austraLasia 1382
A tale of six Bishops
From our Japan correspondent
TOKYO: 7th January 2006 -- Almost everyone in the Region knows that on January 18, Fr. Peter Nguyen Van De will be consecrated Auxiliary Bishop of Bui Chu, in Viet Nam's north, but perhaps only a few know that he is the sixth bishop coming out of a bunch of 40 confreres who were living together in 21 Don Bosco Road, Cheung Chau, Hong Kong, some 40 years ago.
The first to become a bishop was the late Michael Praphon (Thailand) at that time teaching Latin, followed by Leo Drona (Philippines) then in his practical training teaching logic and mathematics. The third was Joseph Zen (HK) then teacher of philosophy. The other three, Hoang Van Tiem (Viet Nam), Joseph Prathan (Thailand) and Bishop to be, Peter Nguyen Van De, were then students of philosophy.
6 out of 40 is some percentage! Fortunately not all the formation houses can boast such a record, otherwise the Congregation would be in real trouble, though perhaps to the good advantage of a more youth oriented Church!
On the occasion of the China Province centenary, next month, all the Cheung Chau past pupils are invited to the celebration. One hopes not only the bishops will gather together and thank God for the generosity of the China province, our mother province in the Region.
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AustraLasia is an email service for the Salesian Family of Asia Pacific. It also functions as an agency for ANS based in Rome. For RSS feeds, subscribe to www.bosconet.aust.com/rssala.xml
A tale of six Bishops
From our Japan correspondent
TOKYO: 7th January 2006 -- Almost everyone in the Region knows that on January 18, Fr. Peter Nguyen Van De will be consecrated Auxiliary Bishop of Bui Chu, in Viet Nam's north, but perhaps only a few know that he is the sixth bishop coming out of a bunch of 40 confreres who were living together in 21 Don Bosco Road, Cheung Chau, Hong Kong, some 40 years ago.
The first to become a bishop was the late Michael Praphon (Thailand) at that time teaching Latin, followed by Leo Drona (Philippines) then in his practical training teaching logic and mathematics. The third was Joseph Zen (HK) then teacher of philosophy. The other three, Hoang Van Tiem (Viet Nam), Joseph Prathan (Thailand) and Bishop to be, Peter Nguyen Van De, were then students of philosophy.
6 out of 40 is some percentage! Fortunately not all the formation houses can boast such a record, otherwise the Congregation would be in real trouble, though perhaps to the good advantage of a more youth oriented Church!
On the occasion of the China Province centenary, next month, all the Cheung Chau past pupils are invited to the celebration. One hopes not only the bishops will gather together and thank God for the generosity of the China province, our mother province in the Region.
_____________________________
AustraLasia is an email service for the Salesian Family of Asia Pacific. It also functions as an agency for ANS based in Rome. For RSS feeds, subscribe to www.bosconet.aust.com/rssala.xml
