The Salesians were welcomed with an African song and dance “Bonse Aba” performed by the Mission Group of DBTS and their animator Ms. Rica Lavilla. Fr. Angel Sánchez, SDB, delivered his welcome address emphasising that Don Bosco himself was a “media man” who wrote and published books and pamphlets and a magazine, the “Salesian Bulletin” which has been in circulation since 1877.
Fr Maravilla stressed that the PGS Website “must be understood within the context of the mission of Don Bosco. The Salesians must be found not only in the five known continents in the world. Now, they will also be visible in the ‘digital continent.’” He also said that the website does not only belong to the Salesians but to all those connected to the mission of Don Bosco in the Vice Province. He pointed out that it is an important tool to spread the Good News, and to make known the good things Don Bosco is doing in Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands.
The Provincial Superior also appealed to the staff and students to make a positive contribution to the website by writing articles, news, and stories, and sending good photos of what is happening in the different Salesian houses in PNG and SI and forward them to Fr. Ambrose Pereira, SDB, the Delegate for Social Communication. Fr Srimal Priyanga, SDB, was acknowledged and thanked for being the person behind the creation of the website. After he delivered his message, the Provincial officially clicked the button, thereby opening the portal of the PGS website www.dbpgs.org.
Then, Mr Ian Zuasula, the IT Department Head of DBTS, gave an orientation of the features of the website, explaining briefly the different sections. The section “Become A Salesian” particularly caught the attention of the students and teachers as it featured a video clip of the different Salesian houses in PNG-SI, the apostolate of the Salesians in the two countries, and the various stages of formation of the candidates to Salesian life.
The program concluded with another dance number by a group of DBTS students.
"With our website www.dbpgs.org we have taken a small step in the digital continent. We did it with great effort and we can still improve ... But it is a decisive step!," commented Fr Maravilla.
