24 April 2014 -- Here is some basic information for
you: FIN - Alabang, Acacia Hotel EAO 8th congress of the Salesian
Cooperators April 23-26, 2014 First of the 11 regional
(elective) congresses of the Salesian Cooperators started on 23rd
April near Manila, FIN- 128 participants from 8 EAO
provinces April 25 is the election for the
EAO WORLD COUNCILLOR
World Coordinator, Mrs Noemi
Bertola, World Delegate Fr Giuseppe Casti and for the first time PNG has a
delegation at the EAO Regional Congress
MANILA - 24 April 2014
-- Since 1993 every few years many (100-200)
Salesian Cooperators from many countries of the EAO region
have been coming together as a Congress. On April 23, 2014
some 128 Salesian Cooperators, SDB and FMA delegates gathered
near Alabang, Tuloy sa Don Bosco street children village for a
4 day Congress.
The previous Congresses are as follows: 1993 in Thailand (Hua
Hin), 1996 in the Philippines (Batulao-Calaruega), 1999 in
Hong Kong (China), 2001 in Cebu (Philippines), 2004 in South
Korea (Suwon), 2008 in Macau (China) and 2011 in Bangkok
(Thailand).
Each Congress produces new apostolic energy and inspiration,
and the visible results are the definite growth of the
Salesian charism especially as expressed through the Salesian
Cooperator Vocation and Mission of participants in all the
respective countries.
This time too there are some memorable participants and many
hints of the Holy Spirit guiding His People:
1. For the first time the
Papua New Guinea - Solomon Islands Delegation is
taking part After more then 15 years of Salesian Cooperators
life they join to learn how to be connected to the
World-Wide-Family of the Salesian Cooperators.
2. John Lester from
Singapore (after
making his promise at the Macau 2008 Congress still the only
Cooperator in Singapore) shared his dream, his passion to see
the growth of the Sal.Cooperators vocation in his home place.
EAO REGION of the Salesian Cooperators means some 120-plus
local centres, seven provinces (ACS provinces, that is), 670
Aspirants (probably the highest percentage among all 11
Regions of the Salesian Cooperators worldwide) and more than
2300 members with the promise.
There are participants from the Philippines (FIN, FIS), from
Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands (expatriate Filipino
teacher from Honiara), from Mongolia (Darkhan), Singapore,
Australia, China - Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, from South
Korea, Japan, Timor Leste,Thailand and from Vietnam....
Day 1 (April 23) - sharing on the state of the EAO
region (very positive, future oriented). Growth of members,
centres and aspirants in many provinces.
Need to rejuvenate the Association (age-wise - both Salesian
Cooperators and their SDB/FMA delegates.
The best report was without doubt from Cebu (FIS province) -
which highlighted with all humility some Salesian Cooperators
(in all simplicity and humility) with their passion and
apostolic fruits.
Goodnight given by Taiwan SDB delegate Fr Gary Carbon -
inviting everybody to be a true disciple and missionary of
Jesus (Pope Francis' wish for us all!).
Many 'long standing Delegates FMA, SDB' are coming together
after 3 years and this helps create a family climate.
Many hopeful signs of inter-provincial (regional)
solidarity of different kinds were shared in the reports.
Most inspiring were three sharings on how the Salesian
Cooperator vocation grows (how new Aspirants are being
attracted to join) - usually by contamination, joyful and
dedicated life witness.
Thank God for this wonderful Salesian - Secular
Apostolic vocation!
