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4982(I)_What kind of Salesians for the Youth of Timor Leste? (Part I)

January 17, 2019

By Fr. Apolinario Neto Ornai, SDB
TLS Viceprovince Superior

Dili, Timor Leste, 14 January 2019 -- We give thanks to God that last 10-13 January we concluded the first part of the 2019 Provincial Chapter, with many fruits. The process of PC 2019 was very enriching with sharing and discussion by groups and in the Assembly in the presence of some observers of the Salesian Family and representatives from the Salesian Youth Movement too. The PC observers were active in discussion but not voting. Really it was a very enriching experience:

We were able to conclude discussion of the topics of the General Chapter theme (3 key topics and also the juridical topic)s.
We were able to draw up the vision-mission statement of our TLS Vice Province.
We were able to revise our provincial directory.
We were able to elect the delegate and substitute for the GC 28. The delegate is Fr Mario de Sousa and substitute is Fr Illidio Correia.

However, since we still need to edit all chapter documents for properly presentation, we decide to continue the PC 2019 with a second meeting from 6 Feb (afternoon) to 8 Feb 8 (morning) again here in Dili - Don Bosco Comoro. During the second part of the PC 2019 we will finalize the PC documents, and discuss some specific items of our TLS vice-province, and form a Youth Ministry Team to work out the OPP (Overall Provincial Plan) and SEPP (Salesian Educative Pastoral Plan) for our Viceprovince.

The first part of PC 2019 took place in a very good family and fraternal spirit of sharing, discernment and decision-making. Morning prayers and Mass was always celebrated with the postnovices. Group discussions and assembly always with the observers present. Evening prayers and good night were separate from the postnovices. The only one good night talk with postnovices was given by F. Joao de Deus, our great missionary.