(ANS - Lysterfield)- A meeting of the Formation Commission for the East Asia-Oceania Region was held in Lysterfield, near Melbourne, from 21 to 23 November. About 30 Salesians were present, including the Formation Delegates and the Provincials of the region, along with Fr Francesco Cereda, Councillor General for Formation and Fr Andrew Wong, Regional Councillor. Archbishop Timothy Costelloe, SDB, Archbishop of Perth, also addressed the meeting.

On the first day, the meeting was reserved for the Delegates only. Together they examined various issues: the report of the Rector Major on the state of Formation in the Congregation; ongoing formation; a document by the Regional Commission with an assessment of the Missionary Formation of Salesians; and the planning of future commitments and objectives of the Commission.

On the last two days the meeting was open to delegates and Provincials. There were four sessions in which the following issues were addressed: personal accompaniment in Salesian formation; activities in preparation for the bicentenary of the birth of Don Bosco; and various other matters expressly requested by individual jurisdictions, such as, for example, the relationship between aspirants and pre-novitiate, the specific value of the phase following first profession, and a vocations culture.

Archbishop Costelloe availed of the meeting to show his closeness to the Salesian community. He presided at the Eucharist on Friday, 22 November. During the Mass he referred to the message of Pope Francis to Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, SDB, as he left the office of Vatican Secretary of State. The following day, Archbishop Costelloe celebrated Mass during which two Salesians from Thailand, Peter Wathana Seesawan and Francis Xavier Ronachai Mathavabhandhu, members of the Salesian community of Clifton Hill, were ordained Deacon.

A meeting of the regional formation team began yesterday, 25November, and will end next Friday, 29 November.

Published 26/11/2013