austraLaia 1318
A 'Good Night' to remember on 'the month that was'
ROME: 5th November 2005 -- One of the outstanding characteristics of the ninth successor of Don Bosco, Fr Pascual Chávez, is his uncanny knack of getting to the heart of the matter in a few words. On the evening of 4th November, just returned from an exhausting round of visits to Holland, Belgium, Rome (in between), Colombia and Valdocco, with some other stops mixed in, he gave the community at 'La Pisana' an overview of the month of October, a month that would rival and surpass the globe-trotting concentration of 'La Rice' as the Italians call her!
Valdocco: 3rd November (starting backwards). It would come as news to most that part of the reconstruction efforts of the Basilica of MHC in Turin has involved a late decision to re-open Don Bosco's urn for the first time since 1929. A 'reconditioning' of the mortal remains of our Father and Founder was deemed necessary as part of the complete restructuring of the special altar of Don Bosco. For the opening, the Rector Major was present, along with the Chancellor of the Archdiocesan Curia and two doctors. The RM found it a very special and wonderful experience. Much of Don Bosco's body is in a preserved state. While the various actions that now need to be taken as part of the reconditioning efforts are occurring, the mortal remains have been reverently placed in the chapel of relics. Thought is being given to a new urn, and one that might stand a worldwide pilgrimage in the future.
Holland-Belgium, earlier in the month: details of the visit can be read in ANS, but the RM selected the key elements of his experience for the Good Night. He identified the extraordinary achievements of the now Delegation (Holland), with a high average age and no vocations for years (but one novice this year) - the work being done for immigrants, including illegals, a work carried out with confreres and lay people who have been formed closely in the Salesian spirit and which has won the highest regard of civic authorities. In the Flemish province (Belgium North) to which the delegation is now attached, he saw the very special new formulation of the Preventive System for local circumstances and indeed for Europe, and its very moving presentation in dramatic form, with music, song, dance, acrobatics and more, in a presentation that he regards as of the highest professional quality; all the work of Salesians, dedicated lay people and young people, students of our schools. He noted the combined missionary impact of Holland-Belgium around the Salesian world.
Intermediate Session of the General Council: this was especially dedicated to completing the study of the regions, amongst which EAO and Africa-Madagascar. While there is still some finalising of decisions to be made, especially in the latter case, the RM identified the following features of the EAO Region from their study: GC25's decision to form this region appears to be the best solution for all the countries and Salesian presences involved of all the solutions that have been tried in recent years. Withall the diversity of situations religious, societal and cultural, it still seems to have been an inspired solution. Inculturation, with its many ramifications, is the central most important issue, especially as it touches on issues of formation. There is a need to develop a 'centre' for the region, especially one that responds to the diverse vocational realities. Of Africa - well, some decisions still to come but he noted the extraordinary achievements of 25 years - 42 nations, 1,000 plus vocations, 600 local Salesians.
Interamerica Team Visit, held at Bogotà, after which the RM made a visit to Medellin and received another Doctorate Honoris Causae (you can read all that in ANS). Here he found himself in a Region with Salesian roots going back 130 years but which also evidences the greatest degree of vocational fragility and therefore the Team Visit made the choice to focus on the centrality of the experience of God. The RM concluded his Good Night, however, by helping his listeners experience the thrill of the final night when hundreds of street children put on a choral performance the likes of which he had never before heard, and made him and all other members of the Team Visit gathering marvel at the depth of human development that has been achieved by Salesian education on what most people regard as very poor raw material!
____________________
AustraLasia is an email service for the Salesian Family of Asia Pacific. It also functions as an agency for ANS based in Rome. For RSS feeds, subscribe to www.bosconet.aust.com/rssala.xml. If you subscribe, email this information and your name will come off the regular email list. RSS eliminates problems such as multiple mailings, viruses, email bloat. Think about it!
A 'Good Night' to remember on 'the month that was'
ROME: 5th November 2005 -- One of the outstanding characteristics of the ninth successor of Don Bosco, Fr Pascual Chávez, is his uncanny knack of getting to the heart of the matter in a few words. On the evening of 4th November, just returned from an exhausting round of visits to Holland, Belgium, Rome (in between), Colombia and Valdocco, with some other stops mixed in, he gave the community at 'La Pisana' an overview of the month of October, a month that would rival and surpass the globe-trotting concentration of 'La Rice' as the Italians call her!
Valdocco: 3rd November (starting backwards). It would come as news to most that part of the reconstruction efforts of the Basilica of MHC in Turin has involved a late decision to re-open Don Bosco's urn for the first time since 1929. A 'reconditioning' of the mortal remains of our Father and Founder was deemed necessary as part of the complete restructuring of the special altar of Don Bosco. For the opening, the Rector Major was present, along with the Chancellor of the Archdiocesan Curia and two doctors. The RM found it a very special and wonderful experience. Much of Don Bosco's body is in a preserved state. While the various actions that now need to be taken as part of the reconditioning efforts are occurring, the mortal remains have been reverently placed in the chapel of relics. Thought is being given to a new urn, and one that might stand a worldwide pilgrimage in the future.
Holland-Belgium, earlier in the month: details of the visit can be read in ANS, but the RM selected the key elements of his experience for the Good Night. He identified the extraordinary achievements of the now Delegation (Holland), with a high average age and no vocations for years (but one novice this year) - the work being done for immigrants, including illegals, a work carried out with confreres and lay people who have been formed closely in the Salesian spirit and which has won the highest regard of civic authorities. In the Flemish province (Belgium North) to which the delegation is now attached, he saw the very special new formulation of the Preventive System for local circumstances and indeed for Europe, and its very moving presentation in dramatic form, with music, song, dance, acrobatics and more, in a presentation that he regards as of the highest professional quality; all the work of Salesians, dedicated lay people and young people, students of our schools. He noted the combined missionary impact of Holland-Belgium around the Salesian world.
Intermediate Session of the General Council: this was especially dedicated to completing the study of the regions, amongst which EAO and Africa-Madagascar. While there is still some finalising of decisions to be made, especially in the latter case, the RM identified the following features of the EAO Region from their study: GC25's decision to form this region appears to be the best solution for all the countries and Salesian presences involved of all the solutions that have been tried in recent years. Withall the diversity of situations religious, societal and cultural, it still seems to have been an inspired solution. Inculturation, with its many ramifications, is the central most important issue, especially as it touches on issues of formation. There is a need to develop a 'centre' for the region, especially one that responds to the diverse vocational realities. Of Africa - well, some decisions still to come but he noted the extraordinary achievements of 25 years - 42 nations, 1,000 plus vocations, 600 local Salesians.
Interamerica Team Visit, held at Bogotà, after which the RM made a visit to Medellin and received another Doctorate Honoris Causae (you can read all that in ANS). Here he found himself in a Region with Salesian roots going back 130 years but which also evidences the greatest degree of vocational fragility and therefore the Team Visit made the choice to focus on the centrality of the experience of God. The RM concluded his Good Night, however, by helping his listeners experience the thrill of the final night when hundreds of street children put on a choral performance the likes of which he had never before heard, and made him and all other members of the Team Visit gathering marvel at the depth of human development that has been achieved by Salesian education on what most people regard as very poor raw material!
____________________
AustraLasia is an email service for the Salesian Family of Asia Pacific. It also functions as an agency for ANS based in Rome. For RSS feeds, subscribe to www.bosconet.aust.com/rssala.xml. If you subscribe, email this information and your name will come off the regular email list. RSS eliminates problems such as multiple mailings, viruses, email bloat. Think about it!
