3695(I)_In Continuous Conversion, Salesian Family Retreat

By Fr. Angel Sanchez, SDB

Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea – The past two weeks were moments of grace for the members of the Salesian Family in the Delegation of PNG and SI who gathered at Emmaus Conference Centre in Boroko for the Spiritual Retreat preached by Fr. Emmanuel Camilleri SDB. The first batch began their retreat on 22nd of July and concluded on the 27th. The second batch had theirs from the 29th of July up to the 3rd of August. All the SDBs, FMAs, and Caritas Sisters in the Delegation were present. Some representatives from the Salesian Cooperators, ADMA and Past Pupils also managed to join. At the moment, there are 11 nationalities that form Don Bosco’s Salesian Family in this part of the world: Papua New Guineans, Vietnamese, Indians, Filipinos, Spaniards, Italians, Samoans, Solomon Islanders, Korean, an Ecuadorian, and an Indonesian.

The general theme of the whole retreat is “In Continuous Conversion.” The preacher delivered very good talks on topics very much connected to the GC 27 of the SDB and GC23 of the FMA. The retreat was truly a wonderful opportunity for the members of the Salesian Family to return to Don Bosco and deepen their knowledge and understanding of the Salesian Spirituality. At the same time, through the reflections shared by Fr. Manuel, each one had the precious chance of encountering once again our “grandfather” in the Family who is Saint Francis de Sales. Aside from the inputs from the retreat preacher, the sharing of life also happened through homilies and the beautiful Salesian tradition of the “Good Nights.”

To be in the state of continuous conversion... This is indeed a very good resolution. But also a beautiful gift to Don Bosco on his 200th Birthday from his sons and daughters in the PNG-SI Delegation!