EAO Formation Course for New Rectors in Hong Kong
Cheung Chau, Hong Kong, 25 November 2018 -- Three years after the previous EAO new rectors formation session in K'Long (Vietnam) in November 2015, this time more than 60 new or already experienced rectors from 8 provinces of our region have come together in Hong Kong (Cheung Chau Don Bosco Retreat House) for five full days (November 25-29).
As the EAO regional coordinator for Formation, Br Raymond Callo introduced the sessions, pointing out that there are three main goals of this course: rectors are helped to take a better look at themselves, are equipped with basic knowledge, skills, wisdom and attitudes for their rector's ministry, and it is also an outstanding occasion for building a strong sense of the region.
The large group of more than 60 rectors comes from the following provinces: AUL, CIN, FIN, FIS, KOR, THA, TLS and VIE. Different in age (some of them are not yet rectors but 'to be rectors soon'), some of them already senior rectors (especially from the mother province of China) are forming a vibrant multi-cultural community for one week. The rectors come from New Zealand, Australia, Mongolia, Korea, Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines, Timor Leste, Taiwan and Hong Kong. They bring with them a rich Salesian experience that is shared in a variety of inputs, personal reflections or group sharings and workshop-like sessions.
The two main resource persons - Br Raymond Callo and Fr Henry Bonetti (both members of the EAO Formation team) - share responsibility for the 16 sessions. After four full days program, all participants will enjoy the Hong Kong Salesian tour on 29 November with the help of the host province. Everyone is enchanted with the Cheung Chau retreat house staff's hospitality, with its Cantonese delicacies and the renewed infrastructure of the former formation house.
The first good night was given by two members of the Vietnam-Mongolia province. Starting with gratitude to the mother province of China from the early days of Vietnam mission (since 1952) through to the formation of the first Vietnamese Salesians in Cheung Chau up to the present missionary generosity including 6 new applications for missio ad gentes sent to the Rector Major this month. The rector of the Cau Bong prenovitiate shared the 'numerous blessings' expressed in the number of current vocations: 200+ College aspirants, 26 pre-prenovices, 19 prenovices,11 novices, 54 postnovices and 24 students of theology with numerous Salesian Brothers in all stages of formation.
The resources of rectors formation meeting (EAO 2018) in Google drive
