austraLasia #2119
Need for vocation ministry - and a diaconate ordination of note

ROME: 7th April 2008 -- They say the Samoans and the Tongans are amongst the biggest people in the world.  If you have ever travelled on a flight from Sydney to Apia via Nuku'alofa, you'll know all about that.  It's absolutely true!  Forget the 'fat lady'. The islands that make up the archipelago that is Tonga, and slightly to the north, Samoa, host some of the grandest human beings there are - and I'm not just talking size.  I'm talking quality of human being.
    Thus it was that the Holy Spirit, 26 years ago, saw to the Salesian presence in these islands, and thus it is that April 6th 2008, saw the ordination to the diaconate of Paselio Tevaga sdb.  Paselio joins a long line of Samoans who have given their lives to God by following in the footsteps of Don Bosco. He was ordained deacon by Archbishop Petero Mataca yesterday at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Suva, Fiji.  The cathedral simply was not large enough to hold the number and (yes) the 'measure' of those who were present!  They spilled out onto the street.  Fr Mosese Vitolio Tui, Rector and novice master at Don Bosco House, Nakasi, Suva, described the event in colourful and very correct English.  He described it also as a multicultural event since men from Tonga, Fiji, Wallis and Futuna were also ordained deacon at the same time - all Religious (Marist, MSC, Columban, the latter being, not technically Religious but somewhat in that direction)!.
    It all has something directly to do with GC26 discussions today, Monday 7th in Rome.  While there's a fair stretch of water yet to be paddled, and the odd crocodile still to be shot, 'La necessità di convocare', which we are opting for in English as simply the need for a vocation ministry, was read in its second and nearly final draft today.
    It reads well, I'd have to say. There aren't too many crocodiles in this one - they inhabit the swamps of evangelisation, it seems, but vocation ministry is a felt need where the waters are calmer, and the Chapter is careful to define the need in correct terms: "This is not about responding to problems of survival of the charism", says the document in its present form "but about sharing the joy of following the Lord Jesus, staying with Don Bosco".  Vocational communities and/or aspirantates are being urged everywhere, but witness is urged as the very first vocational invitation. We are being urged to keep alive an awareness of the gift of our own vocation, in an attitude of thanksgiving.
    The whole discussion on the Brother vocation was put into clear perspective.  The Chapter has opted to speak of 'The two forms of Salesian consecrated vocation' and has resisted any efforts to isolate some special 'Brother problem' but rather to take practical steps to ensure that lack of visibility, or prejudice are scotched by a much more wholistic approach to vocational invitation, discernment and by ensuring that the Brother is a real part of everything that is at the heart of Salesian ministry to the young: "Let each community give greater value to the contribution our Brothers offer for direct presence amongst young people and in educative and pastoral communities, not just as organisers and administrators".
    But back to Paselio.  The Chapter has recognised the fertile ground of family ministry for encouraging the vocation to consecrated life (Paselio's sister is an FMA), the importance of a strong commitment to vocational work in the Province (Paselio comes out of a very obvious Salesian vocation ministry in Samoa, that has attracted large numbers of young men), planning specific vocation ministry to 'indigenous young people in areas of first evangelisation' (Paselio comes from a part of the world that has only known Christianity for 150 years).  His confrères not only in Samoa and Australia (and Fiji) rejoice in the new deacon, but I think here in Rome they can rejoice too, and not only because there are five days to go an counting....!
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Title: australasia 2119
Subject and key words: EAO Provinces AUL Samoa-Fiji SDB General GC26
Date (year): 2008
ID: 2000-2099|2119