austraLasia
#1794
Bolivia and Church web
systems - something for all of us
COCHABAMBA:
21st March 2007 -- One reason why you might find some interruptions to
service at the moment is that your austraLasia coordinator is in the mountains
and valleys of Bolivia at Cochabamba where, incidentally, he discovers a Christ
figure overlooking the city from one of its surrounding hills which is larger
than the famous one in Brasil! It claims it is the largest Christ figure
in the world. The wonders one learns about! That aside Cochabamba is a
city of poor campesinos trying to eke out an existence in difficult
terrain. And one gathers, from a quick run around the formation houses
today, that they have also met their first ever
Australian!
Why am I here? There is a gathering of
religious from many parts of the Americas but not only - also from Rome, the
Vatican and elsewhere, because South America has over the years set up a wide
ecclesial network using today's technology that is perhaps unrivalled
elsewhere. Individual Salesians are closely involved, but the Congregation
has made a decision through its Councillor for Communications to become
officially involved, another node in the links that make up RIIAL, the Red
Informatica de le Iglesia America Latina. I am representing said
Councillor and endeavouring to plug in what the Salesians have to contribute
such as ANS, http://www.sdb.org/, but also to learn, for they
have many things to teach us.
The EAO Region is not
lacking in doing its part by way of networking and using technology to help -
but surely there is more that can be achieved without requiring more time or
even effort from people; just little changes in mentality here and there might
be all that is needed. That is what I think RIIAL has to offer us.
Expect then, when these days are over, a fuller report and perhaps some
indicators.
And to conclude - Bolivia is a very vibrant
Salesian presence. That is just so obvious everywhere you look. The
vocations are flowing in consistently too. Sure they will have their set
of problems like everywhere else has, but one cannot help but be impressed by
this province (120 members) and its many endeavours.
On a
final note, http://sdl.sdb.org/ is in experimental form so
could users please help me by indicating when they are having access problems.
(I can't get in from these mountains in South America, but I don't know if it's
them or us that's the problem!