1218 East Asia-Oceania strong source of missionary vocations for 2006
austraLasia 1218
East Asia-Oceania strong source of missionary
vocations for 2006
ROME: 1 August 2005 -- Of the 40 new missionaries in the
Congregation for 2006, already an exceptionally high number, twelve
come from the EAO Region, fifteen from South Asia, nine from Europe
North Region (all from Poland), one each from Spain, Italy, Africa
(Angola), South America (Ecuador). Of the dozen from EAO, ten are
from Vietnam and have already arrived in Italy to learn some Italian
and process visa requirements for destinations in Africa (Sudan,
Gambela), Hungary, Lithuania, Mongolia, Albania.
The ten Vietnamese offer an interesting picture
taken together: they range between ages 27-31, most having just
completed their third year of post novitiate, one already ordained
priest. They all come from large families, with as many as ten
siblings, two of them have older brothers already Salesians, all have
completed university studies (one as architect and engineer), and
almost all of them can communicate in English thanks to the Dalat
formation programme.
All of these candidates, speaking of their
missionary vocation, indicate that it has been in their minds since
novitiate or before. They were challenged and motivated by
reading lives of missionaries and meeting missionaries. They were
inspired by the Salesian martyr missionaries Versiglia and Caravario in
the region, especially. These individual motivations were
supported by actions in the Province - the home visit by Fr Andrew Tin
from Mongolia, and a provincial gathering for interested missionaries
with encouragement from the Provincial (Fr Them) to write directly to
the Rector Major.
When they applied, all of them left the decision
entirely open for anywhere in the world. The decision for some of
them to go to a European country (Hungary, Lithuania) might have been a
surprise for them, but 'Here I am, Lord, send me' seems to be the
common response.
Since most of this group will be at the practical
training stage, they will commence this phase after language studies
for their respective destinations. The centrally-based mission
course in Rome/Turin will take place from 11-25 September, at the end
of which they will receive their cross and mandate.
Additionally to the ten from Vietnam there is one
from ITM (East Timor) and one from Korea. A further group from
India will receive their cross in February from the Rector Major at the
conclusion of the centenary of Salesian presence in that country.
Seven are coming into EAO from all of these missionaries, one from
Poland, one from Korea (to PNG-SI), and five from India - all going to
PNG-SI.
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