Cagliero 11 may 2018 eng


Cagliero 11 may 2018 eng



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N. 113 - May 2018
Newsletter for Salesian Missionary Animation
Publication of the Missions Sector for the Salesian Communities and Friends of the Salesian Mission
D ay by day, the Synod on young people is taking on more weight
and color. We are, at the same time, preparing for the extraordi-
nary missionary month of 2019, recalling the one hundred years since the
Apostolic Letter of Pope Benedict XV, Maximum Illud, a letter full of
missionary enthusiasm ad gentes.
There can be no "missions" if there are no missionaries. It is therefore
necessary to promote the missionary vocation ad gentes, ad exteros, ad
vitam. We need to do this with zeal: "as soon as someone shows signs of a
vocation to the Missions", says Pope Benedict XV. We need to send the best:
"Let the Superiors of Congregations and Religious Institutes that dedicate themselves to the Foreign
Missions take care that they offer them only the flowers among their students." Pope Francis used almost
the same words when speaking to us during the GC27: "the best must be sent! The best!"
This availability cannot only be for going out the first time; it has to be permanent. We need missionaries
who, even after years of life and work in one mission, are ready to move once again to another. In this our
Marian month par excellence, we ask our Mother, the Help of Christians, to breathe into us a generous
missionary fiat!
Fr Guillermo Basañes, SDB - Councillor for the Missions
The famous painting by Lorenzone, which dominates the
interior of the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians, is smaller
than what was in the heart of Don Bosco. In his original plan,
Don Bosco wanted to include, in addition to the apostles,
some martyrs, prophets, virgins and confessors; the great
victories of Mary through history, and peoples from various
parts of the world. The painter convinced Don Bosco that
such a painting would be enormous and would not fit into the
basilica. Don Bosco resigned himself to that reality. Later, in
1891, Rollini painted the remaining parts of Don Bosco’s ide-
as onto the dome. The missionary themes touching on the
apostolic expansion of the Gospel are clear: the various cate-
gories of the faithful, the growth of the Salesian Family
throughout the world (the first missionaries appear in Pata-
gonia), the great missionary religious congregations. It
shows us that "the heart of Don Bosco was as large as the
sands of the seashore." The painting depicts Mary bringing
the Church Triumphant and the Church Militant to a single
universal praise of the Father. The invocation "Mary Help of
Christians" seeks to embrace all peoples.
An exegesis of all the elements of the painting would require
more space; we indicate only a few apostolic traces:
The image is a great tool of popular catechesis. There is
good balance and harmony, dominated by the Trinity, the
sky and the triumphant church; and in the lower part, the
basilica, the Oratory and the Superga. The sky is reddish and
predicts a storm. This detail presents our mission with an
Oratorian heart, which is to be carried out among young
people in the midst of great challenges, but with the
assistance of our Mother.
There are diverse symbols in the image of Mary: the vertical
element – the child in her arms, the stars, the identification with Mary Immaculate, the golden crown, the
sceptre. The star in the crown reminds us of Stella Maris, who guides the sailor to a safe harbor, inviting us
to launch the nets into the deep. The sceptre, in addition to its value, reminds us of the sceptre of the
"Pastorella", which is equivalent to the staff of the Good Shepherd. The Child she offers the world has his
arms wide open, hinting at traces of the spirituality of our Preventive System: a Jesus who smiles and
welcomes, rather than teaching and blessing (images of Jesus with a book, or holding the world in his
hands, or blessing). But the most impressive missionary and apostolic characteristic is the circle of apostles
and evangelists around the Virgin. Their presence indicates missionary life and martyrdom. Each apostle
goes off to another place on earth with the Good News and gives his life for it. The instruments of martyr-
dom indicate this aspect. Among the apostles it is interesting to note the appearance of St. Paul, taking
note of the faithful he sees: a fiery look that recalls his missionary adventure. Here is an "Goes forth"
Church that lives its evangelical radicality.

