It need not be emphasized that the missionary commitment is part and parcel of our salesian Charism. Right from the beginnings of our congregation the missions have been at the centre of its attention. Summing up this experience, art. 30 of our Constitutions states that Just as Don Bosco had a special concern for people who had not yet heard the Gospel, “they continue to stimulate our zeal and keep it alive. We look upon missionary work as an essential feature of our Congregation.”

Other indications are given in our Constitutions and Regulations regarding the missionary dimension of our vocation, but here it is sufficient to recall this essential characteristic of our charism. In a certain sense it can be said that the missionary fervour is a gauge of our relevance as Salesians, because ever since the definitive approval of our Constitutions, for as long as he was alive, Don Bosco kept the pitch high with constant reference to the missionary exploits of the Salesians.

It is nearly 100 years since the first salesian presence started in East Asia. It began as a missionary presence with missionaries from Europe. Later on a few missionaries from America as well came to work in this region.

Whereas in former times the vast majority of the Salesians who lived and worked in this Region were expatriate missionaries, today among the 1200 or so salesians in the nine provinces that comprise the region, there are only 181 of them. (See the statistical chart at the end.) A good many of these expatriate missionaries are advanced in years, while just a few are making their debut as missionaries.

As we marvel at the wonderful growth that the salesian charism has seen in this region, we cannot but thank God for the dedicated and self-sacrificing work of the missionaries. We thank the missionaries themselves for giving firm foundations to the salesian presence and apostolate in the region.

Confreres born and brought up in the region have now taken charge of the direction of the provinces and the communities. We rejoice that except in ITM and GIA all the provincials of the region are local confreres. GIA, in fact, has already had several native provincials.

In spite of these developments, the missionary reality of the region has not changed substantially from what it was when the salesian charism was introduced into it. In particular, one could note the following:

• The Gospel is still unknown to the vast majority of the people of East Asia . Among not a few in East Asia-Oceania Region there is resistance against religion, particularly Christianity. Materialism and religious indifferentism distinguish sections of the population. (See the chart at the end of the paper.)

• Where the Gospel has been preached and people have been baptised, the Gospel way of life is still a dream in many respects. This is particularly so in the Oceania region and in East Timor, where the majority of the people are Christians and not a few of them Catholics.

• In many places there is even a relapse into old pagan beliefs and rites and a newly developing syncretism, which seeks to preserve traditional beliefs in the guise of Christian rituals.

• In spite of economic progress in many countries of East Asia, poverty and misery are still stark realities for a good majority of the people. There are people who still live at the mere subsistence level and are the victims of gross social injustice. Most of the the countries in the Oceania region have still miles to go before all sections of the population can enjoy a decent standard of living, social security and peace.

What do the provinces say about the missionary dimension in the region?

There are only scanty references to the missionary dimension in the various documents found in the dossier prepared for this meeting. Bringing together the scattered references in differing contexts, the following ideas emerge:

1. The Provinces are proud of the fact that they have sent missionaries to other countries. Every province has some outside presence to which missionaries can be sent or which it looks after as mission territory, even if the missionaries come from other provinces [p.41].

2. There is a feeling in many provinces that ad gentes mission could be a uniting factor for a common project in the region (ITM, KOR,THA,VIE [p.66].

3. The need for missionary animation is mentioned by at least three provinces (FIS [p.34], CIN [p.72] FIN [p.77]), although in differing contexts.

4. KOR emphasises the need to grow out of a mission territory mentality of dependence on a foreign church and to inculturate the faith with local means and local personnel [p.39]. It notes that from a “receiving” church there is a gradual passage to a “giving” church [p.68].

5. The consciousness that one’s own province territory is mission land is perceivable in ITM [p.35]. Where the faith has taken roots, they observe, there is a growing religious indifference of youth due to secularism and lack of deep faith [p.37].

6. In summary form the presentation on “The Primacy of God” states that there is a feeling of inadequacy and the lack of courage to be real missionaries in the ambiences in which we live and work. “We have not enough courage to face the challenges of a direct evangelization, proclamation of the Gospel.” The older confreres feel that we are losing the missionary zeal. “Living mainly in a predominantly non-Christian society, as a Church of the Diaspora, we find it difficult to animate our co-workers (especially those of other religions) in our educative-pastoral works. The need for a stronger identity, of more enthusiasm for our mission is felt” [p.44]. Further it is stated: “some of us are not confident enough to evangelize in an explicit way, to cope with the challenges of an uneasy ‘missio inter gentes’ – in our everyday educative and pastoral life” [p.44]. Not a few of us lack the power of witness to stand up to the challenges of the society we are called to evangelise.

The missionary dimension has two aspects:

The first is the missionary commitment to proclaim the Gospel to those who have not heard it in one’s own homeland. The command of the Lord to proclaim the good news to all creatures applies as much to those in the vicinity of our homes as to those in far away lands. Such witnessing and proclamation of the faith is inherent in the very Christian vocation. In this sense every confrere is a missionary in his own country, because in each of our provinces there is no lack of those who have not yet heard the gospel. In fact, most of our houses are situated in ambiences where there is only a very thin Christian presence.

