Fr
Wong
concludes Extraordinary Visitation in East Timor
DILI: 21 May 2012 --- Fr Andrew Wong, sdb,
regional
superior for East Asia-Oceania, finished his Extraordinary
Visitation
to East Timor on 18 May 2012. At the conclusion of this visit,
made in
the name of the Rector Major, there was a Mass of thanksgiving
in the
chapel at CENTEC (centro Tecnico- Comoro, Dili) community. Fr
Wong
presided and members of the Salesian Family were also present.
As well
as the Provincial, Bishop Hilton Deakin, retired Auxiliary
Bishop of
Melbourne also conclebrated. He was in the country to receive
a medal
of honour from the Government of East Timor for the part he
played in
the nation's struggle for independence.
During the visit, which began on 6 April 2012, Fr Andrew Wong
was able
to visit all eleven Salesian communities in East Timor. He
also met
members of the Salesian Family and spoke with the Salesians'
closest
collaborators. Everyone was happy to see Fr Wong again since
he had
been Provincial in ITM previously. It has been considered
amongst the
best of the Extraordinary Visitations since Fr Andrew Wong had
the
opportunity to meet everyone with time to talk with them and
since he
already knew the culture well and spoke Tetun, East Timor's
national
language. All of this contributed in no small measure the
success of
the visit.
In his final message, the regional superior emphasised the
importance
of, indeed the fact that nothing can substitute the person of
Jesus
Christ in the life and activity of each member of the Salesian
Family.
"Without Jesus we are nothing," Fr Wong said. Jesus is always
present
in our life one way or another even though at times we do not
recognise
it.
