MASSEY:New Zealand, 20th February 2010 -- Confreres
often just assume that there has been a Salesian presence in New
Zealand for many years, and have been surprised to hear that there has
not been - until now! Perhaps they confuse Australians and New
Zealanders, like others confuse Canadians and Americans, and the jokes
that run between 'sparring partners' of this kind are legion, but for
very many good reasons, Salesians have now established their first
official presence in the sovereign nation of New Zealand, or Aotearoa
(The Long White Cloud) as many of its indigenous and Pacifican
immigrant inhabitants prefer to call it - for indeed this is one of the
'good reasons' for the Salesian presence.
The founding presence of the Salesians of Don Bosco
in New Zealand opened its doors to the faithful of the Parish at
Massey, an outer suburb of Auckland, on the first Sunday of
February. Three Salesians have been assigned to this new work: Fr
James Adayadiel, a missionary in the Australia-Pacific presence for
many years, and a founding figure in our work in Samoa, is the Parish
Priest. He is assisted by Fr Mika Leilua, a Samoan Priest, and Fr
Mathew Vadakkevettuvazhiyil, a missionary on loan from the East Africa
Province. There are two Churches in the Parish: one is Massey
itself (St Paul’s) and another at nearly Ranui (St Malachy’s).
The faithful come from all parts of the world, but especially Samoa
(and other islands in the Pacific), India and Asia. We have begun
our work in the Parish, immediately establishing close contact with all
the already established groups. Fr Mathew has already set up
contact with the young, and is a regular presence in the Parish school.
On Saturday, 13 February, the Salesians celebrated
Don Bosco. We were not “in charge” for Sunday, 31 January, so we
shifted the celebration to this day. Past pupils, and friends of
the Salesians from Australia, Hong, Kong, India, the Philippines and
other places formed a community of about 50 people at a Mass celebrated
by Fr Raphel Lobo, an ex-Salesian from the Bombay Province.
The Australia-Pacific presence rejoices in this
encouraging new start of Don Bosco’s mission among the people of New
Zealand. The people are already asking for information about Don
Bosco, his Salesians, and the Salesian work. The best sign of a
good Salesian work is good Salesians! _________________ AustraLasia is an
email
service
for the Salesian Family of Asia Pacific. It also functions
as an
agency for ANS based in
Rome.
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