Cagliero 11 aprile 2011-ing


Cagliero 11 aprile 2011-ing

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Titolo notiziario
Nome società
Newsletter for Salesian Missionary Animation
D ear Salesian missionaries and
friends of the Salesian Mis-
sions!
Don Bosco missionary: a whole life
lived in Europe, with a few trips out-
side Italy, but a heart decidedly open
to the missionary ideals. In April 2011
we remember 125 years since the last
missionary dream of Don Bosco, the
5th dream in Barcelona, an unfin-
ished Salesian prophecy. When I vis-
ited Africa during the month of Feb-
ruary, from Ethiopia, Gambella to
Lagos in Nigeria, I dreamt that many
Salesians in those places will bring
the Gospel to many young people
who do not know yet Jesus. Each of
us can lend a hand to make the
dreams of Don Bosco a reality.
Fr. Václav Klement, SDB
Councillor for the Missions
The16th On-Going Formation
Course for Missionaries
The On-going Formation Course for Missionaries in the Faculty of Theology at the Salesian
Pontifical University in Rome, sponsored by the SDB Missions Department, will take place
from September 19 to December 8, 2011.
The course is open to missionaries with mission experience. It offers an itinerary of spiri-
tual growth, of deeper reflection on missionary activities through a series of initiatives that
include classes (Monday to Friday from 8.45 to 13.00), personal reflections and sharing,
prayer experiences, and meetings with groups and associations.
The second week of the course (Sept 26 – Oct 1), has a residential character which is at the
same time fraternal and reflective, focusing on missionary spirituality. The last week of the
course (2-8 December) is a Pilgrimage to the Holy Land to deepen biblical and Christologi-
cal themes. Other visits - pilgrimages are also organised during the course.
An international group of professors of the UPS and other centres offer their services and
are also open for dialogue and evaluation. The Course Director is Fr. Antonio Escudero,
SDB.
The course is in Italian so the Italian language course at the Institute Dante Alighieri of
Rome from July 1 to September 16 is obligatory for Salesian participants who do not have
the command of Italian. During the language course Salesian missionaries will reside in
the Salesian community of Testaccio.
The contact person for Salesian participants is Fr. Placide Carava, SDB of the Missions De-
partment. Salesians who wish to participate in the course should send the application to
him. Fr. Václav Klement, General Councilor for the Missions, in dialogue with the Provincial
of the applicant, will confirm the acceptance of the application of the missionary confrere.
During the on-going formation course the missionary confreres will reside in the communi-
ties of the UPS with other Salesian students.
Happy Easter to all Readers of Cagliero 11 !
MISSIONARIES SOUGHT FOR AMERICA
Country - Province
Cuba - ANT
Required languages
Spanish
Features of the setting and qualities required by missionaries
few confreres, communist regime, Parishes – youth centres
Argentina Patagonia- ARS
Spanish
First Salesian mission, few pastors, rural mission and indigenous groups
Brazil, Amazon - BMA
Portuguese, local languages Missionary work among indigenous groups, amazon forest climate
Brazil, North east - BRE
Portuguese
Need of confreres in the poorest area of Brazil
Guatemala, Vicariate of El
Petén – CAM
Spanish, local languages
Missionary work among indigenous groups, Vicariate entrusted to the SDB, a
bishop and one SDB; Missionary work in Alta Verapaz and surrounding areas
(San Pedro de Carcha)
Ecuador, Vicariate of Mendez Spanish, local languages
ECU
Vicariate entrusted to the DB 1893, Ashuar-Shuar; mission among the Kechua
in the Andean zone (Cordilleras)
Mexico, Mixes Prelature - MEM Spanish, local languages
Prelature entrusted to the Congregation 1964, few personnel and advanced
in age, ministry among diverse indigenous groups
Paraguay, Vicariate of Chaco Spanish, Guarani
PAR
Vicariate of Chaco, few SDB (advanced age), mission in the process of re-
foundation
Peru, Vicariate of Pucallpa - Spanish, local languages
PER
Amazon missions – Vicariate entrusted to the SDB, few confreres, diverse
indigenous group; missions–Valle Sagrado (Kechua); missions in Yurimaguas
(San Lorenzo)
Uruguay - URU
Spanish
The most secularised country of Latin America, evangelisation of the young
Venezuela, Amazon Vicariate Spanish, local languages
VEN
Amazon mission – Vicariate of Puerto Ayacucho entrusted to the SDB, few
confreres, Alto Orinoco – Yanomami and other indigenous groups

