Cagliero 11 Marzo 2011-ing


Cagliero 11 Marzo 2011-ing

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Titolo notiziario
Nome società
Newsletter for Salesian Missionary Animation
D ear Salesian missionaries
and friends of the Salesian
Missions!
Tell me, what book you like to read,
what is your most frequent prayer
and I will tell you where your heart
is. Without missionaries there are no
missions. Without the Christians who
leave everything and devote their
whole lives to serving the Gospel,
mission ad gentes is impossible.
Without prayer for new missionary
vocations it is hard to plan the fu-
ture of missions. Today we see quite
a lot of commitments to help the
missions in terms of projects and of
finances. I invite you to make the
Lenten journey of 2011 and collabo-
rate with a constant prayer for mis-
sionary vocations .
Fr. Václav Klement, SDB
Councillor for the Missions
Missionary Cooperation
through Prayer
O ne form of missionary cooperation is spiritual cooperation
through prayer, sacrifice and the witness of Christian life.
Missionaries need to be accompanied by prayer so that
their proclamation may be effective through God's grace. Being a
missionary implies sacrifice in different ways, great and small.
Thus, prayer for missionaries too needs to be accompanied by
sacrifice. One way, which is easily possible for everyone is to ac-
cept the sufferings of our daily life and offer them to God with
love for missionaries and for missionary vocations. There is also
the possibility to fast or abstain from something and offer its
equivalent for the material needs of missionaries.
All have the possibility offer their collaboration to the Congrega-
tion’s missionary activity through prayer and sacrifice. The mis-
sionary rosary, where every continent is remembered in each
mystery, is a good initiative in this regard. Every year, a prayer is
composed and distributed to all the communities according to the
theme of the Salesian Mission Day and every month, especially
on the 11th, a Salesian missionary intention is proposed in order
to emphasise the importance of this spiritual dimension of mis-
sionary cooperation. On the other hand, the community prayer
for missionaries fosters a missionary culture and gives an apos-
tolic impulse which, in return, revitalises it.
MISSIONARIES FOR AFRICA SOUGHT
Country - Province
Ethiopia - AET
Vicariate of Gambella
Sudan - AFE
Nigeria - AFW
Uganda - AGL
Angola - ANG
Chad - ATE
Equatorial Guinea - ATE
Central Africa - ATE
Madagascar - MDG
Required languages
English, local languages
Features of the setting
and qualities required by missionaries
Apostolic Vicariate entrusted to the Congregation, few personel,
Initial evangelisation
English, Arabic (North),
tribal languages (South)
Initial evangelisation in the South, postwar, great possibility in
animist zone, very few Salesian personel
English, local languages
Possible new presences – Lagos, few Salesian personel
English, local languages
Initial evangelisation , postwar, start of the 4th presence in the
country
Portuguese, local languages Initial evangelisation , postwar, Salesian bishoo, few SDB
French, local languages
French, local languages
French, local languages
French, Malagasy
Poco personale salesiano (multireligious context; islamic context in
some countries), tough climate
Poco personale salesiano (multireligious context; islamic context in
some countries), tough climate
few Salesian personel (multireligious context; islamic context in
some countries), tough climate
Initial evangelisation – Bemaneviky, few personel, SDB bishop

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I was afraid,
but I wanted to share my faith!
As a young Aspirant I have heard stories and testimonies of missionaries and
I have been inspired by their heroic lives. I too wanted to dare. Yet, I had
my apprehensions. Besides, I was afraid of my health. Nevertheless, I applied to
go to the missions during my post-novitiate. I just felt a strong desire to share my
faith with other people. I was excited when Fr. Provincial told me that I will be
sent as missionary to Papua New Guinea.
When I arrived I found the Melanesian culture to be rather “strange” and at times also “weird.” I found it
very difficult to adjust to their way of thinking. But as time went by, as the students in our school and the youth in
our parish became my friends, it became easier for me to accept who they are and understand their customs and
values.
After a year of missionary life I was given the chance to join the Cultural Orientation Course for New Mis-
sionaries in Melanesia organised by the Melanesian Institute. It helped me a lot to evaluate my initial experiences
and aided me to make sense of what I have seen, heard and experienced. It opened my mind to the various aspects
of the Melanesian culture and how I can inculturate myself better into this culture. It made me appreciate the many
good elements of the Melanesian culture, and better understand their beliefs and customs.
I spent my three years of practical training in what many describe as our toughest mission in PNG - Araimiri.
I had to cope with isolation from “civilization”. The simple and frugal lifestyle in the heart of the jungle has taught
me and formed me into what I am today. I had to be resilient
and persevering in order to survive the hard life. I had to learn
how to be flexible and patient with myself and with the local
people. One thing that I had to face and battle with was the
reality of “waiting” since the local people did not have that
sense of time which we, people coming from highly urbanized
society are used to.
I lived in the middle of nowhere, yet there I experi-
enced the real presence of God especially in the most trying
and challenging moments of my missionary life. When we lacked
even the basic necessities of life, we turned to no one else but
Him. I also grew in my trust and confidence in His love and
Providence. Our community brought to prayer our worries, our
concerns, our fears and anxieties, the apostolate, and our very
selves. My eyes were opened to see miracles which I would not
have, otherwise, noticed if I were still immersed in the busy
city life of Manila.
There I also realised what a very powerful source of strength is our Salesian community life. I was so
blessed to have lived with very committed and self-sacrificing confreres. I am proud of their dedication, their un-
wavering love for the mission and their zeal for the salvation of souls.
As I prepare for my priestly ordination I am also looking forward to return to the land and the people I have
come to consider my own! .
Deacon Angel Sanchez
Filipino, missionary in Papua New Guinea
Salesian Missionary Intention
Migrants in the Middle East
That the Salesians in the Middle East and the Gulf countries are able to journey with
the migrants on their territory through our educational – pastoral ser-
vices, even in vocational accompaniment.
The Province of the Middle East includes works scattered in seven countries: Israel,
Palestine, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, Iran, in the Gulf countries we are present in
Kuwait and Yemen. The presence of refugees – especially of Iraqi Christians and other
immigrants from many countries in Africa, Asia, has become significant in many Sale-
sian contexts. Like everywhere else in the globalised world, even here the primary
service to migrant communities is accompaniment at all levels, including faith and
vocation journey.
Send your suggestions and contributions to cagliero11@gmail.com