By Fr. Julian

Turin, 1 April 2025 -- The regular austraLasia newsletter has been somewhat silent on proceedings at GC29 in recent weeks, and that is not simply forgetfulness on its part. There has been strong insistence from the outset at GC29 that its various discussions and certainly lead-up to resolutions/decisions should be something for the Chapter members alone, and that any possibility of interference from outside should be avoided. So, in deference and indeed obedience to that, austraLasia has simply followed proceedings at a distance and not made a big deal of anything that has thus far gone on.

But there is plenty of ‘big deal’ material emerging already through the officially sanctioned ANS news that we are already aware of, and there is little need to repeat all these disclosures here. It is worth noting however, that so many of those who have been called to service of the Congregation have come from outside the General Chapter, from Fr Fabio as Rector Major, to the Sectors (Youth Ministry, Formation, Missions, Communication, Economy) and now to our Regional Councillor, Fr Will Matthews.

Definitely a first for a Salesian General Chapter and a wonderful recognition of the worldwide spread of talent and willingness to serve. Indeed, speaking briefly to the newly elected General Council, or at least those who had managed to complete short or long journeys from everywhere around the world to get there in time (!), the Chapter Discernment Guide, Fr Amedeo Cencini FdCC, a Canossian priest, told them, ‘One of the elements that struck me is your charismatic clarity. Visiting your places it is clear that you know what it means to be Salesians, sons of Don Bosco. And you also know that this charism has an ecclesial value, it is a gift of the Spirit to the Church, through the charismatic figure of the founder.’ And clearly this view is borne out in the readiness of so many to say yes to the leadership assignment requested of them by GC29.

When the Rector Major spoke, following the completion of all the elections, he had this to say: ‘The election of a Regional Councillor whose origins are in Myanmar should make us reflect on what God is saying to us.’ This, of course, in the wake of the devastating earthquake and its consequences in the poorest part of the EAO region, and we know, without going into the details, that the practical response from provincials at the Chapter has buoyed the spirits of the confreres in Myanmar. We, too, need to reflect on this.

So, a new Regional Councillor for us. First of all we must express profound and sincere gratitude for the difficult task that the previous incumbent, Fr Joseph Phuoc, took up so readily and willingly. It was hard for him to even get a start on the job, what with Covid-19 restrictions in place everywhere, lack of international transport opportunities, and so on. But he overcame all of that, and his smiling and lively presence at all times around the region was a hallmark of his service.

We welcome Fr Will. He was, as you already know from ANS news, born and raised in and around Mandalay and had already made his decision to pursue Salesian life when the family decided to move to Australia (Perth). None of that deterred him and he soon applied to start the novitiate once more in Australia. A quick look at ANS will tell us of his years of service within the Australia-Pacific province... it reveals some but not all of that service, since Fr Will has had a finger in many pies, as we say, and most recently has been the rector of one of the province’s most complex and important works at Engadine, Sydney: parish, secondary school, Dunlea Centre for difficult youngsters, youth centre, John Paul Village (Rest home), Youth Matters, FMA community with a primary school and novitiate.... He will be a difficult man to replace.

Let us pray for Fr Will and for all who have been elected to leadership, while not forgetting those 231 people still at GC29, 224 of whom are eligible to vote.

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