Missionary Intention
Cagliero11
JULY
SALESIAN MISSIONARY INTENTION IN THE LIGHT OF THE HOLY FATHER’S PRAYER INTENTION
For vocations to Salesian life
So that the Lord of the harvest may send numerous holy vocations to become Salesian Brothers and priests at the service of youth.
Young people need consecrated Salesians, friends, brothers and fathers, who serve full time and with all their heart. We pray that the testimony of Salesians and communities may be meaningful and fascinating for the young, and that the pastoral care in the Provinces may present the beauty of religious consecration to the young people of today.
N. 115 - July 2018
Newsletter for Salesian Missionary Animation
Publication of the Missions Sector for the Salesian Communities and Friends of the Salesian Mission
Easter invites us to drink in abundance from the true sources of the Salesian missionary spirit. May the Risen Christ, as in Johns dream at the age of nine, continue to show us our mission field!
The Papal Letter Maximum Illud accompanies us as we move towards the extraordinary missionary month of October 2019. One of its most original and incisive themes is, undoubtedly, the prophetic and enlightened insistence on the promotion of "indigenous clergy". We express this today in our context and in our shared vision as “missionary animation and vocational animation”. It is very significant that not a few of the younger Regions and Provinces of the Congregation are today a source of missionary vocations ad gentes: for example, India, Africa, Vietnam, etc. This is very rooted in our Salesian way of being missionaries, in which, "missionary action mobilizes all the educational and pastoral commitments proper to our charism" (Constitutions 30). Among these, vocation animation "is the crown of the whole of our educational and pastoral action"(C 37). Blessed Zeffirino Namuncurá is a very eloquent icon of this vocational touch in all our Salesian missionary praxis. He is a mature fruit of the first great missionary project of the Society of St. Francis de Sales. While being totally Mapuche, he wanted to become a Salesian and thus "be useful to his people".
Fr Guillermo Basañes, SDB - Councillor for the Missions
A painting with a powerful missionary message
MISSIONARY YOUTH
W e present in this issue an interesting initiative towards youth missionary associationism proposed by the Pontifical Mission Societies. Good practices such as this can guide us in our own missionary animation within our Salesian youth ministry. Here is the proposal for "Missionary Youth".
It is a service of missionary animation offered by the Pontifical Missionary Works for the Propagation of the Faith. It seeks to awaken, animate, educate and sustain the universal missionary spirit of all young people. It helps them realize their local and universal mission.
"Missionary Youth" does not intend to be, or to organize, a separate youth movement; Instead, young people become "yeast groups", getting involved in the missionary animation of other young people. The Missionary Youth proposes "to spread among Catholics, from their childhood, a truly universal missionary sensitivity. It will stimulate an efficient collection of support for the missions. It ought to awaken vocations ad gentes and for life" (Cf. RM 84 and the General Statutes). "Considering the character proper to the missionary education of the young, the Work will offer a missionary service for the young":
* For all young people. Some of them will be organized into "yeast" groups to help in the missionary ani- mation of young people.
* Animators (priests, religious and laity). They will use their experience, offer their services and be a part of Missionary Youth.
* Children who were already in the Holy Childhood will be special invitees to the Missionary Youth. They are most welcome to the pre-youth Missionary group (first level of Missionary Youth).
* Some young people link their apostolic group to the Missionary Youth, without losing the identity they already have of their group; others get involved as members of "yeast" groups (while continuing in the youth groups they already belong to); other young people participate and collaborate in the services of Missionary Youth, even if they do not become members of it.
Missionary Youth proposes:
* To strengthen Christian life and missionary formation to respond to the needs of a new Church;
* To promote and live the universal missionary spirit, in the group, in families and with other young people
* To mutually support the discernment and maturation of missionary vocations among the young;
* To promote spiritual and material cooperation for the universal evangelization of non-Christians;
* To be prepared to go out "beyond all borders" to evangelize, as per the needs of the universal Church, taking into account the possibilities of each young person.
“LIVING WITH ME MUST HAVE BEEN A CHALLENGE FOR OTHERS!”
It was my childhood dream to become a priest. Salesians were lucky (or I was lucky) that we came in contact with each other. I came to the aspirantate when I was only 11 years old. The example of Salesian missionaries such as Fr. Castelli and Fr. Egidio Sola of Madras Province captivated me. I wanted to be like them. In the novitiate and post-novitiate I was an active member of the Missionary Group. As a student of philosophy, I continued to pursue my missionary interest. Finally, I was given an opportunity to go to Tanzania for Practical Training. I was only 21 years old.
If I say I had difficulties being a missionary, it would sound like I am complaining. I have absolutely no complaints about my missionary calling. But, I did face challenges – meaning tough encounters and experiences, which were also opportunities for learning and for deepening my missionary calling. One of these challenges was having to live with other missionaries from different cultures, countries, languages, etc. I suppose living with me was equally a “challenge” for them! I believe that prayer, community life and enthusiasm for our vocation help us overcome such hurdles.
My greatest joy is seeing the fruit of my labour – my little missionary endeavours. I was a teacher and a school administrator for 20 years. I have seen my students doing well in life. They have become priests, religious, doctors, artisans, civil servants, etc. I rejoice also that some missions that I left in their infant stages have grown into large Christian communities. I am delighted when people accept me as one of them. My present work among refugees in northern Uganda has given a new impetus to my vocation.
Being a Salesian Missionary is a calling within a calling. You are part of a large army of evangelizers of the young, reaching Jesus to many people in Don Bosco’s way. The most important requirement to be a Salesian Missionary is that you be “proud of being a Salesian who is very happy and enthusiastic. You need to be courageous and be open to new experiences without any fear or doubt’.
Fr. Lazar Arasu SDB, A Missionary in Uganda,
from Madras-Chennai Province, India since 1990
Witness of Salesian Missionary Sanctity
Fr. Pierluigi Cameroni SDB, Postulator General for the Causes of Saints
Blessed Maria Troncatti (1883-1969), Daughter of Mary Help of Christians among the Shuar of Ecuador. It was said of her: "She had visitors from our community, priests as well as other confreres. Salesian sisters went to her to consult her. They would tell her about their concerns and their plans. She had for everyone a word of encouragement, understanding and willingness to help. Families of Sucúa visited her, as well as from Macas and other areas. She listened to everyone patiently, giving them the time they needed. She always encouraged, advised and helped. The Shuar families visited her. She knew the secret path into their hearts. All of us found her a prudent and generous counselor, a sympathetic mother. She accomplished this spiritual direction of souls with the rosary in her hand, offering the mysteries of the sufferings of Christ, his joys and his triumphs to those who approached her."
Salesian Missionary Intention
For vocations to Salesian life
So that the Lord of the harvest may send numerous holy vocations to become Salesian Brothers and priests at the service of youth.
Young people need consecrated Salesians, friends, brothers and fathers, who serve full time and with all their heart. We pray that the testimony of Salesians and communities may be meaningful and fascinating for the young, and that the pastoral care in the Provinces may present the beauty of religious consecration to the young people of today.
