Australian Salesian Bullen Published by the Australia-Pacific Province of the Salesians of Don Bosco Winter 2018 Let us cultivate the art of listening and accompaniment FrontLine Contents Pope Francis 2 FrontLine - Do not be afraid 3 Editorial - The guidance of twins 4 Pope asks youths to rejuvenate Church, youths ask Church to listen 6 “Love the Church, you must be joking!” 9 Railroad signs 10 Listening between the lines 12 Progress in the Pacific Delegation 14 OzBosco 2018 16 For children and youth in Fiji 18 Auckland Youth Synod 20 Final Profession of Sr Bernadette Wauki Do not be afraid 22 Mother Yvonne Reungoat’s visit Excerpts from the Pope’s message 24 Lives worth living: vocational stories for World Youth Day 2018 26 Regional News 28 World News hat are your fears? What worries The Bulletin Team W you most deeply? An ‘underlying’ fear, that many of you have, is that of not Fr F. Freeman - Editor being loved, well-liked or accepted for Michael Gartland - Journalist who you are; many insecurities arise from Fr O. Cantamessa - Production Manager a “sense of inadequacy. For us Christians, Br Barry Parker - Photographer in particular, fear must never have the last Ashley Trethowan - Publishing & Distribution word but rather should be an occasion to make an act of faith in God…and in life! Printed By Brougham Press Member of the Australasian Catholic Press Association While many young people are ruled by their fears and hide behind ‘masks Salesian Bulletin Office and false identities’, do not be afraid. In P O Box 264, Ascot Vale 3032 moments when doubts and fears flood our Phone: (03) 9377 6000 hearts, discernment becomes necessary. Email: [email protected] It allows us to bring order to the confusion of our thoughts and feelings, to act in a Salesian Missions Office Cover just and prudent way. In this process, the 3 Middle Street, Ascot Vale 3032 first step in overcoming fears is to identify In view of the present them clearly, so as not to find yourself Web Page www.salesians.org.au Year of Youth, and wasting time and energy by being gripped the Plenary Council by empty and faceless ghosts. in 2020, listening and @salesianbulletinaustralia accompanying young From the certainty that God’s grace is people in all aspects of with us comes the strength to take courage their lives become very in the present moment: the courage to Can You Help? important. carry forward what God asks of us here and now, and in every area of our lives. According to the wishes of St John Bosco, our founder, the Salesian Bulletin is distributed free. Four editions a year Dear young people, the Lord, the are sent to parishes, religious houses, schools and homes Photo by Sebastián Church, the world are waiting for your throughout Australia and overseas. If you would like to León Prado on answer to the unique call that each one support the work of the Salesian Bulletin, your donation Unsplash receives in this life! will be most welcome and acknowledged by the editor. Please send your donation to: (Vatican 11 February 2018) Fr Frank Freeman SDB PO Box 264, Ascot Vale 3032 2 Australian Salesian Bulletin Editorial The guidance of twins t was a moonless clouded night as I walked those who love and are fixed in traditional ways to with a father and his little daughter from a be open and trusting to the ideals and participation I well-lit rural hall to our accommodation. As the of the young in the daily life of the Church: to be less darkness closed in around us I whispered to the little judgemental, for often the world of young people is a girl, “Are you afraid of the dark?” “Oh No!” came her mirror into the hidden world of adults. reply, “I’ll get there. I am holding Daddy’s hand.” She then reached out and took my hand. This calls for a mutual trust, for if young people feel trusted by Church leaders, they will be more Child, you were so wise in your simple trust. The willing to walk hand in hand through the darkest wisest of your elders have over time and the trials moments with the Church. Then, the twins of Trust- of life learnt the same truth; the virtues of Trust and feeling secure and Hope- better things to come, will Hope are twins whose names are “I’m safe” and witness to the good news and Christ’s mission to the “better things lie ahead”. Trust and Hope are the world. hands of God which we hold as we walk through the darkness of our lives and feeling so secure, we reach To further this aim Pope Francis has called a Editor out for the hands of loved ones and friends. special Synod of Youth and in preparation he has held widespread consultation among the youth Frank Freeman SDB, Trust and Hope are involved as the basic elements of the Church, both locally and with him in Rome. editor of the Australian of healthy relationships, namely: love, respect That meeting with its theme, “We talk together” - Salesian Bulletin and consideration for another person, healthy welcomed youth from every part of the world and communication, sincere commitment and optimistic from many different cultural and religious realities. hope for the future, and finally, honesty. Trust is the “Speak bravely!”, he exhorted them “Here, we leave glue that holds all relationships together, including shyness at the door. Too often people speak of youth the relationship between the leader and the led, without consulting you. Some believe that it would whilst hope, the belief that things will improve, is the be easier to keep you at a safe distance. Young oil that keeps life moving smoothly ahead. people are the builders of culture with their style and originality, yet, too often they are left alone. It For the betterment of a Church struggling in a doesn’t have to be this way in the Church,” world of religious indifference, widespread violence and disregard for the dignity of the human being, Let us with Trust and Hope walk forward to the Pope Francis sees a yet untapped source: namely Synod of Youth, praying that it will herald a new the enthusiasm and energy of young people. He springtime for the Church. challenges all to see the young as a well spring of abounding goodness in a world of constant, unpredictable, alienating change. He has called Australian Salesian Bulletin 3 Pope Francis Pope asks youths to rejuvenate Church, youths ask Church to listen Photo: CNS/Paul Haring. Pope Francis greets Australian delegate Angela Markas during the pre-synod gathering of youth delegates he Catholic Church needs the enthusiasm, Pope Francis told the young people that they are daring and hope of young people so that the ones who can help the Church fight “the logic of T it can preach the Gospel energetically and ‘it’s always been done this way,’” which he described respond to the questions men and women raise as “a poison, a sweet poison that tranquilises the today, Pope Francis told some 300 young adults. heart and leaves you anesthetised so you can’t walk.” Cindy Wooden “We need to rediscover in the Lord the strength to The Church and its members must continue to go get up after failure, to move forward, to strengthen out, continue asking what God is calling them to and Cindy is a veteran hope for the future,” the Holy Father said on 19 continue finding new ways to respond, the pope said. journalist and the March, opening a week-long meeting in preparation Rome Bureau Chief for October’s Synod of Bishops. Of course, he said, everyone must “keep an eye of the Catholic News on the roots” of the Church and preserve its essential Service. During Pope Most of the young people gathered with the Pope teachings, but they also must find creative ways to Francis' visit to Cuba, at the Legionaries of Christ’s Maria Mater Ecclesia share those teachings and reflect on how the Gospel she discovered that his College in Rome were chosen as delegates by their responds to people’s questions today. energising and hopeful national bishops’ conferences. Others represented a message was a good variety of Catholic movements or ministries, including Spending the morning with the young people, substitute for caffeine! religious life. Pope Francis heard directly from ten of them, who represented every region of the world. Some But the Vatican also invited delegates from other lamented the amount of time their peers spend on Christian churches, other religions, including Islam, social media, while others spoke of how technology and young people who describe themselves as helps connect young people and rally them in support nonbelievers. of good causes. 4 Australian Salesian Bulletin Pope Francis Some talked of a need for better catechesis and support in fighting the “culture of relativism,” while others asked for an open and honest discussion of the Church’s teaching on sexuality and on the role of women in the Church. And one, a seminarian from Ukraine, asked about tattoos. A young man from France, Maxime Rassion, told the Pope he has not been baptised, but he has questions about the meaning of his life and his relationship to the world and to God, if God exists. He said he is not sure if he wants to approach the Catholic Church for help because it is so big and he doesn’t want to give up his freedom.