Salesian Family begins preparations for Sydney World
Youth Day: Fire in the heart of God!
MELBOURNE: 8th June 2006 -- Yes, Sydney, even though
the Salesian Family preparations began in Melbourne! During the
recent visit of the Regional, Fr Klement, to Australia and the Pacific
island parts of the province as well, a meeting took place at the
Provincial House (Ascot Vale, Melbourne) involving the Provincial,
members of the Pastoral Animation Team (PAT) and representatives of the
Salesian Principals Association of Australia (SPAA). Fr Klement
was present for this meeting.
The meeting considered additional matters such as
the ongoing teamwork between the two commissions or groups which, in
other provinces would normally be a single Youth Ministry Team.
Australia has for many years now had two groups, one focused only on
school-based ministry since this has been and is such a prominent
element in Salesian works in Australia, and the other on all other
aspects of Youth Ministry activity, and beyond. The two groups on
this occasion looked at the common development of the Australian
Salesian pastoral plan, formation of lay people in the Salesian Family,
and steps towards making the proposed Youth Missionary Movement a
formal project. But the highlight of the gathering was remote
preparation for the WYD celebrations from 14-20 July 2008.
Organisers of the Sydney WYD are planning for
400,000 participants, a number somewhat smaller than the European and
even the North American events, given Australia's distance from that
part of the world where there are huge numbers of Catholics. But
a significant presence of Asian and Oceanian youth is expected, by
contrast with those earlier events.
The WYD theme, from Acts, on announcing the Gospel
to the ends of the earth, is appropriate for the Antipodes! But
it is also a missionary theme, and organizers and certainly the
Salesian Family group meeting in Melbourne, have seen it as a golden
opportunity to fire up the missionary spirit. The official logo
for WYD '08 represents both the Opera House, Sydney's best known icon,
and the Holy Spirit.
Bishop Anthony Fisher, auxiliary bishop from Sydney
is the Episcopal Conference nominee as chief episcopal organizer of the
event. You could check out www.wyd2008.org and www.worldyouthday.com.au
to understand a little more of the Australian preparation in general.
The Salesian Family in Australia has begun its
preparations in strict cooperation amongs SDB/FMA and lay people
involved in the 10 schools, and also includes a youth volunteer
component. There will be a Salesian Day in Sydney, preferably
before the arrival of the Holy Father. The Salesians have two
very large community settings in Sydeny - Engadine and St. Marys and
both are adequate for gathering huge numbers of people with many
facilities. Salesian Sydney is very much poised to offer the best
for this event. The recent visit fo the FMA Mother General,
Mother Antonia Colombo confirmed the common endeavour to draw the best
fruits from the WYD for Salesian presence and activity in the Continent
of Oceania (a continent that Europeans should add to the list of 'five
continents' taught in their schools!) Click
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