3596_Solomon Islands: 20 years celebration of the Salesian presence in this country (RM in EAO_6)

By Alfred Lenon

The second country visited by the Rector Major during his 2015 Oceania trip is the Solomon Islands. There are seven Salesians, four FMA sisters and three Salesian cooperators in this country. There are two Salesian communities – Tetere (Parish of Christ the King and Don Bosco Rural Training Center) and Henderson - Honiara (Don Bosco Technical School). The first stop over of the Rector Major in Solomon Islands was a wonderful Eucharist in the Tetere parish, the first work entrusted to the Salesians in this country (1995). We are glad to share an address of parish youth leader, Ms. Karen Zilmah Kalea Zilmanh:

“In the early year of Christianity, the young believers were inspired and uplifted in their faith by the Apostles, their encouraging words and their personal visits.

Dear Rector Major, Fr. Ángel F. Artime, tenth successor of St. John Bosco, on behalf of the youth and children of our parish, Christ the King, Tetere and all the youth of Solomon Islands, I would like to welcome you in our parish and our country.

This is the first time ever for a successor of Don Bosco to visit our shores and for this we are very proud to have live this day. It is an honor to have you with us today, especially since this year is the 200th birthday of Don Bosco. Being your first time here, we wish you good and happy memories in your stay in our country.

Allow me to express our sentiments. The Salesian family have really helped our country in many ways, more especially the school dropouts so that they see life as a gift and make the most out of it. More over, helping our youth to be better Christians and honest citizens as what Fr. Joseph (Rector of DB Tetere) and Fr. Albert (Parish priest) always taught us. Almost all formal school in our country helped students academically and not the other aspects of life, while the Salesian Family and few others trained us intellectually, physically and spiritually.

We, the young generation of today, need people who helped us to enjoy our youthful life whilst directing us in purity and goodness. We need to feel the care and love of people around us. For this, the Salesian family is a sure way to provide for this. And for all these, you have our gratitude for establishing the Salesian Family in our country. Thank you very much. And on this same note, we want to take this chance to thank all the Salesians serving in Solomon Islands.

Dear Rector Major, your presence is a blessing for us youth and children. Thank you very much for blessing our parish church. This visit will really encourage us as the young believers were uplifted by the letters of the Apostles and their visits in person. Since this year is also a year of consecrated life, your visit is a great inspiration for us youth.”

During the two hour long Eucharist Fr. Ángel blessed the newly renovated parish Church. Thanks to the founding fathers of Japan province, the Tetere parish has a twinning with Meguro-Himonya parish in Tokyo, Japan. Apart of regular visit from Tokyo and concrete financial solidarity, there is wonderful spiritual exchange. Every second Sunday in the month the parishioners of Meguro pray one Rosary for Tetere parish community and Tetere people pray three Hail Mary for their twin parish in Tokyo.

First night in the Solomon Islands the Rector Major spent in the SDB community of Tetere, Don Bosco Rural Training Center with 200 boarding students in two years course. After a family dinner with all students, Salesian Family members and communities of two religious congregations there was beautiful cultural presentation well prepared by the trainees, concluded by the good night talk of the Rector Major.