austraLasia
1447
"A really
wonderful, unexpected day, full of grace and encouragement"
bystanders
comment on events later on Monday 13th in
Macau
MACAU: 13th February 2006
-- This item was going to be about the exchange between the Rector
Major and the bishops - but that can keep. Meanwhile, in the evening of
the same day, today, two very interesting and meaningful events took
place. The first was a visit to the Bishop's residence in Macau.
This was more than a courtesy call. It occurred at precisely the hour and
on the same day one hundred years later that Fr Versiglia and his group called
on the then Bishop of Macau. Fr Chávez this time used the occasion to
thank the diocese for accepting the Salesians one hundred years ago and
continuing its support for them today.
And then came a
meeting with young people at Yuet Wah College. The two 'bystanders' who
made the comment that forms the headline for this item were, significantly, Fr
Rescalli and Fr Nicosia, 94 and 91 years of age respectively. It was so
partly because of the spontaneity of the youth matched by the Rector Major's
own, but also undoubtedly because this centenary has had three years of
meticulous planning, preparation, formation of people.
The
Rector Major began by telling the young people how happy Don Bosco would be
tonight, with their dances, martial arts, dragon performances, magic. But
he reminded them of the millions of young people who were unhappy tonight,
unfed, child soldiers perhaps. Don Bosco, he said, wanted his boys to be
aware of reality and persevering in their own commitment. The Rector Major
put in a plug for Chinese youthful volunteers. "You are so privileged", he told
them, "It's nice to see young volunteers, but so far I have yet to see some
Chinese young volunteers".
Then came question and
answer. Some of the questions and indeed some of the answers we have
recorded before in these pages, but there are always new
ones:
Q: Do you have any brothers and sisters, any of them
religious?
A: 6 brothers and 6 sisters. Born in a
Catholic country! ALl married, with families - except
me!
Q: What do you expect from your Salesians?
What attitude do you want them to have towards us?
A: I
want the Salesians in China to be for all of you what Don Bosco was for
his boys: loving young people, ready to give their life for them, accompanying
them towards fullness of life, offering them not just a diploma bu a life
project.
Q: How did you become a great Salesian
priest?
A: When I was 15 I was ready to go to
university. I said to myself 'it's now or never' and became a
Salesian. I would like to see many of you as Salesians, like
me.
Q: Do you have a specific method for making your
Salesians believe and trust in God?
A: That's an
interesting question. As the leader of a worldwide Congregation I need to
know where I am leading the Congregation. Together with my full-time
collaborators (councillors) we point our men towards: being faithful to Don
Bosco and the young, growing, increasing in vocations and attracting more
vocations, giving quality to our religious life and educational and pastoral
work.
The evening finished with prayer and snacks and
the RM getting a special 'made in Macau' (where else?) T-shirt with Fr Chavez
emblazoned across it in Chinese
characters.
_______________________
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