Homily – March 10, 4th Thursday of Lent (Team visit EAO 2005, Hua Hin)

Readings– Ex 32,7-14; Ps 105; John 5,31-47

- After the golden calf – Moses prayer for the people (mercy!)

- WITNESS – TESTIMONY – INTEGRITY OF LIFE – PUT IN PRACTICE – SHOW A CREDIBLE SIGN – TRANSPARENCY OF LIFE

WITNESS – OUR FIRST MISSION, MISSION OF HOLINESS

WITNESS – KEY TO COMMUNITY RENEWAL, FIRST TO DO

WITNESS – MOST IMPORTANT EVANGELIZATION METHOD (EA,EO)

WITNESS OF DON BOSCO, OF THE Salesian Family SAINTS show us the way

This time coming from Rome to our Region at the end of January, I was not able to sleep on board (very unusual way of traveling for the Regional, usually sleeping also during the homilies of senior confreres). The difference was motivated by very subtle book “Until the youngsters feel they are loved” published by austraLasia 1027

SEOUL: 4th February 2005 -- Fr Steven Yang Soon Guk SDB, Rector of Dae Rim Dong community in Seoul, has published a collection of essays from a House which is entrusted with a prison apostolate, a boarding facility for 70 young people at risk, aged 12-20, and which is also the mother house of the KoreanProvince.

Fr Steven subtitles his work 'essays of a happy Religious priest'. Born 1959 and ordained in 1994, Fr Steven studied at the SalesianPontificalUniversity in Rome, gaining his licentiate in spiritual theology. He is currently also the Youth Ministry delegate for the KORProvince.

The essays are based on his experience at Dae Rim Dong with young people in difficulties and fall into three sections: Diary of a pastor, Faith diary and Spiritual diary. These are not the only items Father has published. After coming to Dae Rim Dong he began to share his scriptural reflections on the local Salesian website, and also writes and publishes poetry.

The 80 or more personal essays in the present collection are effectively a natural textbook of a lived, inculturate experience of the Preventive System. They contain enticing titles like: In the internet cafe; Education is a matter of the heart; War-like Eucharistic celebration; Youth who lack 2%; Fortunately he looks like mother; What is happiness? Most of these titles have arisen out of day-to-day experiences with the young people at Dae Rim Dong, with all the unexpectedness andsurprise they bring. The author attempts to make sense of the cross, and the abandonment of young people as represented in the youngsters he works with, and seen through Salesian, Korean eyes.

The collection - in Korean, understandably, is published by Bible and Life Publishing House run by the CSM (Caritas Sisters). It runs to 176 pages.

What makes him so appealing, in all his simplicity?

-Humble approach to everybody, kids, benefactors, policeman, cooperators

-Steadfast presence among the young people, in the playground, in the juvenile prison, family court, as a rector of formation house with the youth at risk sharing his time at 100%

-Loving kindness

-Prayerful attitude

-But the first reason is the feeling of a father for the fatherless youth, a feeling of a happy Salesian religious, very faithful to his vocation and mission

-With patience and steadfast effort he was able to put on the web his daily gospel meditations during my years in Korea, looked with eagerness by many salesian family members

WITNESS

-does attract to follow, does invite to share the same life - mission

-does speak by itself, does explain without talking the core values, especially to the non Christians

-of Don Bosco, of Fr. Cimatti, of our pioneer missionaries in EAO Provinces

-is The First Form of Proclamation

What is the Asian way of first proclamation? Witness is the first form of evangelization and the first form of witness is the very life of the missionary, of the Christian family, and of the ecclesial community, which reveal a new way of living (RMi 42). FABC assessed its preference for witness of life as the Asian way of proclamation:

“The most effective means of evangelization and service in the name of Christ has always been and continues to be the witness of life. The embodiment of our faith in sharing and compassion (sacrament) supports the credibility of our obedience to the word (proclamation). This witnessing has to become the way of the Gospel for persons, institutions and the whole Church community. Asian people will recognize the Gospel that we announce when they see in our life the transparency of the message of Jesus and the inspiring and healing figure of men and women immersed in God”.

It is on this line of thought that the Asian Bishops stressed that “the Church has to become the embodiment of the Asian vision and values of life especially interiority, harmony, a holistic and inclusive approach to every area of life. We are also convinced that only by “inner authority” of authentic lives founded on a deep spirituality will we become credible instruments of transformation”.[1] Specifically this means adopting forms of asceticism that are held in high esteem and considered of great value to Followers of other Religions like prayer, fasting, renunciation, detachment, humility, simplicity and silence (EA 23). As the Salesians we can add the powerful LOVING KINDNESS

During the last day of team visit in New Delhi, India, I have asked fr. Juan Jose Bartolome, what does it mean this short passage of John, with more than ten times mentioning witness, testimony of Jesus, of John. What is the meaning? Busy with the fixing of the final talk and homily of RM on that day, he was so kind and explained me in simple words: “The witness of Jesus who is never resting like his Father, is to do his will (the Gospel of yesterday), and to do the Fathers’ will is to save fellow men.”

Da mihi animas, coetera tolle !

I have a dream about our East Asia – Oceania Region

“Where shall we start from?” It was a question raised in the provincial’s group sharing the first day. Was treasured in my heart until now. So far, I have changed completely my homily after a morning meditation on the second day. From where should we start?

Todays’ Gospel gives us somehow an answer: Let’s start from the daily personal witness.

The inspiration of the first letter of the Holy Father in the 2001 (NMI) is the indicator valid for the whole church – pastoral planning of holiness

The inspiration of the first letter of RM is the indicator valid for the Congregation 2002 - Salesian holiness, Acts 379)

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-impact of Holy Salesians on our Mission and Life (Mons. Cimatti card)

-impact of life witness, testimony on community renewal

-Fr. Pascual, RM – the daily exam of conscience in front of the Eucharist

-Fr. Stefano Yang – his passion for the young

-Fr. Alessandro Ma – his passion for the playground as the meeting place with God, his passion for the Eucharist as the daily frequent appointment with Jesus

Departure point

-from the dream, beauty, attraction of HOLY LIFE (full of love, kindness, harmony, passion, fire, selfgiving)

-If I can’t understand/ or don't’ know how to live the Gospel, I look at the Saints

-If I can’t understand/ or don't’ know how to live the Constitutions, I look at our Salesian Family Saints or fellow confreres who are