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Newsletter for Salesian Missionary Animation
A Publication of the Mission Department for the Salesian Communities and Friends of the Salesian Mission
A "Muslim Salesian"
D
ear Salesians and
friends of the Sale-
sian Mission,
This month of August 2012, a group of
SDB and FMA will gather together in
the Salesianum, Rome the Third
Study Days on the Salesian presence
among the Muslims. The first meeting
of this kind was a seminar in Cairo
(Egypt, 1988) and the second meeting
was in Rome (2001). We want to re-
flect together on the meaning, possi-
bilities, and challenges based on our
experiences in many countries of the
world where we are in daily contact
with our Muslim brothers and sisters
in the school, oratory, church or so-
cial work.
We have already many Salesians from
Indonesia, Pakistan and several Afri-
can countries that come from Muslim
cultures, some even come from
mixed Muslim – Catholic families.
Even the Salesians of Europe are
called to learn more about the Is-
lamic religion and culture for bal-
anced and wise approach in educa-
tion. Among our many past pupils there many who are proud to be
Muslim and Salesian thanks to the Preventive System of Don Bosco.
Prof. Francesco Zannini writes in the Mondo e Missione: “I still re-
member the words of a certain Hamdi, an Egyptian, who called
himself a ‘Muslim Salesian’. He was proud to be a student of the
Salesian Institute in Cairo where, beside receiving an education, he
had lived with other Christian students, and where his Islamic faith
had been enriched by the contribution their Christian friends and
teachers”. (http://www.missionline.org/index.php?l=it&art=4597).
Inter-religious dialogue between Christians and Muslims is one of
the most important signs of our times. There are many resources
available to all to know not only the 5 pillars of Islam, but also the
different traditions and customs that help young people understand
the other religion, like this website in eight languages (http://
tinyurl.com/cajy4le).
An event that brings together some Salesians is an invitation to all
of us to grow every day in the style of life that is called 'dialogue':
It removes prejudices, deepens the reasons for the faith and jour-
neys together in charity and truth.
I hope that the wealth of material that will be shared during the
Study Days in Rome would become an impulse for all the confreres
in Africa, Asia and Europe who, though they are close to Islamic
reality every day, yet have no deep knowledge of its dynamics!
Fr. Václav Klement, SDB
Councillor for the Missions
In the course of history force has also been used
in the name of the Christian faith.
“ The religious delegates who were assembled in Assisi in 1986
wanted to say, and we now repeat it emphatically and firmly:
this is not the true nature of religion. It is the antithesis of reli-
gion and contributes to its destruction. In response, an objec-
tion is raised: how do you know what the true nature of religion is?
Does your assertion not derive from the fact that your religion has be-
come a spent force? Others in their turn will object: is there such a
thing as a common nature of religion that finds expression in all reli-
gions and is therefore applicable to them all? We must ask ourselves
these questions, if we wish to argue realistically and credibly against
religiously motivated violence. Herein lies a fundamental task for in-
terreligious dialogue – an exercise which is to receive renewed empha-
sis through this meeting. As a Christian I want to say at this point: yes,
it is true, in the course of history, force has also been used in the na-
me of the Christian faith. We acknowledge it with great shame. But it
is utterly clear that this was an abuse of the Christian faith, one that
evidently contradicts its true nature. .”
Benedict XVI, Assisi October 27, 2011
