austraLasia
1545
Amidst fear and
flight, hope: ET's first Cooperators make their
promise
DILI: 30th April 2006 --
Early this morning, at the Mary Help of Christians Parish Church, Comoro, Dili,
3 couples made their promise as Salesian Cooperators at a Mass presided over by
Fr Callejas, Superior of the vice province, and accepted by Fr Klement, Regional
Councillor, in the name of the Rector Major. The moment was an historical
one as it is the first formal promise amongst this group of the Salesian Family
in Timor Leste, ITM vice province. Timor Leste has had a Salesian presence
for 60 years, but no formal preparation of the Association of Salesian
Cooperators until now. Congratulations were also received from Philip Yu,
the EAO ASC Regional Councillor who resides in Hong Kong.
The event made history in terms of context, too. News media have already
reported on the disturbances associated with a dispute amongst members of the
armed forces, essentially the sacking of 591 soldiers, which has led to rioting,
a number of deaths and the burning of 100 or more homes in the capital
Dili. Two agencies, including AAP, have given either vague reference to
'hundreds taking refuge in Church property' or specific reference to 'Dom Bosco
Seminary' (sic) where President Xanana Gusmao yesterday addressed the crowd and
urged young people, particularly, 'to remain calm and rebuild peace in this
country'.
The seminary is not a seminary and it is Don
Bosco, not Dom Bosco of course, and it is at Comoro, where we find the
Provincial House, a parish, a communications centre, technical centre and
reception centre. Well, for the past several days it has truly been a
reception centre - for around 5,000 people, many of them families of the parish
who have fled their homes in fear of further rioting and burning. In fact
it has been the largest gathering of 'refugees' around the city - some had
gathered at the airport, several hundred in the US Embassy, others at the police
HQ and others again at the FMA community residence and grounds. This is
the third time large crowds of people have taken refuge at DB Comoro: first in
1999, then last month and again this month.
The witness of
our Salesians in all of this has been outstanding, especially when water and
food in these circumstances is limited. The Principal of the DB Training
Centre, Bro Adriano, has had to carry much of the burden of organisation, since
most of the priests have been involved around the city in parish duties - a
decision had been made to continue to provide normal masses and services for
people at this crucial time. So Bro. Adraino has organised the logistics
with help from NGOs and Embassies, including toilets from the NZ Embassy, other
help from the Red Cross. During the height of the disturbance, which has
now largely settled down, some 30 people were injured during the shooting and
again it was Bro. Adriano who organised the transportation to the
hospital.
Amidst all of this, then, the First Promises by
3 couples, their subsequent sharing of their vocational journey and the later
blessing of the Statue of St. John Bosco at the entrance to the compound was a
moment of hope that helped vanquish fear - they certainly didn't ask for an
additional 5,000 guests for the occasion, but perhaps that too was a blessing in
disguise!
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