1192 'Friendship is the best evangelisation': Darkhan showing its fruits
austraLasia 1192
'Friendship is the best evangelisation': Darkhan
showing its fruits.
DARKHAN (Mongolia): 8th July 2005 -- A summer of
sorts has struggled into place in Darkhan in Northern Mongolia.
Officially summer lasts 110 days; in practice it may be from
about middle of June till end of July. Fr James Cheruvathur and
Fr Andrew Trung, the two Salesians in the incipient
community, write that they are happy to see that it is 'getting greener
and warmer' now that summer is here, 'warm' meaning around 15 degrees
centigrade. Their real joy, however, is for other reasons.
Now just in their fifth month in Darkhan, the two
Salesians report that they have 20 children coming daily for English
lessons, and some older youth for music class. There is an
Oratory where the youngsters come happily, and from here begin the
invitations to 'come and see' the Sunday liturgy at 10 a.m. As a
result, they can now boast a parish community made up of the children
who accept the invitation and about 25 others adults - members of
staff, their friends and relations.
It is a small start but, says Fr James, 'Friendship
is the best evangelisation'. He spends time on the road, simply
meeting and greeting. Young people are hard to avoid in Darkhan,
or anywhere in Mongolia, since according to official statistics, under
20's make up more than 50% of the population. And like anywhere
else, they are curious. It appears that they, and their parents
with them, are much attracted to the friendly and outgoing approach of
the two Salesians.
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