All Are Senders and Receivers!
A quick look at the list of the members of the 140th Salesian Missionary
Expedition shows that the majority of the missionaries come from countries
which were once considered «mission areas». A Venezuelan is sent to the
Middle East while two Vietnamese are sent to Venezuela; a Cuban is sent to
Argentina while a Spanish confrere is sent to Cuba, A Slovak is sent to
Kenya while two Kenyans are sent to Sudan and Papua New Guinea. It is
no surprise if one would wonder and ask if it would be better, and perhaps
more pastorally effective, if these Salesians just remained in their own
Provinces where there is already a scarcity of personnel?
In response, it would be helpful to recall that in the early Church Jerusalem
was the centre of Christianity while the surrounding peoples were the
«gentiles». But then the centre gradually shifted to Christian Europe while the
rest of the world, «the pagan nations», were the object of mission. Thus, missionary activity was a unidirectional movement towards the
«mission countries». It would be helpful also to recall that during the Second Vatican the Council Fathers struggled to do away with the idea
that mission is a sphere of activity reserved to some special group in the Church. Thus, in Lumen Gentium the Church sees herself as God's
pilgrim people destined to all the corners of the earth (Lumen Gentium 9-17). The source and foundation of her mission is the Trinity who sent
the Son to save humankind from sin. Jesus Christ, in turn, gave the mandate to the whole Church (Ad Gentes 5) to proclaim the Word and to
establish the Church among the people who have not yet heard of the Gospel (Ad Gentes 6). Since Christ is «the light of all nations» (Lumen
Gentium 1) his Church is, therefore, the universal sacrament of salvation. It is in this light that we understand the Council's affirmation that
«the pilgrim Church is missionary by her very nature» (Ad Gentes 2). It is also important to note that already Vatican II used the term mission
to refer also to those churches «founded long since», but «which are in a certain state of regression or weakness» (Ad Gentes 19).
Pope John Paul II insisted that the concept of communion lies «at the heart of the Church's self-understanding».Mission and communion are,
thus, essential in our correct understanding of the mystery of the Church. It becomes clear, then, that every local Church, even those newly
established, as a member of a communion of Churches, is responsible in mission-sending and reaching out to another local Church in a
variety of need. In this light mission is not anymore only a movement towards the «mission areas». It is, now, multi-directional because it
takes place wherever a Christian crosses a human frontier to supply a felt need. Similarly, every Salesian Province, rich or poor in personnel
or resources, is co-responsible in the missionary endeavour of the whole Salesian Congregation. All are, therefore, senders and receivers!
Thus, today missionaries can come from and also be sent to Africa, Asia, America and Europe. This is perhaps something we Salesians are
just beginning to see but, in fact, it has been happening already for sometime now in many dioceses and religious congregations. Could it be
that some Provinces or confreres are so comfortable to be either just «receivers» or just «senders» and not be senders and receivers at the
same time? Yet, this is what it really means to be a member of the missionary Church which is a Church of communion!
Being a sender and a receiver is actually mutually enriching. A multicultural local Church or Province is able to look beyond its own concerns
and better understand the needs of migrants, refugees, the marginalised as well as effectively promote intercultural dialogue and relations
which is so much needed in our globalised and multicultural society today. Inculturation is certainly indispensable, but if our communities
become mono-cultural it also brings the risk of reducing a Province or a local Church into an ethnic enclave unable to see beyond the borders
of its cultural world. Thus, a certain degree of internationality among the confreres of every community enriches the whole Province. This, in
turn, actually facilitates inculturation because the locals see a certain perspective of their culture which the expatriates do not but the
expatriates could also offer perspectives of the culture not perceived by the locals. This multidirectional movement of Salesian missionaries,
then, enriches the whole Congregation. It is in the light of this perspective that send only our best confreres as missionaries because such
sacrifice of precious human resources by one Province will ultimately enrich the whole Congregation.
Alfred Maravilla, SDB
Memento for Missionaries (11 November 1875)
1. Seek souls, but not money, honours, or rank.
5. Take special care of the sick, of the children, of the aged, and of the poor, and you will win for yourselves the blessings of God
and the good will of people.
9. Stay away from idleness and disputes. Great sobriety in food, drink and rest.
18. To cultivate vocations to the priesthood and religious life instil 1) love of chastity; 2) horror of the contrary vice; 3) the
avoidance of indisciplined companions; 4) frequent Communion; 5) charity, by means of special signs of kindness and goodwill.
20. Amidst toil and suffering never forget that a great reward awaits us in Heaven - Amen.
(for the fulll text: http://sdl.sdb.org/gsdl/cgi-bin/library?a=p&p=home&l=it&nl=1)
salesian mission intention november 2009
«That the Salesians who live in predominantly Muslim countries, through their testimony of
life, foster many new and holy vocations to Salesian consecrated life»
We thank God especially for the first Salesian vocations from Indonesia, Pakistan, Sudan and Azerbaijan
and other predominantly Muslim areas which received the gift of the Salesian vocation. As they grow in the
faith and in their vocation in the churches of the diaspora, may they be the best among the young apostles of
these environments as missionaries ad gentes - ad extra.
for the Pope's general and missionary intention see:www.sdb.org
for suggestions and contributions: cagliero11@gmail.com
