CLOSED: TO OPEN UNDER A NEW MANAGEMENT

31st December – The two years (2007-2008) were a special time for me. I was asked to take over the helm of our formation house at Dorish Maru College, Melbourne. My two years at DMC were filled with blessings, but not devoid of true-to-life challenges. However, in the process I've experienced the dynamics of living in a post-modern community composed of idealistic young men and visionary elder members. But I discovered energies within me and mysterious powers at work.

Constantly, I’ve compared DMC with the famous “Love Boat” cruise series. The episodes would tell of people joining the cruise at first with high optimism and confidence. But then during cruise, things would inevitably foul up: intrigues would occur, flirtations among the married and unmarried, petty jealousies, and at times even murder schemes would be plotted. But then somehow, towards the end of the cruise, through sheer goodwill of the passengers and expertise of the crew themselves, things would shaped up and the cruise members got reconciled. In the end, all things would shape up. They would leave the Love Boat in the same spirit as they came – with great optimism and heartfelt joy. And as they bade each other goodbye, they promised to see each other again when the cruise comes the next time around.

Likewise DMC was of a similar experience. We have sailed through high and rough seas, but have now safely anchored on the last day of year 2008 ready to set sail for the next cruise again.

This time the Love Boat (Dorish Maru) will be under a new captain (rector) with a new crew (council) and some new passengers (students and professors). Because it’s now time for me to go, I’d like to thank all members of our two-year cruise.

With this I will also formally close this DMC Blog. It will re-open under the new management. Happy New Year 2009! May God bless us all!

Dom Flores, SVD

YTU 2008 - ANOTHER YEAR OF GRACE

21 November (Friday) - To end the academic year 2008 the YTU students, faculty and administrators came together around the EUCHARIST to give thanks to God. After the Mass certificates and diplomas were distributed to deserving students.

The GRADUATES:
Bachelor of Theology – 7:

(Eddie Lering, SVD)
Associate Diploma of Ministry – 1
Diploma of Pastoral Ministry – 1
Certificate in Teaching Religious Education – 24
Graduate Diploma in Theology – 13:

(Hiagi Motofaga, SVD)
Diploma in Faith Leadership – 1
Diploma in Counseling – 3
Master of Arts (Theology) – 1
Master of Theological Studies – 4:

(Gabriel Kokon, SVD; Hiagi Motofaga, SVD;

Linh Nguyen, SVD).
Master of Arts – 3

***
Larry Nemer, SVD, finishes his term as Interim YTU President by the end of 2008. The in-coming President is Christopher Monaghan, CP.

(In photo: President Larry Nemer, SVD, with Academic Dean Catherine McCahill. SGS).

THIS YEAR'S HARVEST 2008

14th Nov. (Friday) – Towards the end of the academic year, we usually take a community photo. This year we have four Postulants, four Novices (in Sydney, not in photo), five Post-Novitiate students and four Deacons (not in photo) who will all be ordained priests this year. The rest in the photo are lecturers, formators or administrators.

Seated L to R: Michael Nguyen, Dom Flores and Michael Madigan;
Second row standing L to R: Alusio Maravu, Boni Buahendri, Eddie Lering, Ennio Mantovani, Frank Gerry, Larry Nemer Kasmir Nema and Anthony Lobo.Anthony;
Third row standing L to R: Anton Nahak, Wim Valckx, Henry Adler, Uili Uvea, Bosco Sang Bok Son and Jerome Dulunaqio. (Photo by Boni B).

"Pray the Lord of the harvest

that he may send laborers

into his harvest"

(Lk. 10:2)

The MISSION ROSARY

30th October - DMC community ended the month of October by praying together the Mission Rosary. As followers of Jesus we are called to be missionaries - bringing Christ's message to the whole world.

The mysteries of the Mission Rosary are: 1) Jesus is baptised; 2) Jesus proclaims the good news; 3) Jesus heals the sick; 4) Jesus offers the gift of life; and 5) Jesus teaches us how to pray.

The FIVE DECADES of the rosary have also five corresponding colors and intentions:

1) BLUE (sapphire) - for Australia/Oceana - islands in the blue Pacific;
2) GREEN (emerald) - for Africa - with its green forests and jungles; sacred colour for Muslim).
3) WHITE (crystal) - for Europe - spiritual capital of early Christianity - Rome.
4) YELLOW (topaz) - for Asia/Middle East where the sun rises and civilization began.
5) RED (ruby) - for the Americas: Latin America, USA and Canada.

