Willing to wait…
It was in August 2015, at the celebration of the bicen-
tenary of St. John Bosco’s birth, that I felt the call get-
ting stronger and stronger to be a missionary ‘ad gentes’. I
was then the Provincial Delegate for the Missionary Animation
of our Philippines-North Province. Little did I realize that
while I was fishing for people to fall in love with the missions
and to become missionaries, it was actually I who had swal-
lowed the bait. Soon enough, I became my own first catch.
I was inspired by the Salesian missionaries I had met, above
all the late Fr. Peter Zago and Fr. Luis Iriarte. I had person-
ally experienced their kindness and care. I saw with my own
eyes their zeal and their joy, especially when I was still a
young Bosconian in Don Bosco Tondo back in the 80’s. In
2016, I whispered to God in prayer, “Yes, Lord. Please
send me as your missionary.” Don Bosco gifted me so
much. This was my way of responding, “Thank you, Don
Bosco. Happy birthday, too! I offer this to you as my
humble gift.” Earlier I had been one of the many recipients of the great goodness and
generosity of missionaries. Now I feel I am one of the few called to pass it on. It is as though God has been
telling me, “Ramon, it’s payback time! Go, be a giver-missionary this time.”
Thus, in August 2017, at the age of 45, I was sent as a missionary to the Archdiocese of Kuching, Sarawak,
Malaysia. Assigned with me here are Fr. Andre Belo from East Timor, and Bro. Manuel Ruperez from
Spain. Our companion missionaries of the 148th Salesian Missionary Expedition went out to various coun-
tries; we moved to this part of Malaysia to be God’s disciples in the spirit of St. John Bosco.
The plan was for us Salesians to run a skills-training school, owned by the Archdiocese, for the poor youth
of the locality. But for understandable reasons, that plan is, as of now, far from being actualized. At the
request of the Archbishop of Kuching, our Provincial has tasked us to help with various ministries in the
Archdiocese while waiting for the foundation of the said school. The two of us Salesian priests are serving
in the Youth Commission of the Archdiocese. We also help in the parishes around, especially with Holy Mass-
es, sacraments and sessions of formation. Our lay brother serves as a teacher in St. Joseph’s International
School, a Catholic school in Kuching City.
We have been here in Malaysia since 2017 and our Salesian presence here is yet to be established. We do
not even have a residence nor a school we can call our own, where we can live and pray together as con-
freres, where we can serve the youth through Salesian education and evangelization. Yet we remain hope-
ful. We pray, trusting and entrusting, that in God’s time and grace, through Mary’s intercession, everything
will turn out fine. As those who are madly in love would say and do, “We are willing to wait… no matter
what it takes.”
It took me forty-five years to say ‘yes’ to God’s invitation to be a missionary. And God was so willing to
wait. I just wish it won’t take forty-five years too for a Salesian missionary presence to be established
here. But no matter what and when, as God has, I too am so willing to wait.
FR . RAMON G. BORJA, SDB— Philippine missionary in Malaysia
For Salesian vocations as
Brothers and Priests in EUROPE
Salesian Missionary Intention
That the Lord may continue to send holy and numerous vocations for the abundant harvest
of the Salesian mission, and grant perseverance and holiness to those he has already called.
The Church and the Salesian Family, rich in ministries, charisms and vocations,
continue to have an urgent need of consecrated persons who live and animate the
charism of Don Bosco in fraternal communities, which bear witness to the absolute
primacy of God and total self-giving to the service of young people. We pray that
the Lord may continue to send new and generous Salesians who are signs of his
love for the young, especially in Europe.