The second aspect is that of sending missionaries to other provinces and countries. This seems difficult when personnel is insufficient for the needs of one’s own province. Yet this too is essential, if we are to give expression to the missionary dimension of our salesian vocation. This second aspect could be taken care of as individual provinces or as an entire region—a common project for the development of new missions. In this respect it is very praiseworthy that every province in this region has a “mission territory” to look after.

From what the provinces have said about the missionary aspect, one gets the impression that the only point on which there is some consensus is regarding the ad gentes mission in other lands. It is also seen as a possible uniting factor for the whole region.

Within the provinces, however, there is much to be done to recapture the missionary zeal and commitment. It would seem that over the years, with the establishment and development of our works, the preoccupation with maintaining and improving them has somehow blurred the original missionary vision.

Recapturing the missionary zeal and commitment, therefore, requires:

1. The self-perception of each province that it is still a missionary province, in as much as the proclamation of the Gospel and the implanting of the Church (cf. C. 30) in one’s own country is not a thing of the past, but a challenge to be responded to by the present day Salesians, no matter from where they originate. One can and must be a missionary in his own country. Ad gentes mission must not be narrowed down merely to going to some other country to work for the salesian mission. It really means reaching out with the Gospel message to all, particularly to those who have not yet heard it.

When a province is composed of more than one country it is necessary to have such a missionary self perception in every one of them, so that the confreres working in each can devise their own strategies for ad gentes mission in their own contexts.

2. Constant animation of the confreres so that the missionary dimension of our vocation is clearly kept in mind. This needs an adequate structure and instruments of animation. In a missionary province missionary animation cannot be considered a side activity of someone who has a host of other responsibilities.

3. Evangelization should become the unifying factor of the overall pastoral action of a province. All activities need to be oriented to it as the final goal. Thus every salesian setting needs to become a mission station where the proclamation of the Gospel takes precedence over everything else.

While considering the missionary aspect of our presence in East Asia-Oceania, it is apt here to recall the conclusions of the two seminars on mission ad gentes that were held n this very place and in Port Moresby in July-August 2004. If they can be transformed into a programme of action in each province, Delegation and country, once again the missionary fervour would be the leading factor in our apostolic endeavours.

5.1 The Seminar at Hua Hin

The members of the Salesian Family assembled for the seminar at Hua Hin settled on three priorities for the period 2004-2008:

1. To deepen the Salesian missionary spirituality as individuals and as communities so that together we can radiate God’s love to others.

2. To make our communities open to the neighbourhood, cultures and religions so that we may see and address new forms of poverty in the locality.

3. To strengthen the collaboration among the members of the Salesian Family in our work for mission ad gentes, ad intra and ad extra.

These three priorities are amply explained by some of the insights that were repeatedly referred to in the course of the seminar. They give us also practical methodologies for rekindling the missionary fervour in all our provinces.

1. Everyone has the duty to evangelize:

• Regardless of status, occupation or place of work, everyone has the duty to evangelise, to be a herald of the Gospel.

• Young people and the laity in general need to be conscientised and formed to become evangelisers.

2. From the practical point of view, what does mission ad gentes involve? The following points apply to the home front as well as the lands far away.

• The witness of one’s life is the starting point of the evangelising process. The medium (the evangeliser) is the message.

• “Friendship is the best form of evangelisation.” One to one personal relationship with the young and with the people for whom we work is a precondition for announcing Jesus Christ and his Gospel to them.

• Dialogue with other religions and world views is an indispensable part of evangelisation.

• The commitment to “inculturation” is an abiding one. It is a must for everyone, regardless of his place of birth.

• The Small Christian Community (SCC) is an excellent means for promoting the missionary aspect of our vocation or the mission ad gentes.

• Evangelization requires prompt and creative responses to the urgent needs of the poor and the marginalized: especially the young people afflicted by the new forms of poverty. Our houses must be welcoming places where the poor feel at home.

• By his/her life and activities the true missionary promotes the spirituality of communion and harmony in his/her own community as well as in the social setting in which he/she is inserted.

• Effectiveness in missio ad gentes requires Networking with others. Alone we can do but little.

• Assiduous and constant use of the media, especially the print medium, to spread the knowledge of the Gospel and the Christian faith.

Finally, it needs to be remembered that PATIENCE AND PERSEVERANCE are the trademark of the true missionary. One sows, another waters; only God gives the increase. But without sowing there can be no reaping. Busy as we are in our various roles, we must not forget to sow the Word of God wherever we go. In everyone of our settings, as individuals and as communities, we need to do our tiny bit of sowing so that the Kingdom of God may become more of a reality in our countires every passing day.

5.2 The Seminar at Port Moresby

The priorities chosen by the Salesian Family at the conclusion of the seminar in Port Moresby are also quite similar in content to those of Hua Hin.

