It is necessary to unlearn in order learn once more
S ometimes one could question whether one could
make a step further and be more generous in our
lives as a Salesian and go where God sends us to meet
others waiting who can help them become better peo-
ple as believers and as professionals who are prepared
for their society. I made this question seriously for the
last 10 years. Finally the Rector Major, Fr. Pascual
Chávez accepted my request to go
to the missions in January 2010.
In September 2010, I was part of
about 40 Salesians who composed
the 141th Salesian missionary expe-
dition. That month we were be-
tween Rome and Turin for the
course for new missionaries. During
the course we discussed and dis-
cerned what it meant to be a mis-
sionary in another culture, in an-
other language, with other customs
that are not one’s own. It is impor-
tant and necessary to unlearn to be able to learn
again. Another crucial thing is to overcome culture
shock. It is also important to see inculturation as jour-
neying together and encountering those whom one
works and live with to make our life our educative
work more comprehensible and our work of evangeli-
sation more credible.
The risks in the missionary may be, among others, self
-sufficiency at work and as a result isolation and sense
of incapacity in the context where one lives, pure ac-
tivism that leads to losing the sense of why and for
who do I do what I do which, ultimately, leads to dis-
connect from God, who is the foundation of what I do.
To overcome these difficulties of my adaptation to
this new mission, I tried to learn
from those who advised me,
strived to understand this other
reality, and I brought to my prayer
what I was going through and with
whom I was living with (young
Salesians, lay, ...).
For those who are considering tak-
ing this step in your life, I encour-
age you to be generous and not to
be afraid. Difficulties can be over-
come with hard work and prayer,
by being open to others and by
being enthusiastic about one’s own vocation, by offer-
ing all to the Lord who calls us to be saints. Mary jour-
neys with us, taking us by the hand towards wherever
God wills that we respond fully to his call.
L. José Vázquez Gallego
Spanish, missionary in Peru
Let our Parishes be more Missionary!
T he World Youth Day in Rio de Janiero (23-28 July) is an opportune occasion to reflect on the letter of the
Rector Major on Salesian Youth Ministry where he pointed out that “our apostolate is still not very missio-
nary, that is to say, it pays little attention to the need for an initial proclamation or a renewed proclamation of
the Gospel.”
Regarding the parishes entrusted to the Salesians, Fr. Pascual Chávez called our attention to some aspects to be
explored urgently, among them are:
*** promoting a more missionary style of apostolate … with a project of evangelisation and initial proclamation of
the gospel for those at a distance, and a continuous and progressive programme of education to the faith, especially
for the young and for families;
*** promote a more missionary and Salesian pastoral methodology with great educative sensitivity capable of ac-
cepting people where they are so as to stir up in them the desire to be open to the faith and to become involved in a
continuous and gradual progression in the Christian way of life.
South Asia Region
Salesian Missionary Intention
That there may be an increase of missionary vocations ad gentes in the South Asian re-
gion and vocational perseverance among young confreres who are missionaries.
The South Asia Region has an annual average of 130 novices, but only an average of 7
missionaries ad gentes are sent every year by the Rector Major. There are several initia-
tives in progress to keep alive the missionary spirit: different formation houses have
relaunched missionary groups, during the last two years two missionary aspirantates
have been founded - one in Sirajuli (Province of Guwahati, North East India - for the six provinces of the
North) and the other in Chennai-Perambur (Province of Chennai for the five Provinces of the South). Above all
there is an on-going prayer campaign for missionary vocations ad gentes. The South Asian region accepts the
invitation of the Rector Major that now is the time to respond to the grace received through more than 400
missionaries who have fostered the growth of the Salesian charism in the Indian subcontinent.
