austraLasia #2194


Australia-Pacific: Rector Major arrives and is ready for action

MELBOURNE: 10th July 2008 -- The Rector Major has arrived in the geographically largest and most distant Province of the Congregation, the Australia-Pacific Province, dedicated to Mary Help of Christians. Under this title, the Mother of Jesus is also the Patroness of Australia.
    After a journey that occupied the better part of two days (including a long stopover in Singapore), Fr Chávez arrived in Melbourne at 6.10 am on Wednesday July 9. He was met at the airport by the Provincial (Fr Frank Moloney) and the Vice Provincial (Fr John Papworth). As Fr Chávez is aware, he has not yet reached the limits of the Australia-Pacific Province. He would need to fly a further six hours to arrive at Apia, Samoa!  He has already done that in an earlier visit....and no doubt will do it again but not this time.
    Melbourne Airport was also heavily populated by hundreds of young people from all over the world, all of them looking somewhat travel weary. Few from the 'old world' are fuly aware of the distances to and within this vast continent - until they try it! One WYD group arrived in Sydney expecting a quick bus trip to Adelaide. They were astounded to find that the distance from Sydney to Adelaide is a day and a half away by bus!
    The Rector Major's first day in the Great Southern Land has been taken up with some rest, catching up with business, and sharing time with the community at the Province Centre. However, the day will culminate with a visit to Salesian College Chadstone, where more than 200 young Salesian pilgrims have already gathered in preparation for the Melbourne celebration of the 'Days in the Diocese'.  Fr Chávez will deliver a Good Night to youngsters from many parts of the world, especially from Asia and South America. It will be a fine Salesian start to the busy days that lie ahead: a Salesian Youth Celebration on Friday, July 11th, a day with the Salesians and their lay collaborators on July 12th, a trip to Sydney and a major Salesian gathering with young people at the Salesian presence at Engadine on wednesday July 16th.
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 AustraLasia is an email service for the Salesian Family of Asia Pacific.  It also functions as an agency for ANS based in Rome.  For queries please contact admin@bosconet.aust.com . Use Bosconet-wiki to be interactive. RSS feeds - just go to Bosconet, click on austraLasia 2008 in the sidebar. You will see the RSS orange icon in your browser address bar - add it from there.  Avail yourself of the Salesian Digital Library at at http://sdl.sdb.org

Title: australasia 2194
Subject and key words: SDB General RM, EAO Provinces AUL WYD
Date (year): 2008
ID: 2000-2099|2194