austraLasia #2373

MYM's 'take' on the 150th

YANGON: 7th March 2009 -- For any number of reasons it takes a little time for official news to filter its way through from MYM, so no surprise that yesterday we received a very full report on events for 31st January and the start of the celebrations for the 150th. Of course, the events on that day follow a similar pattern to many around the world, especially for the formation communities - and MYM is blessed with good numbers in this regard in relative terms. The Provincial, the Archbishops (Mandalay and Yangon) all featured in these celebrations which were focused on two areas, the capital, Yangon and Aniskana-Pyin Oo Lwin in the geographical centre of the country
    But of particular interest is the local 'take' on all this. This is the 70th year of the presence of Salesians on Burmese soil. The confreres have been able to trace hints of their beginnings right back to the Founder himself! BM vol 2., chap 22, pgg 161:  Don Bosco's desire to come as a missionary himself to Ava and Pegu as early as 1842 (the small kingdoms that made up what we know as Burma or Myanmar today, before their annexation by the British).  His Sons eventually came to Burma in 1939.
    During the celebrations for the 150th and bearing in mind the 70th as well, the Salesian Family in MYM have looked at some of the implications for them today: the apostolate of the Press, the study of languages as exemplified by the first missionaries, especially the WA and Chinese languages in today's context of the WA mission bordering with China.
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Title: australasia 2373
Subject and key words: EAO Provinces MYM
Date (year): 2009
ID: 2000-2099|2373