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Book Review: Don Bosco in Australia and the Pacific

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SDB News
31 March 2023
31 March 2023

In 2020, Provincial Fr William Matthews commissioned Fr Frank Moloney to author a book recording the first 100 years of Salesian presence in Australia. Fr Frank, author of over 40 books and a scriptural scholar of universal note, has certainly used his well-known skills as a writer in his new text. The narrative, contents, style and presentation from a journalistic point a view, are all of the highest quality.

The narrative focuses on the most significant events of the 100 years without getting entangled in minutiae. The content, on a thoughtful reading, pays homage to many achievements. History is instructive. What it suggests to people is that even if they do little things, anything they do, however small, becomes part of a much larger flow of energy. 

Frank’s recognition of this is shown in his statement: “Over the past 100 years several hundred Salesians have worked in Australia and the Pacific. Each one deserves to be “remembered” by name.” 

Yet, as Frank states, “It is with a sense of unfinished achievement that we sketch that story and its major protagonists”.  A sketch indeed he has made, or is it a grand sweep of the painter’s brush across the canvas of 100 years? 

Fr Frank’s elegantly economical style allows the readers to grasp quickly the main ideas and the material, both copy and photos, is presented in a very appealing fashion. It is indeed a scholarly work well worthy of an honoured place among the annals of the Salesian Province of Mary, Help of Christians.

Speaking on his work, Fr Moloney said that "To maintain a sense of coherence in what follows there are various summaries of developments (for example, the development of a coherent Salesian formation program and the growth of schools and colleges) that cross the allocated time-periods. We apologise at the outset that not every significant “protagonist” has been mentioned by name. "

He further added that "over the past 100 years several hundred Salesians have worked in Australia and the Pacific. Each one deserves to be “remembered” by name. But that would generate a litany of saints and sinners, rather than a sketch of what God has done for Australia and the Pacific through the presence of Don Bosco and his consecrated Salesian Religious and the many “Salesians” who share in that mission. "

Readers are advised that if they would like to secure their free copy to contact the Salesian Province Office to organize delivery/pickup

 

This story originally appeared in the Autumn 2023 edition of the Australian Salesian Bulletin

Lives Lived Well: VALE Fr Gerrit Kraan

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SDB News
24 November 2022
24 November 2022

Fr Gerrit Kraan was born on the 13th December 1929 in Utrecht Netherlands, to a strict parental home, where love was expressed not necessarily in affection, but rather in food on the table, schooling and clothing for the kids; after all these were hard times, rebuilding after the war!

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VALE fr James Adayadiel

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SDB News
22 November 2022
22 November 2022

Fr James Adayadiel was born in Poonjar-Changanac, Kerala, India in 1932. He was a brave pioneer and missionary in Samoa, which was still known as Western Samoa when he arrived.

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Lives Lived Well: VALE Fr Norman Ford

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SDB News
17 November 2022
17 November 2022

Fr Norman Ford was born in 1935 in Ballarat, Victoria and educated at De La Salle College, Malvern. He entered the Salesian novitiate in 1952 and professed temporary vows in 1953.

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Lives Lived Well: Vale Fr Mika Leilua

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SDB News
28 July 2022
28 July 2022

Fr Mika Leilua was born in the village of Vaiusu in Samoa on 15 May 1963 to devout Catholic parents, Leo Leilua and Lesina Ulugia in a family of nine children.

Having attended St Francis Xavier Primary school in his home village and his secondary education at St Joseph’s Lotopa (Apia), he was among the first group of Samoans to join the Salesians.

He came to Australia to begin the pre-novitiate on 31st January 1987 at Oakleigh (Melbourne). At the end of his novitiate at Lysterfield, Mika made his first profession as a Salesian on the feast of St John Bosco in 1990.

The following nine years saw him complete his philosophical and theological priestly studies in Australia and three years practical teaching in Samoa. He was ordained by Cardinal Pio in Apia on the 18th July 1998.

As one of the first Samoans ordained as a Salesian, Fr Mika was a great source of pride for his family, and his community.

Fr Mika was a professed Salesian for 31 years, and a priest of the Church for 23 years. He spent his early years of priestly ministry in formation including the role of Novice Master in Suva, Fiji. Then after spending four years as a parish priest in Samoa, Mika spent seven years at St Paul’s Parish, in Massey, New Zealand.

When parishioners heard of his death they spoke unreservedly about his great pastoral care and friendliness to all parishioners as Parish Priest during his time at St Paul’s Parish Massey & Ranui; and yet as a Salesian his predilection was for the young.

Fr Mika was charged with supervising the great Youth and Education Centre. He was a central figure in raising awareness, securing funding, and parleying between stakeholders.

One of the parish youth coordinators testified: “Fr. Mika loved our youth and this is something that as one of the Youth Coordinators I can attest to. As a Salesian he really lived out and preached the Don Bosco’s way to help the poor but mainly for the youth of our parish.”

From 2018 he was appointed as the founding parish priest of the newly established parish in Suva, Fiji. Fr Mika was also charged with the responsibility of supervising the “Don Bosco Youth and Education Centre” project, a great undertaking for Fiji.

Sadly, Fr Mika did not see the completion and official blessing of this work; he laid the seeds so that future generations could enjoy a bountiful harvest.

This incredible hall will be one great part of Mika's legacy to Fiji; regulary filled with parishoners; provided with a place they can meet, play, learn and worship.

The requiem Mass for Fr Mika Leilua was led by Archbishop Peter Loy of Fiji and was livestreamed to the communities throughout the Australia-Pacific province.

Fr Jim Hoe (Rector of the Salesian community in Suva) delivered the homily, speaking of Fr Mika’s pastoral care for all:

'In the Gospel passage, Jesus proclaimed, 'I am the good shepherd.' He was good because unlike the uncommitted shepherds he was ready to give his life for his sheep. The image of the Good Shepherd was very real for Fr. Mika. He learned this from Jesus, and from Don Bosco. He applied it in his work for the young people and for his parishioners”.

Fr Mika’s humility, gentleness, simplicity, patience, care, his warm welcome to everybody left a lasting impact on those who came to know him.

The years will quickly pass but the memory of his priestly ministry will remain. May he forever rest in peace.


This story originally appeared in the Winter 2022 edition of the Salesian Bulletin, which is available here!

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The Links is the News Service of the Salesians of Don Bosco for the Australian-Pacific Province. It serves to connect the Salesians to the world, and the world to the Salesians.

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