3771(II)_Rectors meeting: How can we motivate our cofreres?

By Fr. Apolinario Neto, SDB

Fuiloro, Timor Leste, October 15 - Among the good things that are moving in our Region during past 15 years is the accompaniment of the rectors in each province, especially through most frequent regular meetings with a time for their formation, mutual sharing and information about the provincial community life. Also in our Vice-province we have reached a solid system of monthly meeting of all rectors in Timor Leste.

During the annual animation visit of our Regional, Fr. Klement, on October 15 we held a Rectors meeting in Don Bosco Fuiloro in the most eastern part of Timor. Only two rectors were absent due to the accompaniment of our large group of Don Bosco Past Pupils to Rome and Turin for the World Congress of the Past Pupils and Don Bosco Pilgrimage.

After a short introduction by Fr. Virgilio da Silva (Superior of ITM Vice-province), the rectors listen to a short formation talk of Fr. Václav about ‘How to motivate the vocation growth of the confreres’ in each local community. His input was followed by a good time for mutual sharing in two smaller groups. Every rectors meeting, also all other provincial councilors are present and the whole group was about 15 confreres. Average age of our rectors is quite young and this topic brought a genuine sharing about the importance: of the presence of the rector in the life of the confreres, of listening, of the daily good night talk, of the worldwide congregation news sharing and striving to be loved by own community Salesians in to communicate to them from heart to heart. We realized again that the rector is a key person in our Congregation, who keeps the confreres motivated in their vocation journey that is never over with it’s crisis, slow down, revival, accidents and other un-expected happenings.

In the third part of the meeting we listened to some of the provincial delegates (formation, youth ministry, religious discipline and economy) and finally in the last part each of the rectors shared about a recent development or good news in his own place. We enjoyed especially the Fuiloro sharing about three gifts to DB 200 – reopening of the agricultural technical school, about weekly Eucharist in all 12 mission stations entrusted to the SDB community as well to the reopening of 12 Oratories around each chapel with the help of the young people from SDB, FMA and public schools under our guidance.

Among other good news was the preparation of 18 candidates to enter soon the Los Palos pre-novitiate, feasibility study for a new school in Laga, smooth starting of a new formation year in Fatumaca with 13 novices, preparation for a new system of aspirantate from non-Salesian settings in Dili-Comoro Centec. On more personal notes we welcomed Fr. Jojo after his car accident and re-convalescence in the Philippines and took note about the departure of Fr Palomo for the FIS province.

At the end of the meeting Fr. Provincial briefed about his recent Curatorium visit to Curatorium in Manila, Parañaque with 21 ITM students (priests, clerics and brothers) as well about our confreres who are getting their university qualifications in Indonesia or Timor. After an abundant lunch with the products of Don Bosco Fuiloro agricultural production the provincial council members remained for a shorter meeting with the EAO regional. Some of the rectors are also preparing to join the EAO rectors formation next month in Vietnam.