HUA
HIN: 22 October
2013
-- The
Social Communications Department has organised a regular
series of
meetings throughout the Salesian world, region by region, over
the six
year period 2008-2014. Currently the EAO Salesian
Communication
Delegates or others appointed by their province are meeting at
Hua Hin,
Thailand. This effectively rounds off the regional meetings of
the kind
prior to GC 27. The delegates are meeting from Monday 21
October to
Thursday 24 October. A central feature of these meetings
is to review
progress in the implementation of the revised (after GC26)
Salesian
Social Communication System (SSCS) which offers guidelines for
communication activities and formation of the Salesian as a
communicator.
The Provincial of Thailand, Fr. Paul Prasert welcomed Fr
Filiberto
Gonzales and the other 18 delegates and members of the Social
Communications Commissions from the provinces belonging to the
East
Asia-Oceania Region. The initial impression generated during
the
greetings and discussions of this group coming from diverse
cultures
and nations was one of openness, warmth, cheerfulness and
optimism,
thanks to the generous hospitality of the Thai confreres which
has
helped create such an atmosphere.
Fr Filiberto relayed the greetings of the Rector Major and the
other
superiors in the Generalate in Rome, mindful of the unity that
all the
Salesians share in the charismatic vocation of St John Bosco,
communicator and apostle of the young. In addition to the
SSCS, the
meeting is looking at the situation of the provinces, to adapt
a
proactive approach that would foster teamwork and
collaboration in
their respective Social Communication commissions, within the
province
and among the provinces of the EAO.
EAO's 11 circumscriptions (including provinces, vice provinces
and
delegations) are represented except for Myanmar that had some
difficulty. Cambodia and Japan have sent more than one
participant in
view of involving lay collaborators more closely in the
Salesian Social
Communication System. The meeting will also consider the task
of
documenting artistic and cultural heritage in places where
Salesians
are present, the preparations for the bicentennial
celebrations and how
Salesians should behave when they use the Social networks.
The first day concluded with the celebration of Mass, followed
by the
welcome dinner. Students from the adjacent school also came to
offer
traditional welcome dances and present each participant with a
garland
of flowers.
