austraLasia

Annual meeting of the PDMA 2017:

New missionary delegates with new enthusiasm - Men on fire!

Sam Phran, Thailand, 19 August 2017 -- Since 2015 (Seoul, Korea) is held every year the annual regional meeting of the EAO provincial delegates for missionary animation (PDMA). After 2016 successful meeeting in Hong Kong this year the meeting was open just after the Seminar on Initial Proclamation in Sam Phran, Thailand on August 19.

During the morning session Fr. Guillermo Basanes encouraged all EAO and South Asia delegates to share their insights of the 5 days Seminar concluded just yesterday. An overhelming majority of the delegates confessed this seminar more like spiritual retreat with their respective conversion to the paradigm of initial proclamation - with a deeper awareness of personal witness and inner life importance. In the same was highlighted an importance of consistent support of the provincial superiors in awareness campaign for the SDB starting from provincial councils, rectors and delegates of other sectors. Indeed initial proclamation of Jesus does touch the future of the Church, of the Charism and is deeply related to each sector of Salesian life and mission.

In the afternoon the two regions held a separate meeting of their PDMA. EAO delegate meeting was attended also by two provincials (Fr. Maravilla of PGS and Fr. Theparat of THA) as well by Fr. MC George (Missions Sector-assistent for the EAO) and Fr. Klement. The EAO Regional coordinator for missionary animation Fr. Andrew Fung moderated the whole meeting. In the first part the old and new delegates studied and commented the 'Salesian Missionary Animation' Handbook (ed. 2017). The PDMA highlighted especially the support of the provincials, synergy among different sectors, provincial commission and plan for missionary animation.

In the second part of the EAO PDMA meeting the growth of Missionary Volunteer services in the provinces (domestic volunteers, immersion or exposure program and international volunteers - sending and receiving) and also explored possible synergy among the EAO provinces. The EAO volunteer survey and short videoclip presentation of Cagliero Project (Australia - Pacific province) helped concrete discussion. Most of the EAO provinces are now in the process to relaunch their volunteer service experience or strengthen the domestic volunteer programs.

This time we missed only AUL delegate Ms. Laureen (on maternal leave). Among the 19 participants were 10 delegates of the provinces and 3 from the delegations (Cambodia, Indonesia and Mongolia). Five of them were newly appointed during last twelve months, very eager to learn the task and ways of missionary animation.

Next EAO regional meeting of PDMA is scheduled for November 20-22, 2018 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.