3854_The 'austraLasia' news – Back to the Future

3854_The 'austraLasia' news – Back to the Future

December 31, 2015

By Bro. Hilario Seo, SDB

The austraLasia, news & Boscolink is becoming more and more a visible icon of our EAO region. Since the launch of a new BOSCOLINK website (www.bosco.link) on 3rd February 2015 there is an average of one daily news reaching out to 1300+ email addresses of Salesian Family members across the East Asia - Oceania Region. Thanks to all of the contributing correspondents, thanks to the constant effort of our editor!

According the Social Communication sector of the Congregation, the austraLasia news – Boscolink is quite unique tool that helps to strengthen the sense of belonging to the Salesian Congregation in one specific Region. For the 320+ news items shared during past 11 months did contribute not less than 130 different correspondents: 100+ Salesians including also our novices and 30+ members of Salesian Family and few lay mission partners. Especially we are grateful for the direct support of many SDB provincials (GIA, MYM) and hard-work of many Social Communication delegates (VIE, VIE-Mongolia, PGS, KOR, ITM, GIA, FIN, FIS and AUL) or other institutional figures in PGS, THA-Cambodia, CIN.

Since the launch of the new BOSCOLINK (www.bosco.link) on Feb 3, 2015 were shared more than 320 news items. Do you know, that

  • The first austraLasia news was sent in November 1997 after a regional encounter of East Asia – Australia provincials and social communication delegates in Batulao (Philippines)?

  • Thanks to the patient and constant hard-work of three editors during past 18 years were sent to the EAO Salesians and Salesian Family members almost 4000 news items?

  • More than half of the austraLasia news during 2015 were translated in Vietnamese and are available on the SDB provincial website (www.donboscoviet.net)?

  • Many of the austraLasia news (busy) readers browse the titles and scroll the meaningful photos, confirming thus that ‘Photo is the most effective communication tool’?

  • The official ANS news (www.infoans.org) does select almost every second day one austraLasia news item and get it translated into 6 main languages of the Congregation?

  • The new Boscolink website server and the austraLasia news system are supported material and personal resource by KOR Province?

  • Since last October the austraLasia news items are shared also through Facebook (Boscolink)?

  • Some of the news items inspire even for some action or for another personal sharing?

How can you contribute to the growth of this amazingly simple but inspiring service in the coming year of 2016?

  • First of all spread the voice about this Salesian news service in your community or Salesian family group (Salesian Cooperators, Past Pupils, Sisters, ....)

  • Share some relevant news during your good night or good morning talk in your community or work

  • Contribute from you ordinary educative or pastoral life experience with few nice photos and simple news that will answer the 6 basic journalist questions: Who? What? When? Where? How? Why? – with a simple background story, personal sharing or assessment. Then send it straight to the austraLasia news editor: eao@bosco.link

One creative austraLasia news power point presentation (made in FIN - Canlubang) is available on the BOSCOLINK: resource