'austraLasia' #110

OCEANIA SYNOD: SAMOA PROMINENT

VATICAN CITY: 22nd November -- St. Peter's Basilica reverberated to the

sound of conch shells on this Feast of Christ the King, and Cardinals

and Bishops swung gently to a Polynesian lilt as four tulafale or Samoan

chiefs accomapnied the Gospel Book in solemn procession down the nave.

The Synod of Bishops for Oceania was underway, in the opening

concelebration presided over by His Holiness Pope John Paul II, with all

the Bishops of Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and the other

Pacific nations at his side.

Liturgically and ceremonially, Samoa seemed to capture the moment. The

Offertory Gifts were brought up to the ritual gestures of the Samoan

tradition, by several taupou or royal maidens. The gifts themselves

were typical of the whole of the Pacific - a canoe, representing the

Church, the Kava-tanoa, the cup of unity and blessing, and the Lei or

garland of fresh flowers, symbol of welcome and celebration.

The Synod will continue until 12th December. One Australian Salesian,

Fr. Timothy Costelloe, is a member of the Synod as personal theologian

for Archbishop Barry Hickey of Perth. A second man, Monsignor Brian

Ferme, presently Professor of Canon Law at the Gregorian University in

Rome, was educated by the Salesians and was in fact a member of the

Congregation until some time after his ordination. He retains close

links with the Salesians.

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BOSCONET: The trademark of the Salesian Website, Australia:

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'AUSTRALASIA': rapid newslink for Salesians in Asia and Australia:

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