Vietnam, K’Long Don Bosco Retreat House

By Our Own Correspondent

K’Long, Vietnam, November 9-11. One year after the EAO translators meeting, the K’Long Don Bosco Retreat house is hosting this year three major regional events – annual meeting of the formation commission, formation of formation personnel and formation of new rectors.

All 20 participants of the Formation Commission meeting were welcomed by a beautiful sunny weather of the Bao Loc province highlands with a fresh air (natural air-conditioning) and five-star hotel treatment of the Salesians (Fr. Peter Hoang in charge) and lay mission partners. Three full day is dedicated to study of current major formation issues: Life as Prayer (ACG 421), Prenovitiate, Formation to Youth Ministry, Province Plan of Ongoing formation and Qualification of Salesian confreres, Formation of Salesians regarding the lay mission partners. As usually the commission works is ending with regional formation programming. The last day will be concluded with a dinner in the nearby Postnovitiate community of Blessed Michael Rua in Dalat City.

The Formation commission meeting is moderated by its Head Br. Raymond Callo and animated by Fr. Ivo Coelho, General councilor for Formation. Among the participants are also three provincials (CIN, FIN and VIE), EAO formation team members (Fr. Bonetti and Fr. Dung), EAO regional councilor and all Provincial formation delegates with exception of MYM and THA provinces.

In true family environment the participants share first their expectation and feeling, the daily Lectio divina is guided by Fr. Henry, as method the inputs are followed by personal study and group sharing.

During the first day the main highlight was the Pre-novitiate stage of formation. Fr. Chrys Saldanha (Formation sector in Rome) presented the compiled report of the provincial reports about the situation of the 90+ EAO pre-novices. Recent Salesian reflections on vocation fragility are pointing to more consistent pre-novitiate program and better preparation of the formators. Among the common shared pointers for improvement are more solid aspirantate experiences, accompaniment of human maturity, closer personal guidance of the candidates and stronger formation equips of our pre-novitiates. Upon the request of Br. ‘Mon’ the regional website BOSCOLINK (www.bosco.link)open today the ‘Formation section’ where any EAO formator would be able to find the necessary documents and materials shared during the meeting.

After 3 days of EAO Formation commission meeting (Nov 9-11) does follow the Formation of formation personnel (Nov 13-16) and finally the Formation of the (new) Rectors (Nov 17-21). We wish to all formators in our region patience in accompaniment, wisdom in discernment and consistency in daily witnessing and modelling of new Salesian generation.

The shining model of the Servant of God, Don Bosco of Vietnam Fr. Andrej Majcen (1905-1999) was shared at the beginning of the whole encounter. His first English autobiography is now available on the Boscolink as well. Fr. Majcen was the novicemaster (1960-1970) of the first Salesians of Vietnam.