austraLasia #3449

 
Provincial Installation FIN
and other items
9 June 2014 -- One day shy of celebrating the Solemn Feast of the Pentecost, our confreres and the Salesian family of the Philippine-North Province (FIN) received a precious gift in the person of Fr  Anthony Paul Bicomong, SDB, who was installed as its new Provincial Superior.

The installation took place at the beginning of the Holy Mass. Before outgoing FIN Provincial Fr Eli Cruz and before the congregation, Fr  Paul professed the Creed in Latin. 

Nearly three decades ago, en route to earning his masters degree in Philosophy, he wrote his thesis entitled The Life of Real Relationship in Martin Buber.  In his first ever homily as provincial, he waxed philosophical by quoting at length his favorite existential philosopher, Buber.  He then emphasized on the necessity of having a solid relationship with the Lord and with one another.

After the homily, he installed 11 newly appointed rectors, one of whom is his very own biological brother, Fr. Jun Bicomong, SDB. 

Two Past FIN Provincials—Fr Francis Gustilo (International Theological Commission past member) and Fr Andy Wong (fresh from a full 6-year term as EAO Regional Superior and now rector of Salesian Pontifical University in Jerusalem )—were present for the ceremony.

Fr. James T. Ferry, MM, Episcopal Vicar for Religious of the Archdiocese of Manila and FIS Provincial Fr George Militante, SDB also came to witness the event.

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Of interest is this new parish newsletter from St John Bosco's Parish Sta Rosa, Laguna FIN.  The PP, Fr Macroxas decided to ask a theology student from Parañaque, who was completing his summer assignment at the parish, to be editor-in-chief of the projected new 'newsletter'.  It is a 12 page effort, and if you flick through the pages on ISSUU and compare it with other mags you can find there, it stands out as a rather good effort!  Looks like deacon-to-be Donnie Duchin Duya has a social communications career ahead of him! (Not all dioceses in the world celebrate World Communications Day around this time, but certainly those in the Philippines do, and the newsletter launch was part of that on this occasion).



And finally, a word from our sponsor, which follows on nicely from the above!  Fr Klement has sent out a 'Good Night' thought for the region which includes the following:

They were amazed and astonished. 'Surely,' they said, 'all these men speaking are Salesians?

How does it happen that each of us hears them in his own native language? Japanese, Chinese, Koreans and Filipinos; people from Vietnam, Thailand and Myanmar, East Timor and Indonesia, Australia and Samoa, Mongolia and the parts of Cambodia and Hong Kong; residents of  Taiwan -  old Catholics and converts alike - Pakistanis and Laotians, we hear them preaching in our own language about the marvels of God.' Everyone was amazed and perplexed; they asked one another what it all meant.