austraLasia
1470
"There
is energy about - let's make it synergy": Oz
Provincial returns with upbeat
message
MELBOURNE: 1st March 2006 --
Events in Hong Kong recently - meaning not only the Centenary, but the gathering
of Provincials, EAO Bishops, Youth Ministry delegates... have had their impact
elsewhere in the region. The Australian Provincial, Fr Frank Moloney,
returned with positive impressions which he has shared with the province,
highlighting the strong need, in simple terms, to 'belong' to a region that
despite being one of the most disparate in the Congregation (geographically,
culturally), is also one of the healthiest. As he put it, "there is energy
around....let's make it synergy". It could well be an important catch cry
for the region as a whole, but he intended it to draw attention to signs of
vitality and growth in the Australian Province along with others in the
region.
Australia as a nation has gradually come to learn
that it belongs geographically, economically, politically to South East
Asia. The moot point has always been how it
belongs culturally. In terms of Salesian region this is also just as true
but, as Frank pointed out, 'they' are anxious to have 'our highly specialised
and at times sophisticated support' and 'we' also have 'a great deal to learn
from them'. The Australian Province has received endorsement at the level
of the Councillor for Formation, Fr Cereda, for what it can offer by way of
Formation in the region - there are many factors: good possibilities for
structured teaching and learning of English, the lingua franca of the
region, the study of theology, places for practical trainees amongst
them.
The Australian Province has just appointed its first
Samoan born Rector, Fr Petelo Vito Pau, in Samoa itself. This is a
significant appointment, signalling the steady growth in that part of the
province over the 25, now 26 years of its establishment, a growth which has seen
the ordination of at least six Samoans, most of them holding key roles in
parish, school, formation and now in community leadership, and a steady flow of
younger ones behind them. In the Australian continent itself, after a
period of several years without novices, there is movement too. One
candidate begins his novitiate this year (he will do that in the Philippines
novitiate at Lawaan), and another has been admitted to the
prenovitiate.
GLOSSARY
Oz: 'Oz' now has formal recognition as a term, albeit
colloquial, for an Australian. It has nothing to do with the famous
Wizard! In Salesian terms, 'Oz' actually helps distinguish from 'AUS'
which happens to refer to Austria! These confusions do happen - I was once
introduced to an international audience as 'the man from Tanzania'.
Problem is I'm a Tasmanian, though I did get the opportunity, via the error, to
meet the President of Tanzania who lives and worships in a Salesian
parish!
moot: arguable, up for discussion.
This word has an interesting background (and fascinatingly, is the name of a
board game about the etymology of English words!) In Old English it was an
assembly of the people for making judicial decisions. J.R. Tolkien had
'ent-moots', meetings of 'ents' or tree-like creatures. But a 'moot point' in
today's sense is a tricky thing indeed, legally speaking...here's an example:
"On Thursday 2nd February when the sun rises, you will pay me a million
dollars". Sorry, but the sun doesn't actually rise - it only looks that
way. Contract is invalid. THAT is a moot
point!
_______________________
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