HUA HIN: 8 August 2005 -- The 'Asia 2' region for
the Volunteers of Don Bosco began their regional retreat yesterday,
Sunday 7th August, at Hua Hin. It will continue until the 12th.
Participants are drawn from Korea, Thailand, Macau, Hong Kong and
Vietnam and comprise all professed members of the group plus 1st, 2nd
and 3rd year aspirants, a term which would be somewhat equivalent to
the sdb novitiate. The Ecclesiastical Assistant, a Salesian, from
each group is also taking part in the retreat. All in all a group
of 60 or more. The regional assistant is Fr Simon Lam, vice
provincial of China province.
There are two zones in this VDB region. 'Asia
2' as described above and 'Asia 1' comprising the Philippines and
Australia (Melbourne). There is also a Tokyo group directly
depending on Rome for the moment. Altogether within the
boundaries of the Salesian EAO region there are 120 VDB members.
They owe their existence in this area to the zeal of Fr Gaetano Nicosia
a 91 year old member of the China province in Macau, immediately
following the Second Vatican Council. Worldwide the VDB now
number 1290 and are preparing for their 2007 World Assembly, focused on
the theme of communion in the local group. They speak of
'communion' rather than 'community' since women who are Volunteers of
Don Bosco do not live in community. They may come together on
average twice a month for a day of recollection and a day of formation.
The one Salesian circumscription in the region that
does not have VDB members is ITM, but that is about to change!
Their General Councillor for Asia has just completed a whirlwind visit
to the vice-province, beginning in Jakarta at the Salesian St Yohannes
Bosco parish, where the majority of parishioners are Chinese
speaking. The Councillor speaks Chinese, as well as English and
Italian. She then moved on to the SDB First professions at
Tigaraksa and seized the opportunity to address some 40+ postnov ices
on the secular consecrated vocation of the VDB. Then it was on to
Dili in Timor Lorosae (East Timor) where she travelled through the
country and stopped off at SDB and FMA communities to meet with and
address all the various constituencies that would offer promise for
vocations.
She has found many Salesians willing to support the
consecrated secular vocation by promoting it. She found practical
support too in that a number have expressed a willingness to consider
the role of Ecclesiastical Assistant when and if, and an offer has been
made to translate the VDB Constitutions into Bahasa and Tetum.
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