Michael Q. Nguyen prepared for us the unique way of praying the Mission Rosary complete with powerpoint presentation, reflective taped songs, and pertinent meditations on the mysteries.

(Credits to Michael N. for his beautiful photo of the BVM).

DARWIN NOW IN ARGENTINA

24th October 2008 - “Hola a todos from the Tango country, Argentina!” thus (Br.) Darwin greets us all. Darwin is one of the DMC alumnus who left us early this year. He already arrived in his first mission assignment, Argentina-south.

His Provincial was not around when Darwin arrived. Days later while he was taking a nap (siesta), his Provincial knocked at his door and gave him a stack of books: the SVD handbook and directory of the SVD Argentina-South, all in Spanish. It was a strong statement that Darwin’s priority task was to learn the Spanish language.

(Photo shows Darwin with (Fr.) Manatar, an Indonesian, who also has just arrived).

Darwin’s first experience is that the community evening meal starts at 9 pm and ends almost at 11 pm. with lively interaction among confreres during meals. He thanks confreres in Australian who shared with him their personal mission experiences informally or in formal ‘mission talks’ on Mission and Cultures.’

Darwin is also now getting familiar with the local drink: mate. One sips it and passes it around to others to sip, too. It’s a ritual shared among family, friends and co-workers – a practice that transcends the barriers of ethnicity, class and occupation.

Darwin assures us that everything is new, exciting and he’s doing fine. He sends his personal greetings to everyone!

Don’t cry for me, Argentina! ~

IT'S TENNIS TIME!

24 October (Fri) – In the Yarra Theological Union (YTU) calendar, the lectures come to a close today for the second semester. So before entering into the next phase of doing term papers and preparing for final exams, Dorish Maru students rushed to the Sports Centre to flex their muscles and ease the tension from purely academic pursuits.

Watch the action in these photos which speak for themselves. It’s tennis time….

(To enlarge click on photo)

Michael M * Willy * Kasmir * Anton * Eddie & Kasmir

JOSEFA STENMANNS - A NEW BLESSED

19th October (Sunday) - The Holy Spirit Sisters (SSpS) of Melbourne community celebrated with many of their friends the beatification of BLESSED JOSEFA STENMANNS, who is co-foundress of their congregation.

‘Josefa’ (her religious name) was born ‘Hendrina’ in Issum, Germany in 1852; she died in Steyl, Holland in 1903 and beatified in Tegelen, Holland on 29th June 2008.

Being a silk weaver in real life, she was to become a weaver of souls… She was a woman of simplicity and love, deep faith and wisdom with a truly missionary heart and open to the whole wide world.

The main celebrant at the Mass was Fr. Michael Madigan, SVD, assisted by Fr. Jack Brady, parish priest of St. Anne’s, East Kew (venue of the celebration). The singing was provided by the joint choir of the Holy Spirit Sisters and the Students of the Divine Word Missionaries. Someone said that the choir was angelic. (photo below).

The MC was Sr. Christa. Since Sr. Mary John, the congregation’s Mission animator, couldn’t make it to Australia due to passport problem, Sr. Bernadette, the congregational leader, gave a beautiful and fitting Reflection after the gospel. One of the things that gave color to the celebration was that the Sisters put on their own respective cultural dresses in the countries they come from, e.g. Japanese, Korean, Fijian, Vanuatu, Indian, etc. (Photo below).

There was also a very moving offertory procession with a liturgical dance, choreographed by the Sisters. After the Mass, we were invited to a lunch and to a special cake to praise God for His great gift of BLESSED JOSEPFA. Among the guests were members of the parish, SVDs, other members of religious congregations, and many friends.

Blessed Josefa, pray for us!

TIME TO SAY GOODBYE!

17th October (Friday) - More than a hundred members of religious orders and close friends gathered together to farewell our neighbors, the Carmelite Friars, who are leaving their monastery at Box Hill.

The Discalced Carmelites came to take residence at # 96 Albion Road, Box Hill, in 1988 in the same year as we, Divine Word Missionaries, came to settle down at Dorish Maru College at # 100 Albion Road.

In their recent Chapter a couple of months ago, the Order decided to close down this priory of St. John of the Cross at Box Hill and merge with their other communities in NSW. Actually they have already been offered a house by the Broken Bay diocese where they will start a new community.

