austraLasia - 5696(I)_EAO: New ADMA centers - Formation

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ADMA EAO, 20 September 2021 -- One week after the deeply Salesian charismatic moments of the 2nd ADMA East Asia - Oceania regional congress (11-12 September) some 34 ADMA members, their spiritual animators (SDB, FMA) and two members of the IT-Technical support team together with Fr Joseph Phuoc, SDB - EAO regional councilor - gathered for two hours of evaluation.

In the evaluation meeting were participants from 10 of the 12 EAO provinces (FIN, FIS, GIA, INA, KOR, MYM, PGS, THA, TLS and VIE; including the Cambodia Delegation. A good number of the ADMA centers or provinces submitted their reports about the Congress feedback (cf. Boscolink) and live sharing of other participants followed after the basic presentation by Fr. Vaclav (cf. cf. Boscolink).

Reading of the provincial evaluations and resolutions after the Congress is really inspiring. Guided by the theme 'Like Mary we Walk with Jesus', the Congress boosted the confidence to go forward even amidst the pandemic, strengthened the awareness of belonging to a large 100,000 member ADMA family living in all 5 continents, while an address from Mr Renato confirmed the capacity of consistent lay leadership and especially revealed the rich faith and cultural diversity of the EAO region as a huge resource for all (prayers, songs, dances, sharing).

Among the single province resolutions, the most visible is the desire to foster new vocations from families and more male and younger members; to grow in the animation of each center and learn from each other in the EAO region.

One amazing fact is that in the first week already more the ADMA-EAO Youtube channels in 8 languages received more than 1100 views, while in Timor Leste alone, the new ADMA Facebook page with 'Tetun' simultaneous interpretation was watched by 500 people aside from 200 views on the YouTube ADMA channel.

The first resolution of the evaluation meeting is, over a short period, to produce a digital set of 'Acts-Proceedings' of the 2nd ADMA Congress (Word,PDF) as a valuable formation resource especially for centers just starting out.

Remarkable were the sharings of strong determination to launch new ADMA centers in Cambodia, Myanmar and Vietnam. Also the presence of two former provincials (FIS, MYM), four SF provincial delegates (VIE, KOR, INA, THA-Cambodia) and an overall enthusiastic attitude is a sign of a new ADMA springtime in the EAO region.

Fr Joachim Ye Maung, former provincial of Myanmar (2004-2010), expressed well the mind of the 7-8 newADMA centers: " I was most happy to have taken part in the ADMA EAO Congress. We are quite determined to establish ADMA in the vice province of Myanmar. Our Provincial also is of the same mind. We have already received the ADMA Regulations (2003), and are in touch with the ADMA world spiritual animator Fr Alejandro and are eager to receive the monthly 'ADMA Online' as ongoing spiritual food for our first group gathered in our Mary Help of Christians parish."

As the main follow up after the EAO Congress is the agreement on regular, well-prepared online meetings (every 2-3 months), discernment for the EAO ADMA Coordinator (SDB) and close accompaniment of the new ADMA countries or centers with concrete short-term planning.

We give thanks to God for the fruits of this ADMA Congress and pray that increased relationship and devotion to Mary, Our Mother and Help of Christian will be a consistent contribution to the whole Salesian Family in the EAO region.

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