February 2025
There are so many reasons for celebration in 2025 in our Salesian Congregation and in the wider of Church. We all know that 2025 has been declared a year of Jubilee by Pope Francis. For us Salesians we will also celebrate the 150th anniversary of the sending of the first Salesian Missionaries to Patagonia. Also, equally important we, as the Province, are implementing the directions set by our Provincial Chapter last year and these also reflect the ‘Road Map’ given to us by the Rector Major to move us forward more confidently.
For these legitimate reasons, we have decided to initiate a very special Province wide gathering that will take place on Saturday, May 24th – the Salesian Family Assembly.
All Salesian Family members are invited to a Province-wide celebration to connect, discuss and discern with forward thinking and decision in the context of family, friends and fun! We invite you to gather together to give thanks, rethink and relaunch as a Salesian family.
This will be a great occasion in which we all gather to celebrate our common charismatic identity, our spirit, our work for the future. It is going to be a fantastic gathering, intending to be visionary! Please make it your priority. We hope to reach as many members of our great Salesian Family as possible – particularly our young people. This will be a good chance to consider where we are headed toward in the future.
We will officially open the gathering on Friday evening, 23 May at St. John the Baptist Church in Clifton Hill. All are welcome to pray in anticipation and celebration of our coming together. We understand that maybe not all participants will be able to come on the Friday evening, but it is an opportunity for our community to pray for the fruitfulness of the Assembly with all who can be present.
The main program will take place on Saturday, 24 May at Salesian College, Chadstone. We are currently working on an exciting and engaging program with depth to explore our past, presentand future. We are looking forward to a wide cross section of voices being represented from across our wonderful Province. In the next couple of months, we will send a detailed schedule for you.
If you have any questions about this event please contact Lauren Hichaaba at the Province Centre in Ascot Vale. I will be at the general Chapter from February to April but will be working closely with Lauren and our wonderful team to deliver this very important moment for our Province.
Many blessings, Peter Hoang sdb
