HONG KONG: 9th February 2006 -- Just two days now
till the arrival of the Rector Major and the Salesian China Centenary
goes into full swing. Below is a summarised version of some
materials the Provincial, Fr Savio Hon, has prepared for those who are
actually visiting and invited. Some of the material will be of
wider interest.
China
has 130 confreres, 3 pre-novices and 12 communities (6 in HK, 3 in Macao, 3 in Taiwan). The major works
are: schools (14 in HK, 4 in Macao, 1 in Taiwan, all together serving
20,000 plus students daily), Parishes (2 in HK serving 12,000
parishioners, 3 in Taiwan serving 2,000 plus), special centers for
youth (Youth Outreach in HK, 2 Youth centers in HK, Boys Town in
Taiwan, EDLV center in Macau, Don Bosco network in Macau). There is also 1
retreat house, 3 publishers (more or less united now), Development
office, Youth Ministry office, 2 central Secretariats for education HK
and Macau, Lay Collaborators Formation office, DBF office and so on
without counting services for the chaplaincies and branches of the
Salesian family.
CIN
was established as a province in 1924, though the SDB presence has been
in place for 100 years. The territory is of the so-called greater China (Mainland, HK, Macao, and Taiwan).
The
main theme of the Centenary DB100 is: Unite the Salesian Family and
Love the Youth in China.
The
province in its plan highlights “Holiness” as the chief aim of the six
year period rom 01 – 07.
These are the basic details of the
province. Fr Savio goes on to develop the final point, given that
it is clearly the priority of the Congregation as well.Different
themes of the annual retreats like
Holiness, Salesianity, Holy Eucharist, Lectio Divina and Adoration, are
very
much in tune with the Salesian ideals and at the same time are ways
leading to Holiness. Different
workshops for rectors, bursars, youth ministry people, principals, SDB
and lay helpers, have been run for the enhancement of the work in view
of the
re-birth of holiness. Provincial Visitation is designed that way:
Fraternity in
joyful communication, decision and visibility of Holiness, personal
plan of
life, Extraordinary Visitation, love for the Congregation (as the link
between the personal and community planning), and now the Sequela
Christi as
the Salesian commitment after 100 years. In terms of message, confreres
are
motivated. After pointing out all of this he adds that its
effects are tangible both for individuals and communities.
One of the big challenges in the China Province is
to balance consecration and mission. The mission is demanding,
and the median age is high, all of which places pressures on the other
priority. There is a need for a planned reshaping of work.
The province has established a Development Office to help with this
planning.
The celebrations over the next week will give a
fillip to the hard-working and deserving members of the Province,
always aware that there is Don Bosco's dream, not just a vague desire
but a quite precise dream, behind the past 100 years and the next 100.
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