ADMA EAO, 16 August 2021 -- D-26: Last four weeks of preparation for the Second ADMA Congress in the East Asia-Oceania region has seen the visible growing enthusiasm of ADMA and other Salesian Family members. Especially remarkable is the interest of many SDB and FMA in the seven (7) 'ADMA-less' provinces or delegations. Also the recent launching of ADMA in the Solomon Islands (PGS viceprovince) with 65 new members in our Tetere parish speaks loudly of the enthusiasm of the founding fathers (SDB) and mothers (ADMA members).

The Rector Major, in his video message for this ADMA Congress, has not hidden his joy at seeing the great leap from the timid first EAO congress with 4 provinces coming together (2010) and now this second EAO congress with 11 provinces coming together in 2021: 'This is really wonderful news for the Rector Major, for the whole Salesian Family but especially for ADMA!"

Where is this enthusiasm coming from? Fr Angel Fernandez Artime is simply sharing our charismatic conviction, that 'We can’t understand ourselves as a Salesian Congregation, as Salesians of Don Bosco and as a Salesian Family without the centrality of God, or obviously without Jesus and also without Mary Help of Christians.... She who did everything with Don Bosco, continues to do the same with us!"

With joy and enthusiasm the last four weeks of the preparation are ongoing, with a busy time for the translators to all 8 languages to be used in this EAO Congress. They have already received the first two video files for their patient work!

The 24 participants at the Aug 15th steering committee meeting exchanged their progress in the preparation and some challenges along the way. The IT assistance team is getting larger and entering the final test and rehearsal for LIVE streaming on the 8 different YouTube channels (ADMA-EAO), with some videos already available. Of course, it will make the 4 hours of this ADMA Congress available for anybody after the conclusion on September 12: