The Cornerstones of Salesian missionary praxis

Fr. Luciano Odorico, Councilor General for the Missions

Acts, 362 – 1998, Guidelines and policies, p.42-50

1. The specific span of the Salesian Mission(=SM)

Under the heading of “Salesian Missions” we include

• missionary commitment for first evangelization, for the implanting of the Church and the Congregation (especially in Africa)

• missionary commitment among ethnic minorities (especially in Latin America)

• commitment for a missionary mentality in territories of ancient & great religions (Asia and Africa)

• missionary commitment of all confreres who have left their native country

• missionary commitment towards new missionary needs (Eastern Europe, Asia) and new

“aeropagi” (migrants, refugees, youth in need, youth culture…)

2. The main unchanging factors in Salesian missionary commitment

The experience of more than three generations in the work of the Congregation in the missions “ad gentes” reveals the following fixed points:

• a process of “re-foundation” of the Congregation: a fresh understanding of the Founder’s charism against the background of the geographical, cultural and social context of the territory concerned

• the catholic and missionary dimension of the whole Congregation, in the sense of its geographical expansion and the involvement of the confreres

• The growth of the Provinces in their commitment for the missions

• The universal nature of Salesian pedagogy even in environments of different religious persuasion: Moslems, East Asia, work among the ethnic minorities

• Indigenous vocational strategy for the future of the Congregation in areas where we are working

• Originality in journeys of faith, especially as regards the catechumenate

• The missions as a school of evangelical radicalism, of holiness and joy

3. Salesian missionary praxis

   1. The first evangelization

Const.30; the history of the SM has been a story of first evangelization in LA, Asia, Africa. The foundation of Churches is still represented by numerous missionary Vicariate & Dioceses entrusted

to the Salesians

Challenges: nationalism resurgence; sects, fundamentalism, religious syncretism and of misunderstood irenics in an interreligious context; inadequate catechetical programs and defective catechists formation

2. Harmony between evangelization – education – human development

Const.30; Our missionary style takes its inspiration from the Salesian charism. A clear preference for the young, the bond between evangelization-education-human development are the masterplan which make the missionaries assume “the values of the people, their hopes and anxieties. The Oratory is still our first line of missionary approach to the young

Challenges: lack of balance in pastoral services (exaggerated attention to welfare/ too complex administration – on the other hand too little attention to explicit evangelization, to the need for itinerant activity in the villages.

3. Local vocations

“Do all you can to find vocations for both the FMA and the Salesians” (LDB 448)

The Salesians go to the missions to stay there. Our commitment is characterized by an immediate rendering indigenous of the Congregation. At the present 2/3 of the novices come from the Southern hemisphere, from young Churches and Provinces. There is also a greater interest in vocations to other branches of the Salesian Family.

Challenges: a lack of adequate inculturation in vocational discernment and of accompaniment of the candidates from ethnic minorities.

4. Missionary inculturation

Reg 18; The commitment of inculturation helps the incarnation everywhere of the Gospel and the Salesian Charism. Examples of missionaries deeply embodied in their missionary praxis, in scientific research.

Challenges: Mono cultural geographical mentality of missionaries with a restricted vision of inculturation and of international collaboration. Also an attitude – very often unconscious – of being a bearers of a dominant and higher culture, with little interest for tribal languages.

5. Missionary activity and ecumenical / interreligious dialogue

GC24,183; The majority of Salesian missionaries have accepted the change in doctrinal and pastoral emphasis of Vatican II: shift from controversy to dialogue, of activity, of theological exchange and religious experience (Dialogue and proclamation, n.42)

Challenge: an uncritical emphasis on ecumenical and interreligious dialogue coupled with a superficial theological preparation - have provoked the spread of a false irenics and lack of commitment to direct evangelization. It was wrongly thought that dialogue excluded the commitment to the first proclamation. (CG 24, 185-186)

6. Salesian pedagogy and spirituality

“Charity, patience, gentleness, never humiliating corrections, never punishments, do good to those you can and evil to no one.” Don Bosco to Mons.Cagliero, LDB 447; At a pedagogical level, the Salesian missionary style is characterized by amiability, joy, availability, creativity, enthusiasm and unlimited work. In some cases Salesian missionaries have courageously faced even the test of martyrdom.

Challenges: Missionaries who have not made a lifelong option do not display a deep missionary spirituality. In the pedagogical field some missionaries are reduced to a managerial role because of too many commitments & works. There are also serious phenomena of tiredness and missionary counter-witness, of deliberately little effort of inculturation.

7. The presence of Mary

“Constantly promote devotion to Mary Help of Christians and to the Blessed Sacrament” (Souvenier, 16) Her presence has been always considered an essential element. This become translated into the spreading of popular devotion to MHC, the publication of booklets and pictures, the due celebrations and finally the building of Sanctuaries dedicated to her. The first missionaries never conceived the beginning of Salesian work in a new country without the construction of some sign in honour of our Mother, a Sanctuary more often than not. The praxis was intimately connected with the presence and assistance of the MHC.

8. Missionary cooperation and financial support

RM 81: The missionary Church gives what she receives, and distributes to the poor..”

The story of the SM has been from the outset the story of the generosity of benefactors and of the mother Provinces. At present many programs are possible thanks to the structural and financial support of various sources (Salesian headquarters Rome, Missions Procurs, Provinces, initiatives of individual missionaries)

Challenges: But today the crisis of vocations in the West means that a consistent cooperation at the level of personnel can no longer be ensured as it was in the past. Moreover the priorities of those to whom missionary cooperation is directed, are not always kept in mind: eg. Catechists, local vocations, the poor youth, young workers, the sick and leaders with their many projects.

9. Missionary cooperation and the lay missionary volunteer movement (=LMVM)

RM 72: “the different forms of the lay apostolate should be held in esteem” The LMVM is a positive reality in constant growth in the Salesian missions, is present in every continent. Long-term volunteer commitments are to be preferred.

Challenge: sometimes there is an evidently inadequate preparation of candidates, an insufficient follow-up by those in charge, and a lack of sufficient financial back up.

10. Attention to new missionary frontiers

Obedient to Christ’s command (Mark 16,15-20) and faithful to the Salesian mission centenary, the Congregation is open to the need for new missionary frontiers. It is a part of Salesian tradition to go to new mission fields together with other branches of the Salesian Family. The aspect of novelty and the new challenges offered by this opening give rise in the Congregation to new missionary vocations and to new lines of missionary animation.

11. Missionary animation (MA)

Reg 18: It is the duty of each Provincial with his Council to lay down norms for the animation and coordination of missionary activity. MA has increased in nearly all the Provinces, catalyzed by the recent missionary projects. There is an interest and sense of ecclesial and congregational missionary reciprocity. Already well established are meetings at national and continental level of Provincial Delegates. Challenges: there are still some Provinces where the role of the Delegate is still not clear.

CONCLUSION

“But one of the effects of the missionaries’ departure was the increased number of applicants for the Congregation. Formerly the Congregation had developed slowly and in obscurity; little or nothing was known about it outside Piedmont. But now before, during and after the departure, Don Bosco and the Salesians were given wide coverage by both the Italian and foreign press. Many became interested and an ever greater number applied for admission into the Society.” (BM 11,382)