"There is energy
about - let's make it synergy": Oz Provincial
returns with upbeat message
MELBOURNE: 1st March 2006 -- Events in Hong Kong recently
- meaning not only the Centenary, but the gathering of Provincials, EAO
Bishops, Youth Ministry delegates... have had their impact elsewhere in
the region. The Australian Provincial, Fr Frank Moloney, returned with
positive impressions which he has shared with the province,
highlighting the strong need, in simple terms, to 'belong' to a region
that despite being one of the most disparate in the Congregation
(geographically, culturally), is also one of the healthiest. As he put
it, "there is energy around....let's make it synergy". It could well
be an important catch cry for the region as a whole, but he intended it
to draw attention to signs of vitality and growth in the Australian
Province along with others in the region.
Australia as a nation has gradually come to learn that it belongs
geographically, economically, politically to South East Asia. The moot point has always been how it belongs
culturally. In terms of Salesian region this is also just as true but,
as Frank pointed out, 'they' are anxious to have 'our highly
specialised and at times sophisticated support' and 'we' also have 'a
great deal to learn from them'. The Australian Province has received
endorsement at the level of the Councillor for Formation, Fr Cereda,
for what it can offer by way of Formation in the region - there are
many factors: good possibilities for structured teaching and learning
of English, the lingua franca of the region, the study of
theology, places for practical trainees amongst them.
The Australian Province has just appointed its first Samoan born
Rector, Fr Petelo Vito Pau, in Samoa itself. This is a significant
appointment, signalling the steady growth in that part of the province
over the 25, now 26 years of its establishment, a growth which has seen
the ordination of at least six Samoans, most of them holding key roles
in parish, school, formation and now in community leadership, and a
steady flow of younger ones behind them. In the Australian continent
itself, after a period of several years without novices, there is
movement too. One candidate begins his novitiate this year (he will do
that in the Philippines novitiate at Lawaan), and another has been
admitted to the prenovitiate.
GLOSSARY
Oz: 'Oz' now has formal recognition
as a term, albeit colloquial, for an Australian. It has nothing to do
with the famous Wizard! In Salesian terms, 'Oz' actually helps
distinguish from 'AUS' which happens to refer to Austria! These
confusions do happen - I was once introduced to an international
audience as 'the man from Tanzania'. Problem is I'm a Tasmanian,
though I did get the opportunity, via the error, to meet the President
of Tanzania who lives and worships in a Salesian parish!
moot: arguable, up for discussion. This
word has an interesting background (and fascinatingly, is the name of a
board game about the etymology of English words!) In Old English it was
an assembly of the people for making judicial decisions. J.R. Tolkien
had 'ent-moots', meetings of 'ents' or tree-like creatures. But a 'moot
point' in today's sense is a tricky thing indeed, legally
speaking...here's an example: "On Thursday 2nd February when the sun
rises, you will pay me a million dollars". Sorry, but the sun doesn't
actually rise - it only looks that way. Contract is invalid. THAT is
a moot point!
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