austraLasia #3189
HONG KONG: 5 February 2103 -- The China Province held a practical training seminar on Sunday February 3rd at the Shek O Retreat House in Hong Kong. Six men in practical training attended the seminar and were accompanied by Fr. Joseph Ng and Fr. Provincial for the whole day. Fr. Matthew Chan was also present to give a short presentation on Don Bosco’s preventive system. The seminar began with a sharing by Fr. Provincial on the topic of faith. Fr. Provincial challenged all present to reflection through asking some challenging questions such as “do I have the faith?”, “do I experience God?”, and “how do I know if I have received this gift of faith?” His call for all present to deepen our faith seemed to dovetail well with both the current year of faith being celebrated in the Church and also the call of the Rector Major to a radical living of our Salesian vocation .
After the Provincial’s sharing, the group heard from Fr. Matthew Chan about both the roots of the preventive system and the current situation in Hong Kong schools. This was helpful in the sense that it provided a theoretical background for the more practical sharing of the practical training case studies which followed Fr. Matthew’s talk. Following the presentation by Fr. Matthew, 3 men in practical training shared concerning one or two particular students from their apostolate and the challenges that both these young people were facing as well as the challenges that the Salesian in formation was encountering. After each sharing there was time for the group to give feedback, offer suggestions, and show support to their brother.
In between the sharing about particular young people, the community enjoyed a good lunch and a walk outside taking in the beautiful view of the ocean coast. With the sharing completed, the seminar finished with a mass celebrated by Fr. Provincial and Fr. Joseph Ng. One participant had this to say about his experience, “I learned a lot by listening to the other men in practical training share their stories, I admire their courage in the face of a challenging apostolate; this seminar has helped me reflect on my own work with the young and strengthen my love for my Salesian vocation.”
How do we practise the Preventive System?
After the Provincial’s sharing, the group heard from Fr. Matthew Chan about both the roots of the preventive system and the current situation in Hong Kong schools. This was helpful in the sense that it provided a theoretical background for the more practical sharing of the practical training case studies which followed Fr. Matthew’s talk. Following the presentation by Fr. Matthew, 3 men in practical training shared concerning one or two particular students from their apostolate and the challenges that both these young people were facing as well as the challenges that the Salesian in formation was encountering. After each sharing there was time for the group to give feedback, offer suggestions, and show support to their brother.
In between the sharing about particular young people, the community enjoyed a good lunch and a walk outside taking in the beautiful view of the ocean coast. With the sharing completed, the seminar finished with a mass celebrated by Fr. Provincial and Fr. Joseph Ng. One participant had this to say about his experience, “I learned a lot by listening to the other men in practical training share their stories, I admire their courage in the face of a challenging apostolate; this seminar has helped me reflect on my own work with the young and strengthen my love for my Salesian vocation.”
