Through the volunteer programme
I discovered my Salesian missionary vocation
F ollowing graduation from university, I came upon, by chance, an advertisement for the Salesian Lay
Missioner (SLM) programme of the New Rochelle Province. It was my initial introduction to Don Bosco and
his charism.
I never forgot a good night given shortly before I left as a missionary volunteer in which we were told
that our mission was relatively simple: Being Christ for the young we meet, and looking for Christ in them. I
meditated upon those words frequently. On one occasion at the Hogar Maria Auxiliadora, an orphanage
run by the Sisters in Cochabamba, Bolivia, in the midst of the chaos on a particularly challenging day, one
boy who I still clearly remember gave me a small picture which I quickly accepted and placed in my pocket.
Later, I noticed that it was the picture of Jesus which he had cut out from a magazine. Reflecting on that
simple gift I am sure those chaotic events of that day would have
still occurred, but had I been more aware of Christ’s presence,
the young may have been able to recognise Christ in me.
The experiences I had in both Bolivia and Sierra Leone, were
certainly grace filled. They were times in which Christ became
present to me in a very real way. My Salesian religious vocation
itself was fostered, grew and was confirmed while I served as a
missionary volunteer for two and a half years. These experiences
gave me the courage to respond to my religious vocation with a
firm ‘yes’. In fact I cannot recall a moment during my vocational
discernment where the added desire to serve the Lord in a foreign
mission was not present.
Naturally as soon as I entered into the novitiate I was only too
eager to write to the Rector Major, offering myself to serve as a
missionary wherever he wishes to send me. Thus, after my post novitiate studies I was sent to South Af-
rica. During my missionary send off Eucharist the, then, Provincial, Fr. James Heuser stressed that despite
the scarcity of vocations, «our eyes, like those of Don Bosco’s, must see further than our current situation,
must recognise those in greater need and our hearts must seek ways to assist them, even at the cost of sac-
rifice.» I am ever grateful for the support and generosity of my home Province of SUE!
My years of practical training in South Africa provided a wealth of new experiences. I coordinated the
youth retreats in our retreat house near Johannesburg as well as the youth ministry team. Though we pro-
vide a variety of programs, the primary focus is our five day “Love Matters” retreat. The course which is a
behaviour change program has evolved over the years since its inception in 2001. It is a concrete and prac-
tical approach to address the issue especially for teenager who not only are the primary carriers of the vi-
rus but they also live in the country with the highest amount of HIV cases in the world.
As I continue with my theological studies here in Jerusalem, I look forward to returning to my Vice Prov-
ince of South Africa to whatever assignment awaits me. The road is bound to be filled with experiences and
challenges and opportunities for growth. My prayer turns to remaining available and open to whatever the
Spirit presents me.
Br. Sean McEwin
Canadian, missionary in South Africa
Salesian Missionary Intention
For all missionary groups of the South Cone Region
That all the Salesian communities of the South Cone region (Argentina, Brazil,
Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay) find ways how to involve young people in mission-
ary groups, as their contribution to the Salesian Mission Day 2011
The Southern Cone Region celebrated its first convention on Missionary Volunteer Service in
May 2010 in São Paulo. The missionary culture of the region includes several groups of the
Missionary Childhood Society, missionary groups, with the possibility for young adults to be
involved in missionary volunteer service. Let us pray that this movement may reach all the
Provinces, so that the invitation of the 26th GC no. 49 may also be realised in this region:
"After the example of Jesus’ love, “the Salesians foster the missionary spirit, generously
place at the Rector Major's disposal Salesian personnel for missio ad gentes, and encourage
missionary vocations among lay people and families."
Send your suggestions and contributions to cagliero11@gmail.com
