austraLasia #2361


Salesian Family follow ups

EAO: 17th February 2009 -- The recent Salesian Family Spirituality Days in Rome, which the Rector Major has expressed as being 'the best ever', are having a wide rippling effect throughout the Salesian world, with requests for materials coming in to support local 'spirituality days' and reports, too of these days themselves.
    The most recent report of such comes from Tokyo where, last weekend, at the Sisters of Charity of Miyazaki provincial house, the annual Seminar on Salesian Spirituality, the sixth of the series, was held. It brought together some 140 members of the Salesian Family.
    The Strenna for 2009 was the particular feature of this year's study with an introduction by the Novice Director for Japan province, Fr Achilles Loro Piana, and a screening of the video version of the Strenna. Discussion highlighted the local features of the Salesian Family and in particular the valuable work being done in Hamamatsu Parish on behalf of immigrants, especially in this period of deep economic crisis.
    Salesian Cooperator, Professor Mamoru Umemura spoke of the Cooperators and especially of their role in producing and distributing the Salesian Bulletin in Japan.  The same day Mr Ayahiko Terao, an official in the Tokyo Juvenile Court, spoke of his experience with sad situations involving young people in Japan.
    Fr Mario Yamanouchi, the new vice provincial, concluded the seminar.  A repeat seminar will be held next weekend at Beppu on the island of Kyushu, in Japan's south.
    Provinces around the region are reminded that the two key 'charter' documents, one bearing the title 'ID Card' and the other 'Mission Statement', are available from either or both www.sdb.org or SDL on sdl.sdb.org.  The Rector Major has already indicated that there will be a third in the making over this six year period - a spirituality charter. That is something of a challenge, since he has in mind an idea that actually goes back to Don Bosco's own unsuccessful battle with Rome over his original thinking around the Salesian Congregation. Should the Rector Major's ideas gain currency with Rome it could be a vindication of that - Fr Chavez actually wants Rome to recognise the Salesian Family juridically. There would not be a huge difference between that and DB's original thinking!
    You might also want to check our Bosconet (cf link below) and the 'Salesian Family Group' for its contents,w here you will find further and more localised material for our region.
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 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 2009 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 http://sdl.sdb.org

Title: australasia 2361
Subject and key words: EAO General Salesian Family
Date (year): 2009
ID: 2000-2099|2361