(ANS – Apia Faleolo) – On behalf of the Salesian Family in Samoa, Fr. Petelo Vito Pau, Rector of Don Bosco Technical Centre, Alafua, welcomed the Rector Major, his secretary, Fr. Horacio López and Fr Václav Klement, Regional Councillor East Asia Oceania.

Fr. Mosese Tui Kolio, Provincial Delegate for the Pacific (AUL), Priests, Brothers, Sisters, Parishioners, youth groups from St. Michael Parish Leauvaa and St. Don Bosco Parish Sinamoga Moamoa, young people and school children from the Salesian Sisters convent and other students were there with thunderous applause and smiling faces to welcome the 10th Successor of Don Bosco in their midst, after a gap of around 11 years.

“Your first visit is a time of grace, a time of blessing, a wonderful time for your sons and daughters and the young to meet their father to share our life and to listen to you.  It is also a great opportunity to deepen our sense of belonging to you and to the whole Salesian world. You have made this trip with great difficulty to this distant country to tell us that we are important to you, that you like to be with us the young people of Samoa, as you expressed so beautifully in the strenna of this year: Like Don Bosco, with the young, for the young” said Fr. Petelo.

After the evening prayer, there was the traditional Ava Ceremony welcoming eminent guests and bonding them with the Samoan community. The cultural items which followed were set to local rhythms and styles, well prepared by the various groups of the Salesian Family in and around Alafua.

Rector Major will spent three days in Samoa with a trip to Saleleloga, Savaii where there is a parish and a high school run by the Salesians.

Published 08/05/2015