ROME:
10 July 2013 -- The Missions Department has just
published
another booklet on the series of Study days it has organised
on Initial
Proclamation: The
Acts
of the Study Days on the Salesian Mission and Initial
Proclamation
of Christ in the threefold context of East Asia. The
bright red
colour and beautiful lay-out which clearly reflects the unique
cultures
of East Asia is in itself an attractive invitation to the
reader to
take up the 300 page booklet. The reflections are very
interesting and
practical and most especially, easy to read.
The Acts opens with an explanation of the five parts
comprising the
Chinese character for listening: 聽
pointing out
that these Study Days are a privileged occasion for the
Salesian Family
to listen together to the Spirit who speaks through the rich
cultures,
ancient traditions and poor multitudes of East Asia. It
further
explains that “our capacity to attentively listen will make us
intuitively sensitive to that unexpected moment when our life,
activity, presence or image as consecrated persons and as
Church may
spark the interest to know Jesus Christ as a person, and have
faith in
him. As attentive listeners “we shall not be timid when God
opens the
door for us to proclaim explicitly the Lord Jesus Christ as
the
Savior”!
It is hoped that these Acts of the Study Days “will open up ‘a
new and
promising horizon’ and our Salesian missionary zeal would ‘be
re-kindled now’ (cf. Lk 12:49)… and that we may all be ‘on
fire with
the love of Christ and burning with zeal to make him known
more widely,
loved more deeply and followed more closely.’ Indeed, ‘a fire
can only
be lit by something that is itself on fire,’ less we give in
to faith
fatigue and slide back comfortably to the joyless and
ardourless
“maintenance mode” of Salesian presence in East Asia. Indeed,
enthusiastic Salesian sisters, brothers and priests attract
young
people to the Salesian life!”
The booklet, which has been mailed already directly to the
communities
of East Asia, is not only a record of the Study Days. It
contains
stories collected by the participants on how people became
Christians.
Part of its value lies in the 10 activity sheets which are
intended for
the local community so that these Study Days may be used for
ongoing
formation as one of the activities of the regular Day of the
Community,
hence foster its reception by the local communities. It is a
highly
recommended reading not only for those working in East Asia
but even to
those who work in other regions of the Salesian world.
-------
If you wish to find all this material together, the best place
to go to
is the regional website, Bosconet,
EAO
Missions materials, where you will find other items as
well.
If you want this particular item go to SDL English
collection or Missions
Collection
