austraLasia #2090

"We would like to make complete the face of Don Bosco"

ROME: 10th March 2008 -- Some 75 GC26 members along with the Vicar of the Rector Major and 5 members of the Central Council of the Don Bosco Volunteers (DBV) met yesterday evening in Rome (Pisana).  The 75 were mainly from the English and French speaking regions of the Congregation.  The aim of the meeting, requested by the DBV themselves, was to share and make known 'this wonderful vocation in the Salesian Family'.
    For some who were present, the information and sharing was an eye-opener.  These consecrated Salesian women now have 1277 consecrated members throughout the world, and they see themselves as completing 'the face of Don Bosco' in the world.  133 of their members live in Asia.  Africa has just a few - 21.  They have many professions amongst their ranks; one of the Central Council members from Slovakia is a doctor.  Very many of their members are involved directly in education.
    Other than a presentation of the profile of the DBV, there was a time for open questions amongst participants.  It was the first opportunity many provincials have had to ask practical questions about the secular Salesian consecration these women represent: what would be expected of a provincial on behalf of the DBV vocation, how to follow up initial formation in places where the vocation is not well known amongst Salesians SDB, how to respect the 'reserve' (the DBV do not readily reveal their identity in the public forum) and at the same time promote the vocation in practice in the provinces, the availability of materials in English for formators and assistants.
    A third segment of the evening was given over to opportunity for provinces to arrange visits to provinces or the region, to ask for materials by way of vocation leaflets or the DBV magazine 'Crescere'.
    Meanwhile, Monday 10th March sees a resumption of GC26 Commission meetings.  Later today we will offer an overview of how the Commissions are handling the Working Document which readers would have read by now, possibly months ago. A new item that might well be read now in conjunction with it, and available from the GC26 site, is the Presentation of the Working Document which was put presented to the Assembly on Friday.
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 AustraLasia is an email service for the Salesian Family of Asia Pacific.  It also functions as an agency for ANS based in Rome.  For queries please contact admin@bosconet.aust.com . Use Bosconet-wiki to be interactive. RSS feeds - just go to Bosconet, click on austraLasia 2008 in the sidebar. You will see the RSS orange icon in your browser address bar - add it from there.  Avail yourself of the Salesian Digital Library at at http://sdl.sdb.org

Title: australasia 2090
Subject and key words: SDB General, DBV,
Date (year): 2008
ID: 2000-2099|2090