austraLasia #2828
 
Bosconian enjoyment in the Lenten Season

by Bro. Moses Paluku, sdb


TETERE (SI): 25 March 2011 -- Some important events have adorned the Lenten Season at DBRTC and at Christ the King Parish. In fact, the Ash Wednesday came with a new journey of forty days of fasting, prayer and almsgiving. It has been a discovery and a new experience for a number of the DBRTC students to have a sign of the cross marked on their forehead with ashes. ‘‘I am a Catholic, but we have never celebrated any Ash Wednesday in Ulawa because rarely we receive a priest’’, stated one student. ‘’ Me, I'm not Catholic, I'm SDA and in our church we don’t use ashes, but I come here to  Don Bosco and I received it because others did so,” explained the other one. Before and after the reception of the ashes, the meaning of this gesture was made clear to the students during morning talks by the Salesians.
    On the first Friday of the Lenten season, 11th March, Bro. Jesus Garcia sdb, economer of PNG-SI Delegation, paid a visit to the Salesian confreres and students as well as the  Don Bosco schools in Solomon Islands. He spent the first part of his tour at Don Bosco Tetere. He was delighted to see the simplicity with which the Salesians lived and the affection addressed to each one of the students at DBRTC. “When you live in such a place you value the great endurance, zeal and perseverance the first missionaries had”, he said at the table during lunch.  In the evening, Bro. Jess shared a Solomons delicious meal together with the students. The food was hosted for his arrival. Then the moment of entertainment came. His arrival coincided with the birthday celebration of the students born in March. Custom*, modern and religious dances and songs were performed to entertain everyone. The various dances presented by the students and staff members, and the distinctive qualities of talents reflected the different and spectacular cultural traits and traditions of Solomon Islanders when it comes on to “welcoming guests.”
    On Thursday, 17th March, the whole school was in a festive mood with the opening of the Rector’s Cup for 2011. The tournament is slowly  becoming a tradition for the DBRTC. This year it coincided with the launching of the New school Logo, standing in front of the school compound for everyone to see. The ribbon of the new school logo was cut by Fr. Rector, Fr. Michael, Sr. Anne Maria, fma, and Mr. Richard, one of our staff members who made the picture a reality.  On the same day, the Rector launched the new motto of the school: “Strive to be Great”.  The Rector’s Cup had gathered together in five clusters namely Mathew, Luke, Mark, John and Paul in different colored uniforms for their marching and cheering. Each cluster has divided its members accordingly in three teams for Soccer, Volleyball and Basketball. The ceremony ended with three happy cheers and a community dance to announce the commencement of the games. The meaning of the School’s Logo and Motto was explained by Fr. Joseph, the Principal. He wished the players well with these words “May everyone strive to win and grasp the trophy at the end of the championship".

* Custom or kastom in Melanesian Pijin: What distinguishes the local culture from other cultures (e.g. from European culture).  A useful and enjoyable reference for Melanesian Pijin is http://wn.com/Pijin_language
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