【慈幼通訊社
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2013
年
08
月
25
日泰國曼谷訊】
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東亞大洋洲區修士聖召穩步增長。這部分有賴於東亞大洋洲區流動培育組的工作，同時東亞大洋洲區不同會省，也致力推廣並投放資源在慈幼修士聖召上。八月十九至二十三日於泰國華欣慈幼靜修院舉行的第六屆東亞大洋洲區修士大會，正是一個培育的好時機。大會旨在以慈幼會修士的角度，準備2015年鮑聖誕辰二百週年慶典。
超過八十五名來自澳洲、中華、菲律賓北、菲律賓南、、韓國、東帝汶、緬甸、巴布亞新畿內亞、泰國、越南等會省或代理區以及來自巴基斯坦及蒙古的傳教士，出席這次大會。其中有約十名司鐸出席，包括泰國會省省會長Prasert Somngam神父、中華會省省會長斐林豐神父、菲律賓南省會長George Militante神父，以及一些來自不同會省的培育及青年牧民代理。與會者不少為年輕修士，在大會中甚為矚目。
大會開始時，發表了有關2006年柬埔寨大會議決的報告。與會者亦對賢明漢神父（傳教議員）及Jean Paul Muller修士（財政）發出的信函進行反省。接著澳洲會省Michael Harris修士及泰國會省John Baptist Thanad Anan修士，對教育法作出了討論。菲律賓北會省Raymond Callo修士主持靈修講座，內容包括馬尼拉慈幼會修士特殊培育計劃，而總部的Chrys Saldanha神父，則展示了新版本培育手冊。
大會舉行期間，每天都以古斯蒂洛神父主持的聖言誦禱，開始一天的活動。換而言之，整個活動都充滿反省及祈禱氣氛，讓修士彼此分享會議中的領悟、他們慈幼會修士的聖召，以及上主引領他們所行走的路徑。另一方面，大會亦有輕鬆休閒的時間，讓來自不同會省的修士彼此共融。
東亞大洋洲區流動培育組成員Callo修士，帶領著一眾籌組成員，包括來自泰國會省的修士兄弟，以及在馬尼拉接受特殊培育的慈幼會修士。東亞大洋洲區區長黃勝安神父，他一番充滿鼓勵的言辭，以及對這種培育活動的支持，令大會生色不少。
大會以一同欣賞在曼谷天使劇場的文藝表演作結。大家都帶著一份滿載兄弟友誼的經歷回去，繼續在聖召路上成長。
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大會資料現已更新，並可在馬尼拉慈幼會修士網誌或慈幼會數碼圖書館下載。
EAO BROTHERS: Moving Towards the Bicentenary of Don Bosco's Birth (THA)
(ANS - THAILAND –BANGKOK, 25 August 2013, AustraLasia #3272) – The East Asia Oceania Region has a steady growth in the Brother vocation. This is partly sustained by initiatives from the EAO Mobile Formation Team, in collaboration with the different EAO provinces, that promote and invest in the formation of the Salesian Brothers. One of these formation moments was the recently concluded East Asia Oceania Salesian Brothers’ Congress held from August 19 to 23, 2013 at the Salesian Retreat House in Hua Hin, Thailand. It was the 6th meeting of this kind. It aims to prepare for the celebration of Don Bosco’s birth come 2015 from the Salesian Brothers' perspective.
More than 85 confreres attended from AUL, CIN, FIN, FIS, KOR, ITM, MYM, PNG-SI, THA, VIE and missionaries from Pakistan and Mongolia. Among them were about 10 priests including Fr. Prasert Somngam, (THA Provincial), Fr. Lanfranco Fedrigotti (CIN Provincial) and Fr. George Militante, (FIS Provincial) and some delegates of Formation and Youth Ministry from the various provinces. Something very significant in this congress was the attendance of a big number of young dynamic Brothers.
The congress started with the reports about the resolutions made during the 2006 congress in Cambodia. The participants also reflected upon the letters sent by Fr. Klement Vaclav (Missions) and Br. Jean Paul Muller (Economer). Then Br. Michael Harris (AUL) and Br. John Baptist Thanad Anan (THA) also delivered a conference on pedagogy. Br. Raymond Callo (FIN) gave a talk on spirituality, including the scheme of the Salesian Brother Specific Formation in Manila, while Fr. Chrys Saldanha (RMG) presented the revisions on the Ratio.
The congress days started with a Lectio Divina facilitated by Fr. Francis Gustillo. It can be said that the whole event was marked with a reflective and prayerful atmosphere where the brothers shared insights about the conferences, their Salesian Brother vocation and the path where the Lord is leading them to be. On the other hand, light and recreational moments bonded the brothers from different provinces.
Br. Callo, a member of the EAO Formation Mobile Team, headed the team of organizers composed of confreres from the THA Province and the Salesian Brothers undergoing their specific formation in Manila. Fr. Andrew Wong, Regional Councillor of the EAO, graced the event with his words of encouragement and his support for these kind of formative activities.
The congress was capped off with a fellowship and a cultural show at the Siam Niramit in Bangkok. From there, the participants parted ways bringing home a rich experience of brotherhood and growth in their vocation.
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Materials of this congress are being updated and can be downloaded from the blog of the Salesian Brothers in Manila or from the Salesian Digital Library.