To our good neighbors and brothers, the Carmelites, especially to Des and to Shane, it’s time to say farewell but not good-bye. Hope to see you again. ~

1) Entrance; 2) The Monastery; 3) Des Willamson, OCD, Pior.

TINU SENDA - DMC ALUMNUS

15 October (Wed) - Augustinus (Tinu for short) is an alumnus of Dorish Maru College, Box Hill. He studied here for six years (1996-2002). He was classmate of Peter Kim, Asaeli Raass, and Danny Nara Gere, who are themselves now in mission countries.

After his studies at DMC, Tinu went home to Indonesia to practice his diaconate ministry. After his priestly ordination he applied for the missions and he was sent to Paraguay. There he lived with SVD missionaries from Germany, Austria, and Ireland. His first assignment was to be a pastoral associate in a parish, where he learned easily the Spanish language.

But because of health reasons he returned to Indonesia after only two years in Paraguay. He was then assigned to the seminary at Ledalero, Indonesia. There he taught English and spirituality to a huge number of seminarians (only 300).

Now he is back to Australia to study more English. He is enrolled at the Macaqurie University at Marsfield, NSW. And when he'll return once more to his home country, he hopes to bring home a solid foundation in English.

Tinu's advice to future missionaries: be 100% of who you are; master the language of the place; have a hobby in sports, music or what have you. Lastly, be a community person, not a loner. G'day, mate! ~

THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN

4th October - When I was in American Samoa twelve years ago, we organised a Bible study group. (See map courtesy of geography.howstuffworks.com). Because we were seven, we coined our name after the movie: THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN.

We wanted to make the word of God a part of our lives and to share it to others. As we met weekly to study the Bible our group began to jell together.

But then in 1996, I was assigned to Australia, so I left the group on their own. They continued for sometime, but eventually they, too, dispersed.

A few days ago (2nd Oct) one of the original members, Ely Barja, updated me of the whereabouts of each one. He said that one went on accountancy job and eventually became a consultant; another opened a travel agency; the third resides now in Kansas (Missouri, USA) and joined an interfaith Bible group, explaining and defending the Catholic faith when misunderstood; the fourth was ordained a permanent deacon two years ago in the diocese of Pago Pago; the fifth became a priest in the same diocese; the sixth went to Down Under and now has just become an Aussie citizen (that’s me); and the seventh (Ely himself) has recently migrated to Chicago (USA). Still “feeling the waters” in America, he is searching for a Bible group to affiliate himself.

So folks that is what happened to the magnificent seven in the centre of the Pacific long, long time ago!

"And (the word of God) fell on good ground and grew, producing fruit a hundred times as much." (Lk. 8:8)

HOW DO I FEEL?

1st October - It's the day after the citizenship ceremony. Right after the ceremony last night, I was asked to describe my feelings! Actually I had a different feeling after the ceremony. And that feeling still pervades until now. I feel that I’m now an “insider.” Before I felt that I was only an “outsider.” Now I feel I truly belong, no longer just a tolerated or indifferent resident. Though I have been in Australia for twelve years, at times I felt I was looking inside from the outside. Now I am looking outside from the inside.

But that’s enough for the feelings.

We, the new Aussies of last night, were told that we could now vote on elections. We have many privileges, but we were also endowed with some tasks to do. We were asked to participate in nation and people building.

"And every one said: 'Let us rise up and begin a-building...' " (Neh. 2:18).

With community members and friends during the ceremony

Photos by Michael Nguyen.

JOHN PRIOR IN WATER BUFFALO COUNTRY

John reflects on his trip to Indonesia.

2rd October (Fri) - I wasn’t quite the tourist, though. Some 131 pastors of the Toraja Protestant Church were at a two-week ongoing formation workshop (15-29 September 2008) for those ordained during the past five years. Over 50% of the ordained pastors are women. I was invited to accompany them for much of the first week.

Protestant pastors live more simple lives than their Catholic colleagues. Married with children and 100% dependent on their small congregations for their livelihood, unsurprisingly some were not given permission to attend by the local congregation who had to find the cost of travel and accommodation from their slender resources.

We began each morning at 5:30 with lectio divina in contemplative mode. While the pastors were professional students of the bible and able preachers, very few had prayed the scriptures meditatively. Some were very struck by the morning exercises, mostly the women. (Overuse of the bible to instruct and advise, I expect.)

