N. 127 - July 2019
Newsletter for Salesian Missionary Animation
Publication of the Missions Sector for the Salesian Communities and Friends of the Salesian Mission
Dear Confreres, dear friends,
In this month, with Pope Francis and with a missionary heart, we are listening to
the sixth beatitude: "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”
"Keeping your heart clean of all that dirties love, that's holiness" [GEx 86].
People often ask the Councillor for the Missions which is the most "dangerous"
place for the Salesian mission today. And the answer is clear: the greatest danger
for a Salesian missionary is that he will lose his missionary spirit. This is, therefore,
the most dangerous "place", the one to be feared most: to let the apostolic passion
get dirty or weakened. This is what constitutes the purity of the missionary heart:
keeping the apostolic fire always burning and burning bright. This requires an at-
tentive and daily spiritual discipline, precisely from the disciple-missionary. Like Don
Bosco, Salesian missionaries are very attentive to their daily examination of conscience. They celebrate the
sacrament of reconciliation frequently (cf. C90). I often ask missionaries, by e-mail, by Whatsapp or even face
-to-face: "Do you have the possibility to confess frequently, dear missionary?"
Keeping your heart clean of everything that dirties the apostolic passion, here is the secret and the strength of
the Salesian missionary.
Fr Guillermo Basañes, SDB - Councillor for the Missions
Extraordinary Missionary Month
In view of the Extraordinary Missionary Month (EMM) announced by Pope Francis for next October – to commemo-
rate the centenary of the Apostolic Letter of Pope Benedict XV, Maximum Illud – the Sector for the Missions has
prepared an animation tool for all Salesians and pastoral workers who intend to relaunch the Church's evangelizing
action in their own fields of activity. This booklet, which has as its title the same EMM theme, “Baptized and sent.
The Church of Christ on its mission in the world”, was officially launched on Sunday, June 9th, Solem.of Pentecost.
The booklet edited by the Sector for Salesian Missions was elaborated in the form of a diary that accompanies the
reader / missionary / missionary group throughout the month of October 2019, offering various elements for
reflection each day. It features:
- A quote from the Maximum Illud; -Biblical references related to the same subject;
- A reflection of the magisterium of the pontiffs following Benedict XV; - A thought of Pope Francis;
- A statement from the documents of the Congregation.
This wide range of elements offered to the readers' reflection is completed
each day with two other segments: a section that suggests points for a
discussion, a sharing of thoughts, and suggestions for concrete activities;
and the proposal of a Saint each day to pray to for the needs of the Church
in a nation associated with the saint.
This material could be used in Salesian Communities instead of the morning
meditation or evening vespers. Groups in schools, parishes, oratories and
residential institutions could use it for their animation. Only a limited
number of copies have been printed in English and Italian, leaving it to
Provinces and Institutions to print their own versions adapted to their
culture and language. Translations are ready also in Italian, French,
Spanish, Portuguese, Polish, Vietnamese, etc.
But there is more: The purpose of this initiative is to support global eccle-
sial missionary action. The Missions Sector offers the aid with its layout in
its editable digital pdf form to any Church group that wishes to benefit
from the work already done. They can modify the content to suit their
needs and use the layout already made. It is available, free of charge, to
religious Congregations and local Churches.
“We simply want to be of service to the Church,” explained the editor of
this product, Fr George Menamparampil, SDB.
For anyone interested in receiving this material or further information,
please write to: mcgeorge@sdb.org
