SALELOLOGA (Samoa), HENDERSON
(Solomons), FUILORO (Timor Leste): 3 Februry
2014
-- Given
the quantity of material coming in regarding the DB
celebrations for
31st January, here is a roundup of events in three areas in
EAO's far
eastern sector: Don Bosco High School and Vocational Centre,
Salelologa, Savai'i (Samoa); Don Bosco Technical Institute,
Henderson,
Solomons; Don Bosco Jubilee Hall opening at Fuiloro, Timor
Leste. We will take
them in order of the beginning of the day, 31st January!
SALELOLOGA
Since on the morning of December 31 2011, Samoa moved to the
western
side of the International Dateline, the world’s day now starts
in
Samoa! And so it was that the world-wide celebrations of
St John
Bosco began on the morning of January 31st 2014, Samoa,
moving
westward via Fiji, New Zealand and Australia (all belonging to
the
Australian Pacific Province of Mary Help of Christians) around
the
world.
The Feast day this year occurred in the first week of school,
so in
Salelologa, on the big island of Savaii, the opening of
the school
year was combined with the festive celebration of THE
Mass of St John
Bosco, in the large Parish Church which was filled to
capacity with
parents, teachers and students. Don Bosco High
School and Vocational
Centre, Salelologa is now a College (although we are still
waiting for
the official government recognition) as the first stream
of students
reached Year 13 level. This year also saw a substantial
increase of
new students.
As usual the students' participation at the Mass was
inspiring. In his
homily Father Mosese Tui, the principal, gave a broad
outline of Don
Bosco’s life, emphasizing his great love for young people,
which is
continued by the Salesians all over the world.
During the Mass the Head Boys and Girls and the prefects
were installed, a first in the history of the “baby” College.
As usual the celebration concluded with “light refreshments “
in the
Parish hall, so no-one went home hungry since even
“light
refreshments tend to be rather filling.
HENDERSON
Salesians, Priests, religious, staff, Salesian Family members
and
well-wishers honoured St John Bosco with a thanksgiving
Eucharistic
celebration and a festive meal on 31st January at Don Bosco
Technical
Institute, Henderson.
Bishop Luciano Capelli sdb, Bishop of Gizo, presided at the
Eucharistic
celebration. He was joined by Auxiliary Bishop John Doaninoel
sm and
several other priests. "Don Bosco was the expert in young
people",
Bishop Capelli said. "He saw education not as an exclusive
right for
the bright youngster but as a possibility for all, especially
the ones
in difficulty", he continued. The singing at the Eucharist was
led by
Sr. Irene Heruta fnsp and Fr Sonny Fararjo sdb. Lively party
games were
organized by Sr Sialei Puapuaga fma.
The gathering enjoyed a delicious festive meal with a variety
of dishes
brought in by the different communities. The celebration
ended with
the cutting of the feast day cake.
FUILORO
On the Solemnity of
St John Bosco, Fuiloro saw the inauguration of the Don Bosco
Jubilee
Hall. It is first biggest hall in the ITM Vice-Province.
It was
financed by the Attaché for Civil Society, Office of
the Prime Minister
of Timor Leste. The project itself was coordinated by the
rector of the
community, Fr. Jose Vattaparambil, an Indian missionary.
His intention
is to remember the Bicentenary of the Birth of the Saint of
the Young,
the 65th anniversary of the Salesian Presence in Timor Leste,
and the
25th anniversary of the Don Bosco Agriculture School at
Fuiloro.
Fr. Joao Paulino Aparicio Guterres, the ITM provincial,
presided at the
Holy Eucharist, concelebrated with the Salesian priests from
that
community and the parish priest of Lautem. In his
homily, Fr.
Joaoemphasized the importance of consolidating ones faith and
knowledge
in God, for anyone serving young people. He affirmed that
young people
are key players in the State and the Church's future. That is
why State
and Church should cooperate well for the same purpose, the
formation
and the education of the young.
Fr. Jose Vattaparambil also said that we should have faith in
God and
trust each other. It is with such principles that we have been
able to
realize the impossible dream, such as building the Don Bosco
Jubilee
Hall.
For his part, the Deputy Prime Minister, Fernando
Lasama,
congratulated the Salesians on their work and promised that
the Timor
Leste Government will always give its support for the good of
all
Timorese people. And finally, the President of the National
Parliament
also said that by building the structure we hoped to build on
our
growth as human beings.
Every SDB community in Timor Leste organized activities and
novenas on
the occasion of this feast day. The Provincial himself
celebrated the
feast in Fuiloro and the vice provincial, Fr. Apolinario Neto
went to
the community in Laga for celebrations. In Dili, the
celebration was
lead by Fr Manuel Pinto, one of the council members.
