From: Julian Fox [jbfox@connect.com.fj]
Sent: Friday, 7 November 2003 5:05 PM
To: Undisclosed-Recipient:@mail.sdb.org;
Subject: 'austraLasia' #751
Sent: Friday, 7 November 2003 5:05 PM
To: Undisclosed-Recipient:@mail.sdb.org;
Subject: 'austraLasia' #751
austraLasia 751
SAMOA: 25 YEARS OF SALESIAN PRESENCE IN 2004
APIA: 7th November -- After 25 years of Salesian presence and activity in Samoa, the Australian Province of Mary Help of Christians has much to be thankful for. This is the overall message to confreres from the Provincial, Fr. Ian Murdoch, as the province readies itself to celebrate this mission achievement in 2004 with first professions, renewals, a commemorative issue of the Salesian Bulletin, a focus of the Province Assembly and Chapter, a Retreat, and a visit by the Rector Major next October. It will be a year of celebration!
Salesians in Samoa (formerly called Western Samoa) are responsible for Moamoa Theological College (a four-year training course for catechists and their wives as well as a three year pre-seminary course for aspirants to priesthood), The Don Bosco Technical Centre at Alafua on the outskirts of Apia with its three year course in basic trade skills for young adults (with 200 students), the Parish of St. John Bosco at Sinamoga, which includes Alafua, and St. Michael's Parish at Leauva'a, arguably Samoa's most youthful of parishes, closer to the airport. Additionally, Samoa is also an important Salesian initial formation centre with the novitiate (five novices presently) and a prenovitiate, and several members doing practical training.
Samoa has been and continues to be a healthy source of vocations for the Congregation. After 25 years there are four ordained Samoan members, all holding important roles in the works in Samoa and Fiji, and a further twenty one men in various stages of formation, including novices. Additionally there is one Tongan Salesian at theology stage and a Fijian novice.
The work in Samoa has also been blessed, over the years, with the presence of missionary Salesians from Holland, India, Poland, Slovakia, Burma and of course Australia, to which province all these men belong.
As the provincial puts it, "all in all, an extraordinary amount of hard work in evangelisation, education and Salesian formation is being done in Samoa by a relatively small group of Salesian living in two communities....not without its difficulties but we should not underestimate the full extent of what has been achieved in twenty five years".
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'austraLasia' is an email news service for
the Salesian Family of Asia-Pacific.
'austraLasia' is an email news service for
the Salesian Family of Asia-Pacific.
