1926 AUL Cagliero project - lay missionaries
austraLasia #1926

Cagliero Project - the Gospel in action, Salesian missionary initiative from Australia Pacific

MELBOURNE: 16th August 2007 -- Taking its cue not only from the Congregation's first missionary, but also from a line in Strenna 2007 (..'In carrying out voluntary service young adults learn to be responsible citizens and committed Christians'), the Australia-Pacific province (AUL) yesterday launched its 'Cagliero Project' by opening up to applications from young Australians between the ages of 20-30 years who will, after appropriate training, be working together with members of Salesian communities worldwide in a true spirit of joyful, loving and selfless service.
    The Cagliero Project aims to have 50 missionaries in countries around the world by the year 2012, each committed for a year of missionary service. The Provincial, in a letter addressed to all other provincials of the East Asia-Oceania Region, explains that the Cagliero project hopes to be in a position to send out its first Salesian Lay Missionaries in February 2008. "We do not see them as 'volunteers'", he says, "but as young people who have received some Salesian formation, and are ready to work side by side with the Salesians, in Australia or in the Region".
    It would not be too dramatic to say that the connection between youth and the Church in Australia is in crisis...the aim is that this program will help connect youth to the Church through a main charism of the Catholic Church - social justice. The project has been long in the planning, and draws from the experience of mainstream Salesian ventures of a similar kind - one could go to the most recent FOCUS on www.sdb.org, for example, to note that Jugend Eine Welt of Austria is currently celebrating ten years of experience in this field.
    The actual mission sites will be determined in three ways. The first is to send people within the Province. Some may prefer to assist a Salesian work in Australia. There are many opportunities for volunteer mission in Samoa.  The second place to send people will be within the East Asia Oceania Region. The final placement option os to look at other Salesian missions around the world.
    Further information about the project may be gleaned from another just-launched project of the province - the completely new province website at sdb.org.au. We will look for another opportunity to run a few brief notes on what looks to be an exciting website, beautifully presented.

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