Jakarta, Indonesia, 27 February 2019 -- The new Viceprovince INA (Indonesia) officially erected by decree of the Rector Major on 8 June 2018 in Rome, is now holding its first Provincial Chapter. There are 17 members of the Chapter and 2 appointed secretaries came together to the Salesian Community of Tigaraksa-Tangerang in the Province of Banten, where the INA Provincial Chapter is being held.
The majority of the Chapter members arrived in the place, about 50 km from the capital city of Jakarta, on Sunday 24 February and were welcomed by the confreres, including the novices who are part of this Community. The Chapter began officially on Monday 25 February and is planned to conclude its task on Friday, 1 March 2019. One of the rooms at the “BLK Don Bosco” training centre in Tigaraksa is the Chapter venue.
Fr Andrew Wong, the Provincial, and also the President of the Chapter opened the meeting after presiding at the Eucharist in the morning. Fr Lino Belo, the Provincial Vicar and also the Moderator of the Chapter leads all Chapter proceedings. A team composed of himself and five other confreres had undertaken the pre-Chapter processes offering a raft of necessary materials to facilitate the work of Chapter members.
In his opening speech, Father Andrew emphasized two important things that this Chapter will concentrate in all of its sessions. He spoke about the mentality of prayer that helps Chapter members make discernment well and appropriately. A discernment attitude determines the ways and fruits of this Chapter that will become a contribution to the 28th General Chapter of the Congregation.
He also spoke about the mentality of study that each chapter member should perform during these five days of work. Each should bring his own study ability to all the sessions. Times for reflection, discussion in different groups, and deliberation in the general assembly are the most important occasions of study.
As at this moment in the second day of the Chapter group discussions on the topic of “Priority of the Mission with the Youth” are under way, a guided subject sent by theGC28 General Secretariat that had been contextualized by the INA Provincial Chapter Commission. General discussion on the results of each group presentation is under way.
This Provincial Chapter deserves to be historical. At least this is the common feeling of all the chapter members. Beside the fact that it is the first Chapter of the newly established Viceprovince of Indonesia, the option to begin it exactly on the feast day of the Salesian Proto-martyrs Saints Louis Versigilia and Callisto Caravario is certainly particularly important for INA.
Saint Bishop Martyr Louis Versiglia is the Patron Saint for INA vice-Province. The prayer intention for this Chapter is that through the intercession of Saint Louis Versiglia, the chapter will carry out its task with responsibility and its fruits will benefit the INA vice-Province and the entire Congregation.
