy for short) Kruzcek CSMA is the
Rector of the interdiocesan Fatima seminary at Mt Hagen, not too
distant from the Salesian community at Kumgi, in the Highlands.
There are 15 CSMA (Congregation of St Michael the Archangel or
Michaelites) members in the EAO region, 6 in PNG and 9 in Sydney,
Australia. Within the PNG-SI Delegation the Michaelites have become an
integral part of the Salesian Family, taking part in their days and
celebrations.
Each year the Michaelites publish an annual of about
200 pages, called MI_CHA_EL. Fr Ziggy is the editor, the copyright is
held by the Michaelite communities in PNG-Australia and it is printed
in Poland.
The Michaelites (there are Sisters as well as
priests) are now to be found in Belarus, The Ukraine, Germany, Austria,
France, Switzerland, Italy, Canada, Australia, Papua New Guinea,
Argentina, Paraguay, The Dominican Republic, the Dutch Antilles,
Aruba. They plan to open a presence in the Philippines this year.
Altogether they have 251 priests, 7 deacons, 21 brothers, 62
seminarians and 20 novices. Of these 11 priests, 12 clerical
students, 8 novices come from outside of Poland where the group was
founded. In Poland itself they have 18 communities and 12 other
institutions.
Bronislaus Markiewcz was beatified in 2003. He
was a Salesian from 1885-1897, after which he separated from the
Congregation and founded this new religious community, but with very
many characteristics so dear to Don Bosco, especially the love for poor
youngsters, the importance of the Eucharist and devotion to Mary and,
one could say, a special interest in communications and communication
of the faith. From the earliest years the Congregation has
produced two monthly magazines ('Moderation and Work', and 'Who is like
God', both of which reflect the Michaelite charism), and the annual
referred to earlier is an excellent example of this communicative
charism: amongst other things it speaks of the Pacific zone where
Michaelites are located, writing of the cooperation amongst
institutions of formation in the Pacific churches, and offering a brief
picture of the Wanepap and Kasap parishes from the beginnings until
2007. These are located in the PNG Highlands where CSMA missionary work
began in that country. Fr Ziggy was the first CSMA missionary in
the country, arriving their in 1976.
Chances are we will now be able to share a little
more news amongst the Salesian Family from this new list membership. _________________ AustraLasia is an
email
service
for the Salesian Family of Asia Pacific. It also functions
as an
agency for ANS based in
Rome.
For queries please contact admin@bosconet.aust.com
.
Use BoscoWiki
to be interactive. RSS feeds - subscribe to www.bosconet.aust.com/RSS/rssala.xml Avail yourself of the Salesian Digital
Library
at at http://sdl.sdb.org
