austraLasia #3224
EAO and the Help of Christians
II
EAO:
24May 2013 --
From the former Rector at the novitiate in Anisakan, Fr edward
Sein
Myint, the following: "Our Vice-Province of Mary, Help of
Christians,
was inaugurated on August 6th, 2004. The Marian Shrine to MHC
was built
in the late ‘80s and since then every 24th May is a Day of
Celebration
with many pilgrims coming from different places in Burma,
increasing
yearly. There is a Solemn High Mass with Salesians &
diocesan
clergy (sometimes with the Religious Profession integrated),
Procession, Benediction, and a solemn lunch for laity,
Religious and
Clergy. Frequently, the Archbishop of Mandalay (in whose
Archdiocese is
Anisakan) graces the occasion when he is is available. Our
Province is
young (average age 33) increasing yearly with at least 5 newly
Professed (either on 23rd May, or 24th May). In fact,
yesterday we had
9 professions, and 5 new entries into the Novitiate".
So, four not
three circumscriptions in our region dedicated to the Help of
Christians!
Ordinations in Jakarta (ITM),
by Fr Chito Padilla
"The
Feast of our Blessed Mother showered down many blessings today
on the
ITM Vice-Province because of two memorable events: the
Perpetual
Profession of two Timorese Salesian Brothers in Fatumaca, East
Timor,
and the Presbyteral Ordination of two Indonesian Salesian
Deacons in
Jakarta, Indonesia.
The Salesian Delegation of Indonesia has all the reasons to be
joyful
and thankful to the Lord for its two new priests. The
Eucharistic
Celebration for the Solemnity of Mary Help of Christians and
the
Ordination of Priests was held in the Parish Church of St.
John Bosco
in Danau Sunter, North Jakarta. It started at 17.00 hrs., and
was
presided over by the Archbishop of Jakarta, Ignatius Suharyo,
who
conferred the dignity of priesthood by the laying on of hands
to Fr.
Agustinus Catur Prastawa and Fr. Petrus Laurensius Adie
Prinanto, thus
becoming the 19th and 20th Indonesian Salesian Priests. Around
40
priests concelebrated, and around 500 people filled the Church
to
capacity, mostly members of the Salesian Family, the parents
and
relatives of the new priests, the prenovices from Tigaraksa,
the
postnovices of Sunter, and the parishioners. The young people
of the
parish with the prenovices provided an excellent choir for the
occasion, with the boys of the parish serving at the altar
with the
postnovices.
In his simple message for the occasion the Archbishop first
congratulated the newly ordained and expressed the wish that
their
presence and pastoral service may be “a source of salvation
for many
people and the glorification of God’s name…. May St. John
Bosco always
be an inspiration for both of them to grow in the priesthood
and in the
service that their Congregation will entrust to them…” He
thanked the
parents and families of the new priests for entrusting their
sons to
the Salesian Congregation and encouraging them to follow their
calling,
reminded the people that the family is the seedbed of vocation
and
thanked also all those involved in the preparation and smooth
execution
of the plans for the ordination ceremony. Alluding to the
Feast, after
recounting the dream of Don Bosco about the two pillars
(Devotion to
the Eucharist and Devotion to Mary Help of Christians) to
which the
ship representing the Church is anchored safely, he invited
the two new
priests to be “like little Christs” in their ministry so that
they may
bring salvation to the people of this age in spite of all the
challenges the Church today is facing, the culture of life to
a world
where the culture of death is so much experienced.
For their motto, Fr. Catur and Fr. Adie chose “The harvest is
great,
but the labourers are few.” (Mt. 9:37) Fr. Catur explained
before the
end of the Mass why they chose this motto. It expresses the
attention
of the Lord Jesus for the people who were like sheep without a
shepherd, and so these words encourages them to answer his
call to be
His workers. Again, like the Bishop, he thanked all those who
made this
day possible, especially their parents, who cared so much for
them and
supported them in their vocation. The Provincial Delegate also
informed
those who came for the celebration where they will be sent to
be
“labourers of the Master” – Fr. Catur will be one of the
formators in
the Postnovitiate in Wisma SDB Sunter, and Fr. Adie will also
be a
formator in the Novitiate of Don Bosco Sumba, and share his
expertise
in computer for the students of the Don Bosco Training Centre
there.
On beings asked about the role of Mary Help of Christians in
his
vocation, Fr. Adie, as he is popularly known, said, “I can say
that
Mary is the one who led me to enter the Salesian Congregation.
After
every mass, I used to pray with my mother in front of the
grotto of
Mary in the Postnovitiate. I always prayed that I may be a
good
Christian. Many years passed before I realized that God is
calling me
for something more: to be a Salesian. So I entered the
Salesian
Seminary. During the years of my formation, my devotion to
Mary Help of
Christians grew. I wanted to be a worthy son of so noble a
mother. And
now that I am a Salesian Priest, I would like to spread more
the
devotion to her in Indonesia.”
Fr. Catur, on his part, said, “Who is Mama Mary for me? I
started to
know about Mama Mary when I was teenager, when I entered
college.
Before that I did not know anything about her because I was
not yet
baptized. Now, she is everything to me, she is my perfect
model of
discipleship. She teaches me to do everything in accordance
with God’s
will. As her child, I surrendered my difficulties to her and
she
listened to my prayers. She helped me to overcome my problems
and
assisted me with her motherly protection, leading me on the
right
way.”
Let us pray for these new priests that through their ministry
they may
be like Don Bosco, always and everywhere educators in the
faith, and
'signs of Christ the Good Shepherd, especially by preaching
the Gospel
and administering the sacraments.' (Salesian Constitutions
45)."
