austraLasia #2828
Bosconian enjoyment in the Lenten Season
by Bro. Moses
Paluku, sdb
TETERE
(SI): 25 March 2011 -- Some important events have
adorned the Lenten Season at DBRTC and at Christ the King
Parish. In fact, the Ash Wednesday came with a new journey
of forty days of fasting, prayer and almsgiving. It has been
a discovery and a new experience for a number of the DBRTC
students to have a sign of the cross marked on their
forehead with ashes. ‘‘I am a Catholic, but we have never
celebrated any Ash Wednesday in Ulawa because rarely we
receive a priest’’, stated one student. ‘’ Me, I'm not
Catholic, I'm SDA and in our church we don’t use ashes, but
I come here to Don Bosco and I received it because
others did so,” explained the other one. Before and after
the reception of the ashes, the meaning of this gesture was
made clear to the students during morning talks by the
Salesians.
On the first Friday of the Lenten season,
11th March, Bro. Jesus Garcia sdb, economer of PNG-SI
Delegation, paid a visit to the Salesian confreres and
students as well as the Don Bosco schools in Solomon
Islands. He spent the first part of his tour at Don Bosco
Tetere. He was delighted to see the simplicity with which
the Salesians lived and the affection addressed to each one
of the students at DBRTC. “When you live in such a place you
value the great endurance, zeal and perseverance the first
missionaries had”, he said at the table during lunch.
In the evening, Bro. Jess shared a Solomons delicious meal
together with the students. The food was hosted for his
arrival. Then the moment of entertainment came. His arrival
coincided with the birthday celebration of the students born
in March. Custom*, modern and religious dances and songs
were performed to entertain everyone. The various dances
presented by the students and staff members, and the
distinctive qualities of talents reflected the different and
spectacular cultural traits and traditions of Solomon
Islanders when it comes on to “welcoming guests.”
On Thursday, 17th March, the whole school
was in a festive mood with the opening of the Rector’s Cup
for 2011. The tournament is slowly
becoming a tradition for
the DBRTC. This year it coincided with the launching of the
New school Logo, standing in front of the school compound
for everyone to see. The ribbon of the new school logo was
cut by Fr. Rector, Fr. Michael, Sr. Anne Maria, fma, and Mr.
Richard, one of our staff members who made the picture a
reality. On the same day, the Rector launched the new
motto of the school: “Strive to be Great”. The
Rector’s Cup had gathered together in five clusters namely
Mathew, Luke, Mark, John and Paul in different colored
uniforms for their marching and cheering. Each cluster has
divided its members accordingly in three teams for Soccer,
Volleyball and Basketball. The ceremony ended with three
happy cheers and a community dance to announce the
commencement of the games. The meaning of the School’s Logo
and Motto was explained by Fr. Joseph, the Principal. He
wished the players well with these words “May everyone
strive to win and grasp the trophy at the end of the
championship".
* Custom or kastom in Melanesian Pijin: What
distinguishes the local culture from other cultures (e.g.
from European culture). A useful and enjoyable
reference for Melanesian Pijin is
http://wn.com/Pijin_language
_________________
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