For a culture of peace and non-violence
That the Salesians in Tunisia may help promote love and peace
We pray for the spread of peace and non-violence, by decreasing the use of weapons by States and citizens.
[Prayer intention of Pope Francis]
Dear friends,
The Salesian Missions are, in reality, a dream and a challenge that Don Bosco put at the forefront for his works. For me it was also a great dream that I always had and that which I had realized for a short time in Haiti.
The Past Pupils of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians have the participation in the educational mission of the Institute as a priority, in their Statutes and in their Identity Charter. This is inserted into the educational environments in which it permeates the Salesian mission with the lay-style that characterizes it. We have had the joy of acquiring an education and training based on charity for others. Therefore, we encourage participation in the Salesian mission throughout the world. In effect we have an NGO, which is dedicated especially to the Missions. Associazione Mornese ONLUS
We have to walk with the missionary Church and proclaim! We have to share and be the leaven that the Church needs today.
▀ Maria Carmen Castillon
President, World Confederation Mornese, Past Pupils of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians
‘Ad Gentes Mission’ is an oft-quoted term. But what does it really mean? It is more than just missionary volunteering, missionary experiences or fundraising for missionary activities. The word “mission” from the Latin missio, means “the act of sending”. While “Ad Gentes” indicates a movement “towards the people” - particularly those who do not know Jesus Christ or having once known Him, have now abandoned their Christian faith. Thus, Ad Gentes Mission is “the task of preaching the Gospel and planting the Church among peoples or groups who do not yet believe in Christ” (AG, n. 6).
Today ‘Ad Gentes Mission’ is wherever there is a need to proclaim the Gospel be it in Africa or Europe; in the jungles or in urban centres. Similarly, “there is a new awareness that missionary activity is a matter for all Christians, for all dioceses and parishes, Church institutions and associations” (RM 2).
The Acts of the Apostles contain certain important elements of Ad Gentes Mission that serve as a guide for us even today:
▀ Fr. Alfred Maravilla, SDB
General Councillor for the Missions
During your Salesian internship in Tunisia, what was the most significant experience or moment for you?
Tunisia, a 99% Muslim nation, has its young people on the move. It offered me the chance to live with them, day by day their culture in their joys and hopes. I got there after this so-called “Arab Spring” wave, which seemed to liberate the people from fear to words; allowing them at will to discuss the various subjects that structure social and political life with growing respect for diverse opinions. It was the peaceful but supervised cohabitation that intrigued me. However, they are very keen on respecting their religion and the Islamic tradition.
How does the Salesian presence and charism work in a predominantly Muslim country?
Through our educational system offered in our schools and in our oratories, we reach “Don Bosco” like an “Italian pedagogue” to the hearts of young people. Although we have applied our apostolate “without the religious stamp”, we act as Saint Charles de Foucault did: “My apostolate must be that of kindness. Seeing me, one must say to oneself: since this man is so good, his religion must be good (...) I would like to be good enough for people to say: if such is the servant, how then is the master?” The only mission we have set ourselves as a community is to train these young Tunisians to be “good believers and honest citizens”.
This month we pray for non-violence, is it a problem in Tunisia?
Having misunderstood the concept of "postmodernity" and "emancipation", everyone prefers to leave the village and saturate in urban areas. A mutation that today prevents the flowering of free spaces from which these poor and abandoned young people can play peacefully. Everything has to be paid for, everything is expensive, and the schools lack free grounds where everyone would play for free in order to channel their existential anxieties. Tunisia is this country which seems to have set itself on the path of inclusive emancipation of all kinds. But alas, this has not yet cured the superiority complex in social class; for example, in our schools the teacher considers himself the superior of the supervisor and the latter in turn sees himself as the superior of the cleaning women.
