austraLasia 1004
Salesian Family - Happy Days
ROME: 21st January 2005 -- In truth, the correct appellation for the gathering of the Salesian Family in Rome this year is 'Salesian Family Spirituality Days' but they might just as easily be termed 'happy days' - what else could one expect when several hundred people from around the world gather to 'rejuvenate the face of the Church, mother of our Faith'?
From an East Asia-Oceania perspective these days have been interesting, bringing together with the larger groups of the Salesian Family several other groups, some of them born of the great missionary spirit that gave birth to the Salesian Family in our region. The Sisters of Charity of Miyazaki, for example, are well represented, along with the Salesian Provincial of Japan, Fr Puppo. It was some consolation for Fr Puppo to be surrounded by not only the Sisters from Japan but also the wider Salesian Family, as only the day before yesterday he learned of the death of his sister in Argentina.
Also present, for the first time, are the Michaelites, a congregation of priests (there are Sisters as well) who were founded by a Polish ex-Salesian in the time of Don Rua. The Michaelites (after St Michael the Archangel) have foundations in Papua New Guinea and Australia. They are fairly recent full members of the Salesian Family and the very good news is that their founder will be beatified this coming April.
The Missionary Sisters of Mary Help of Christians, founded by Bishop Ferrando in North East India, are part of this year's gathering, along with the Daughters of the Queenship of Mary Immaculate, founded in Bangkok by Fr Charles Della Torre.
The Salesian Family currently numbers 23 groups with a further 23 at least in the process of admission. This wonderful flowering of the Salesian spirit and mission includes equally wonderful examples of Salesian holiness. No wonder these have been 'happy days' for the Family.
The Rector Major's Strenna for 2005 was shown last night to the entire assembly - it is available in DVD format in 6 or 7 languages. The event was filmed at the Redemptoris Mater chapel in the Vatican. Enough said - readers should take the opportunity to view the DVD available in each Salesian community in the Congregation. But the message of the Strenna was received with obvious joy and excitement by the gathered Family in Rome last night, on the eve of the Feast of Laura Vicuna.
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'austraLasia' is an email service for the Salesian Family of Asia-Pacific. It functions also as an agency for ANS, based in Rome. Try also www.bosconet.aust.com and Lexisdb If you would like a copy of the Salesian Thesaurus, do not hesitate to ask by return mail. In hard copy 132 pages; in digital form 157 kb.
