(ANS – Melbourne) – What are the fruits of recently concluded Pacific-Oceania trip of the Rector Major? There is one challenge and task that was offered in all six encounters with the Salesians from PNG up to Australia. At the end of two hours long sharing, the 10th successor of Don Bosco, who is also for ‘the explicit will of the Founder a Superior of the Association of the Salesian Cooperators’ (PAL, Statues, art. 23) handed over to the Salesian rectors, delegate of provincial the recent updated edition of the ‘Project of Apostolic Life’ (PAL) approved by the Holy See in 2013 and printed in English last July 2014.

At present time there is no provincial structure of the Salesian Cooperators in any Oceania country visited by the Rector Major. There are only two centers in Papua New Guinea (Port Moresby and Vunabosco), few centers in Australia and one center being formed in Solomon Islands (Honiara). There is an overall desire to re-launch and launch among the Salesian Mission partners this vocation and association. Now there are not yet any members of the Salesian Cooperators Association in Fiji, Solomon Islands, New Zealand and Samoa.

In each encounter with the SDB or Salesian Family members Fr. Ángel pointed at the urgency to introduce this wonderful and essential group of the Salesian Family started by Don Bosco himself to our closer lay mission partners.

As one of the rectors shares few days after the animation visit: “I have great hope, that we can begin the Salesian Cooperators Center here in Auckland. We [=Salesians] also need training in accompanying the candidates as we look forward to journeying with them.”

First concrete steps are being taken by the EAO regional councilor during the incoming AUL extraordinary visitation and by the Salesian Cooperators themselves who are preparing a series of inter-provincial formation days for the SDB-FMA Delegates next November 2016.

In the Project of Apostolic Life (ASC) our role is defined as the “spiritual animator, educative and pastoral guide, responsible above all for the Salesian apostolic formation” (Regulations, art. 23 – Delegates).

“We are grateful for this challenge-task shared with all Salesians in Oceania by the Rector Major” said the Salesians confreres in the Pacific.

Published 20/05/2015