Animation visit of the Delegation 2017
Lahore, Pakistani, 11 November 2017 -- Five Salesians (two first Pakistani priests, Fr. Sami and Fr. Noble, two Filipino missionaries Fr. Eugene and Fr. Joel joint by a Pakistani practical trainee Cl. Bernard Francis) met in Lahore Don Bosco for four full days of animation visit and sharing with the EAO regional councilor (November 6-10). Beyond Pakistan there are six more Salesians and candidates studying or waiting for the entry visa: two prenovices in Lawaan (FIS), one postnovice in Canlubang (FIN), Br. Francis Nhat (Manila), Fr. Gabriel de la Cruz (Rome) and practical trainee, cleric Saram Sathiya (Sri Lanka).
Intense time of listening, prayer and fraternal sharing was spent on the Road Map for the Pakistan delegation 2020.
Twenty years after strarting our Pakistan mission the few confreres present in the country are called to make concrete their shared vision: Trust in God - Great Optimism and Excellence in personal growth. Through the sharing were discerned 10 strategic points to move forward according a shared vision: ongoing formation of all Delegation confreres, working on more personnel for the Delegation (vocation promotion, lay missionaries, temporary commitment from the FIS province and EAO region and missionaries to be send by the Rector Major).
Two communities of Lahore and Quetta with hundreds of poor youth (academic and technical education), offered education to few thousands of youth in need with our main works of boarding school, oratory, social outreach and vocation promotion.
During the animation visit day the participants also attended the thanksgiving Mass of Fr. Samuel Adnan Ghouri in Lahore Don Bosco, were able to meet archbishop of Lahore, Sebastian Francis Shaw, OFM and bishop of Quetta Victor Gnanapragasam, OMI who attended in nearby Renewal Center the Pakistan bishop conference. Also a short encounter with the family of our late Bosconian Akash Bashir (martyr on March 15,2015) in the nearby Youhannabad parish was a special moment of thanksgiving.
Among other significant moment was the animation encounter with our 9 candidates (Come and See, Living in) who attend the College studies, teachers and staff meeting of the Don Bosco Technical School as well the Good morning talk to the whole Educative - Pastoral community. Indeed the face of Don Bosco is slowly becoming Pakistani - we try to share our Charism with our Past Pupils and candidates to the Salesian religious life.
Within the EAO prayer circle we remember the Pakistan delegation on the 12th of each month. The confreres in Pakistan believe in your prayers! In the same time the youthful, dynamic and suffering Catholic community of Pakistan is offering a wonderful life witness to the whole world wide Body of Christ and Family of Don Bosco!
