austraLasia #2422

'Seedlings' characterise two East Asian celebrations of MHC
(note: 3 separate news items follow, including the Breaking News final item below)

TOKYO, MIYAZAKI, BEPPU, NAGASAKI (GIA): 25th May 2009 -- Sunday evening, 24th May 2009 saw simultaneous gatherings of the Salesian Family in four Japanese cities, with Japanese precision: 4 p.m.  Unfortunately the intended fifth gathering in Osaka could not take place due to a feared outbreak of Swine Flu.  The events were a significant moment in the Japanese Province in celebrations for the 150th of the Salesian Congregation.
    In Tokyo the event took place in the Shimoigusa Church where some 250 members of the Salesian Family took part in a solemn Mass at which the provincial, Fr Cipriani, presided. He spoke in his homily of the significance of the day especially in its historical context.  The celebration included an Offertory Procession which included plants, symbols of the 'seedlings' sown by Don Bosco and his sons throughout the world. The Caritas Sisters of Miyazaki Choir helped solemnize the event.

DALAT (VIE): 25th May 2009 -- As is commonly known, the Salesian Family prays for and celebrates the sending of its missionaries in October, yet in Vietnam it can be said that the Feast of Mary Help of Christians, 24th May (this year on 25th in fact), is the date for the sending out of missionaries.
    In Dalat, the post-novitiate community, the Feast of Mary Help of Christians coincides with Commencement Day for its graduates. At this time, those who have applied to become missionaries are formally informed of the acceptance of their application and given the name of their future country of mission. The parents of these young confreres are invited to participate in the celebration and witness the commitment of their sons to Missio ad gentes.
   It is worth noting that during the last decade, a significant number of post-novices from Vietnam Province have applied to become missionaries ad gentes: 50 to date.  Last year, eight of the graduated post-novices applied and all now are being assigned to their missionary land.  This year, nine of the fifteen graduates applied and seven of them were accepted. The remaining two need to check their physical suitability, and their applications will later be reviewed.  The seven will be sent to five countries: Peru, Venezuela, Paraguay, Zambia, and Bangladesh.    
    At the conclusion of the traditional Salesian Academy to honour Mary Help of Christians, on the evening of 24th May, the rite of presenting the flags of countries where Vietnamese missionaries are working invoked great gratitude for the missionaries who are labouring for the Kingdom of God, and also inspired so many aspirants to think of the missions ad gentes, as many of them confessed after the Academy had finished.
    The seeds have been sown, and the Salesians in Vietnam are gratefully waiting for the crop to ripen in God's good time.

Breaking news: new 'baby' born on 24th May!

FATUMACA (ITM): 25th May 2009 --  The first edition of the Salesian Bulletin Tetum version 'hit the streets' in East Timor, or more precisely the winding paths around Fatumaca, on 24th May.  The celebrated birth of this new Salesian family 'baby' took place in the Shrine to Mary Help of Christians at Fatumaca in the presence of the Salesian Family, especially the Past Pupils (Alumni), some members of the Government represented by some members of Parliament. Bishop Basilio do Nascimento, Bishop of Baucau Diocese in which Fatumaca is situated, was also present.
    This launching of the Tetum SB is seen as an answer to what Delegates for Social Communication meeting in Seoul, Korea, recently, had agreed upon, and also as a response to the Pope's Communications Day Message.
  _________________
 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 Bosconet-wiki to be interactive. RSS feeds - just go to Bosconet, click on austraLasia 2009 in the sidebar. You will see the RSS orange icon in your browser address bar - add it from there.  Avail yourself of the Salesian Digital Library at http://sdl.sdb.org

Title: australasia 2422
Subject and key words: EAO Provinces - GIA, VIE, ITM
Date (year): 2009
ID: 2000-2099|2422