3889_Reflection culture is growing, 'EAO Think-tank' group started

By Our own Correspondent

Paranaque, Philippines, 18 January 2016 - Last March ~ June 2015 as every six years, the General Council studied the situation of the provinces and the overall situation of the East Asia - Oceania Region. Among the operative remarks we can find quite strong invitation to foster the reflection culture within our Region.

As first step a Working paper was circulated by the EAO regional councilor and the provincials were invited to indicate some confreres for a possible 'Think-Tank' regional group between July and November 2015.

As second step the Working paper was commented by the four Salesians who became the Think-Tank group members: Fr. Eli Cruz (FIN), Fr. Frank Moloney (AUL), Fr. Anthony Dung (PGS) and Br. Hilario Seo (KOR), each of them representing one 'zone' of our Region. The group gathered together 'off line' for the first last last January 18 in the Don Bosco Center of Studies, Paranaque.

What are the fruits of this first meeting?

First is the Vision - Mission of the group:

WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE CAN DO? We are a group of people who are asked to provide “depth-things” which are firmly founded on biblical and theological foundations. We are the “Cimatti group” that raises questions for EAO provincials/delegates and suggests possible answers for given topics based on biblical and theological foundations which eventually lead to the process of inculturation.

Second is the contribution to the reflection culture in the Region.

Why? There is less interest in intellectual matter; less interest in “reading culture”; the influence of digital world; too much work. What do we need to reflect on? The task of the provincials is to provide topics and Think-Tank will provide materials which will help in the process of fostering the reflection culture. The task of the Think-Tank is to: raise questions and suggest possible answers.

Third - Think-Tank group discerned few possible relevant questions to offer to the EAO provincials

• How can we live an attractive consecrated life in the 21st century?
• How to deepen the sense of the Church and the sense of the belonging to the world wide Congregation?
• Biblical foundation of the Christian leadership - how to be father and teacher today?
• In depth reflection about the digital world and the consecrated Salesians?

All around the Salesian Congregation is felt a need to strenghten our reflection culture. In the South Asia region was recently started a group of 'Salesian writers', American regions have a joint Center for Ongoing Formation (Ecuador-Quito) with 6 full time staff members living in one house etc. We hope that our EAO Think-Tank group will stir more personal and community slant for reflecting on our daily life and mission.