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“The young helped me open my heart”
I was born in Vietnam, in a diocesan parish, and I had the desire to be a
priest. I read a biography of Dominic Savio and I loved the priest who had
shaped his life. I was impressed by the film on Don Bosco. I said to myself,
"That is the type of priest I would like to be." When I came into contact with
Salesians I developed a missionary vocation. I arrived in Brazil at the end of 2014
to do my regency. During this period of 4 years I was in different universes and I
enriched myself with various cultural, social and ethnic experiences. Arriving at
Campo Grande (BCG), I was sent directly to a mission among the indigenous
people. I could not speak Portuguese and even less so the language of the
Xavante, the people of my "promised land". I was a deaf-mute at the mission. I
was the "other" in that community. It was a difficult but rewarding start of my missionary experience. I lived
there a year and a half.
I started learning two cultures simultaneously: the "western" Brazilian culture and the Xavante culture.
There were some moments of crisis due to the language problem, and I wanted to return home; I prayed
and reflected, and then decided to stay. From that moment, when I decided to stay, I found the strength
and desire to learn the "new" language and my life began to change in a positive way. The best part of my
training in the Xavante mission was a period of living with the indigenous people. I attended an important
cultural festival of the Xavante called "Wai-a". This celebration takes place only every fifteen years and I
had the opportunity and joy of being a part of it. After participating in that festival, dancing and singing in
the heat of the sun, without a shirt and without water, participating in this ritual with the young natives
from the morning till 16:00, I was recognized as one of them.
After the period of my life in the Xavante village, I was sent to a city in Mato Grosso, where I took Portu-
guese lessons and helped in a social service. The work at this Salesian mission was very intense as it was in
addition to my Portuguese lessons. Life was full of activities and challenges. I was tired, but not discour-
aged because my feeling was, "This is my vocation; here I am a son of Don Bosco." In this period I learned a
lot from young people. They taught me not only the language, but also how to develop an open heart. Many
of our young people already had one. They would ask me, "Do you need help?"; or "Can I help you?" And they
invited me to their various creative pastoral activities.
Now I am in my second year of theology at Sao Paulo. This is a large community with people of many
different cultures. We also have some missionaries among us – from Vietnam and Indonesia, as well as from
various regions of mighty Brazil. This gives me a rich experience of Salesian life and I learn Brazilian culture
from my brothers. On the other hand, life in such a large community is challenging because we are so many,
and we cannot build a close relationship with everyone. Besides our studies, we are involved in the aposto-
late in some institutions and parishes. Since last year I go to an oratory frequented by hundreds of children
and young people. I love that oratory because there I meet Don Bosco's favorites, the poor youth! With
them, I feel happy in my Salesian vocation.
I leave two pieces of advice for young Salesians who want to be missionaries: the first - "Be more Salesian
and live our Constitutions more closely, and you will already be a missionary! The second: live Salesian joy,
the joy that comes from within, the joy that grows from our intimacy with Jesus Christ or, the smile that is
nourished by deep roots. This joy of yours will help young people to overcome their challenges in life.
Difficulties and defects are always there, but there is joy, too, and it is up to us to choose joy.
Joseph Tran Van Lich
Vietnamese missionary in Brazil
Witness of Salesian Missionary Sanctity
Fr. Pierluigi Cameroni SDB, Postulator General for the Causes of Saints
Saint Maria Domenica Mazzarello (1837-1881), co-founder, with Don Bosco, of the
Daughters of Mary Help of Christians. In her role of animator, formator and guide of
the community, she was endowed with a profound spiritual motherhood, truly
seeking the best for people. "She fulfilled the office of superior with excellence in
all respects: she was good, upright, wise and prompt. Prompt: that is, she did not
hesitate to give a correction; rather, she did so forcefully, but in such a way as to
leave in those who heard it the impression that she acted solely because of her de-
sire for the greater good.”
For the Lay People of
the Salesian Family
Salesian Missionary Intention
That they may have the creativity of Don Bosco, in evangelizing the Young people and the
realities of the contemporary world in the light of current challenges.
The Salesian Family, in addition to numerous consecrated persons, is formed by many lay
people, Cooperators, Past-Pupils, called to be light and salt in various secular realities.
Let us pray for them, so that they may have the light and creativity of the Spirit to
announce the Gospel.