austraLasia

By Fr. Francis Gustilo, SDB

Batulao, Philippines, 30 May, 2019 -- As we wind up the third EAO SALESIAN STUDIES SEMINAR WORKSHOP held in Batulao ( 8 - 29 May), I wish to thank every one who has supported this East Asia Oceania Project. We also complete the three year cycle of this Salesianity program (2017-2019). All together there have been 15 consistent participants since 2017. Several EAO Provinces have consistently sent the same confrere(s) and Lay Mission Partners (LMP), who are becoming resource persons in their respective SDB provinces, SDB Delegations or Salesian Cooperators Associations. There is a growing number of Lay mission partners participating every year.

CIN: Br Bosco Hai
FIN: Fr Joji Inocentes, Fr Jake Lopez and Fr Bob Zarate
FIS: Fr Joemar Bacucang, Ms Boots Figuracion (Salesian Cooperator), Ms. Carol Arcenal and Ms. Lilibeth Saban
INA: Br Bernardinus Mikoli Mei
MYM: Fr Lucas Dau Ze
PGS: Mr Martin Dai (Salesian Cooperator) and Ms Catherine Nongkas (DBTI Port Moresby)
THA - Laos: Fr Paul Vu Van Trung
THA - Cambodia delegation: Fr Arun Michael Charles and Deacon Joseph Nguyen Nhat Khoa

With this third year of EAO Salesian Studies (Salesianity) seminar-workshop the first cycle on Don Bosco History (2017) - Don Bosco Pedagogy (2018) and Don Bosco Spirituality (2019) has concluded. Most of the EAO provinces benefit from training Salesians, Salesian Cooperators or Salesian Lay Misison Partners. The largest number from one single province comes from THA (Thailand - Cambodia - Laos) as a strong sign of commitment for the formation of our mission partners. Last year there was also one participant from Africa-Madagascar Region - Province AFO (French speaking Western Africa), and this year, Fr. Michael Pace - SUE (USA East - Canada) Province.

We give thanks to all resource persons, this year Fr. Mike Winstanley (Great Britain) and many others from the EAO region. We very much appreciate the priceless contribution of all translators (especially the Provincial of THA Fr. John Bosco Theparat Pitisant and Fr. Anusit) as well all those in the FIN province, who contributed in many ways to the not-so-easy logistic transfer from Paranaque (Don Bosco Center of Studies, 2017-2018) to Batulao Retreat House.

All together over the past 3 years, the participants 'mastered' 25 courses (themes) at an average of 2 days per course for an equivalent of nearly 60 days, meaning 480 hours of study, reflection and research. We wish and pray that each one of them will become in turn another resource person for the Lay Mission Partners and other Salesian Family members in their respective countries.