I would like to share the Charism we have received
from Salesian Missionaries
When a person discovers that I am a Venezuelan and I am a missionary in the Middle
East he or she easily expresses the opinion that it is neither fair nor wise for me to
leave Venezuela where there is lot of need, and still learn another difficult language
like Arabic as well as a culture very different from mine when I could serve more
"effectively" in my own country instead of another new missionary, who will perhaps
take over what I left behind, and struggle to learn Spanish and adapt to our culture.
So why do I want to be a missionary? Because after an honest and serious discern-
ment I am convinced that God calls me to be a missionary as a living part of the
Church of Communion. Although it is true that the Church and the Province of Vene-
zuela have so many needs, it is equally true that we can share from our poverty. On
one hand, with a Venezuelan Salesian missionary the Middle East Province is enriched with another expression of being
Salesian. On the other hand, the Province of Venezuela, my family, my friends have won many grateful hearts for a
gift of a missionary. I myself have discovered the spiritual, formative, charismatic, and cultural opportunities which I
have never imagined even in my wildest dreams. The Lord had promised to give one hundred fold, but I have experi-
enced that his measure is even more generous.
At the beginning of my missionary life, as a practical trainee in the Middle East, the biggest challenge was learning
Arabic, which was very, very, very difficult. I became a child and I felt useless. But I had a great desire to communi-
cate, so in addition to devoting myself wholly to study, I used all strategies to establish relationships: mimicry, smile,
drawing, speaking poorly, speaking in a confused way, and finally, to be present and interact with a new culture in
the community, in the oratory …
I participated in the Orientation Course for New Missionaries organised by the Missions Department in Rome only after
my practical training and theological studies but it has been useful for me because I had the chance to explore the
anthropological, charismatic and ecclesial dynamics of my missionary option. It also helped me to re-evaluate my own
experiences, to become aware of the elements of which I will have to be careful in the future, and it gave me an
"input" to help me grow deeper in my love for the mission entrusted to me by the Lord.
It is obvious that the missionary life in the Middle East is pretty tough but my greatest joy is to be in contact with the
young who are poor, needy, marvelous, demanding, but thirsty for God, friendship, to be listened to. They are stu-
pendous young people! Then the confreres ... we come from different cultures. Without taking away anything from
the obvious difficulty that integration in such diversity requires, the interaction and fellowship that is created is actu-
ally very rewarding for all. We become a witness to the universality of Christianity, of the Church and of the Salesian
charism. I feel truly at home here, especially among the group of confreres in initial formation.
Now as a young priest I am studying to obtain my licentiate at the Salesian Pontifical University in Rome to prepare
myself better in view of my return to the Middle East with my original contribution to the mission of the Province
community. I hope I can help young people find God in the Middle East as they have helped me to discover His pres-
ence in their midst. Of course the numerous difficulties are obvious, but the plan of God, and the final victory is as-
sured even if now we do not know when and how.
To the Salesians who are discerning their missionary vocation I would like to share two words: gratitude and trust. Our
vocation is a gift from God, but it is also the result of the generosity of many Salesians before us who have left every-
thing to live in our countries and share with us the Salesian spirit! If today we are Salesians it is because Don Bosco
left Castelnuovo to go to Turin; it is because so many Salesians have left Turin to go all parts of Italy; it is because so
many Salesians have left Italy, Europe, their country to share the Salesian charism with the whole world. So why can I
not make my little contribution out of gratitude for what I have received so much for free?
God knows us more than we know ourselves, God loves us more than we love ourselves. I think the wisest thing we can
do with our lives is to entrust it with confidence into His hands. Whoever hears the call of God to be a missionary ...
let him pray and do what is necessary to discern... but never doubt the “power of the cross”, nor ever doubt the
“beauty of God's plan”!
Fr. Alejandro José Leon Mendoza
Venezuelan, missionáry in the Middle East
Interamerica: volunteer lay
missionaries and missionary
vocations ad gentes
Salesian Missionary Intention
That Salesian Missionary Volunteer Service, well developed especially in Ecuador,
may inspire many consecrated and missionary vocations in all Provinces of America.
We celebrate the Salesian Mission Day in 2011 with the theme: "Go and preach the Gospel through-
out the world." The best experiences of Salesian Missionary Volunteer Service are in the countries
of the American continent, which have matured over the last 40 years. The missionary groups,
from the missionary childhood society to the missionary efforts of the long term young adult mis-
sionary volunteer service, are presented through the video of the Salesian Mission Day 2011
(Ecuador, Brazil, Mexico - U.S. West).
Send your suggestions and contributions to cagliero11@gmail.com
