Tsunami

Salesians help Solomon Islanders

Contents - Jun 2007 - Buy a copy now Editorial: Sacred music: an integral part of worship - Michael Gilchrist New Missal translation: light at the end of the tunnel - Michael Gilchrist News: The Church Around the World Obituary: A tribute to natural family planning pioneer, Dr John Billings, RIP - Msgr Peter J. Elliott Tsunami: Salesians help Solomon Islanders New Zealand Catholic college's intellectually challenging RE program - Bernard Moran Verbicide: 'Happy' or 'Blessed'? How faith can be drained of meaning - Arthur Ballingall Youth ministry active in the Melbourne archdiocese - Barry Coldrey Sigrid Undset: Revived interest in a remarkable Norwegian Catholic novelist - Michael Daniel The Caroline Chisholm Library: Melbourne's hidden treasure - John Young Obituary: Bill Daly RIP: fearless defender of Catholic orthodoxy in Australia - Fr James Tierney Letters: Vatican II (letter) - Francis Vrijmoed Letters: Parish amalgamations (letter) - Eilenn A. Gomm SFO Letters: Judas rethink (letters) - John Schmid Poetry: A Glimpse of My Glory - Maureen Bidess Events: Archbishop Chaput in Australia - Melbourne 4 July 2007 Books: IN THE LIGHT OF CHRIST: Writings in the Western Tradition, by Lucy Beckett - Francis Phillips (reviewer) Books: EDITH STEIN, WOMAN OF PRAYER: Her Life and Ideals, by Joanne Mosley - Tim Cannon (reviewer) DOES YOUR PARISH STOCK AD2000? Books: THE SONG OF BERNADETTE, by Franz Werfel - Michael E. Daniel (reviewer) Books: AD2000 Books Reflection: Pentecost, the Holy Spirit and the Eucharist - Fr Dennis Byrnes

The Don Bosco Technical Institute in Honiara, Solomon Islands, has pledged its support to assist schools and communities destroyed by the tsunami in the western extremes of the Solomon Islands on 1 April 2007.

The Director of the Don Bosco Institute, Fr Luciano Capelli, said all human resources (instructors and students) and equipment in mechanics, carpentry and tailoring were being utilised to help tsunami victims in villages prioritised by Caritas and the Diocese of Gizo for the next six months.

'It is a program of Solomon Islanders helping Solomon Islanders', he said.

Specifically the Don Bosco Institute plans, during June to November, to produce furniture for damaged schools, ovens for cooking needs and school uniforms for tsunami victims:

* The Carpentry Department will produce 1000 school desks.

* The Welding Department will produce 500 portable ovens.

* The Tailoring Department will produce 1000 school uniforms.

In addition, during the school vacations in June and December volunteer students will assist in reconstruction areas identified by Caritas and the Diocese of Gizo.

The Australian Salesian Missions Office has launched an appeal to support this program initiated by the Don Bosco Technical Institute.

Appeal Co-ordinator, Br Michael Lynch, said that members of the Salesian Order in Honiara are also heavily involved in providing relief for the people on the island of Simbo.

'A few days after the disaster Fr Capelli and the Salesians together with Sr Sialei and the Sisters, chartered a ship (M V Isabella) to take relief goods to the island of Simbo.

'There had been considerable destruction on Simbo where a large proportion of the people lost their homes and possessions.

'This assistance was the first of any kind of help to arrive in Simbo.

'While the tsunami victims on Simbo have now temporarily relocated themselves to higher ground, they are in need of emergency help: food, clothing, and shelter.'

Donations are tax deductible. They can be sent to: Solomon Islands Tsunami Appeal, Salesian Missions Office, P.O. Box 264, Ascot Vale, Vic 3032.

Reprinted from AD2000 Vol 20 No 5 (June 2007), p. 7