Two
interesting items of missionary news have come in from quite
opposite
parts of the globe, both involving members who provinces of
origin are
in EAO: Australia and Vietnam. Read on:
ST PEDRO
CARCHÁ (Guatemala): 3 February 2103 -- Fr
Tony De Groot, originally a member of the Australian Province
and
long-time missionary (40 years or more) in the Central
American
Province (CAM), had a much-awaited joy on 31st January, when
the Bishop
of Verapaz, bishop Rodolfo Valenzuela gave diocesan canonical
recognition to his group of 'Misioneros de Cristo el Buen
Pastor' as s
Society of Apostolic Life. Fr De Groot founded this group at
least 30
years ago, forming it out of young catechists who travelled
the
villages in Alta Verapaz, Guatemala. It has taken many
years of
formation, joys and sorrows, including the difficult years of
guerrilla
fighting in the region, when two of his first candidates were
martyred
while carrying out their catechetical service.
This association of young indigenous men who are living a
community
life, Salesian spirituality and carry out aa mission primarily
of
education, is now one step closer to becoming the Religious
Congregation that they and their founder have always had in
mind
becoming. They have three educational centres for indigenous
people
which run under the name of 'Centro Don Bosco', located in San
Pedro
Carchá, San Juan Chamelco and Raxruhá, in the
Alta Verapaz Department,
Guatemala.
MADRIDI (South
Sudan): 3 February 2103 --
Fr Paul Tung was ordained priest at
Madridi in South Sudan, a location
and Diocese not widely known to the world, as it lies amongst
the Zande
people who live close to the border with D.R. Congo.
There is a
Salesian community at Madridi, and the bishop is dearly hoping
for the
Salesian presence to expand in this area.
Fr Paul, who comes from Vietnam, has completed his priestly
studies at Utume in Nairobi, Kenya.
Since the Maridi area is isolated, only three other Salesians
from the
community were present for the ordination (which appears to
have taken
place on 1st February, following the Feast of St John
Bosco). But the
Bishop brought all his diocesan priests (some 20 of them) and
a large
group of Anglican faithful also attended.
After the ordination the Bishop gave a Zande name to
Paul Tung, naming him him Paul Tunga, 'tunga' means 'Seed'.
