(ANS – Taipei) – On 31 January the St. John Bosco Parish (Taipei) witnessed a wonderful event as part of the Taiwan Salesian Family DB 200 celebrations. The festivities were prepared and sponsored by the Association of the Salesian Cooperators who have been present in Taiwan since 1959. About 150 participants gathered from morning to evening in the beautifully decorated Church, with dozens of large pictures of Don Bosco’s life and the places associated with him. The event also showed how Don Bosco transforms the life of our Lay Mission Partners.

How did change your life change when you became a member of Salesian Family (making the promise as a Salesian Cooperator, or first profession as a Salesian or Daughter of Mary Help of Christians, or a lay partner in the Salesian mission partner with the SDB)? This was the main topic of the morning workshop guided by Fr. Václav Klement, SDB, Councillor for the East Asia-Oceania Region. The workshop lasted two-and-a-half hours. Here are some of the replies:

• “Since I made the promise as a Salesian Cooperator, I think more about young people. They are more loveable and more important in the life of the Church and our society.” - a migrant worker.
• “At first there was no change, then I realized we should take more care of the youth in our parish, especially those marginalized” - a Parish Priest who is a Salesian Cooperator.
•  “Don Bosco is a great help in the education of my twin sons, taking care of their faith, moral life and helping them to become honest persons.”  - a married man who is a Salesian co-operator.
•   “Becoming a Salesian cooperator helped me to get closer to God in prayer and developed my ability to help others.” - a diocesan priest and Salesian co-operator.
•  “As a senior citizen, after becoming a Salesian cooperator I became more dynamic in youth care and overcame my sense of loneliness, becoming part of the worldwide Salesian family.”
• “As a Salesian cooperator I learned to pray the Angelus three times a day and I grew in the spirit of prayer. At the same time our family became more solid, more reasonable in judging society. Apart from that, I set aside some little money every day for young people in need.
• “As a teacher in a public school, with only one Catholic in my English class, I learn by heart some Bible verses and give the Scripture verses in English to my students, to contribute to the proclamation of the Gospel.”

The humble and enthusiastic presence of the Archbishop Emeritus of Taipei, Joseph Ti Kang, who is also a Salesian Cooperator, during the whole day, the presence of China provincial council members from China, including the newly elected coordinator Ms. Teresa Lam from Hong Kong, ten Salesian Confreres from all three Taiwan communities (Taipei, Tainan and Chaochou) together with the provincial, Fr. Lanfranco Fedrigotti, SDB, and several Daughters of Mary Help of Christians FMA from the two Taiwan communities (Taipei and Tainan) – contributed to a great experience of Salesian Family which was appreciated by all the participants.

The veneration of the relics of Don Bosco relics, the celebration of the Eucharist and a simple academy filled the rest of the day. It is very significant that during the whole day not only the adults, but also the children of Salesian Cooperators, aspirants and Kindergarten students were involved with their dances and songs.

The following day – Sunday 1 February – saw the Don Bosco celebration at local level in Taipei, where the Salesians have been present since 1964. In the morning there was probably the first ever street parish procession in Taipei. The statue of Don Bosco was carried around the streets of the parish in a procession of some 300 parishioners and some Salesian Family members from Hong Kong, with prayers, songs and incense.

The Feast day Eucharist was presided by archbishop of Taipei, John Baptist Hung Shan Chuan, SVD who challenged the Salesians to work more for the poor youth and for vocations in Taiwan.

Published 09/02/2015