Jakarta Salesians welcome Delegation of FIN Training Centre Directors

(with thanks to our ITM correspondent)

TIGARAKSA (Indonesia, ITM): November 16th 2006 -- Eleven members from the Philippines North (FIN) Province were in Jakarta from 13-15 November to conduct an informal study tour of two famous technical training institutes in the Jakarta area. One is the Jesuit -owned Akademi Teknik Mesin Industri (ATMI) in Cikarang and the other is the privately-owned Politeknik Manufakturing (Polman) Astra, located in Sunter. The visitors were mostly Salesians who serve as directors of the different Training Centres in the Philippines North (FIN) Province. The visitors were enriched by this visit, but the hosts benefited also by getting to know more Salesians who live in the country just to their North.

    The twelve pre-novices spent some time with these lively Salesians and lay mission partners from the Philippines because the delegation was lodged in Tigaraksa. There was time to be together for morning and evening prayers, then Mass in English. Since their grasp of English is still minimal, the goodnight talk given by Fr. Onofre Inocencio, SDB (head of the delegation) was translated by Fr. Boedirahardjo SDB, the rector.

    The young confreres from the post-novitiate house in Sunter (24 clerics and 8 Brothers), had their chance to meet the group too. The rector, Fr. Peter Tukan SDB, invited the delegation for vespers and for a good supper. The senior Salesian Brothers of the FIN province were happy to meet the 8 young ITM Brothers. The visitors encouraged the younger ones to develop excellence as they prepare themselves for their future Salesian work in the field of education and technical training.