HONG KONG/TAIPEI: 23
December 2012 -- On Saturday, 22 December, China Province confreres took a
little second step into the world of digital long-distance communications.
The occasion was an Open Forum in preparation for PC13 (Provincial Chapter
2013) and GC27 (27th General Chapter 2014). The Hong Kong Salesians and the
Taiwan Salesians gathered separately in two different locations distant from
each other 1,500 kilometres The Hong Kong Salesians gathered in Salesian
Missionary House, Shau Kei Wan. The Taiwan Salesians gathered in St. John
Bosco Parish, Taipei. Notwithstanding the long distance, thanks to the Skype
linkage, the two groups could communicate instantly and intensely, looking
at one another and listening to one another.
Being the first
experience of this kind, some technical problems were to be expected. Twice,
interference between WF and landline connections interrupted the distance
communication. But these interruptions turned out to be boons, the first
giving time to print reference material needed for the exchange of views,
the second allowing for an unplanned, but welcome, tea-break.
The participants were all
thrilled by the distance-conquering experience. They are grateful to the
organizer of this first-ever event, the Vice-Provincial Fr. Andrew Fung Ting
Wa, and to his technical support, Fr. Antonio Leung Wai Choi and Sc. Carlos
Cheung Sam Ioi in Hong Kong, and Fr. Andrew Edgar Carbon in Taipei.
They are grateful also,
and in the first place, to Salesian Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze Kiun, Bishop
Emeritus of Hong Kong, whose generosity and catechetical-pastoral zeal has
made a viable Skype link between Shau Kei Wan and Taipei possible.
The story of this
possibility is also worth telling in some detail. More than half a year ago,
thinking about the beginning of the Year of Faith on 11 October and in
response to the Holy Father’s suggestions in Porta fidei, the retired
(imagine!) Cardinal began planning a Province-wide and year-long
catechetical course on the Catechism of the Catholic Church. The Salesian
Cooperator from the China Province offered their whole hearted cooperation.
Salesian Missionary House in Shau Kei Wan offered the necessary logistical
support for the lessons held every Wednesday evening in the Seminary hall
from 07:00 p.m. to 09:00 p.m., concluding with half an hour adoration of the
Blessed Sacrament in the Seminary chapel.
The subscriptions to the
course surpassed all expectations. To satisfy everybody, Cardinal Zen and
the Cooperators, with the kind assistance of the staff of the Diocesan
Audio-visual Centre, began thinking of a Skype link with other locations in
Hong Kong and Macau. When the course opened at the beginning of September
this year, about 100 places were made available in Salesian Missionary House
and 80 more, through Skype link, in St. James’ Parish in Yau Tong (Kowloon)
and in Instituto Salesiano (Macau).
To improve the reception
in these two other locations, the Cardinal, at considerable expense,
arranged for an upgrading of the signal-transmitting from Shau Kei Wan. That
is why also our Open Forum today could be held with very satisfactory
audio-visual effects. Of course, digital technology is neither omnipotent
nor omniscient. Technical mishaps have also touched, but not marred, the
Cardinal’s catechetical course. The Cardinal made up for the missed lessons
by going in person the following day to give again the same lesson, once in
Yau Tong and twice in Macau. Long-live this kind of Salesian retirement!
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