I took the pastors through the “pastoral circle”. First they identified key experiences that give rise to fundamental questions; then they undertook a social-cultural analysis of the issues raised. This analysis was then correlated with their faith tradition and theology; social analysis sharpens our biblical insights while our biblical faith gives meaning to the social issues. This process then challenges them to take a stand, a clear option, which in turn should lead to our identifying further key issues and so the pastoral cycle or spiral continues. In a congregation the pastor positions her/himself as facilitator of the process. In the workshop most of this work was done in ten groups as we engaged in “doing theology” contextually.

The singing was fantastic; all in local Torajan melodies, many in the local tongue. In Tiku Rari the church has a first rate musician and composer. The workshop was run by the “Institut Teologi” – a centre for ongoing formation run by Pastor Ery Hutabarat-Lebang. She is the daughter of one of the first locally ordained pastors. Her father had just primary schooling and was ordained at the age of 16 after a crash course in theology during the Japanese occupation (1942-45) when the Dutch missioners were interned. (The Catholic Church was run by village catechists during the occupation; when the Dutch priests returned they reverted to their previous subservient role.) His daughter has a doctorate in theology from the USA and spent ten years in Hong Kong coordinating theological education for the Asian Churches. Such is the leap made by the church, as also by the country, within a short generation.

In Indonesia old labels are confusing. This is meant to be a “Calvinist” Church and yet they invite a Catholic priest to update their pastors. On Sunday I joined in one congregation who were celebrating a harvest festival (they celebrate harvests three times a year!); I have never returned from a Catholic Sunday liturgy, even in alcohol-drenched Flores, with my belly full of potent palm wine (tuak putih). However much Rome is reaffirming “Catholic” identity and attempting to “re-Hellenise” our theology, Protestant-Catholic distinctiveness is dissipating at the grassroots. Deo gratias. ~

DOM FLORES - AN AUSTRALIAN TODAY

I’d like to share with you the joy that I feel in my heart: Today, 30th September, Tues, I shall become an Australian citizen for ever. The ceremony will take place at 7:30 tonight at the Civic Centre of Box Hill, Vic.

Finally I've heeded the Lord's invitation: “Go now and leave your homeland... and I shall give you a home!” (Gen. 12:1). From now on I shall call Australia home! ~

DMC UPDATE

22nd Sept. (Tues) - I just returned from Nazareth House, Ballarat, VIC. I went to substitute for the chaplain who went on holidays to his home country, Ireland. Nazareth House (see photo) is owned and operated by the congregation of the Nazareth Sisters (CSN). It is a Sisters’ convent, retirement home, aged care, retreat house, formation house for postulants, all in one. While there I ministered to the people in daily Masses with homily and to the spiritual needs of the residents. Now, I’m trying to catch up with the community I left behind. ~

Here is some update

6th Sept. (Sat.) – The annual Mission Day with the theme on Vietnamese martyrs went on well. We were surprised and happy by the large attendance estimated at 400.

10th-12th Sept. (Wed.-Fri) – The combined Leadership workshop was attended by ten Holy Spirit Sisters and eight SVDs held at the Janssen Spirituality Centre, Boronia, VIC. Four came from DMC: Dom F, Larry N, Henry A, & Michael M.

11th Sept. (Thurs) – We celebrated the 133rd Foundation Day of the SVD at Dorish Maru College. Participants of the Leadership workshop and members of the Arnoldus family in Melbourne joined in the celebration. The family meal was followed by singing from various communities and from individuals, e.g. Mike Madigan, Dom Cremasco, Kasmir, and other singing groups from Sisters and national groups. O quam jucundum habitare fraters/sorores in unum!, that is, if you still know Latin.

14th Sept (Sun) – SVD Seniors’ meeting at the new parish under the SVD at Preston. Bill Burt, Paul Thien and Linh Nguyen hosted the monthly gathering. Nine senior members attended the gathering and went home invigorated.

15th-19th Sept (Tues-Fri) – Boni B. went to make his retreat with his group at the Heart of Life. Likewise Larry N went on retreat at the Nazareth House at Ballarat, VIC.

17th Sept (Wed) – Dom F. visited Henry Nikel, our lone SVD ministering in the diocese of Ballarat. Henry is well known and loved by Ballarat people among whom he serves. We wish Henry well as he goes on sabbatical to learn Spanish. Hasta la vista, Henrico!

