MELBOURNE:
23
November
2013
-- The
first question visitors ask when arriving in Australia is
whether they
will see a kangaroo, or perhpas even a koala. At least that
was the
question on the lips of many Provincials or Superiors of Vice
Provinces
and Delegations, and Formation Delegates as they arrived in
Melbourne
over the past week.
They were not to be disappointed. While kangaroos are not a
regular
sight in Melbourne's busy metropolis (thankfully!), they are
natural
inhabitants of open spaces around the city, and are very much
at home -
at a respectful distance - at Lysterfield, the Salesian
Retreat Centre,
usually towards evening, grazing in the peaceful valley.
Koalas? Always
possible too, but one needs time and good eyesight to work out
the
koala from the camouflage of thier natural habitat, the 'gum
tree'.
The symbol of the 'roo and her joey would not have been lost
on the 32
people taking part in the first meeting (and pretty much a
similar
number for the second) at Lysterfield. Fr Cereda, Councillor
for
Formation, and Fr Andrew Wong, Regional Councillor for EAO
joined
Provincials, Superiors of Vice Provinces, Delegates (in the
case of
PNG/SI and Indonesia), and the Formation Delegate for each
circumscription, to focus on the question of formation. The
meeting
welcomed Archbishop Timothy Costelloe sdb from Perth, Western
Australia, on Friday 22 November. He celebrated Mass for the
group.
Archbishop Tim is staying on for the ordinations (see below)
and will
return to Perth on Sunday.
The Provincials'
meeting concludes today, Saturday 23 November. Most will stay
on for
the ordination of Deacons Peter Wathana (John) Seesawan sdb
and Francis
Xavier Ronachai Mathavabhandhu sdb by Archbishop Timothy
Costelloe
(Perth) sdb on Saturday evening 23 November at St John the
Baptist's
Church Clifton Hill. John and Ronnie, both from the Thai
Province, have
been resident at the Salesian
Centre at Clifton Hill, which welcomes Salesian students
from various parts of EAO. They attend Catholic Theological College,
nearby.
The
following week will see a second meeting, this time of EAO
Formation
team members. Fr Chrys Saldanha from Rome will be guiding
proceedings
for this.
