By Fr. Andrew Fung, SDB
EAO regional coordinator
Seoul,Korea, November 13, 2015 - Four years after the previous EAO missionary animation delegates meeting (Thailand, Sampran August 2011 - during the Mission Study Days on Initial proclamation of Jesus Christ in East Asia) the provincial delegates came together in Seoul. Together with the General Councilor for the EAO Region also the Councilor for the Missions, Fr. Guillermo Basanes and his team - Fr. Alfred Maravilla and Fr. Martin Lasarte - came together nine provincial delegates (indeed one of them is the Provincial of MYM) and the PNG-SI delegation missionary animator, all together 15 Happy Salesians!
On the agenda was the provincial animation reality sharing and common study about the Structures and Processes of Missionary Animation at the local, provincial and regional level. The EAO provincial coordinator for the MA, Fr. Andrew Fung was confirmed in his identity as a 'bridge' among the provincial delegates and the Councilor for the Missions.
Very fruitful and ecouraging were the sharing of good practices happening in the EAO provinces:
- Night talks focus on the missionary awareness (video clip - FIN)
- Don Bosco Volunteer Group report after summer mission exposure in Solomon Islands (GIA)
- Translations and use of the Salesian Missionary Formation Handbook (VIE, KOR, THA and CIN) Missionary formation materials produced for the Salesian Mission Day (CIN, ITM - Timor Leste)
- SDB Missionary formation course in Shillong (India) participated by two delegates (FIN, FIS)
- ... and many others as the feedback on the main document of "Structures and Processes of Missionary Animation" (accessible on the Boscolink).
On the last day before lunch was a time for short interaction with the Korean Provincial Mission Office and Fr.John Lee Foundation staff - both located on the 3rd floor of the Provincial house.
In the final evaluation the Missions Councilor appreciated strong convictions of all participants about the missionary animation and invited for prayers in order to bring the rekindle the missionary fire in the heart of each Salesian. Among the main fruits of the meeting the Provincial animation delegates underlined the widening of their vision, enrichment by the good pratices, growing in our regional communion and mentality and being able to help each other.
All participants agreed on the follow up of the missionary animation in view of 2016, November encounter in Hong Kong, China. They received an invitation for the August 13-16, 2017 South Asia-East Asia-Oceania Missionary animation study (Thailand, Sampran) being prepared together with the FMA Sisters.
All materials of the Seoul meeting are available on the BOSCOLINK (AGORA > RESOURCES)
Thanks for helping us to make true the Fifths Dream of the Rector Major (ACG 421) about growing as more missionary Congregation!
