In the missions I am learning what is true happiness
During my childhood Uruguayan
missionaries in Angola some-
times visited us. When I was 15
a Salesian priest invited me to join the
group Juventud Misionera Salesiana
where I had my first missionary experi-
ences in the poor suburbs of Montevi-
deo. At 18 I entered the aspirantate. At
24 I had in my heart the certainty that
my Salesian vocation meant leaving
everything and going out to wherever
Jesus wanted to take me. The follow-
ing years were years of much personal
prayer and discernment, in the mean-
time, the inner desire to realise this
call continued to increase. The help of
my spiritual director as well as that of
my Rector in the theologate, who ad-
vised me wisely and prudently, were
crucial.
I wanted to be a missionary ad gen-
tes, even if in Uruguay there are many
people who do not practice their faith
because being a missionary does not
come from an idea nor from a personal
desire but from the certainty of having
discovered the call of God that teach-
es us to share what we are and have
from our poverty and not from what is
superfluous for us. I want only to be
faithful to the vocation I have received
and follow it without looking back.
I feel that the Course for New Mission-
aries was a gift from God! It has helped
me become more clearly aware that
the missionary vocation ad gentes is
for life, that you cannot set out to the
deep and yet continually look back at
the shores you have left behind. It also
taught me to accept with humility that
one arrives in the new mission like a
child, with the need to learn, to listen,
to respect and that it is normal that
sometimes this situation produces im-
patience or anger. Finally, the course
has confirmed to me the idea so old
yet ever so relevant to make Jesus the
centre of my life, to give him all my
heart once and for all!
It is now 3 years that I live in the poor-
est neighborhood in the city of Luanda
called “Lixeira” which means “rubbish
dump”. However, for me, Lixeira is a
great school of life where God really
dwells. In this school I learnt in a short
time from our Oratory animators: One
day they came with sad and angry fac-
es. Talking with them one of them told
me, “one of those white people who
arrived ... we were in their home and
they told us that it was time for the
family meal so they told us to come
back later. We felt very bad”. There I
understood that in this school there
is always room for one more at home,
or 2 or 10! Here hospitality and care
for others is so natural which, unfor-
tunately, we have forgotten in our cul-
ture because we live surrounded with
gates, alarms and sometimes the best
friend is “virtual”. The hug, the smile,
the bread, the roof is not something
that is denied to anyone because to-
morrow it will be your turn to eat or
sleep in my house. This is the lesson
of solidarity from the poor, the friends
of Jesus!
Thus, in this school I am learning that
the essential things in life are few,
that happi-
ness is in
little things,
or rather in
one: Jesus
Christ! I knew
it before, but
now, here in
the “rubbish
dump” with
them, I feel it,
I experience
it and enjoy
it endlessly as
long as God permits.
Fr. Santiag Boix Puig
Uruguayan, missionary in Angola
Salesian Missionary Intention
BRAZIIL -- Missiionary Volluntteer Serviice
That all the Provinces of Brazil may foster the growth of the missionary volunteer movement.
The materials and video for Salesian Mission Day 2011 offer insights from the experiences of some Provinces of Brazil.
The growth in volunteer Service is understood both in the quality of educative
proposals - pastoral and vocational guidance of young people involved, and the
involvement of the whole Salesian community. We want to involve children and
young people of all ages, from experiences of the Missionary Childhood Society
to missionary voluntary service among young adults.
We want to accompany the groups from the experience of short intense periods
(Christmas, Easter, summer and winter holidays) to long-term commitment or
choice for life.
InTouch 10 Dec. 1,.2011
