3845_From the five continents to Rome - Merry Christmas!

By Fr. Vaclav klement

'All roads lead to Rome' - this old proverb is becoming again true when visiting the SDB and FMA international communities in Rome before Christmas 2015.

At present time there are really present Salesians (both SDB, FMA) and some few members of Salesian Family from all five continents - thanks to the arrival of Samoan FMA, Sr. Paula Vitale (photo with the Mornese style watch - E' ora di amare...) at the FMA Ersilia Canta community.

The experience of Catholic Church Center, close to Pope Francis together with the international and multicultural experience of different expressions of the Salesian Charism does enrich all who spend few years in different formation houses in Rome. We wish that more EAO Salesian Family members will benefit from this unique Salesian experience.

22 SDB from 7 EAO provinces: China, Philippines North and Philippines South, Korea, Indonesia-Timor, Myanmar, Papua New Guinea -Solomon Islands and Vietnam are living in 5 different communities of the UPS Viceprovince in Rome.

28 FMA from 8 EAO provinces: China, Philippines, Myanmar-Cambodia, Japan, Korea, Indonesia-Timor, Thailand and Vietnam are studying at the Auxilium College (2 communities), Ersilia Canta, Teresa Valse.

Moreover there are 3 EAO Salesians serving in the SDB General House, 3 in the Catacombs of St. Callixtus and 1 in the Vatican community. Also the FMA sisters have long serving members like Sr. Auxilia Chang (52 years in Italy!) and Sr. Maria Ko, professors at the Pontifical Faculty of Education Sciences 'Auxilium'.

Merry Christmas 2015!