EAO Translators' meeting

By Fr. Pascal Kyaw, SDB

Anisakan, Myanmar, 29 August 2019 -- The two main visible results of the 2nd EAO Salesian Translators Workshop are in the spotlight - the 'Salesian Translators Handbook' (20 pages for all EAO translators and their provincials) and a 'Salesian Glossary', this latter set for homework for the translators (450 Salesian terms witha clear description in the language of their province). After 3 days of intense sharing, questioning, workshop sessions and fraternal exchange the 2nd EAO Workshop came to an end on 29 August.

There are two main fruits of this 'rare' EAO regional workshop, since the ordinary work of the Salesian Translators (both SDB and various Salesian Family members) is hidden, silent and not so publicly appreciated. However without the continuous translation of SDB institutional documents, Don Bosco sources or the daily Salesian world or regional news (in our case EAO), probably the whole Congregation would cease to breath as one world community.

At the end of the Workshop each participant was encouraged to wrap up the long reflection and discernment journey with two personal, two provincial and two regional 'Resolutions' in the sphere of Salesian Translation ministry. Resolutions which stand out among the province level ones are: Assist their provincial to acknowledge the translation mission in a more serious way, with a long-term planning mentality for translator formation and accompaniment; activate or begin a provincial level team of Salesian translators (as a chief tool for this translation ministry, that can't be carried out effectively without it. At the regional level our translators dream is to keep in touch through digital communication (e.g. WhatsApp group) and ask their provincial to suggest the most necessary translations for their mission.

During the last two session on 29 and 30 August, workshop participants (20 SDB and 10 members of other SF group) were able to finalize the 4th revision of the EAO Salesian Translators Handbook (due for publication on 30 September- the international day of Translators, Feast of St Jerome), put together their personal, province and region level resolutions and evaluate the whole workshop. Before the last evening prayer each participant received from the hands of the hosting provincial the special Certificate of Appreciation with the personal signature of the Rector Major.

Gathered in one place after 5 years, the EAO Salesian translators return to their home provinces with more motivation, conviction and concrete tools like the Salesian Glossary (450 terms) and clear guidelines discerned in the Salesian Translators Handbook (a 20 page, relatively brief document with its own internal glossary and translators prayers composed by SDB, FMA, VDB and Salesian Cooperators). We are grateful for the organizers, for the expert contribution of Fr. George Thadathil from Sonada (India, Kolkatta Province) 'Salesian Translation Center' and the wisdom shared by many senior translators present in the workshop hall or helping through their online advice and assistance.

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