(ANS – Rome) – Every new vocation is a visible and touchable sign that God loves the Salesian Congregation. In the twenty-two countries of the ten provinces of the East Asia–Oceania region provinces, it is estimated that there are more than 800 young Aspirants ranging from the junior high school (12-15 years) to university age (20-25 years).
All of them in many different ways discern their call to the religious and Salesian life. Some of the Aspirantates are boarding high schools, some are run as weekly Sunday encounters, some offer the chance of study in the local major seminary, while some are intertwined with a large Salesian school or in settings for youth at risk.
All of the 25 - 30 different small or large Aspirantates are places where young men take the first steps to explore and discern the Salesian vocation. They begin with an attraction to the figure of Don Bosco, by some Salesian model or by Don Bosco’s mission. These first steps are followed by a longer period of personal growth, studies and accompaniment. In some provinces it takes ten years to reach the novitiate.
Some of them start their vocation journey while still non-Christians, some of them have to overcome their parents’ negative view about religious life. Thanks to the hardworking Salesians in this mission we can welcome every year some 70-80 novices. In 2015 we are grateful for the gift of 75 novices and also grateful that each province of the region has at least one novice: AUL -5, CIN -2, FIN – 5, FIS-7, GIA-1, ITM – 16, KOR – 4, MYM – 7, PNG-SI 1, THA-1 and VIE-29.
“With a grateful heart Salesians remember in the prayers all 800+ young men in the different Aspirantates” says Fr Václav Klement, Regional Councillor. Here is the distribution of the Aspirants in the Region:
Published 02/11/2015