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I would like to share the Charism we have received
from Salesian Missionaries
When a person discovers that I am a Venezuelan and I am a missionary in the Middle
East he or she easily expresses the opinion that it is neither fair nor wise for me to
leave Venezuela where there is lot of need, and still learn another difficult language
like Arabic as well as a culture very different from mine when I could serve more
"effectively" in my own country instead of another new missionary, who will perhaps
take over what I left behind, and struggle to learn Spanish and adapt to our culture.
So why do I want to be a missionary? Because after an honest and serious discern-
ment I am convinced that God calls me to be a missionary as a living part of the
Church of Communion. Although it is true that the Church and the Province of Vene-
zuela have so many needs, it is equally true that we can share from our poverty. On
one hand, with a Venezuelan Salesian missionary the Middle East Province is enriched with another expression of being
Salesian. On the other hand, the Province of Venezuela, my family, my friends have won many grateful hearts for a
gift of a missionary. I myself have discovered the spiritual, formative, charismatic, and cultural opportunities which I
have never imagined even in my wildest dreams. The Lord had promised to give one hundred fold, but I have experi-
enced that his measure is even more generous.
At the beginning of my missionary life, as a practical trainee in the Middle East, the biggest challenge was learning
Arabic, which was very, very, very difficult. I became a child and I felt useless. But I had a great desire to communi-
cate, so in addition to devoting myself wholly to study, I used all strategies to establish relationships: mimicry, smile,
drawing, speaking poorly, speaking in a confused way, and finally, to be present and interact with a new culture in
the community, in the oratory …
I participated in the Orientation Course for New Missionaries organised by the Missions Department in Rome only after
my practical training and theological studies but it has been useful for me because I had the chance to explore the
anthropological, charismatic and ecclesial dynamics of my missionary option. It also helped me to re-evaluate my own
experiences, to become aware of the elements of which I will have to be careful in the future, and it gave me an
"input" to help me grow deeper in my love for the mission entrusted to me by the Lord.
It is obvious that the missionary life in the Middle East is pretty tough but my greatest joy is to be in contact with the
young who are poor, needy, marvelous, demanding, but thirsty for God, friendship, to be listened to. They are stu-
pendous young people! Then the confreres ... we come from different cultures. Without taking away anything from
the obvious difficulty that integration in such diversity requires, the interaction and fellowship that is created is actu-
ally very rewarding for all. We become a witness to the universality of Christianity, of the Church and of the Salesian
charism. I feel truly at home here, especially among the group of confreres in initial formation.
Now as a young priest I am studying to obtain my licentiate at the Salesian Pontifical University in Rome to prepare
myself better in view of my return to the Middle East with my original contribution to the mission of the Province
community. I hope I can help young people find God in the Middle East as they have helped me to discover His pres-
ence in their midst. Of course the numerous difficulties are obvious, but the plan of God, and the final victory is as-
sured even if now we do not know when and how.
To the Salesians who are discerning their missionary vocation I would like to share two words: gratitude and trust. Our
vocation is a gift from God, but it is also the result of the generosity of many Salesians before us who have left every-
thing to live in our countries and share with us the Salesian spirit! If today we are Salesians it is because Don Bosco
left Castelnuovo to go to Turin; it is because so many Salesians have left Turin to go all parts of Italy; it is because so
many Salesians have left Italy, Europe, their country to share the Salesian charism with the whole world. So why can I
not make my little contribution out of gratitude for what I have received so much for free?
God knows us more than we know ourselves, God loves us more than we love ourselves. I think the wisest thing we can
do with our lives is to entrust it with confidence into His hands. Whoever hears the call of God to be a missionary ...
let him pray and do what is necessary to discern... but never doubt the “power of the cross”, nor ever doubt the
“beauty of God's plan”!
Fr. Alejandro José Leon Mendoza
Venezuelan, missionáry in the Middle East
Interamerica: volunteer lay
missionaries and missionary
vocations ad gentes
Salesian Missionary Intention
That Salesian Missionary Volunteer Service, well developed especially in Ecuador,
may inspire many consecrated and missionary vocations in all Provinces of America.
We celebrate the Salesian Mission Day in 2011 with the theme: "Go and preach the Gospel through-
out the world." The best experiences of Salesian Missionary Volunteer Service are in the countries
of the American continent, which have matured over the last 40 years. The missionary groups,
from the missionary childhood society to the missionary efforts of the long term young adult mis-
sionary volunteer service, are presented through the video of the Salesian Mission Day 2011
(Ecuador, Brazil, Mexico - U.S. West).
Send your suggestions and contributions to cagliero11@gmail.com