By Our Own Correspondent
(Port Moresby, PNG) For the Rector Major each visit to some province of country means four distinct moments: meeting with the young people, with the members of Salesian Family, with the Salesians of Don Bosco as well with the leadership (council) of the respective place. The last full day of Fr. Ángel in Papua New Guinea capital of Port Moresby brought together the Salesian family in the morning and almost 100% of all Salesians working in this country. Father talking to his sons and daughters, time of dialogue was started in the morning in the FMA community (East Boroko) with 10 FMA sisters with their Provincial Sr. Sarah and continued with the Open forum and Eucharist in the Shrine of Mary Help of Christians.
Since 1980 there is a growing numbers of eight SF groups present in PNG: SDB (1980), Caritas Sisters of Jesus (1986), Salesian Cooperators (2000), FMA Sisters (2001), ADMA (2000), Congregation of St. Archangel Michael (present since 1975 in the country, but joint the SF only in 2009) and also thousands of Don Bosco Past Pupils (being organized in recent years). Rector Major asked from all groups an effort for communion, and growth both in identity and numbers. During the Eucharist after the homily of Fr. Ángel three lay groups of the Salesian Family renewed their promise - ADMA, Salesian Cooperators and DB Past pupils.
In the afternoon followed the most important time for the Rector Major. First there was 80 minutes with the PNG-SI Delegation council. The agenda was about the future of the PNG-SI Delegation heading towards “a future more independent organization of the Delegation” (=Vice-province) as suggested already by Fr. Pascual Chávez in his letter to the Delegation in July 2010 after the extraordinary visitation. Then followed two hours long sharing with 40 SDB present in the country was a crown to the whole visit.
Today the whole day the theme of ongoing involvement, formation and accompaniment of our lay mission partners was strongly present. Together with care about vocation culture also the appreciation and patient formative accompaniment of our youth and lay mission partners (staff, animators, teachers, workers) emerged as the key to the future of Salesian Charism in this country. Salesian were challenged to face the temptation of clericalism, of true Salesian identity and ongoing conversion needed for the future of Salesian Charism worldwide. Open forum with the confreres open the vital themes for the Delegation like service to the poorest youth, social justice and credible life witness of the Salesians.
At the end of each talk or sharing the Rector Major gave thanks to each group or person with a local touch: TENK YU TRU! (Tok Pisin – Thank you!) Really, thank you Fr. Ángel for your three full days of fatherly animation with us here in Papua New Guinea, we are doing our best to make possible the celebration of 300 years of Don Bosco’s Birthday with a large tree of Salesian Family in this country!
The Promise of the Salesian Cooperators (PAL art. 32)
I PROMISE to live out the Project of Apostolic Life of the Association of Salesian Cooperators with commitment.That is: to be a faithful disciple of Christ in the Catholic Church; to work in Your Kingdom, especially for the advancement and salvation of the young; to deepen and give witness to the Salesian spirit; to collaborate, in Family communion, in the apostolic initiatives of the local Church.
The Alumni Oath (PNG version ed. 2015)
As an Alumnus of Don Bosco, I solemnly swear to uphold the honorable traditions and practices of Don Bosco. Imbued by the spirit of Don Bosco to serve the needs of students of diverse backgrounds, I will endeavor to earn my own place among alumni who by their devotion to this ideal have brought recognition and honor to their alma mater. I do solemnly swear to commit myself to the highest standards of service to humanity, wherever my life touches that of others. As a socially responsible citizen, I commit myself to the search for solutions to all forms of oppression. I do solemnly swear to provide moral, intellectual and generous financial support; and I will encourage other to attend my alma mater and thus to contribute to the perpetuation of the noble work of Don Bosco.
