austraLasia
RUA: OCTOBER 29TH, PREPARE FOR THE FEAST!
ROME: 25th October -- Each year the major Salesian
feasts have a habit of sneaking up on us. How well-prepared is the
community for the Feast of Blessed Michael Rua? At least 28 Provinces
world-wide owe their foundation to his leadership, and many communities since
his time have been named for him. The Salesian Community of the General
House at the Pisana, Rome, is one such community (1970).
'austraLasia' has a simple offering this time
around, assuming that those who receive this news bulletin are most likely
equipped to delve, albeit briefly, into the world wide web. The readings
on Blessed Michael Rua, in English at least, are short but
enlightening.
Begin with the Web portal at www.sdb.org and simply run a search on RUA.
You will be confronted with 72 possibilities! Of these, the first three
will be most helpful. If you search similarly on www.bosconet.aust.com you will elicit 12
references. The first, 'holiness', offers a pictorial representation of
all the Salesian candidates for the honours of the altar and may be a useful
item for the community noticeboard in the lead-up to the 29th October. But
take a look also at the 'Confidential Memento to Rectors' and note the origins
of this document - it was, in the first instance, a private letter to a very
young and inexperienced Michael Rua, ordained at 22 and appointed Rector of
Mirabello at 26!
Community libraries may hold at least one printed
title in English - Wine In The Chalice, by Peter Lappin (USA, recently deceased)
or even a Pamphlet version of the life of Don Rua by Fr. Jack Ayers
(Australia).
Of course, for 'surfers' there are true delights
available, most of them heading in directions somewhat oblique to
religion! RUA is a word that exists in many languages: the Irish will
literally see 'red', but one notes that there is also an Irish music group by
that name, as there is, also, in Napoli (Rudimenti di Urti Amonici). New
Zealand Maoris and other Pacificans will also feel at home with RUA, which can
variously indicate a tribe around the Bay of Plenty, or simply the number 'two'
elsewhere in the austronesian region. Spaniards and Brasilians are at home
with RUA as a street or at least an arched entrance to a
town. RUA is a lighthouse in Scotland, a beach
resort in Petchburi, Thailand and an umpires' association in Australia (Riverina
Umpires Association, no less) and a Rugby wingman.
But for us, in case you think this article has
entirely lost the plot, RUA is Don Bosco's immediate successor, one known
as 'the living Rule', and someone to be warmly celebrated in a few day's
time. If communities prepare their liturgies and keep a digital copy,
could a copy please be sent to 'austraLasia' or Bosconet for next year?
There's nothing like long-term preparation!
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'austraLasia' is an email news
service for
the Salesian Family of Asia-Pacific.
