Annual Formation Gathering – Australia-Pacific Province
Melbourne, Australia, 28 August 2017 -- Fifteen young Salesian confreres participated in the Annual Formation Gathering (Quinquennium) in the Australia-Pacific Province in Melbourne from 25 to 28 August: comprising one Priest, one Deacon, two Brothers and eleven perpetually professed clerics (students of Theology). It was a truly international gathering with participants coming from nine different nationalities and seven different Provinces, Vice-Provinces or Delegations in the EAO Region.
The formation program included two distinct elements. Fr Frank Moloney led reflections on Celibate Chastity from the biblical, theological, historical and ecclesiological perspectives. Fr Bernie Graham led reflections on Salesian Youth Ministry using the documents of the Synod on Youth (the Preparatory Document and the Letter of the Rector Major) and the 2018 Strenna focusing on our Salesian approach to the Young, Faith, Discernment, Accompaniment and Transformation. The wide cultural, linguistic and apostolic diversity within the group brought great depth and richness to the discussions, sharings and reflections.
The Provincial, Fr Greg Chambers, was the main celebrant at the Eucharist which brought the program to its conclusion.
