Rome, Italy - For the first time after the GC27 the EAO regional secretary office in the General House was busy during two full weeks of January. Thanks to the benevolent agreement with the provincial of Manila, FIN, the provincial secretary Fr. Felino (Ditto) Gueco, Jr. was able to help the EAO secretariat during his stay at 'La Pisana' from 8 to 24 January 2016.
The evaluation of this experiment was very positive and fruitful. Especially the General house community experience was highly appreciated - meal times, family spirit and necessary help for any newcomer, basketball games and informal sharing with the 50 confreres of the community. Fr. Ditto was able also to meet personally all confreres involved in the world level animation and make many friends - from the archives up to the IT expert from South Asia region.
As regards the EAO secretariat work, most of the time was dedicated to the digitalization of the EAO provincial meeting since 1967. All available records are now easy accessible to all EAO provincials of their secretaries even if their provincial or delegation history is not so long. Also all digital platforms available for the EAO provinces became familiar (www.sdb.org > AGORA; www.bosco.link; EAO meeting digital archives as well as all EAO provincial websites).
At present time only three of the 7 regions have their resident secretary in Rome (North-Central Europe, South Asia and Mediterranian region). Other four regional councilors are looking for some smart solutions, for example the Africa-Madagascar regional calls every semester for 3 weeks one provincial secretary to help with the necessary reports to the Rector Major.
Since the minimum of EAO regional structure does require easy access to the past regional meeting materials, the gathering and digitalization of all past sectors meeting (formation, youth ministry, soc.communication, missions, Salesian family, economy etc) will continue in the future.
Fr. Ditto would join again the 50 SDB strong community at Via della Pisana 1111 during next summer session in this important work.
With a prayer and thanks to all EAO provincial secretaries and their staff in each provincial house!
