Introduction The Mission-mindedness of the Salesian Vocation

Part I Content and Method of the Stages of Initial Formation

Part II Content and Method of On-Going Formation

Part III Specific Formation of Salesian Missionaries Ad Gentes, Ad Exteros, Ad Vitam

Appendix Criteria for discernment Salesian Missionary Vocation Ad Gentes, Ad Exteros, Ad Vitam

Introduction: The Mission-mindedness of the Salesian Vocation

«The Church is missionary by her very nature, for Christ's mandate is not something contingent or external, but reaches the very heart of the Church. It follows that the universal Church and each individual church is sent forth to the nations»¹.

The primary contribution of consecrated life to the missionary activity of the Church is the witness of a life totally given to God. We cannot but feel within us the missionary zeal of sharing our faith and our love for Christ. As religious ee contribute to the missionary activities of the Church according to our charism and we inculturate our charism wherever we are². Thus, throughout the history of the Church consecrated persons have brought and continue to bring the Good News everywhere even to the most distant places³. For consecrated men who are also priests it is also important to remember that the «three-fold ministry» of the ministerial priesthood is profoundly missionary ⁴.

Our Salesian vocation places us at the heart of the Church. From the beginning, Don Bosco wanted for us a real commitment to mission ad gentes and he handed on the missionary ideal to the whole Salesian Family as a constitutive element of his spiritual and apostolic heritage⁵. GC 19 had emphasised that we Salesians are called to relive «the ideal of Don Bosco, who wanted that the missions would be the Congregation's on-going concern, in such a way that they form part of its nature and purpose»⁶.

The successors Don Bosco have always shown concern in a special way for the missionary activities of our congregation ⁷. Recently Fr. Chávez underlined that Don Bosco made his own the call of Jesus to be his witnesses until the furthest end of the earth (Acts 1, 8) as well as the missionary concern of Paul (1 Cor 9, 16b). So much so that « immediately after the approval of the Constitutions (1874) on 11 November 1875, he sent the first missionary expedition»⁸.

Fr. Viganò insisted that «the mind and heart of the Founder and the uninterrupted tradition in our Family are an open confirmation of the fact that the missionary dimension is an essential feature of our charism» (Cost 30)⁹. Fr. Viganò had also stressed that although the Salesian Society is not a “missionary Institute” in the strict sense, for us the missionary vocation is a more generous way lo living the Salesian vocation. In fact « It manifests a condition inherent in the nature» of the Salesian charism¹⁰. And even if ours is not a “missionary Institute” in the strict sense, for us Salesian the missionary vocation is a special calling «not something that makes them exceptional in respect of other confreres, but rather a more lively and generous expression of the vocation of all». In fact, it is an internal condition of the particular character of the common charism¹¹.

Thus, being an essential features of the charism of our Congregation ¹² «missionary vocations have a privileged position in the Salesian vocation apostolate»¹³ and mission-mindedness is an integral part of the formation of the Salesians of Don Bosco. This implies the fostering of a missionary culture in all the stages of Salesian formation¹⁴. Concretely, the Special General Chapter underlined that this means that «from the very beginning of their formation we should present to the young Salesians the ideal of the missionary in an objective and attractive manner, clearly demonstrating its value. We should spread the knowledge of and promote the missionary undertakings of our congregation; we should study the lives and the personalities of our great missionaries, and above all we should cultivate that apostolic zeal and spirit of supernatural generosity which forms the foundation of every missionary vocation»¹⁵.

In the life of every Salesian this mission-mindedness is expressed «by the passion for the salvation of others, by the joy of sharing the experience of the fullness of life of Jesus»¹⁶. This mission-mindedness of the Church and of the Salesian charism also demands that some Salesians be chosen for a strictly missionary apostolate, ad gentes, ad exteros, ad vitam¹⁷.

Recipients

The Missionary Formation of the Salesians of Don Bosco is intended to the same persons and groups to whom the Ratio is intended, which means all Salesians, but especially the Provincials and their Councils, delegates and members of the Commission on Formation and Commission on Missionary Animation, formators and those in formation, and all those responsible for initial and on-going formation of the Salesians.

