austraLasia 1629
[Please note - as I am travelling over this period, and given the current circumstances with airlines, there could be some interruptions to service, since I need to rely on on webmail for dispatch and the quantity to be dispatched far exceeds the limits usually imposed by webmail!  I may adopt a rhythm of every two or three days, enabling the same item to be sent in two or more large batches over separate days. I am sure you will understand. jbf]
Asian Youth Ministers to Depend On Internet To Facilitate Their Ministries

HONG KONG: 17th August 2006 -- Despite the fact that one of the issues bedevilling communications at the recent Asian Youth Day in Hong Kong was the lack of internet facilities for those who attended, delegates who were part of the meeting of Asian youth ministers say they will use the Internet to maintain the flow of information and ideas relevant to their ministries. This pledge was made by about 60 youth ministers who took part in the Asian Youth Ministers' Meeting organized by the Youth Desk of the Office of Laity and Family of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences.
    The AYMM meeting was held Aug. 5-9 at Salesian Retreat House on Cheung Chau Island, about an hour's boat ride from Hong Kong Island. It came immediately after the Fourth Asian Youth Day  which took place July 28-Aug. 5.
    In a planning session for Southeast Asia, representatives from Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Singapore agreed to use the Internet to keep sharing programs and activities designed for family and youth ministries. Similar ideas surfaced in the regional session for East Asia, attended by delegates from mainland China, Hong Kong, Japan, Macau and Taiwan, as well as Mongolia, which joined the East Asian group for this AYMM.  Some of the ideas discussed were to compile a mailing list for an e-group to enable them to share resources, and to contribute feature articles and news stories if and when the Youth Desk sets up its own website.
    Delegates from the South Asia region and elsewhere in Southeast Asia plan to have meetings next year to review the implementation of their ministry in accord with the theme of the fourth AYD, "Youth, Hope of Asian Families." The South Asia group comprises Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka, while the other Southeast Asia group comprises Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam.
    The Youth Desk announced on August 8 that the Philippines will host the next AYD and AYMM, but dates and responsible diocese have not yet been decided.  The Youth Desk also plans two other major activities in coming years. One is the second Bishops' Institute on Lay Apostolate on Youth, proposed to take place November 2007 in Malaysia. The other is a Asian Youth Gathering during World Youth Day 2008, which is scheduled to be held in Sydney, Australia.
   
GLOSSARY
bedevilling: 'to bedevil' is to make difficult.
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