1. Inculturation of the Gospel and the Salesian Charism in the reality of the Christian and the religious community.

2. Better preparation and Formation of Missionaries and local vocations.

3. Expansion of the work of evangelisation or new evangelisation.

4. Networking for better missionary effectiveness ad intra and ad extra.

While concluding the seminar, it was recalled that the realization of these missionary tasks necessarily calls for certain attitudes in all of us.

1. The most essential is the yearning to reach out to as many people as possible. We need to educate the people in general along with the students. In fact, it is through the students that we must reach out to them. Every centre of ours should become an animating centre for the entire locality around, and not remain a mere fortress of security.

2. LOVE is another essential attitude. Here it is good for us to reread 1Cor 13 and meditate on it. St. Paul admonishes us about the great power that love has to overcome all difficulties and obstacles in any field whatsoever. The only way to meet the challenges of inculturation is love.

3. Optimism and enthusiasm facilitate the building up of communities based on fraternal relationships. The positive attitude is indispensable if we are to achieve results. In spite of the difficulties that come our way it is necessary to forge ahead with enthusiasm, sure that the outcome will be positive, because we are collaborating in carrying out the Lord’s project for the salvation of all.

4. Finally, we need to have the attitude of learning. In fact, we are perpetual learners. We need to learn from one another, from the poor and from our own students. This requires humility to acknowledge our limitedness. The missionary who is a humble, perpetual learner will accomplish much for the establishment of the Kingdom of God.

Fr. Francis Alencherry
Hua Hin, 10 March 2005

EAO REGION
STATISTICAL INFORMATION ON RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION

EAO REGION

STATISTICAL INFORMATION ON SALESIANS

Minutes of the talk of Fr. Francis Alencherry March 10,2005 Hua Hin

Some pointers out the prepared paper: EAO REGION and Missionary DIMENSION

1. For a EAO region vision mission a missionary dimension is essential

• missionary fervour is a core value of our Salesian Charism

• DB history: missionary ferment in the Oratory (Salesian Bulletin, GNT) in the beginning of our Congregation

• If we talk about be MORE RELEVANT, there is no other way to REDISCOVER a missionary fervour in all of our confreres, provinces

2. EAO reality today

• expatriate missionaries in EAO: from 1906, but now the majority is advanced in age

• missionary reality did not change essentially: MORE challenging than in the times of the FIRST missionaries: communist regimes, religious indifferentism, revival of old religion

• East Asia: prophetic statement (3^rd Millenium is the era of ASIA). It is an invitation for us to put in practice [JP II – Redemptoris Mission]

• EAO: reflections is based on the outcome of two EAO seminars 2004 (East Asia- Hua Hin – Thailand, Oceania in Port Moresby, PNG in 2004)

• Now more integral : process of transforming society (social, cultural progress, dialogue with other religions)

3. Missionary dimensions is mentioned only rarely in the contributions to the Team Visit

- each province has some outside missionary territory, outreach

- ad gentes mission could be a uniting factor for a common project

- need of more missionary animation

- Mission as a fruit of our God centeredness as a fact (surprise! – Primacy of God related to the missionary fervour!)

4. Renew our missionary sensitivity

- to proclaim the Gospel to who did not have heard it in one’s homeland (every confrere is a missionary in each home country)

[Asian sensitivity – India mission means to go to other village, but no talk about our school surrounding; talk about missionary school? – but THIS IS THE BIGGEST CONTRADICITON IN OUR LIFE: EVERYONE IS A MISSIONARY! ‘So called missions’ in villages, special territory vs. our education works]

• sending missionaries to other countries: it is essential to express our Charism (ad gentes with lack of personnel – WE SHOULD RE-READ the Biographical Memoirs of DB, when he was sending many missionaries to Latin America – not because of overflowing personnel, BUT he was sending the BEST confreres to America, in spite of lack of personnel in Italy!)

• ad gentes mission means to reach out everybody

5. Remind the conclusions of 2004 East Asia and Oceania SEMINAR conclusions

East Asia seminar in Hua Hin

• deepen salesian missionary spirituality

• opening of our communities to the territory, culture, religions (Dialogue)

• Strengthen the collaboration/ networking among SF members\\

Listen some practical means of evangelization discussed in the seminar:

(stress on: assiduous and constant use of the media, especially the print media, to spread the knowledge of the Gospel and the Christian faith: the early missionaries to be admired (Maschio leaflleft; Don Boscos’ Madonna in Bombay: sending for free starting from , after 7 years of debts he was able to spread. Now we have the challenge of meaningless youth in advanced countries; possibility of Internet, CD, DVD. We spend a lot of money on gadgets, but nothing on : not less than than 10% to be spent on communications – using the modern IT. If we do this, we are in line with the Church (JP II is talking about this)

Vibrant Christian community is the only fecund vocation soil, let’s remember this missionary animation is just a start!