austraLasia #2817
When you need to explain what relics are...
JAKARTA: 8 March 2011 – The Don Bosco Relic has arrived in Jakarta, Indonesia’s capital city and will remain in Indonesia until 12 March. Apart from a visit to the Postnovitiate, much of the time the Relic will remain at the the Don Bosco Parish in the city. At the Postnovitiate, there wsa an official welcome by the representative of the Apostolic Nuncio following the arrival at the airport.
Indonesia is a predominantly Muslim country; by demographics alone, the largest in the world, with 15.6% of the Muslim population of the world. Many of the Jakarta parishioners holding high positions in government and society came to the help of the Salesians so that everything may run smoothly, part of a process to help 'conscientize' people in preparation for the visit. However, for many years before the Salesians came to Indonesia, people had already known the name Don Bosco. With some six and a half million Catholics in Indonesia, and a significant Catholic educational presence, Catholicism is one of the six official religions of the country. Dutch missionaries named several of their schools and orphanages after Don Bosco and considered him the patron saint of their eductional work for the young long before he was canonized.
The awareness-raising program had its interesting moments. Two examples: .... Fr. Andy was explaining what “relics” are to a group of young people in one of the schools in Jakarta, when suddenly one of them blurted out, “So, Father, does this mean the Catholic Church allows mutilation of saints' bodies?” And then, two Muslim boys were resting after playing basketball in the postnovitiate court. They saw the poster announcing the relic's coming, and asked Father Chito why this particular visit to Jakarta. Father said, “because Don Bosco wants to see you!” And they said with a smile, “If that is the case, we want to see him too!” (Fr. Chito had little chance to extend his explanation because the boys' father came to fetch them with his motorcycle.)
Many people in Indonesia have a great love for Don Bosco and have been waiting for him. Please join us in praying that this visit my be a source of great blessings for the Church here, the Salesians, the Salesian Family, the great Indonesian nation and its young people.
_________________
AustraLasia is an email service for the Salesian Family of Asia Pacific. It also functions as an agency for ANS based in Rome. For queries please contact admin@bosconet.aust.com . RSS feeds - just go to Bosconet, click on austraLasia 2011 in the sidebar. You will see the RSS orange icon in your browser address bar - add it from there. Or be interactive with the EAO blog Cetera Tolle. Avail yourself of the Salesian Digital Library at http://sdl.sdb.org
When you need to explain what relics are...
JAKARTA: 8 March 2011 – The Don Bosco Relic has arrived in Jakarta, Indonesia’s capital city and will remain in Indonesia until 12 March. Apart from a visit to the Postnovitiate, much of the time the Relic will remain at the the Don Bosco Parish in the city. At the Postnovitiate, there wsa an official welcome by the representative of the Apostolic Nuncio following the arrival at the airport.
Indonesia is a predominantly Muslim country; by demographics alone, the largest in the world, with 15.6% of the Muslim population of the world. Many of the Jakarta parishioners holding high positions in government and society came to the help of the Salesians so that everything may run smoothly, part of a process to help 'conscientize' people in preparation for the visit. However, for many years before the Salesians came to Indonesia, people had already known the name Don Bosco. With some six and a half million Catholics in Indonesia, and a significant Catholic educational presence, Catholicism is one of the six official religions of the country. Dutch missionaries named several of their schools and orphanages after Don Bosco and considered him the patron saint of their eductional work for the young long before he was canonized.
The awareness-raising program had its interesting moments. Two examples: .... Fr. Andy was explaining what “relics” are to a group of young people in one of the schools in Jakarta, when suddenly one of them blurted out, “So, Father, does this mean the Catholic Church allows mutilation of saints' bodies?” And then, two Muslim boys were resting after playing basketball in the postnovitiate court. They saw the poster announcing the relic's coming, and asked Father Chito why this particular visit to Jakarta. Father said, “because Don Bosco wants to see you!” And they said with a smile, “If that is the case, we want to see him too!” (Fr. Chito had little chance to extend his explanation because the boys' father came to fetch them with his motorcycle.)
Many people in Indonesia have a great love for Don Bosco and have been waiting for him. Please join us in praying that this visit my be a source of great blessings for the Church here, the Salesians, the Salesian Family, the great Indonesian nation and its young people.
_________________
AustraLasia is an email service for the Salesian Family of Asia Pacific. It also functions as an agency for ANS based in Rome. For queries please contact admin@bosconet.aust.com . RSS feeds - just go to Bosconet, click on austraLasia 2011 in the sidebar. You will see the RSS orange icon in your browser address bar - add it from there. Or be interactive with the EAO blog Cetera Tolle. Avail yourself of the Salesian Digital Library at http://sdl.sdb.org
