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Newsletter for Salesian Missionary Animation
A Publication of the Mission Department for the Salesian Communities and Friends of the Salesian Mission
D ear Salesians and friends
of the Salesian mission,
At the beginning of Janu-
ary 2013 I wish you a year full of
light!
We are living the Year of Faith, a
time of grace. As true sons of Don
Bosco we want to live always
with a deep sense of the Church.
The theme of the Salesian Mission
Day 2013 '“The faith Journey in
Africa” helps our journey during
this Year of Faith: The catechu-
menate stories and the models of
catechists, help us to be inspired
by the young Christian communi-
ties.
My heartfelt thanks to all the
confreres of Africa who have
made available to us the dynam-
ics of the immense “spiritual
‘lung’ for a humanity that ap-
pears to be in a crisis of faith and
hope” (Benedict XVI, Africae Mu-
nus 13).
During this Year of Faith I invite
you to live the prayer for the SMD
2013: “Jesus, walk with me, Je-
sus stay with me ... I am your
witness!”
Fr. Václav Klement, SDB
Councilor for the Missions
Salesian Mission Day
2013
A “kairos” for Africa and Madagascar
O ne thing that impresses anyone who visits Africa is the number of
Chinese who are present in the continent. Some estimate that
there are at least 25 million Chinese in Africa! Some of these, espe-
cially the young, come to our centres and oratories mainly for sports,
and sometimes also to “enjoy” some of our liturgical celebrations.
Perhaps they become, sometimes, the butt of our jokes. Yet, if we
examine deeper this situation with missionary sensitivity, it becomes
obviously clear that many of them, if not most of them, have not
heard the Gospel nor of Jesus Christ.
It is perhaps a happy coincidence that last November 5-9, 2012 the
Study Days was on the Initial Proclamation of Christ in Africa and
Madagascar which took place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia while this year’s
Salesian Mission Day focuses on the proclamation of Christ in Africa.
These two occasions impel us to look around us with the missionary
heart of Don Bosco!
With the missionary eyes of Don Bosco we see around us “the urgency
of proclaiming the Good News to the millions of people in Africa who
are not yet evangelised” (Ecclesia in Africa, 47). ) It is important,
therefore, to stir up an interest in Jesus Christ among those who do
not know him, as well as to revitalise the faith of African Christians
who have become lukewarm in their faith.
Yet, Pope Benedict XVI also invited us to «recover the ardour of the
beginnings of the evangelization of the African continent” (Africae
Munus, 164). Such missionary ardour opens our eyes to the missionary
possibilities of the Chinese presence in Africa. Indeed, here we have
all the possibilities to proclaim the Gospel which the Church in
China does not have! The New Testament uses the term kairos to de-
scribe “the appointed time in the purpose of God”, the time when God
acts (e.g. Mark 1,15). I am convinced that we have to respond to this
time of God’s visitation. It is for this reason that I invited the Provin-
cials of the African Region during our last meeting to discern what God
is telling us today before such a massive Chinese presence. I am confi-
dent that an abundant harvest awaits us if we respond with missionary
audacity to this kairos for the Church and the Congregation in Africa &
Madagascar!
Fr. Guillermo Basañes, SDB
Regional Councilor for Africa & Madagascar
The annual Salesian Mission Day, celebrated on a date chosen by each Province, aims to
help every Salesian, every educative-pastoral community and the whole Salesian Family to
be aware of the various missionary commitments of the Congregation, open our eyes to new
missionary realities, overcome every temptation to withdraw into one’s territory or context
as well as to be reminded of the universality of the Salesian charism. This year's theme is
The faith Journey in Africa. The celebration of the Salesian Mission Day ought to be the
highlight (after an educational - pastoral journey with various initiatives which lasts some
weeks) and expression of the missionary spirit which is kept alive throughout the year in the
whole Educative-Pastoral Community.
http://www.sdb.org/en/SDB_webTV/Sectors/SMD_2013
http://www.sdb.org/it/SDB_webTV/Congregazione&IDVideo=495&page=1
