Don Bosco in Pakistan: Education of the heart makes
the difference
VIENNA: 25th February 2006 -- On this Feast (for the first time) of Sts. Louis Versiglia and
Callistus Caravario it is appropriate to reproduce here a very recent
missionary reflection on a difficult situation. Fr Peter Zago has just
completed a visit to Bonn and Vienna in view of the Salesian response
to the North West Frontier earthquake in Pakistan. When he read
in austraLasia #1462 of
Salesian work in another and in fact the largest Muslim country in the
world, Indonesia, he was prompted to share the recent thoughts of the
three Salesians working in Pakistan, the second largest Muslim country
in the world. In view of the difficult times resulting from
violent emotional reaction to cartoons which have shown a lack of
respect to Muslims, the three Salesians offer the following four points
by way of reflection:
1. Our presence in Pakistan is not easy, since we
belong to a minority often marginalised. And yet we Salesians,
rich in Don Bosco's spirit of family and love for the young and the
poor, and guided by the preventive system based on reason, religion and
kindness, find ourselves appreciated if not loved by the many youth who
happen to meet us, be they Christians or Muslims. We are able to
touch their humanity in caring for their needs, but especially in
loving them as they are.
2. During our relief programme for earthquake
victims, still continuing, we realise not only that we Christians are
generally welcomed by the Muslims we help but are also admired by the
military and civil authorities for the dedication and spirit of
sacrifice our young Christian students are showing in relief work on a
voluntary basis.
3. It is our conviction, proven by the seven years
of experience of our presence in Quetta and Lahore, that when we
approach the Christian and Muslim youth with love, respect and concern
for their human needs as Christ teaches us ("I was hungry...I was
thirsty..."), and accompany them in their human growth with Don Bosco's
system of loving-kindness, there is no doubt that we have a chance to
build lasting bridges of dialogue and peace.
4. "Education of the heart makes the
difference"! It helps people to shake off the burden of poverty
and ignorance and helps to eliminate misunderstanding between different
religions by promoting dialogue.
_________________________
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