austraLasia #2556
Ad gentes-ad extra-ad vitam: the 141st expedition
(but first a correction - yesterday's aLa mentioned that Fr Gianni
Caputa was part of the accord developed between the Holy See and Israel
in 1993. We got our dates confused! Gianni did not come on board until
2005! But that does not detract in any way from his present day
contributions to the ongoing demanding and delicate discussions)
ROME: 12th December 2009 -- A letter that was sent out by the
Missions Councillor just a month ago from Utrail, Bangladesh, where he
was visiting by way of support for his predecessor, Fr Alencherry, was
intended for wider readership To assist in that process, here is the
bulk of the letter:
"...There is no better and happier way to spend
one's life than to give him/ herself as a missionary ad gentes – ad
extra – ad vitam. This is one of the most visible expressions of a
Da-mihi-animas-cetera-tolle-driven life.
After accompanying a group of 33 new
missionaries in 2009 during their immediate preparation course and
passage to their new provinces, we are already looking towards the
missionary expedition for 2010. During the Salesian 'Holy Year', 2009 –
celebrating the 150th anniversary of our Congregation – we have truly
experienced an increased missionary generosity. Beyond the 37 new
missionaries some 60 more confreres applied for the missions and are
discerning their missionary vocation.
The topic of the 2009 Salesian Missions Day (Keep
your missionary flame burning!) helps re-launch missionary
animation in many provinces. Before the end of this year I was able to
meet mission animation delegates of almost all 8 regions (with
exception of Africa and Western Europe Region). I would like to keep
you informed through the monthly bulletin of Salesian missionary
animation – Cagliero11 – about the needs and progress of our missions.
Without missionaries there are no missions! The best
fruits of missionary animation are missionary vocations ad gentes.
Thanks to these confreres we experience in a visible way that the
‘faith is growing, when is shared’ (Redemptoris missio, 2 – John Paul
II). I would like to help the Provinces to rebuild some of the
missionary dynamics of our history, when each new departure of the
missionaries produced a lot of enthusiasm – when Don Bosco was sending
his best Salesians to the missions, when in 1888 about 20% of his
Salesians were working in America. Each 11th of the month we pray for
missionaries and for new missionary vocation.
In order to help our confreres to discern well their
new call within the Salesian vocation, here are some basic steps of the
missionary candidate path:
1. The whole process begins with a request addressed
to the Rector Major, obviously based on a first discernment by the
confrere. Each candidate places himself at the disposal of the
Congregation. However, he may express his preference or practical
predispositions.
2. Above all a good process of discernment regarding
the missionary vocation ad gentes is needed. Usually after the
request addressed to the Rector Major, the candidate's Superior is
asked to arrange for a discernment process following the stated
criteria. The key to good discernment is collaboration at three levels
– local, province and the Department of the Missions. Above all the
opinion of the Provincial and his Council on the candidate is very
important.
3. After a positive result of the discernment
process, the Rector Major assigns to the candidate the destination of
his future mission. A good knowledge of the person and the candidate’s
capabilities helps us greatly in avoiding unwanted surprises in the
future. There then follows a dialogue between the two Provincials
concerned to facilitate an appropriate preparation and transfer.
4. The course for the new missionaries for
Missionary Expedition no.141 will be held in Rome-Pisana, and in Turin
(2-26 September 2010). The aims of the course follow a first
orientation in responding to the new call – in its
cultural-anthropological, theological and Salesian dimensions. Two
weeks in Rome and a week of pilgrimage to the roots of the Charism are
a help in deepening the motivations and starting a process of ongoing
formation for each missionary. We can send the materials of the course
as a help for initial formation as may be required (Fr. Aldred
Maravilla: cagliero11@gmail.com).
At present in the Department we have a
list of several candidates who have sent requests to the Rector Major
in very recent years. Some of them are still novices, post-novices or
students of theology who cannot leave at once. There are some
candidates in their first year of practical training in missionary
places in order to evaluate their missionary vocation. For any
questions or clarification I am always at your disposal.
The 26th General Chapter suggests that each province
“foster the missionary spirit, put at the disposal of Rector Major
generously their confreres for the mission ad gentes and also
foster missionary vocations among lay people and their families
(n.49). ...
Wishing you a fruitful animation of the confreres
entrusted to you,
Fr Vaclav
Klement
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Title: australasia 2556
Subject and key words: SDB General: 141st missionary expedition
Date (year): 2009
ID: 2000-2099|2556
