Rome, 18 June 2016 -- Today has ended in the General House in Rome the regular course for the new provincials. Among a (small) group of 7 new provincials were also Fr. Godofredo Atienza (FIS) and Fr. Joseph Quang (VIE).
According already established tradition one year after their appointment the new provincial are coming for two weeks to the house of the Rector Major. Both of the EAO provincial appreciate the experience of fraternity and community experience with the complete general council and their colleagues (one from India, three from Brasil and one from Argentina). The course helped to widen and deepen their Salesian vision and they are going back home with few 'homework' given by the Rector Major and the other sector councilors.
One of the major highlights of past two weeks was the joint pilgrimage of the General Council with the new provincial to the Vatican Basilica of St. Peters. A prayerful afternoon spent close to the heart of the Catholic Church and Pope Francis - from the Tomb of St. Peter, praying in the Basilica of St. Peters as well in other significant places of the Vatican City - was very appreciated by all participants. And finally after the walk around the Vatican gardens, evening prayer in the Sistine Chapel was concluded with a fraternal meal in our Salesian Vatican community. A deep experience of deepening our faith, fraternity and communion within the Catholic Church.
