Dear friends,
It is dear to me to be able to write these lines, and I am very grateful to those who have allowed me to do so, because they allow me to meet you, at least in writing, and to share with you the joy of the new missionary expedition, which this issue of Cagliero 11 recalls.
A missionary expedition relates, more clearly than any human words, the fidelity to God's call and the freshness of the Salesian Charism to the ends of the earth. The Gift of God of the Salesian Charism has always, and in an ever-new way, had within it the dimension of Missionarity, the participation in the heart of the Church... beyond any vision, culture, belonging.
This has always been true, and we all know it, but to see it renewed in the new missionary expedition in "flesh and blood" is a great gift. It renews our Faith and our Hope.
Yes! Because the testimony of those who leave keeps the missionary dimension alive in all of us, where we are and with those who are part of our existence.
Hope never disappoints, it sustains us, and this upcoming event makes it even stronger and more alive. May Hope be with you! Always!
▀ Fr. Stefano Martoglio SDB
Vicar of the Rector Major
Dear Father Francis, this year in the Salesian mission in Bangladesh the fruits of the consecration to the priesthood of the first confreres of local origin have ripened: Victor Mankhin was ordained a priest and Johnny Ruram a deacon. You have been in this mission from the very beginning, what do these moments mean to you personally?
Evidently these are moments of great joy for me. They are occasions for thanking God and our Blessed Mother for the countless blessings that have been showered on our Salesian Mission in Bangladesh. In a sense they mark a new beginning, as gradually the local Salesian confreres will begin to shoulder various responsibilities to carry forward and further expand the Salesian apostolate. At the same time these blessings prod me on to pray all the more fervently that the Bangladeshi Salesians may be imbued with the genuine Salesian spirit, in complete faithfulness to the Salesian charism and fulfilling the daily demands of the Salesian consecrated and community life with dedication and generosity.
What do you see as the opportunity and the greatest potential for further development of Salesian work in Bangladesh?
Opportunities are indeed many for Salesian work in Bangladesh. We have pending invitations from several Bishops to begin Salesian presences in their dioceses. At present we are not able to accept these invitations because we are short of personnel. There is no lack of poor and disadvantaged youth and children in this country. Hence there will never be a lack of Salesian relevance here. A good, all-round education in the Salesian way is the best way to help these children and youth find their way through life. The future of Salesian work in Bangladesh will depend largely on the number, quality and commitment of the young Salesians who are now in formation. And I am very optimistic about it.
How can we who live far away help the work, especially the young people of Bangladesh?
I think the basic thing is to have a positive attitude towards this country and its young people, not a condescending accommodation. They are children and youth like those in any other country, no matter what their religion or social background may be. Financial help through scholarships too can be of great help to many of them.