Purpose

Since the Special General Chapter, every General Chapter expressed in various ways that the missionary dimension is «essential part of our charism»¹⁸. Since mission-mindedness is one aspect of the charism of Don Bosco, these guidelines seek to explain the outline, content and method of the Salesian missionary formation in general and concretise some indications found in our Constitutions¹⁹ and General Regulations²⁰ and in the Ratio²¹. These guidelines are intended also to foster a missionary culture and a strong missionary spirit in the formation of the Salesians.

Part I Content and Method of the Stages of Initial Formation

Proposals for each stage of Initial Formation

Each stage of formation begins with [1] a brief summary of what the Ratio says about its nature and purpose. Then [2] points out some aspects of the stage of formation that are relevant in helping the missionary dimension of the Salesian vocation. These are followed by [3] proposed topics for reflection. Finally, [4] it suggests experiences to undergo and skills to foster as an aid in pursuing the specified goals.

PRE NOVITIATE

1.1. The pre novitiate is the stage of formation in which the candidate for the Salesian life deepens his own vocational choice, deepening especially its human and Christian aspects, so that he is prepared to begin the novitiate.

1.2. As part of the human and Christian growth, the candidate:

• is open to the social and cultural realities of their context, particularly sensitive to the problems of poor and marginalised youth and situations of poverty, injustice and exclusion. Grow in compassion and solidarity, and expresses it in a simple style of life²²;

• develops good relationships with other people, especially those from different cultures, which he meets in his pastoral experiences ²³;

• is open to dialogue through the ability to accept and listen without distinction of language, culture, and ethnicity ²⁴.

1.3. The following topics for reflection are recommended to the candidate:

• reflection on one's own language and culture;

• reflection on the history of one’s own country;

• study the development of missionary activities in the context of the knowledge of one’s own Province;

• importance given to biographies of the Salesian missionaries ad gentes, ad exteros, ad vitam in the context of the study of the biographies of Salesians.

1.4. The following experiences are suggested to the candidate:

• be actively involved in 'group experience one of which is the missionary group;

• experience working with the city's poor or street children;

• experience of missionary volunteer service.

1.5. The following attitudes and skills are encouraged to be fostered by the candidate:

• a sense of the worldwide dimension of reality;

• appropriate attitudes of openness towards other cultures and capacity to engage in discussion regarding today's cultural and multicultural challenges;

• sensitivity towards the poor and the marginalised through a simple style of life.

NOVITIATE

2.1. The novitiate is the beginning of the Salesian religious experience as a follower of Christ and herald of his salvation. The novice begins to live the consecrated and apostolic life, internalising Salesian values.

2.2. As part of this practical experience of Salesian life, the novice:

• takes an active part in community life, sharpen his ability to adapt and of cordial and spontaneous interpersonal relations;

• cultivates good manners and the ability to dialogue, to accept differences, to be optimistic and to put his talents at the service of the community;

• develops his sensitivity to youth culture, especially the poor, to the pastoral work of the Province, especially in Salesian missionary frontiers and other activities Salesian missionary activities²⁵.

2.3. The following topics for reflection are recommended to the novice:

• the missionary-mindedness of the Salesian charism;

• presentation of the criteria for the discernment of the Salesian missionary vocation ²⁶.

2.4. The following experiences are suggesed to the novice:

• foster prayer for the Salesian missionary intention of the month and for missionary vocations;

• be actively involved in a group experience one of which is the missionary group;

• maintain contact with the missionaries ad gentes of his Province.

2.5. The novice is encouraged to foster the following attitudes and skills:

• awareness of the missionary activities of the Salesian Congregation through the Salesian Mission Day and use the materials prepared for the occasion;

• promotion of spiritual missionary cooperation through prayer for missionaries and for missionary vocation especially every 11^th of the month.

POST NOVITIATE

3.1. The post novitiate is the stage in which the newly professed Salesian strengthens his vocational growth and prepares for practical training, gradually integrating faith, culture and life through a deeper understanding of the experience of religious life and the spirit of Don Bosco, and an adequate philosophical, educational and catechetical preparation, in dialogue with culture²⁷.

3.2. As part of the post novitiate formation, the young salesian:

- acquires a capacity for a deep understanding culture, of the world of young people, of the problems regarding education, from the Christian point of view²⁸;

• acquires a solid and at the same time, a critical understanding of culture and is able to grasp its implications in Salesian youth apostolate;

• acquires catechetical techniques that he will know how to use in education and the evangelisation of youth.

