The Congress is an elective assembly, and was prepared in record time thanks to the tireless work of the members of the Salesian Cooperators of the Province of China, supported by their Salesian and FMA Delegates and Superiors. The daily sessions were streamed on the “Salesian Cooperators CIN” YouTube channel, so that over 2,500 Salesian Cooperators in the Region could follow this important event.
The first day's programme was rich and busy, from the first session starting at 8.30 a.m. to the evening performance and joint dinner at 8 p.m. There were 100 participants from China-Macao, Hong Kong and Taiwan, Philippines, East Timor, South Korea, Japan, Indonesia, Thailand, Mongolia, Myanmar, Papua New Guinea and Singapore belonging to 7 ASC Provinces (CIN, FIN, FIS, GIA, KOR, THA, TLS).
The participation of Fr Joseph Nguyen Thinh Phuoc, the Regional Councillor for the East Asia-Oceania Region, and Vietnamese Salesian Coadjutor Br. Dominic Nam Nguyen, World Delegate for the Association of Salesian Cooperators was very much appreciated.
The high quality programme on the first day was in the 'Hong Kong style', with the swift animation of the team members of the China province and with each participant wearing the beautiful official Congress T-shirt, decorated with the symbol of the 'Yeast'. Also at the opening Eucharist, in the 'Mary Help of Christians' parish of Tang King Po, each ASC Province of the East Asia-Oceania Region offered their own 'local' bread as a symbol of the inspiration for this year's Strenna.
After the opening ceremony, with the procession of national flags, the opening prayer and the speech of the Regional Councillor of Salesian Cooperators, the participants received the greeting of the Rector Major, Fr Ángel Fernández Artime, from Valdocco. The Tenth Successor of Don Bosco encouraged the Salesian Cooperators of the Asia East-Oceania Region to live with a deep conviction "to be integral members of the Salesian Family, to continue to witness life together with the young, so that they may discover Jesus". At the end of his address, the Rector Major invited all Salesian Cooperators in the Region to feel united with the 30,000 plus Salesian Cooperators around the world.
During the first day of the Congress, Mrs. Meldy, from the Philippines, gave her address on the theme: “Youth as the Yeast, fermenting in TODAY’s family”. Afterwards, Msgr Stephen Chow Sau-yan, Bishop of Hong Kong, celebrated Mass. Then, after lunch, each province presented a report on the “For the Young” project, launched in 2017 at the 9th EAO Tokyo Congress of Salesian Cooperators. “This Congress makes us rethink how to be with young people, how to approach young people as Salesian Cooperators. Set them free, don't just teach them, but accompany them, guide them with your own example of life,” commented one of the participants.
The programme on the 27 and 28 May, saw the participation of Mr. Antonio Boccia, World Coordinator of the Association of Salesian Cooperators, who gave the participants his indications for the Action Plan for the next three years. This was followed by an interesting visit to the “Don Bosco 100 Discovery Centre”, opened in 2006 to mark the centenary of the Salesian presence in China.
Yesterday, Sunday 28 May, the Solemnity of Pentecost, Mr. Philip Yu led the conclusion of the Salesian Cooperator’s Congress, before the final Eucharist presided over by Fr Joseph Nguyen Thinh Phuoc, the Regional Councillor for East Asia Oceania.