21st Sept. (Sun) – Frank G. celebrated his golden jubilee of ordination at the parish of Boronia. It was attended by the parishioners and members of the Arnoldus family. Frank has served at Boronia parish for many years. ~

DMC is 20 YEARS OLD

24th Sept (Wed) – Wim Valckx has recorded for us this valuable piece of history:

“From our temporary home with the Passionists in Templestowe, Vic., we moved to our new house in Box Hill on 5th May 1988. Daryl Millard, a man of good taste and a great organizer, was our first Rector. Tony Broderick was formator; Jim Knight dean of studies; George Miller vocation director. I was given Room no. 201 in which Br. George K. is now. We had a few students: Greg Hughes (Aus), Albert Kim (Korea), Joe Dang (Vietnamese), Steve Marshall (Aus), Ryo Nishiwaki (Japan), while Tim Norton and Paul Kelly were doing their OTP in Mexico.

Daryl encouraged us to find a name for our new house. Suggestions would be listed and voted on by the house council. One morning that week I woke up and said some prayers and I asked the Lord, “What name (should we give) for our new house?” In a flash the answer came: “Dorish Maru,” (the Japanese ship that was strafed and many priests, brothers, sisters and missionary helpers perished near Wewak, PNG, in February 1944). The house council voted that name in. Ryo Nishiwaki designed then a vignette, a slender sailing boat, which is still in the letterhead of our stationary and on the big sign outside the parking lot.

On 15th November that same year, Archbishop Thomas Francis Little blessed the little chapel - and that was 20 years ago. ~ Wim

DMC STUDENTS SING AT PRESTON...

4th September 2008 - The Preston SVD team and Dorish Maru College admin held today a brotherly conversation at the presbytery. Present were (Preston-side): Bill Burt, Thien Nguyen, Linh Nguyen; (DMC-side): Henry Adler, Michael Nguyen, Boni Buahendri and Dom Flores. (See photo).

During the dialogue, the parish formally invited the DMC students (through their formators) to involve themselves in the music ministry of the parish. The invitation was well received by all. It was also rightly perceived as the opening for deeper involvement in other ministries, like liturgy, pastoral and youth ministries, etc. The next step then was to present this proposal to the DMC students through their leader, Eddie Lering. Then Eddie, Thien and Linh (committee) will draw up the practicalities. They will resume to sing on the 4th Sunday of September.

We moved on to other matters. Dom and Michael asked if there’s a prospect of doing Bible ministry in the parish. To our joy, we were informed that Thien and Linh had already formed a Bible group and that Dom and Michael would be welcome to lend their expertise on the Bible.

At this juncture, Bill mentioned the hope that one day we would be sharing our SVD charism to the parishioners, i.e. the life and spirituality of St. Arnold, SVD and SSpS.

Dom also pointed out that presently the priest-members of DMC often go for pastoral supply (Masses) to neighboring parishes. But Dom made it very clear that if needed, they would give first priority to the needs of Preston parish under our SVD confreres. Right away Bill asked Thien to make a roster for Mass schedules for SVD confreres.

The group felt that that was enough for the day. So we closed the meeting in a very happy mood. Then we walked to a Yum Cha restaurant for our lunch. On our way, we made a side trip to the parish Day Care for senior citizens, yea, for oldies, not for kiddies. Great idea! ~

Sacred Heart church - a beauty!

JOHN PRIOR WRITES ...

30 August 2008 - Balaton, Hungary, was the site of the 12th Conference of the InternationalAssociation for Mission Studies (IAMS) from August 16-23, with the theme “Human Identity and the Gospel of Reconciliation: Agenda for Mission Studies and Praxis in the 21st Century.”

There were four plenary addresses and responses, six sessions of parallel groups on particular themes with papers and related discussions (90 papers in all distributed among the groups), two regional meetings, several other plenary sessions, a special interest session, daily worship and several social and cultural events.

On Sunday we went to Budapest where the 240 participants worshipped among 50 different congregations, Protestant and Catholic, followed by a tour of the city. On Tuesday, over 250 persons participated in eight different exposure visits around Hungary and even into Slovakia. Thursday evening we had a boat trip on the lake, serenaded by gipsy music.

The real joy and usefulness of the Conference was the conversation and networking with colleagues from such a broad spectrum of international and ecumenical perspectives regarding mission studies and practices today.

