2705 141st Missionary Expedition gathers
austraLasia #2705
 

141st Mission Expedition gathers

ROME: 3 September 2010 -- Forty three new (though some are old hands at the job) missionaries have gathered in Rome at Gerini, on the via Tiburtina, as part of their orientation course for the 141st Mission Expedition of the Congregation.  Of particular interest for our region is the number of missionaries originating from there, or indeed coming to the region.
    Of the 43 (not all have been able to obtain a visa for this first part of the experience) 16 are from the EAO region. The bulk (11) of these are from Vietnam and in the 25-32 age range, students for priesthood or brothers (3). Four are from the Indonesia-East Timor vice province and one from Korea, this latter being an older man, a priest. Five of those originating from EAO will be going elsewhere within the region. The others are spreading to the world's continents: Europe, South  America, Africa in particular.
    Coming to the region, excepting those who are moving within it, are four new missionaries, coming from as far afield as Africa and the US. It is worth noting that India is the next largest missionary provider in the Salesian world - 8 this time.
    Africa has now firmly taken its place as a provider of missionaries. This year's group includes 6 coming from AFO, AET, AFC, AFE, AGL and ATE, so a mix of English and French speakers.
    The preparation, of course, began in the home province, with a long period of discernment, assisted by the 'Criteria for Discernment of Missionary Vocations' put out by the Missions Department. The current orientation course will be based first in Rome then in 'Don Bosco' territory, culminating in the presentation of the mission cross in the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians at Valdocco on 26 September.

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