A SMALL FLOCK IN AZERBAIJAN
I was born Czechoslovakia, then a socialist country. Even as
a boy I wanted to be a priest and a missionary. I had heard
stories of missionaries, read a few books and articles. My
encounters with non-believers and those who did not prac-
tice their religion played an important role in my vocational
discernment. My experiences while in practical training and
the period of theological studies in Italy were very
important. I think that the definitive push to make my
official application for the missions was my willingness to go
and serve wherever people have an objective difficulty in
getting to know Jesus, the Son of God, and to have an
experience of the Church as a community.
I have lived eight years in Azerbaijan, a country located
between Europe and Asia. It is a post-Soviet, secular,
multicultural nation, tolerant of all religions. The challenge I face is that of living among people of various
cultures with an oriental background, mostly Muslim. Also, the great geographical distance from typical
Catholic environments costs me a lot. This is a country of 10 million inhabitants, of whom only three hun-
dred are Catholics. Around six hundred foreigners also attend the Holy Mass on Sundays and Feast days,
more or less regularly. The Catholic presence consists of just a single parish entrusted to the Salesians.
Fortunately, there are also the sisters of Mother Teresa (MC) and the Salesian sisters (FMA). The biggest
challenge, however, is my personal limitations. Our community has limitations, too, because we are only
eight Salesians, of whom one is the bishop of the country.
There are, however, many joys. Among the external ones, the greatest have certainly been the visit
of Pope Francis in 2016, the very first Mass of a Supreme Pontiff in the country and the episcopal ordination
of our Prefect Apostolic, the first Rector of our community. But the supreme joy is to hear the spontaneous
testimonies of those who have received the gift of faith in Jesus. One of these was extremely meaningful to
me. I was with one of our parishioners in a village below the Caucasus Mountains. We had come to visit an
acquaintance of his, a Protestant. Every day we prayed together and, in the evenings, we shared our experi-
ences with the Word of God. One day, climbing a hill with a beautiful view of the whole village, our host
began to sing and praise God. He had tears in his eyes. He wondered aloud why, among so many people, on-
ly his family had the grace of receiving the gift of being Christian. At that moment I felt an immense joy.
Even through my mere presence in Azerbaijan, God wants to draw closer to him those whom he chooses to.
I greet my confreres who are discerning whether they are called to a life in the missions. How does
one recognize this gift? I think, we need to be open to God's will, whatever it may be. It is necessary to
know how to be yourself, with one's own possibilities and limitations. At the same time, you have to leave
all your expectations back at home. Finally, God invites us to welcome all people as our brothers and sisters
though they be totally different from us. He wants to come among us, sinners, to make us his friends and
fellow citizens of heaven.
Vladimir Baxa, Slovak missionary in Baku, Azerbaijan
Witness of Salesian Missionary Sanctity
Fr. Pierluigi Cameroni SDB, Postulator General for the Causes of Saints
Blessed Tito Zeman (1915-1969) He was unjustly imprisoned, tortured, con-
demned and locked up in rigorous imprisonment for 13 long years. Subsequently, he
was always under surveillance and prevented from fully carrying out his priestly and
educational vocation. He is an example and model of a pastor. He was able to
spend and give his life for young people for whom, in the depths of their heart and
also in social life, it was impossible to follow Christ more closely. His message,
"Always act according to the style of Don Bosco and the others will follow you," is
relevant even today.
For promoting
world peace
Salesian Missionary Intention
The Salesian Family is present in many
conflict-ridden areas, working for peace
Let us pray that Christians, those who follow other religions,
and all people of good will promote peace and justice in the world.
