3726_Rejuvenating the most southern EAO presence!

By Fr. Václav Klement, SDB

Almost 70 years ago (1946) was founded the most southern EAO community in Tasmania Hobart – northern suburb of Glenorchy with the Savio Boys Town. It’s the most remote southern periphery in the Australia-Pacific (AUL) province as well of the whole EAO Region.

At the heart of the Salesian presence are five Salesians (Rector – Fr. Frank Bertagnolli, average - 75 years of age) – four priests and one brother, all of them still actively involved in the mission and daily present among the young. Thanks to the very humble economic and social background of this place, Don Bosco feels really at home. At the territory of St John’s Parish are living majority of poor people, about 10% are recently arrived migrants and refugees, mainly from Africa.

As all other Salesian schools in Australia, the Dominic College (coeducation, year 1-10, 960 students, one of 36 Catholic schools in Tasmania) has its first lay principal, energetic Ms. Beth Gilligan and the whole leadership is grateful for the active presence of Salesians at the campus. Thanks to government support the Dominic College has many renewed facilities as well the Magone Center that cares for students who have difficulty to adjust to the mainstream system.

Tasmania Catholic Church is among the weakest territories in Australia (Catholics are below national average of 26%), at present there are 5 seminarians (2 Aussie and 3 from Asian countries) and the new archbishop invited many diocesan clergy and some women religious from overseas.

Very few young people take part in the parish liturgy on Sunday. Catholic schools are the main venue where the young Tasmanians can meet Jesus, his Gospel and the Catholic Church. Thanks to OzBosco (=Australian Salesian Youth Day) held in Dominic College in 2013, the youth ministry received a new inspiration. The ‘Don Bosco Youth Group’ composed of Dominic College Past pupils started in 2014, some youth are in touch with the Cagliero Project (missionary exposure and volunteers) and the ASYM (Australian Salesian Youth Mentors) are involved as well.

We wish the celebrations of 70th anniversary of this most southern Salesian presence in the EAO will help this rejuvenating effort of Tasmania – Glenorchy Salesian presence.