A UNIQUE REGIONAL SEMINARY WELCOMES
SALESIANS
Julian Fox
SUVA (Fiji): 8th February -- Salesian
seminarians from the Pacific were welcomed, today, into the Pacific Regional
Seminary, a unique institution serving some twelve nations of whom seven are
presently represented: Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Kiribati, Futuna, Ponape,
Vanuatu. The prayerful words of welcome from the existing community of
seminarians bear repeating:
"In a time beyond memory, our ancestors
sailed into the South Pacific in search of new lands. Their canoes were
wonderfully made and they used a system of navigation which was the most
advanced of its time. They followed stars and found atolls with palm trees
and islands of rich red earth wrapped round with coral reefs and warm seas
filled with fish.
At another time, in another place, three wise
men followed a star and found a baby filled with promise. The disciples of
the Christ later brought his Good News to our islands. Today we gather
during the last year of a millenium. In this year of the Father, we look
with hope to the next 1000 years. Like our ancestors and those wise men
before us, we still follow stars. We believe that Christ lives in us and
travels with us. Though sometimes he may appear to be sleeping during a
storm, he still challenges us with the possibilities of a great catch and it
seems sometimes that he invites us to trust enough to walk on
water.
Today, too, we mark a moment when another canoe
has come to travel with us. The Sons of John Bosco have always believed
strongly in tomorrow as they dedicate themselves to the youth of today.
Today, they bring their charism to us to enrich us as we continue the journey
together.
My brothers, Salesians of Don Bosco, May the
winds of the Spirit sent by the Father fill your sails. You have been a
blessing to the Church and to Samoa for many years. Now you are a blessing
to us also. Let us use our time together well. Let us learn to
navigate and follow those stars. Let us always be mindful of the precious
gift we are called to bring to the world".
At which point, Brother Isaia Bourne, on behalf
of the Salesian community, brought up a model (but large model) canoe and placed
it before the 100 other seminarians.
