PHNOM PENH: 20th August 2006 -- Sunday 20th has turned out
to be an historic occasion for the East Asia-Oceania region. Some
70 confreres are travelling, or have already arrived, in Cambodia's
capital city Phnom Penh and in a country which for the first time since
the infamous 'Killing Fields' has begun to show signs of economic boom
and a more stable society. Serving the 11 million population are
three Salesian communities (since 1991) and 12 confreres involved
mainly in social and technical education of Khmer youth.
The venue for the EAO Brothers' Assembly, to take
place from 21-25 August, is the first of the three technical schools
opened in Cambodia since 1991. It is located near the most
important Buddhist pagoda in the city - Wat Samrong Daet. The
melodic chanting of Buddhist monks at 4.30 am will offer the visitors a
real taste of local culture and religion...and will continue throughout
the day. DB Tech faces the Wat which is but a few hundred metres
away. Lodgings for participants in the Assembly is in two hotels
located in Phnom Penh city centre, about 20 minutes from the Tech.
Other than those from Cambodia itself, some
participants are arriving overland from Bangkok (FIS, THA) or from Ho
Chi Minh City (VIE, KOR, FIN), some by air from 13 countries around the
region (Mongolia, PNG, China, Korea, Japan, Samoa, Australia,
Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Timor Leste, Indonesia. About 43
Brothers, including a handful in temporary vows, will take part, along
with all EAO formation delegates, nine province vocation promoters, and
four provincials (FIN, FIS, ITM, THA) and the vice provincial from
Vietnam (VIE). Others taking part include formators involved in
the Brothers' vocation in a particular way, especially some from
Paranaque in Manila where a special formation course for Brothers has
been set up.
Each day of the Assembly will follow a similar
dynamic: challenges, identity, formation, vocation promotion tackled
through life experience and reflection from keynote speakers. Fr
Cereda is unable to be present due to GC26 preparation commitments and
an extraordinary visitation he has to carry out in Italy. But
three other speakers will be present: Fr Joseph Phuoc VIE, Fr Chrys
Saldanha RMG and Bro. Joseph Das INM. These reflections will be
followed by workshops and sharing, first in mixed groups and then
according to provinces.
Amongst participants we find 'veterans' of the four
previous EAO (or the then Australasia region) going back to 1986 in
Batulao (FIN). The majority of participants however are
participating for the first time, especially those from Vietnam who are
in fact part of the largest delegation of taking part, 13 of
them. Vietnam, with 46 Brothers, is the strongest single presence
of Brothers in a province in the region. The total number of
Brothers in the region is 203.
Two Brothers who would have been expected to be
present are struggling with cancer at the moment, one a 'veteran' of
the earlier meetings, Bro Peter Swain, now 86 years of age and living
in Sydney, Australia, and the other a very young postnovice, Bro. Julio
Pereira from Baucau, Timor Leste. Participants are praying for
these two stalwarts.
Connection and travel details permitting, readers
should be able to follow proceedings online day by day or at least
every second day on www.bosconet.aust.comThere is a link on the home
page to the Brothers Assembly, where key talks are already posted and a
letter from the Rector Major to all participants.
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