Hua Hin, Thailand, 9 March 2017 — FIN Provincial Superior, Fr. Anthony Paul Bicomong and his council join the East Asia Oceania Team Visit 2017 now on its third day in Don Bosco Retreat House, Hua Hin, Thailand.
Fr. Ditto Gueco, Fr. Gerry Martin, Fr. Elu Ulanday, Fr. Joel Camaya, Fr. Monchit Garcia, Fr. Joebeth Vivo, and Fr. Dementrio Carmona, are the members of the FIN Provincial Council who were able to join Fr. Paul. Fr. Raymond Callo, SDB, the EAO Coordinator for Formation, and Fr. Bernard Nolasco, SDB, the EAO Coordinator for Social Communications also are also present. They are among the 97 participants from 22 countries of the EAO Region. Journeying with them are the Rector Major, Fr. Ángel Fernández Artime and his council (Fr. Francesco Cereda—the Vicar, Fr. Ivo Coelho—Councilor for Formation, Fr. Fabio Attard—Councilor for Youth Ministry, Fr. Filiberto Gonzalez—Councilor for Social Communications, Fr. Guillermo Basanes—Councilor for the Missions, Fr. Eusebio Munoz—Councilor for the Salesian Family, and Fr. Vaclav Klement—EAO Regional Councilor).
Monday, March 6, the participants were able to take part in the Salesian Family Day celebration of THA Province that welcomed in their midst the tenth successor of Don Bosco, Fr. Ángel. The 2017 Strenna, ‘We are a family’, was the theme of the gathering. Fr. Fabio Attard, General Councillor for Youth Ministry, gave a talk on ‘Amoris Laetitia’. It was a spectacular sampler of the art, culture, and hospitality of the Thais. About 500 members of the Salesian Family coming from 9 groups grace the event.
On March 7, the EAO Team Visit officially opened. Fr. John Bosco Thepharat, THA Provincial Superior, welcomed the participants to their home in Hua Hin. The day began with the Mass and, in the afternoon, sessions on one of the main themes, ‘Reshaping of the Salesian Presences’. The Rector Major caps the day with a 20-minute synthesis of the proceedings, inviting the provinces to focus on the following for animation and direction: To live with with a vision and don’t be carried out by the emergencies, face with concrete action the reality of vocation fragility and consistently invest in the formation of formators and leadership in our provinces.
The meeting was also an avenue for confreres to reunite, bond, and foster friendship and brotherhood. Fr. Joebeth Vivo, FIN Commission on Youth Ministry Delegate shared his serendipitous meeting his vocation promoter in Thailand.
It is the third time that Hua Hin hosts the EAO Team Visit. The last two were in 2005 and 2011. We accompany our confreres entrusted with the service and animation of our region in this time of collaboration and fraternal communion.
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