By Our Own Correspondent

Second day of the Oceania visit of the Rector Major Fr. Ángel F. Artime was spent also in Port Moresby, the capital of Papua New Guinea among more than 1300 students of Salesian Schools, mainly of Don Bosco Technical School in Gabutu, which celebrates 30 years of its foundation. It was really a Salesian Youth Day, festival of joy that started with the Eucharist of St. Dominic Savio, continued with cultural show and many sports and games.

Fr. Ángel was able to appreciate also the vibrant songs and dances of our youth. This day was a good occasion to share the vision of this young and dynamic Delegation of Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands. All together there are 44 Salesians of 16 nationalities who belong to the Delegation, articulated in 6 communities in PNG and 2 communities in Solomon Islands. Ten of the confreres are now out of the Delegation for study reasons but three of them will return soon as newly ordained priest from Vietnam, Kenya and RD Congo. Average age of the confreres is 43 years. There are also some ‘guest’ confreres from other provinces on temporary agreement: six practical trainees, one Salesian Brother and one Salesian priest.

As for any of the PNG-SI dioceses and religious congregations the main challenge is of vocation matter. At the moment we have 5 SDB of PNG origin – one priest (Fr. Isidore was ordained in 2011), one deacon (Rev. Gilbert was ordained just last month in Port Moresby), two postnovices (second year Br. Sylvester and Bernard in Port Moresby) and new novice (Francis in Cebu-FIS). Today in the Savio House (Aspirantate in the same complex of the DBTI, Port Moresby) there are 10 Aspirants taking their BA degree course of technical college (three of them are potential prenovices in 2016). Also for the other consecrated group of the Salesian Family – Caritas Sisters of Jesus (since 1986) and FMA Sisters (since 2000) the vocation situation is not easy.

After the new Delegate – Superior, Fr. Peter Baquero took over (January 2014) the leadership the VOCATION PROMOTION and CULTURE became the main thrust or priority of the whole Delegation community. Fr. Charles Caspa was appointed as full time vocation promoter, there is clear vocation plan and evaluation. Fr. Peter Baquero, the Delegate – Superior, shares the progress:

“As missionaries, it is a challenge for us to believe in the vocational possibilities for Salesian consecrated life in the young people of PNG and SI. We have to create a vocational culture by helping the young deepen their Christian life and motivations for consecrated life. We need to strengthen our vocation groups, update the Vocation plan and come up with more concrete procedures. The planned vocation camps did not materialize last year (2014) while the “Come and See” program remains available for possible candidates. Meanwhile, we are gradually setting up a pre-aspirantate (Don Bosco Gabutu) where candidates who expressed interest and/or needs to upgrade their marks could be formed or accompanied in their vocational choice”.

Today there was a very meaningful encounter in Sabama parish of the Rector Major with the mother of Br. Francis (PNG novice), who starts today with other 15 companions (one Khmer, one Pakistani, two Chinese and eleven Filipinos) his novitiate year under the guidance of Novice-director Fr. Roneldo Vilbar in Cebu – Philippines South province.

The whole evening (May 1) the Rector Major spent in East Boroko, Savio House with the 4 formators, 2 post-novices and 10 aspirants in the Savio House. After the vespers, aspirants cooked meal and short creative and enthusiastic academy of our candidates and post-novices there was the Good night talk of the Rector Major. His message was as always clear, simple and deep: ‘Put God, Don Bosco and the Youth at the center of your heart’.

The last full day of the Rector Major’s PNG visit (May 2) is dedicated in the morning to the Salesian Family and the afternoon and evening exclusively to the Salesians. Tomorrow the Father will meet his sons. During last months the Salesian of the PNG-SI Delegation were praying daily: “Let us pray to God, our Father, that He may accompany with his bountiful Grace the visit of our Rector Major to our Delegation. As Don Bosco’s successor, the father and center of our unity, may his presence in our midst deepen and strengthen our love for Don Bosco. As we encounter him, may we be more faithful to our Salesian charism and be courageous in living up to the mission entrusted to us.”

While reading daily news from the first EAO visit of Fr. Ángel, we are very grateful to two professional communicators who cover each day the visit of the Rector Major: Fr. Ambrose Pereira (from India-Mumbai province, belongs to PNG-SI Delegation) and ANS video producer Fr. Jacob Iruppakkaattu (originally from India-Kolkatta province, now based in Rome, Social communication department). Tenk yu tru!