3.3. The following topics for reflection are recommended to the young Salesian:

• history of Salesian missionary activities;

• cultural anthropology;

• catechesis;

• challenges and opportunities of the phenomenon of emigration and immigration;

3.4. The following experiences are suggested to the young Salesian:

• youth apostolate with young migrants in the context of the apostolic experiences of the post novitiate;

• active involvement in a group experience one of which is the missionary group;

• active involvement in the organisation and animation of World Mission Sunday and the Salesian Mission Day;

• initiate the process of discernment with a spiritual guide on the criteria for missionary vocation ad gentes, ad exteros, ad vitam.

3.5. The young Salesian is encouraged to foster the following attitudes and skills:

• sensitivity to the needs of young migrants;

• sensitivity and awareness of the Salesian missionary activities in the world.

THE PRACTICAL TRAINING

4.1. The practical training is the vital stage of intense evaluation through involvement in Salesian activity, carried out in the context of pastoral and educational experiences, that help the young Salesian to mature in his vocation and to verify his own suitability to the Salesian life in view of the Perpetual profession²⁹.

4.2. As part of his experience the young salesian:

• lives the Preventive System as an expression of the passion for the salvation of others and of the joy of sharing the experience of the fullness of life in Jesus.

4.3. By its very nature, the practical training has no real course of study, it is a whole set of different experiences of Salesian life and activity.

4.4. The following experiences are suggested to the young Salesian:

• animation of missionary groups;

• animation of the Salesian volunteer movement;

• accompaniment of young people during the summer missionary service volunteer;

• direct experience in a Salesian missionary presence of his Province.

4.5. The young Salesian is encouraged to foster the following attitudes and skills:

• ability to animate of missionary youth groups;

SPECIFIC FORMATION

5.1. The specific formation is that which completes the basic formation of the Salesian pastor and educator, along the lines of his specific vocation as a brother or priest.

5.2. It is part of this formation for the Salesian to:

• possess a solid foundation of convictions regarding the missionary character of the Salesian charism;

• be prepared to act as an educator, teacher and guide of others, teaching them how to promote intercultural and interreligious dialogue;

• know how to actively foster missionary animation in the Salesian educative-pastoral community.

5.3. The following topics for reflection are recommended to the candidate:

• the study of missiology especially inculturation, intercultural dialogue or interreligious dialogue and new evangelisation;

• the study of the documents of the Church regarding missionary activity;

• deepen the challenge of multiculturalism, multireligious contexts, popular religiosity and way of proclaiming the gospel in these contexts.

5.4. The following experiences are suggested to the Salesian:

• pastoral work with immigrants and followers of other religions;

• animation of the missionary groups and Salesian volunteers;

• summer missionary experience ad exteros;

• direct involvement in Salesian missionary animation at the Province level.

5.5. It is reccomended that the Salesian develops the following attitudes and skills:

• ability to animate missionary and volunteer groups;

• ability to foster intercultural and interreligious dialogue;

• ability to serve migrants and cultural minorities;

• ability to foster missionary animation in the Salesian educative-pastoral community.

Part II Content and Method of On-Going Formation

6.1. The on-going formation is the continuation, the compliment and the renewal of the initial formation. It aims at living the Salesian apostolic project with an energy that is both joyous and creatively faithful.

6.2. This requires, among others, that the confrere:

• encounters the culture of the people, particularly young people, he is serving, with openness and intelligence, with solid criteria for discernment in line with the Christian vision, and following ecclesial and Salesian directives in the light of the Salesian Charism;

• if he possesses the necessary gifts and if these correspond to the needs of the Province, he accepts the invitation of the Superior and he specialises - in missiology, anthropology, intercultural dialogue and interreligious dialogue – in order to offer a competent service to the Province and the Congregation.

6.3. During this period, besides the on-going formation course for missionaries in the Salesian Pontifical University, there are no formal courses, with the exception of those frequented by the confreres in order to obtain licenses in missiology, anthropology, intercultural and interreligious dialogue. The days of study and reflection together with the members of the Salesian Family and lay collaborators are occasions for on-going formation. The courses for missionaries, organised by the Bishops Conferences and the Conference of Religious in many nations, also offer excellent opportunities for on-going formation.

