austraLasia #2142

Note on Myanmar: it has been difficult to obtain news from Salesians in Myanmar, due obviously to the chaotic situation there for telecommunications. What we do know is that despite some damage to the Provincial House (details not available as to what, how much) there has been no death or injury amongst confrères in any of the communities (most not located in the immediate disaster zone other than in Yangon itself).  But of course the world's media have made us aware of the calamitous situation amongst the population generally with widespread death and destruction.  As other news comes to hand of our own situation we will let you know.

Mongolia 1998-2008....

ULAANBAATAR: 8th May 2008 -- Ten years after the late Fr Vecchi made a visit to Mongolia in April 2008, to look at the possibility of a Salesian presence there, the new Missions Councillor, Fr Klement, paid his first visit in that capacity, though he had made several as Regional Councillor.  Fr Vecchi's visit was followed up by the KOR provincial at the time. Then in 1999 the mission was formally accepted and the first missionary arrived there in February 2001, after the Mission was formally assigned to VIE province
    From April 25-28 this year Fr Klement had the opportunity to meet all 8 Salesians currently making up the presence in Mongolia. They are an international lot. The VIE provincial had planned that 50% of the confrères would be from Vietnam and the remainder from other nationalities.  It has been a good strategy.
    The most recent visit, then, was by way of thanksgiving for the first decade.  There are now three canonical communities established, thus making the Salesian presence amongst the largest if not the largest of the missionary communities of the Church which is under the leadership of the Prefect Apostolic Mons. Wenceslaus Padilla CICM. Between the Salesian parishes, a total of around 100 people annually seek baptism.  The most recent foundation in the north, at Darkhan (2005) already has a fledgling parish community of 87 Catholics.  There are approximately 560 Catholics throughout the nation currently.
    The Salesian charism with its emphasis on education is much appreciated.  The first past pupils have already found their way into the ranks of teachers and educators and are the 'cornerstone' of our work at the Youth Villa in Amgalan (now about to move some 5 kms away due to the lack of stability of the ground where they are now). DBTS in Ulaanbaatar, with some 200 students and a newly commissiioned gymnasium, provides jobs for almost all graduates after they take on the job training in the numerous international companies represented in the Capital. The Darkhan DB Education Centre has expanded into newly purchased land and a new building (a former ice cream factory near the main railway station. The Centre and assoicated parish is regarded as one of the most vibrant of the Catholic communities in the country.  The work is very much enhanced by the presence and activity of the Missionaries of Charity (Mother Theresa).  Indeed, as there was no Catholic in this region up until 2004, the growth of the Church in Darkhan is fascinating.
    The Mongolian Church is sending its first young candidate to the major seminary in Korea. He is 25 years of age.  A Mongolian-English Catholic Dictionary has been produced (1000 key terms), local catechists are now being formed with the special task of deepening the faith in the post-baptismal period of catechesis.
    The Salesians have begun to form the first likely Salesian Cooperators in Ulaanbaatar with the possibility that the first three will make their promise later this month at the Macau East Asia Regional Congress.  Thanks to the international network, Salesians are also contributing to the Mongolian migrant worker ministry elsewhere, since these workers are now found in Seoul, South Korea (some 40,000 of them).  Salesians in Mongolia are helping in the preparation of lay Mongolian missionaries who can be a bridge between the Archdiocesan migrant ministry and these workers.  Recently the Salesian Sisters have set up a community of three Sisters.  They are looking for land to begin a school.
    Mongolia is undergoing very rapid urban growth with all the joys and sorrows that come from such. Ulaanbaatar now has a population of over a million and is booming with Japanese and Korean vehicles, new housing estates and hotels.  The Councillor's reflection on all this is that Thanksgiving cannot be enough for the contribution already made by the Salesian Family to the foundation of a new Church in the land og Genghis Khan.  The immense challenges of language, a post-communist society, the harsh climate have by no means dampened the apostolic zeal and community warmth of the confrères.
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Title: australasia 2142
Subject and key words: EAO Provinces VIE Mongolia
Date (year): 2008
ID: 2000-2099|2142