Salesian Mission Rosary Day 2013 October 15th 2012 Objective: The main idea is to have one day where the whole province (SDB’s communities, Schools, Parishes, Clubs, Youth Centers, Oratories) gather together IN PRAYER to support one cause, the Salesian Mission Day 2013.

Intention: This Rosary can be prayed at any time on the chosen day of October 15th. In the school setting the best time may be in the morning, while in the case of the clubs and parishes the best time may be in the afternoon. In the case of the SDB’s communities the best time may be before dinner.

This special Rosary is scripted based on the Salesian Mission Day Magazine. Each of the mysteries will help us to get to know better the faith journey in Africa. By praying this rosary our understanding about this theme may be enlightened. While preparing this Rosary, I found myself astonished by the evangelical witness that the Salesians in Africa have given to the world.

As part of our Salesian congregation, we would also like to be part of what is happening in Africa! This year’s financial effort will support the Catechist Formation and the publishing of catechetical materials in local languages. These efforts are not targeted regularly in projects for mission support in our provinces.

At the end of the Rosary, we will take up a collection. The funds raised will be sent to our Provincial Finance Office with this earmark: “Let’s support our Catechists in Africa”. Therefore, the totals collected as a province will be sent to Fondazione Don Bosco nel Mondo at the Pisana.

I encourage you to make this Rosary happen! I believe that promoting these kinds of events, will benefit the most of all our own young people and our province. We are teaching our young people to be charitable, as Don Bosco did with his first boys.

In this document you will find: the scripted Rosary, a flyer to advertise this event and an announcement to be read at the masses.

If you have any question, please do not hesitate to contact me.

In Don Bosco your friend, Juan Carlos Montenegro Missionary Animation Delegate Salesian Mission Rosary Day 2013 – Scripted Rosary To start the Rosary: Leader: Africa is often seen as a continent of wars and poverty. Moreover, it is a land with a thousand faces; its main resource is its people, rich in tradition, who look to the future with dignity and determination. This Rosary is an invitation to pray for this wonderful continent and to get to know better the peculiarities of this land and especially what the Salesians are accomplishing there.

Let’s put ourselves in the presence of the Lord by making the sign of the Cross.

In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit! Introductory Prayers; We would like to start these introductory prayers with one intention in mind: to pray for all the missionary efforts the church is fostering to bring Jesus Christ to all people. Let us start with the Apostle’s Creed.

Together:  I Believe in God…  1 Our Father and  3 Hail Mary’s I Meditation Leader: In the 1980s after the 21st General Chapter, when Don Bosco’s 7th successor, Fr. Egidio Vigano, launched Project Africa, the whole Salesian Congregation mobilized to be present in this vast continent. There is no doubt that the Salesian Presence has been part of this beautiful evangelization experience. Today we have over 1500 Salesians in Africa; a growing number of these are indigenous vocations from Africa and currently the Salesians of Don Bosco are working in 43 out of 54 countries.

Looking back over the epic realization of Project Africa, it must be evident to everyone that nothing would have been possible unless the Lord had chosen to work through our missionaries. It is amazing to see how Fr. Vigano responded to an inspiration from above, as he used to say, and truly an invisible hand guided the Salesians along a rapid and secure path so it could all become a stupendous reality.

Reflection: How many times we have been instruments of God in the same manner as the Salesian Missionaries in Africa? First Missionary Ministry; for our Salesian Missioners in Africa, that God may continue giving them strength to bring the Gospel to our brothers and sisters in Africa.

 Our Father…  10 Hail Mary’s  Glory be...

II Meditation Leader: This is the testimony of Steve Jonas – a young catechumen.

“My journey in the catechism began with my mother, rooted in the Christian practice of my family until I was six years old when I started going to catechism in the parish, every Thursday and Saturday. The catechist was amazed with my answers which were almost always right. When I received the Body of Christ for the first time I trembled inside. Conquered by Christ, my life was changed by what I experienced. “ “I speak to all the young people in the world, in particular those in my town: may we be ready to proclaim the Word of God now and always, let’s put aside everything that does not help us to bear witness to the presence of God. Let’s DO it! We are the leaven in our world. My experience in Jesus makes these words of his ring out in my heart: ‘as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren you did it to me.’” (Mt 25,40) Second Missionary Mystery: For our young people. May our young people find God in their midst and be transformed like Steve Jonas.

