austraLasia #2187

Fr Braga (China and the Philippines) on the road to the altars

SONDRIO: 7th July 2008 --  The weekend of 5-6 July saw the launching, in Sondrio, Italy, of the process for beatification/canonisation of Fr Charles Braga.  Amongst others present were Cardinal Joseph Zen from Hong Kong, Bishop Luciano Capelli (Bishop of Gizo, Solomon Islands), Fr Agostino Sosio, Provincial of Milan Province, Fr Andrew Wong, Regional for East Asia-Oceania, Fr Carlo Socol from China Province, confrères from Sondrio itself, Salesian Sisters from Tirano, diocesan priests from Tirano and Sondrio and other nearby parishes of Valtellina, along with past pupils of the Salesian school in Sondrio, the Mayor and government officials of the city, relatives and friends of Fr Braga.
    What united all these diverse groups was the desire to launch the Cause of a Salesian missionary of enormous significance for the mission and Salesian presence in East Asia, first in China, then in the Philippines.  Many of those present had met Fr Braga including Cardinal Zen who first met him as a 12 year old in Shanghai.
    On the Saturday evening, 5th July, in the town hall theatre in Tirano, Fr Socol gave a presentation concerning Fr Braga in China. This was followed by a talk from Cardinal Zen on his personal experience of this holy confrère.  Bishop Capelli spoke of Fr Braga in the Philippines.  Fr Remo Bracchi then spoke on the various steps of the canonisation process and the elements required.  Fr Bracchi is involved directly in the process for Servant of God Fr Quadrio, also a Salesian.
    Fr Braga was born in Sondrio and had early Salesian contact through the Salesian Sisters in Tirano, who brought him into contact with the Salesians in Sondrio. He joined the Salesians and completed his various phases of formation in Italy before heading out for the China mission. In his comments on the young Fr Braga in China, Cardinal Zen spoke of the man's outstanding goodness. Pointing out how poor those early communities in China were, the Cardinal commented on the fun, familiarity and hard work, all because Fr Braga was constantly in their midst. He said that the goodness of Fr Braga was so natural and spontaneous that this alone can express his sanctity. He was understood by the Chinese, not because he spoke the language well but because of the language of the heart. He was ever present and active amongst the confrères and students, and this offered great security during the difficult time of war. The Cardinal was proud to have had Fr Braga attend his priestly ordination and First Mass at the Crocetta in Turin.  By that time Fr Braga was assigned to the Philippines.
    Despite the 'launching' of the process in Fr Braga's birthplace, according to Church custom, the real place for the official launching of the process must be the Philippines, with the endorsement of the Cause by the Provincial and his Council expressed through a letter to the Rector Major.  This part too, is in process.
  _________________
 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 2187
Subject and key words: EAO General Fr Braga
Date (year): 2008
ID: 2000-2099|2187