austraLasia #1984
(A double
issue intended to catch up on some items received during the past week
of Retreat. Apologies for those who have had to await publication of
their news)
North Philippines: Symposium on lay and religious
missionary formation
Manila: 18 November 2007 -- On November 10, a day before the
commemoration of the first Salesian expedition to Patagonia led by the
then Fr John Cagliero (November 11, 1875), the Salesian Mission
Animation (SMA) of the Philippines North Province held its 3rd
missionary symposium with the theme: Preparing a missionary volunteer.
As such, 132 years after Don Bosco's dream came true with the first
foray into new territories, the Salesian Missionary Animation Ministry,
under Fr Salvador Pablo SDB, renewed the call to invite religious and
lay volunteers to join in instilling an awareness of mission and the
volunteer movement in this regard.
The SMA office has been contributing to missionary
awareness through the monthly circular, Auxiliaries of the Mission, an
e-newsletter. It has also generated text messages in a 'text brigade'
sent weekly to friends, those who pray for the missions, Salesians, as
a show of support and appreciation to Salesian and volunteer
missionaries in the field.
The missionary symposium was a one day event held at
Roozen Hall, Makati (St John Bosco Parish). The event was opened by Fr
Danny Torres, FIN Vice Provincial, with a keynote address by Sr Mary
Evelyn from the Society of St Paul. She spoke of the need for innate
power, driving power and staying power, for missionaries. Fr Gary
Carbon, a Filipino missionary in Taiwan, spoke of the missionary
experience in that context and concluded with a presentation on Bl.
Versiglia and Caravario, Salesian protomartyrs.
The symposium also saw the launching of an
experimental Salesian Formation Kit Handbook intended to cater for
preparation of both volunteer and Salesian Religious as missionaries.
The kit and handbook will be made available for Mission clubs in
schools and for older young people already in the work force, perhaps
with professional qualifications who are entertaining the idea of
mission at home or abroad.
Southern Philippines Salesian Cooperator Leadership
Cebu: 18
November
2007 -- The
Salesian Cooperators of the FIS Province
holds
Installation of Leaders. In the
presence of World Councillor for the East Asia-Australia Region, Philip
Yu,
Rev. Fr. Arturo Sanchez, Jr., FIS Provincial, and all Cooperators,
about 25
leaders from the local centers and the provincial council members
headed by
province coordinator Flora May Figuracion were installed to office in
simple
rites during the Mass last November 10, 2007.
The
encounter with Philip Yu left a lasting impression among our
Cooperators as he
cited his experiences and shared his insights and experiences of growth
in the
association.
Taking
advantage of his visit, a provincial congress meeting was called the
following
day. This was highlighted by the sharing of the experience of the World
Congress in Rome.
The event ended with Fr. Ronald Guiao, delegate to the Salesian
Cooperators thanking Philip for his visit.
The
visitation is another milestone in the journey of the Salesian
Cooperators of
the FIS province, a different experience that renewed our heart to
keep the fire and spirit
of Don Bosco burning and alive.
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