austraLasia #2980
Happy New Year! Korea begins Strenna 2012 'on the way to 2015'
NAE RIN: 1 January 2012 -- The small Salesian community at Nae Rin, on the coast, a little south of the airport at Incheon, is only celebrating its second birthday, but building-wise it is now pretty much complete. Nae Rin is the novitiate and also a retreat centre. Four novices are due to begin their novitiate shortly, but in the meantime, the community is the setting for four of the 2012 series of Retreats for the confreres. This one is being preached by Fr Klement. Others will be preached by Bro Hilario Seo and Fr John Chong (the latter is novice director).
Given that the Rector Major has only just launched his Strenna for 2012, this particular Retreat is timely: Return to Don Bosco is its theme, and it is based very much on materials that are in preparation for this strenna, but more particularly for the 2015 birthday bash (or, more respectfully, Bicientenary!) It might be interesting to see what this group is up to, take a brief peek at how their Retreat is tackling the main theme....
The main sources in use, other than the Constitutions, naturally, are the Memoirs of the Oratory in Korean translation (completed 1998) and a booklet prepared by CISI (the Italian Salesian Provincial Conference). If readers are unaware of this latter, it could be worth their while seeking it out. It is excellent, and some parts of our Region have already begun, in some cases completed, its translation into local languages. In this case Bro Hilario has been responsible for the translation into Korean of the material prepared by Fr Aldo Giraudo, acknowledged expert in all things 'Don Bosco' (and who, incidentally, will be presenting some of his ideas at the upcoming Salesian Spirituality Days later this month in Rome).
One interesting little ploy suggested by Giraudo back in 2007 when he gave the Retreat to the General Council, was to devise a Salesian 'rosary' based on the MO. People may have their own views of such an exercise, but for what it's worth, here it is 'Korea' style:
Mysteries of Don Bosco's vocation:
1. The Dream (Where it all begins)
2. Villa Moglia ("The most joyful and adventurous period in my life")
3. Clothing Day as a cleric (a great source of inspiration for his early resolutions)
4. The CHieri period (spiritual diretion in particular)
5. Priestly ordination 1841 (another important set of resolutions)
Mysteries of Don Bosco's mission
1. The encounter with Bartholomew Garelli (Foundational story)
2. Recovery from serious illnes ("I will spend my life until my last breath for my poor boys")
3. 1844 Dream (Here sheep turn into shepherds - hints of the future Congregation)
4. The Wandering Oratory (faith and patience)
5. Mamma Margaret comes to Valdocco (Wonderful scene, and her readiness "if it is God's will")
Mysteries of founding of the Congregation
1. 24 January 1854, (The first Salesians gather in Don Bosco's room)
2. Difficult times (the ongoing tensions with Gastaldi, the Archbishop of Turin)
3. 1874 (approval of the first Constitutions)
4. 1875 (First missionary expedition)
5. 1887 Sacred Heart Basilica, in tears of gratitude ("I have understood my whole life...").
All in all, not a bad way to ring in the new year.
Happy New Year! Korea begins Strenna 2012 'on the way to 2015'
Given that the Rector Major has only just launched his Strenna for 2012, this particular Retreat is timely: Return to Don Bosco is its theme, and it is based very much on materials that are in preparation for this strenna, but more particularly for the 2015 birthday bash (or, more respectfully, Bicientenary!) It might be interesting to see what this group is up to, take a brief peek at how their Retreat is tackling the main theme....
The main sources in use, other than the Constitutions, naturally, are the Memoirs of the Oratory in Korean translation (completed 1998) and a booklet prepared by CISI (the Italian Salesian Provincial Conference). If readers are unaware of this latter, it could be worth their while seeking it out. It is excellent, and some parts of our Region have already begun, in some cases completed, its translation into local languages. In this case Bro Hilario has been responsible for the translation into Korean of the material prepared by Fr Aldo Giraudo, acknowledged expert in all things 'Don Bosco' (and who, incidentally, will be presenting some of his ideas at the upcoming Salesian Spirituality Days later this month in Rome).
One interesting little ploy suggested by Giraudo back in 2007 when he gave the Retreat to the General Council, was to devise a Salesian 'rosary' based on the MO. People may have their own views of such an exercise, but for what it's worth, here it is 'Korea' style:
Mysteries of Don Bosco's vocation:
1. The Dream (Where it all begins)
2. Villa Moglia ("The most joyful and adventurous period in my life")
3. Clothing Day as a cleric (a great source of inspiration for his early resolutions)
4. The CHieri period (spiritual diretion in particular)
5. Priestly ordination 1841 (another important set of resolutions)
Mysteries of Don Bosco's mission
1. The encounter with Bartholomew Garelli (Foundational story)
2. Recovery from serious illnes ("I will spend my life until my last breath for my poor boys")
3. 1844 Dream (Here sheep turn into shepherds - hints of the future Congregation)
4. The Wandering Oratory (faith and patience)
5. Mamma Margaret comes to Valdocco (Wonderful scene, and her readiness "if it is God's will")
Mysteries of founding of the Congregation
1. 24 January 1854, (The first Salesians gather in Don Bosco's room)
2. Difficult times (the ongoing tensions with Gastaldi, the Archbishop of Turin)
3. 1874 (approval of the first Constitutions)
4. 1875 (First missionary expedition)
5. 1887 Sacred Heart Basilica, in tears of gratitude ("I have understood my whole life...").
All in all, not a bad way to ring in the new year.
