austraLasia #2110
Crop
of EAO and SA Deacons ordained in Manila
MANILA: 28th March 2008 -- On
the afternoon of 27th March at 3 pm, in the Shrine of Mary Help
of
Christians, former Salesian Bishop Broderick Pabilo, once rector of
Seminaryo ng Don Bosco, now Auxiliary Bishop of Manila ordained 6
Salesian deacons: Elias De
Deus (ITM- Timorese),Tomas De Carvalho (ITM-Timorese), Aquiles Soares
(ITM-Timorese), Catur Raharjo (ITM-Indonesian), Ferdinandus Reo
(ITM-Indonesian) and Sujith Jayakodi (LKC). A crowd of about 400+
gathered for this event a good number of whom are young people from the
different Don Bosco presences. The aspirants and prenovices of
Canlubang led the music and the singing. Refreshments were
served after the celebration at the Seminaryo. The Vice Provincial, Fr.
Danilo Torres, was
present along with many SDB and non-SDBs. These deacons will commence
their fourth year of theological studies at DBCS this coming school
year 2008-2009.
While their various Salesian representatives in Rome
(Frs Andres Calleja and Andre Delimarta ITM, Frs Anthony Pinto, Anthony
Fernando LKC and Frs Andrew Wong, Martin Macasaet FIN) are discussing
important matters of state, the ordination of 6 fine young men helps
provide balance and a reminder of what everyone is really in Rome for -
the 'da mihi animas' of daily life back home. Sujith, from Sri
Lanka, is now the fourth deacon from that country studying at S ng
DB. Three others, Deacons Roshan Miranda, Niroshan Gallege and
Ruwantha Thirimane return home today having completed their theology.
They will prepare for their priestly ordination in due course, back
home. Sujith, who began his final years of study at the
Seminaryo, had to return home after his first year of theology studies
to take up the post of school principal for a year! He filled the
role until another could be found then returned for his studies.
Elias and Ferdinandus, from Timor and Indonesia
respectively, have their own stories to tell of the 'hound of heaven'
who pursued them down 'the labyrinthine ways'.* Both spent a time
away from the Salesians, but love for this vocation drew them gently
back. Elias was a barber - still is. He renders this service at
Seminaryo and often recounts how, when Fr Wong was his provincial in
ITM, he would make his 'rendiconto' with razor in hand!
It reminds one of the joke - can't help telling it.
A priest goes into a barber's shop, gets a haircut,
thanks the barber and asks him how much it was.
'Sorry Father, can't charge a man of the
cloth. It's free for you'.
Next day, to his surprise, the barber finds 12 gold
coins on the doorstep of the babershop.
That day a Buddhist monk comes in for a shave and a
shine. Again a similar story - 'You're a spiritual leader, I couldn't
charge you. It's free'.
Next day 12 rubies appear on the doorstep.
The third day a Rabbi comes in for a beard
trim. By this stage the barber thinks he is on a good wicket.
'Rabi, I couldn't take money from a wise and learned man, a man of
peace'.
Later that day - 12 Rabbis appeared on the doorstep.
----------
* From Francis Thompson's 'The Hound of Heaven':
I fled Him, down the nights and down the days;
I fled Him, down the
arches of the years;
I fled Him, down the labyrinthine ways
Of my own
mind;
and in the mist of tears
I hid from Him, and under running
laughter.
---------
More GC26 news later today - Regionals!
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Title: australasia 2110
Subject and key words: EAO General, SDB General GC26 Regionals
Date (year): 2008
ID: 2000-2099|2110
