For all this, my dear Confrères, I strongly urge you to generosity. The generosity, first of all,
of the confrères who feel this explicit call from the Lord. The generosity of the provinces, of
rectors and, especially, of provincials so as not to bury any missionary demand of the confrères,
especially of the young Salesians who have great ideals. We cannot forget our origins nor can we
forget our charismatic identity, as our Constitutions remind us: "Peoples still awaiting the gospel
message were the special object Don Bosco's concern and apostolic effort. We look upon
missionary work as an essential feature of our Congregation" (Const. 30).
I have no doubt that the Lord will bless our generosity.
I remind you the procedure to follow. When the Rector Major receives a telephone call, a letter,
an email from a confrère who expresses this desire, the Dicastery for Missions begins a serene and
profound discernment in dialogue with the confrère and with the Provincial, and successively
informs the Rector Major of the steps taken. Many times discernment brings out the suitability of
the candidate. Sometimes it does not. But this is always done in the search for the good of the
person and of the mission.
This is my appeal, dear Confrères, and I invite you to pray for this all over the Congregation.
There are many people who have not yet received the announcement of the Gospel. There are
many young people who need a friend, brother and father who the Salesians will be, going out to
meet with them. We will share life with the young, help them prepare for life and offer them
"listening and accompaniment", always seeking their good. (Strenna 2018).
May Mary, the Help of Christians, bless this
generosity and may Don Bosco accompany us to be
authentic missionary disciples of Jesus.
With affection
Witness of Salesian Missionary Sanctity
Fr. Pierluigi Cameroni SDB, Postulator General for the Causes of Saints
El Blessed Titus Zeman (1915-1969), martyr for vocations. He has
in a certain way embodied the fundamental steps in the process of
discernment. Through clandestine transport of young people abroad, he
offered young people the opportunity to discover their vocation and to
fulfill it. His faith, inspired by the Word of God, was the source of his
choice to accompany young confreres at a time of persecution in their
own country. He became their companion on their journey of welcoming
with generosity the gift of a vocation as a grace of God.
For the Salesians of Asia
Salesian Missionary Intention
So that in Asian countries, Christians, as well as other religious
minorities, may live their faith with complete freedom.
Asia is a rich mosaic of cultures and religions. This plurality does not always find
peaceful coexistence in tolerance and freedom in all regions. We have a precious
mission – that of educating young people to respect the sacred convictions of
every person and also to help young Christians to have the courage to testify to
their own faith in the Lord Jesus in all serenity and firmness.
