austraLasia 1135
Final report of Past Pupils of Don Bosco Asia-Australia Congress
KOLKATA: 19th May 2005 -- The 8th Asia-Australia Past Pupils of Don Bosco Congress was held in Kolkata from 3rd -7th February 2005. A particular effort was made to avoid the Chinese New Year celebrations so that members from China, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia and Korea could attend.
Over 500 persons registered for the Congress. The main venue was Don Bosco School Park Circus Kolkata. Besides the World Body Members, the Vicar of the Rector major, Fr. Adrian Bregolin, together with Fr Jeronimo Monteiro, World Delegate and Fr Joaquim D'Souza, South Asia Regional, were in attendance. There were also representatives from Africa (Mr Antoine Musenga) and Europe (Mr Alex Dockers). Past Pupils from the Salesian Sisters school were also in attendance.
The Congress theme was that of Salesian education as a celebration of holiness. In their concluding statement, Congress members emphasised that spirituality is a way of life and that they would make an effort to understand that spirituality is therefore a harmonious fusion of home, school, places of worship and playground. They promised to seek to be a leaven in today's world through participation in volunteer work, and by promoting justice, standing up for values in public life, engaging in projects with total commitment on behalf of the young especially the poor and marginalised. The statement also included a series of practical steps for each Federation, such as working to increase active membership. activating GEX, evaluating activities.
The Congress realised a profit of RS. 8,03,000.00 (around USD 18,600) of which RS. 1,00.000.00 was donated to Tsunami relief, 10% to the Indian National Federation which hosted the event, 15% to the Kolkata Federation and the rest divided equally between all the units (local unions) of the Kolkata province.
Anyone wanting a full copy of the report can contact Indian National Federation president Rajesh Gupta at rajeshgupta@vsnl.com
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VOCABULARY
Asia-Australia: Although the Salesian region has altered its name and shape somewhat (India now forms a region of its own called South Asia and the rest has become East Asia-Oceania) the Past Pupils of Don Bosco decided to maintain the wider geographical focus of the former Asia-Australia region for the purpose of their triennial Congress
GEX: stands for Giovani Exallievi or Young Past Pupils. GEX formed as a group first in Europe, then in Latin America.