 Our Father…  10 Hail Mary’s  Glory be...

III Meditation Leader: To be a catechist in Africa, specific and proper preparation is necessary. The Catechist Formation Centre at Makalala does this through a two years residential course. To qualify as catechists, the young students at Makalala not only try to do well in their studies, but they also have to put up with sacrifices.

Emmanuela, for example, has had to leave her family for a time and leave her 10 year old child with relatives so she could focus on the course properly. “I am happy ,“ she says, “to learn the catechism about Jesus Christ, and I have learned so much about him from the lessons, since earlier I knew little, but now I know Jesus and thank God for this. “ Léa Marie Kaboré shared with us: “our mission is to create a relationship between the youngsters, the young people and Christ: It is a great responsibility. Do not let us be afraid to communicate our faith to our catechumens.” Third Missionary Mystery: For the catechists: that God may give them all the strength to continue evangelizing the people of Africa and that WE may learn from them their willingness to follow Christ under any circumstance.

 Our Father…  10 Hail Mary’s  Glory be...

IV Meditation Leader: Through profound catecheses and inculturation, the Church in Africa needs to help people to discover the fullness of maintaining a living connection between memorized catechism and lived catecheses, which leads to a profound and permanent conversion of life.

Africa has two challenges: the scarce number of priests and the vast extent of rural areas. The response to these challenges, now strengthened by long tradition, is the activity of the lay catechists. In many African dioceses the catechists are important for Christian ministry and play a fundamental role.

Catechists are called to be the first evangelizers in their families, in small rural Christian communities, in mission stations and parishes. They are workers for evangelization and catechetical ministries leaving the priests to administer the sacraments.

Fourth Missionary Mystery: For vocations: that God may continue blessing us with priestly, consecrated, and lay Missionary Vocations so we can continue working for the young people.

 Our Father…  10 Hail Mary’s  Glory be...

V Meditation Leader: Now that we have pondered these mysteries, let us share what we have in our heart, what we have learned from our Brothers and Sisters in Africa? What is God telling us through this Rosary (here you give time to the people to express what they are feeling about this Rosary.) Fourth Missionary Mystery: Prayer for Personal Intentions; what would you like us to pray for?  Our Father…  10 Hail Mary’s  Glory be...

Closing Prayer: To finish our Rosary we are going to pray together the prayer for the Salesian Mission Day 2013.

Jesus walk with me Jesus stay with me Jesus never leave me Jesus evangelize me May my mouth speak words of peace and reconciliation May my ear listen to your voice May my heart never be cold May children never see me and run away Mary Queen of Africa, protect your children Mary Mother of the Church, journey with us Let our feet run fast to help the sick and the poor Let our lips magnify the greatness of God Jesus walk with me Jesus Stay with me Jesus never leave me I am your witness AMEN At the end of the Rosary we will have a collection; the money collected should be sent to our Provincial Finance Office earmarked: “Let’s support our Catechists in Africa”. All the money collected as a province will be sent to Fondazione Don Bosco nel Mondo at the Pisana.

As part of our Salesian congregation, we would like to be part of what is happening in Africa, this year’s financial effort will support the Catechists Formation and the publishing of catechetical materials in local languages. These efforts are not targeted regularly in projects for mission support in our provinces.

Please help us to support our Catechists.

Salesian Mission Rosary Day 2013 – Church Announcement Good Morning/Afternoon My name is ___________________________; I am here because I would like to invite you to be part of our Salesian Mission Rosary Day that would take place on _________________ in our _____________.

Praying this Rosary we will learn more about our Salesian Missions in Africa. This will be a beautiful experience. So please join us.

If you have any question I will be outside at the end of the Mass.

Have a nice day! Salesian Mission Rosary Day 2013 Save the Date You shall be my witnesses October 15, 2012 Place: Time: Come to pray and learn about our Salesian Missions in Africa