austraLasia 1004
Salesian Family - Happy Days
ROME: 21st January 2005 -- In truth, the correct appellation
for the gathering of the Salesian Family in Rome this year is 'Salesian Family
Spirituality Days' but they might just as easily be termed 'happy days' - what
else could one expect when several hundred people from around the world gather
to 'rejuvenate the face of the Church, mother of our Faith'?
From an East Asia-Oceania perspective these
days have been interesting, bringing together with the larger groups of the
Salesian Family several other groups, some of them born of the great missionary
spirit that gave birth to the Salesian Family in our region. The Sisters
of Charity of Miyazaki, for example, are well represented, along with the
Salesian Provincial of Japan, Fr Puppo. It was some consolation for Fr
Puppo to be surrounded by not only the Sisters from Japan but also the wider
Salesian Family, as only the day before yesterday he learned of the death of his
sister in Argentina.
Also present, for the first time, are the
Michaelites, a congregation of priests (there are Sisters as well) who were
founded by a Polish ex-Salesian in the time of Don Rua. The Michaelites
(after St Michael the Archangel) have foundations in Papua New Guinea and
Australia. They are fairly recent full members of the Salesian Family and
the very good news is that their founder will be beatified this coming
April.
The Missionary Sisters of Mary Help of
Christians, founded by Bishop Ferrando in North East India, are part of this
year's gathering, along with the Daughters of the Queenship of Mary Immaculate,
founded in Bangkok by Fr Charles Della Torre.
The Salesian Family currently numbers 23
groups with a further 23 at least in the process of admission. This
wonderful flowering of the Salesian spirit and mission includes equally
wonderful examples of Salesian holiness. No wonder these have been 'happy
days' for the Family.
The Rector Major's Strenna for 2005 was
shown last night to the entire assembly - it is available in DVD format in 6 or
7 languages. The event was filmed at the Redemptoris Mater chapel in the
Vatican. Enough said - readers should take the opportunity to view the DVD
available in each Salesian community in the Congregation. But the message
of the Strenna was received with obvious joy and excitement by the gathered
Family in Rome last night, on the eve of the Feast of Laura Vicuna.
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