Consultation for the superior of the new Salesian Vice-Province

By Bro. Ephrem Santos, SDB, SDB

Jakarta, Indonesia, 21 June 2018 -- A special trip was made by the Regional Councilor –Fr Vaclav Klement- to accompany the confreres of Indonesia in the consultation process for the new superior. Arriving in the evening of June 19, Fr. Vaclav started the discernment with the morning Mass that was celebrated the follow day. About 40 confreres were present; the other 20 Salesians were either out of the country or had to assist in the continued running of their community works.

The last time the confreres had a similar occasion to meet together was during the visit of the Rector Major last February. The memory of that special visit and the messages given by the Rector Major were all the more made vivid because of the first edition of the Indonesian Salesian Bulletin, just published. Its theme centered on the Rector Major’s visit and its cover page showed the Rector Major with the teaching staff of the Training Center in Tigaraksa.

The first morning was reserved for reflection and discussion on the state of the delegation that would soon become a Vice Province. And there was also the opportunity to reflect on the summary of the comments made by confreres from East Timor. There was a spirit of appreciation for each other and the desire to continue the collaboration as before. Even the choice of the Patron Saint for INA as proposed by confreres from both countries, unanimously pointed at St. Louis Versiglia, the senior martyr companion of St Callistus Caravario (Patron of the Timor Leste Vice Province). At the end, the assembly thanked the three former superiors of the Delegation for their service.

In the late afternoon, time was set aside to emphasize the Salesian Family of this new Vice Province. The SDB’s were joined by the FMA sisters and by the Salesian Cooperators to share about the role of the Salesian Cooperators. Mr Philip Yu (EAO Regional Coordinator for Salesian Cooperators based in Hong Kong) gave the talk.

The following morning was designated by Fr. Vaclav for his personal time to converse with the members of the Delegation Council and other confreres. Then by lunchtime, Fr. Vaclav was on the way to the airport, taking with him the consultation letters of the INA confreres, including the prayer intentions for a continued flourishing Salesian presence and apostolate in Indonesia, as a Vice Province.

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