The SVD has been intimately associated with IAMS from the beginning. For many years the association's journal, Mission Studies, was edited from Sankt Agustin, and later by Steve Bevans from Chicago. We have had at least a dozen SVD participants at previous Conferences. This time just eight confreres took part.

It was good to see Steve Bevans so full of life after his major operation (brain tumour), in a “former life” Steve was Dom Flores’ rector in Vigan, northern Philippines; Roger Schoeder was his delightful and insightful self, Roger has taught in YTU as a visiting lecturer; Jon Kirby, who has just made a "paradigm shift" from Tamale, Ghana, to Washington, was as incisive as ever; it was great to meet Augustine Jianghua Li from Beijing, first because he is from mainland China but also because he is not (yet) one of the SVD IAMS "veterans"; Stanis Lazar came although he has now become Provincial of INM, he gave greetings from the recently formed International Association of Catholic Missiologists; Christian Tauchner and Franz Helm from St. Gabriel in neighbouring Austria were gracious "hosts". And Bill Burrows of Orbis Books is still very much part of the "SVD Contingent." As you can see from the photo (right), we got together late one evening for “bible sharing” in the traditional SVD manner.

Three SVD seminarians studying in Budapest, Lawrence Kponor and Sebastian Tengan (Ghana) and Hủgor Sándor (Romania), served as stewards during the conference. Bishop Ladislav Nemet, who had been part of the local committee with Frans Magung, led the final worship. It would be good to see a new generation of SVD Mission scholars attending the next IAMS Conference, due in 2012 (possibly in Toronto, Canada). If SVD participation were to reflect SVD teaching and research, then more confreres from Asia and Africa would take part.

I was coordinator for the BISAM (Bible Studies and Mission) Study Group which had around 30 participants for the six parallel group meetings during the Conference. For its next project (2008-2012) the Study Group will be taking up the theme of "Mission, Nation and Empire: The use of the bible by biblical and mission scholars and by the grassroots and congregations".

After the Conference I spent a few days in our SVD communities in Budapest and Koszeg. Joszef Werner remembers Dom Flores from his Philippine days (back in the last century); Marsel, Modes, Frans and Eli from Indonesia and Sebastian from India are part of the young, vibrant international Hungarian Province, rising like a phoenix from decades first under fascist and then communist rule. ~

John Prior, SVD

PETER KIM, SVD

29th August (Friday) - PETER KIM was already far advanced in his theological studies when he decided to leave for good the diocesan seminary in Korea. He said he wanted to explore the world outside. So he went to the Philippines to start his new life.

However, in the Philippines he continued to attend Mass everyday. Then one day, by chance he found a brochure about the SVDs of Christ the King seminary (Manila). The brochure attracted him. He also met a Korean religious sister who was very good to him. The Sister advised Peter to consider returning to the seminary. She informed him that he could continue his theology studies in Korea for there’s also an SVD seminary there. (Photo above, Peter & Dom F).

So in 1996 Peter returned to Korea to enter the SVD. Upon his return home, however, he met a serious car accident. He suffered a dislocation of his neck, pelvis, and internal organs. He was hospitalized for nine months. But he was allowed to make his postulancy program in the hospital. The following year, 1997, he made his novitiate in the SVD house followed by his first vows in 1998. Later he was assigned to continue his theology at DMC, Melbourne. Then he made his OTP in PNG in 2000-2001, after which he came back to YTU to earn a diploma on pastoral ministry.

His first missionary assignment (2002) was to PNG. He’s still there, now on his 6th year at the parish of Pumakos, Wabag Diocese. Though deprived of many luxuries and conveniences of life, he’s very happy in his ministry and never regretted it.

In his spare time, he reads spiritual books. During his short stay with us at DMC, he bought a stack of books worth $230, e.g. various homily books and other spiritual books. He says he faithfully does his daily meditation and also does spiritual reading everyday. (Photo above right, Peter with the books he purchased).

Peter's WORDS OF ADVICE to those in formation:

1. Be what you are: a good student, missionary brother or priest.
2. Remember that you are a spiritual leader, not a politician or social worker. People are hungry for spiritual food; so prepare good homilies or sermons.
3. Observe internal discipline, i.e. live an orderly life. People assume that a priest or religious is another Christ. So be like Him! ~

Bosco & Peter