(ANS – Batulao) – The East-Asia Oceania (EAO) Provincial Superiors’ and Delegate Superiors’ Meeting opened yesterday, 7 March, with the presence of Fr Ángel Fernández Artime, Rector Major. Meanwhile the memory was still alive of the poignant visit of the Rector Major earllier to Tuloy sa Don Bosco, the work for street children in Muntinlupa City.

Among the participants at the meeting were the Councillor for Youth Ministry, Fr Fabio Attard; the Councillor for Social Communications, Fr Filiberto González, and the Councillor for the Salesian Missions, Fr Guillermo Basañes. The opening Mass was celebrated by Fr Václav Klement, Councillor for the region.

Then everybody gathered in the Conference Room for the 9.00 a.m. opening session – a spiritual recollection. The Rector Major, Fr Angel Fernandez Artime, SDB, gave a brief talk that led everyone to spend the rest of the morning in silent recollection.

At 2.30 p.m. everyone gathered again for the second session. The Rector Major gave a very encouraging talk on animating and governing the Province. Every now and then, the Rector Major left the meeting open for a free exchange of ideas, reactions, reflections, and questions.

After Evening Prayer at 6. 00 p.m., Fr. Paul Bicomong, SDB, the FIN Provincial, gave the Good Night Talk. He personally thanked the Rector Major for visiting the FIN Province and also shared the possibility of having Malaysia as the FIN Province’s new mission area.

Meanwhile the memory was still alive of the poignant visit of the Rector Major to Tuloy sa Don Bosco, the work for street children in Muntinlupa City. Fr Á.F. Artime went there on the afternoon of 5 March, after Mass and a meeting with the local Salesian Family.  It could be seen clearly how deeply he was touched by the experience of that encounter with the young people at the Salesian centre, not so much because of the severity of injuries they had received but for the amazing transformation that the young people undergo there.

During the visit to the complex, the relationship between the Rector Major and the young people was truly spontaneous, with hugs and smiles all round and with the young people raising their hands at one point to bless the  Successor of Don Bosco .

Published 08/03/2016