austraLasia 1227
VDB Regional retreat and vocation promotion
HUA HIN: 8 August 2005 -- The 'Asia 2' region for the Volunteers of Don Bosco began their regional retreat yesterday, Sunday 7th August, at Hua Hin. It will continue until the 12th. Participants are drawn from Korea, Thailand, Macau, Hong Kong and Vietnam and comprise all professed members of the group plus 1st, 2nd and 3rd year aspirants, a term which would be somewhat equivalent to the sdb novitiate. The Ecclesiastical Assistant, a Salesian, from each group is also taking part in the retreat. All in all a group of 60 or more. The regional assistant is Fr Simon Lam, vice provincial of China province.
There are two zones in this VDB region. 'Asia 2' as described above and 'Asia 1' comprising the Philippines and Australia (Melbourne). There is also a Tokyo group directly depending on Rome for the moment. Altogether within the boundaries of the Salesian EAO region there are 120 VDB members. They owe their existence in this area to the zeal of Fr Gaetano Nicosia a 91 year old member of the China province in Macau, immediately following the Second Vatican Council. Worldwide the VDB now number 1290 and are preparing for their 2007 World Assembly, focused on the theme of communion in the local group. They speak of 'communion' rather than 'community' since women who are Volunteers of Don Bosco do not live in community. They may come together on average twice a month for a day of recollection and a day of formation.
The one Salesian circumscription in the region that does not have VDB members is ITM, but that is about to change! Their General Councillor for Asia has just completed a whirlwind visit to the vice-province, beginning in Jakarta at the Salesian St Yohannes Bosco parish, where the majority of parishioners are Chinese speaking. The Councillor speaks Chinese, as well as English and Italian. She then moved on to the SDB First professions at Tigaraksa and seized the opportunity to address some 40+ postnov ices on the secular consecrated vocation of the VDB. Then it was on to Dili in Timor Lorosae (East Timor) where she travelled through the country and stopped off at SDB and FMA communities to meet with and address all the various constituencies that would offer promise for vocations.
She has found many Salesians willing to support the consecrated secular vocation by promoting it. She found practical support too in that a number have expressed a willingness to consider the role of Ecclesiastical Assistant when and if, and an offer has been made to translate the VDB Constitutions into Bahasa and Tetum.
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VDB Regional retreat and vocation promotion
HUA HIN: 8 August 2005 -- The 'Asia 2' region for the Volunteers of Don Bosco began their regional retreat yesterday, Sunday 7th August, at Hua Hin. It will continue until the 12th. Participants are drawn from Korea, Thailand, Macau, Hong Kong and Vietnam and comprise all professed members of the group plus 1st, 2nd and 3rd year aspirants, a term which would be somewhat equivalent to the sdb novitiate. The Ecclesiastical Assistant, a Salesian, from each group is also taking part in the retreat. All in all a group of 60 or more. The regional assistant is Fr Simon Lam, vice provincial of China province.
There are two zones in this VDB region. 'Asia 2' as described above and 'Asia 1' comprising the Philippines and Australia (Melbourne). There is also a Tokyo group directly depending on Rome for the moment. Altogether within the boundaries of the Salesian EAO region there are 120 VDB members. They owe their existence in this area to the zeal of Fr Gaetano Nicosia a 91 year old member of the China province in Macau, immediately following the Second Vatican Council. Worldwide the VDB now number 1290 and are preparing for their 2007 World Assembly, focused on the theme of communion in the local group. They speak of 'communion' rather than 'community' since women who are Volunteers of Don Bosco do not live in community. They may come together on average twice a month for a day of recollection and a day of formation.
The one Salesian circumscription in the region that does not have VDB members is ITM, but that is about to change! Their General Councillor for Asia has just completed a whirlwind visit to the vice-province, beginning in Jakarta at the Salesian St Yohannes Bosco parish, where the majority of parishioners are Chinese speaking. The Councillor speaks Chinese, as well as English and Italian. She then moved on to the SDB First professions at Tigaraksa and seized the opportunity to address some 40+ postnov ices on the secular consecrated vocation of the VDB. Then it was on to Dili in Timor Lorosae (East Timor) where she travelled through the country and stopped off at SDB and FMA communities to meet with and address all the various constituencies that would offer promise for vocations.
She has found many Salesians willing to support the consecrated secular vocation by promoting it. She found practical support too in that a number have expressed a willingness to consider the role of Ecclesiastical Assistant when and if, and an offer has been made to translate the VDB Constitutions into Bahasa and Tetum.
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