DILI: 8 December 2012 --
The
Salesians in East Timor began their Retreat on 25 November
last led by
Fr Piotr Gozdalski from the Economer General's administration
office.
His reflections focused on the person of Don Bosco and his
spirituality.
The East Timor Salesian retreats traditionally take place in a
different location each year. This year the first group
went to
Fuiloro (25 November - 1 December). The second group began on
2
December and concluded on 8 December with the priestly
ordination of 4
Salesian Deacons. The number of retreatants involved has been
64: 34 in
the first group and 30 in the second. This second group
included the
deacons as they prepared for their priestly ordination
on the Feast of
the Immaculate Conception. Other than the usual mediations
offered by
the preacher, therefore, there was an additional conference on
the
priestly life for these four, given by Fr João de Deus,
a great
Portuguese missionary in the Vice Province.
Fr Gozdalski offered two meditations a day on Don Bosco: his
formation,
apostolic passion for poor and neglected youth, the secret of
his
success, his missionary activity, Salesian holiness, and Don
Bosco's
Preventive System today. Nevertheless the core of the
preaching was
always Jesus Christ. Don Bosco, as the preacher often reminded
us, is
an instrument for coming to Jesus.
Other moments of community prayer helped retreatants to
rediscover
themselves and their relationship with God. There was an
hour's
adoration of the Blessed Sacrament each evening, as well as
community
rosary and good night. the atmosphere of prayer and
recollection
certainly helped this course of spiritual exercises to be a
success.
