austraLasia

Macau, Taiwan and Hong Kong

Hong Kong, 10 August 2019 -- For one week, from 11-17 August, the tenth successor of Don Bosco, Fr. Ángel Fernández Artime will once again be in the EAO region. This is his last animation visit among us before the General Chapter 28 (16 February-4 April 2020), this time in the China province of Macau, Taiwan and Hong Kong.

The presence of the Salesians of Don Bosco in China goes back to 1906 (Macau - Instituto Salesiano, Mother house) with the development in Hong Kong (1927) and Taiwan (1963). At present there are 13 canonical communities and 115 confreres. The majority of the Salesian settings are schools, some parishes, social work, youth centre-oratory and a vibrant Salesian Youth Movement around the numerous schools. This year, the province is blessed with three novices - one from Macau, one from Hong Kong and one from Taiwan, in the Lawaan-Cebu novitiate in the Philippines (FIS province). Fr. Ángel will also meet a very dynamic and united Salesian Family with large numbers of Don Bosco Past Pupils, Salesian Cooperators, FMA and SAL sisters and VDB.

Including this animation visit, since April 2015 the 10th successor of Don Bosco has been able to visit no less than 21 countries-territories of the East Asia-Oceania region: Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Fiji, Samoa, New Zealand and Australia (2015), Cambodia, Laos, Philippines, Myanmar and Mongolia (2016), Vietnam and Thailand (2017), Timor Leste, Indonesia, Japan and Korea (2018) and China province (2019). The main fruits of these animation visits is the growth in communion with the worldwide Congregation and with the successor of Don Bosco, as well growth in charismatic identity of our life and mission.

Starting from the Don Bosco missionary dreams, China was always at the heart of our Father and his successors: Fr Michael Rua sent the first missionary expedition headed by Fr Louis Versiglia (1906), Fr Philip Rinaldi established the China province (1926), Fr Ricaldone, before becoming the Rector Major, had already visited China as well. Fr Vigano, during his visit in 1987, entrusted the Chinese youth to Mary Help of Christians, Fr. Vecchi presided in 2000 over the Team Visit in Cheung Chau (Hong Kong) and Fr Pascual Chávez took part in the 100th anniversary celebrations (2006) in Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan. We pray that this visit also brings blessings.

The China province welcomes the Rector Major with his Chinese name: Fr. 范達民 (Fan Damin) as you can 'easily' read on the posters, CIN province website (www.sdb.org.hk), in the China province edition of the Salesian Bulletin (http://www.sdb.org.hk/old/sbchinese/271/271-cina.pdf) or on the Facebook page of the province: https://www.facebook.com/SalesianFamilyCIN.

Dear Fr Ángel,

welcome for the last time before the GC28 to our EAO region,

welcome to China province!