(ANS – Hua Hin) – The East Asia Oceania Region has a steady growth in the Brother vocation. This is partly sustained by initiatives from the EAO Mobile Formation Team, in collaboration with the different EAO provinces, that promote and invest in the formation of the Salesian Brothers. One of these formation moments was the recently concluded East Asia Oceania Salesian Brothers’ Congress, the 6th meeting of this kind, held from August 19 to 23, 2013 at the Salesian Retreat House in Hua Hin, Thailand.

The Congress served to gather proposals from the Brothers for the celebration of the Bicentenary of Don Bosco’s birth. More than 85 confreres attended from the different provinces of the region. Fr. Andrew Wong, Regional Councillor of the EAO, was also present.  He encouraged the Brothers in their service to the Congregation and emphasized the importance of congresses of this kind.

The congress started with the reports about the resolutions made during the 2006 congress in Cambodiaand a Lectio Divina facilitated by Fr. Francis Gustillo. The participants also reflected upon the letters sent by Fr. Klement Vaclav (Missions) and Br. Jean Paul Muller (Economer). Then Br. Michael Harris (AUL) and Br. John Baptist Thanad Anan (THA) also delivered a conference on pedagogy. Br. Raymond Callo (FIN) gave a talk on spirituality, including the scheme of the Salesian Brother Specific Formation in Manila, while Fr. Chrys Saldanha (RMG) presented the revisions on the Ratio.

It can be said that the whole event was marked with a reflective and prayerful atmosphere where the brothers shared insights about the conferences, their Salesian Brother vocation and the path where the Lord is leading them to be. On the other hand, light and recreational moments bonded the brothers from different provinces.
The congress was capped off with a fellowship and a cultural show at the Siam Niramit in Bangkok.

Published 05/09/2013