DILI: 23rd October '04 --  'I feel I am in Paradise, here among you, young people of Timor.  And as Don Bosco of today, I tell you that I will give you everything to my last breath'.  It was something of a challenge to know which language to convey these thoughts in; the Rector Major chose Spanish, and asked Fr Callejas, provincial, to translate. (East Timor has 20 languages, 19 of them 'living', with Portuguese as the official language and Tetum Prasa, a creole, widely spoken).

    The visit began early morning after a short flight from Darwin (Aus).  Welcome in the VIP lounge at the airport, then the main and enthusiastic youthful, musical welcome from hundreds of youngsters at the Provincial House, Comoro, not far from the airport.  Then Fr Pascual Chávez met with the provincial council, rectors and heads of provincial commissions, some 16 confreres in all, for an exchange which began with the fervent thanks of the Rector Major for the life of each confrere lived within, given to, the Congregation.

    He reminded them that their greatest asset is Don Bosco, so fascinating and attractive and able to open hearts and doors the world over, so we love him, imitate him and spread his charism.  The corollary to all this?  'Please take care of the vocation of each of the confreres in your community.  The future of Religious Life depends on the kind of communities we establish'.

    Fr Chávez gave the Rectors present some practical advice: (1) Read the Memoirs of the Oratory...and to your confreres, annually!  You will find answers to your future there! (2) Develop your own personal project of life (3) Restart the 'friendly talk' tradition in the community. And then - the secret of the Congregation is to be amongst the young.  We are not managers, we are educators.

    There followed a long and interesting exchange of question-answer which deserves an austraLasia of its own - to follow.