6.4. The missionary initiatives are in themselves formative experiences for the Salesian confrere, especially when they include reflections on current missionary activities. Some of them consist in:

• taking part in the day of the community as the ordinary context of on-going formation;

• taking part, with the members of the educative-pastoral community or with the Salesian family, and initiatives which leads to a reflection about certain aspects of missionary activity and evangelisation;

• committing oneself in the formation of leaders and formators, especially within the Salesian Family, regarding the missionary dimension of the Salesian charism;

• being directly involved in a professional manner, according to his ability and upon the request of the Provincial, in the missionary animation and formation of the confreres.

Part III Specific Formation of Salesian Missionaries Ad Gentes, Ad Exteros, Ad Vitam

7.1. This formation is directed to Salesians who have responded, after careful discernment, to the missionary vocation ad gentes, ad exteros, ad vitam.

7.2. The departing missionary's enthusiasm and the wealth of his faith is not enough even if these are fundamental criteria. It is essential and important to be equpped with the right tools to enter into a new people and take on the personal attitudes of openness, which is respectful and trustful towards the other so that his presence may be welcomed, effective, humble and discreet.

7.3. The Province of origin of the departing missionary:

• takes the commitment to give the possibility to the missionary confrere to take part in meetings or course for departing missionaries organised by the Conference of Religious or Bishops' Conference in his country of origin;

• sends the missionary confrere to participate in the Orientation Course for New Missionaries organised by the Missions Department as the immediate preparation for departing missionaries before the giving of the Missionary Cross in Turin.

7.4. The Province who receives the new missionary has the commitment to guide and facilitate the integration of the new missionary in his new cultural, social and ecclesial context, therefore it:

• assures his initial accompaniment with a spiritual guide and, during the first years, also a missionary who could accompany his first steps as missionary.

• gives the possibility to the new missionary to participate in the Orientation Course for New Missionaries organised by Bishops’ Conference or by the Conference of Religious, within a year of stay in the country, in order to better understand the local culture and promote a proper inculturation;

• gives the possibility, after some years of missionary life, to participate in the On-going Formation Course for Missionaries, sponsored by the Department for the Missions and organised by the Salesian Pontifical University in Rome.

Appendix: Criteria for Discernment of Salesian Missionary Vocation Ad Gentes, Ad Exteros, Ad Vitam

1. Persons involved in the discernment process at (4) various levels

• The candidate: evaluation, accompaniment by a spiritual guide, of the confessor.

• The community where the confrere lives: Rector, formators

• The Provincial and his Council

• The General Councillor for the Missions

2. General criteria vocational discernment

Three essential aspects: (1) Right intention, (2) Free decision, (3) necessary qualities

According to Vatican II (Ad Gentes 25) the suitability or the necessary virtues of the missionary, other than the specific lay, religious or priestly vocation, are the following:

• A certain moral strength to overcome difficulties of the mission;

• Patience, understanding, humility, charity in order to discover authentic values in other religions;

• Supernatural spirit to make mission more than something merely philanthropic or social;

• A clear witness and sign of the Gospel to non-believers;

• Communion and obedience in the common apostolate, under the guidance of the local bishop.

In our Salesian experience, in general, we distinguish four fundamental qualities in order to start a serious discernment of the Salesian missionary vocation:

• Spirit of faith and rootedness in Christ, because the missionary must proclaim Christ;

• Capacity for community life, because one will normally be part of an intercultural community;

• Capacity for self-emptying (kenosis) and sacrifice, because his is a life of gratuitous service;

• Robust personality, good health, with the capacity to learn languages.

3. Counter indications of the missionary vocation ad gentes

- The search for adventure and simple desire to change the place where one works;

- Urged on by a third person: parents, confreres, friends, ...

- Escape from one’s own relational, personal, vocational problems, …

- It is to be absolutely avoided sending a confrere as a missionary who has problems fitting in to the ordinary community life in his Province of origin. Once sent to another culture, he will normally find a more demanding environment, which would not be helpful in solving his problems.

4. Insufficient elements

It is not enough to be a ‘good confrere and a good Salesian’; the missionary vocation is a new call not common to every Salesian in the Congregation.

It is not enough to have some vague missionary idea: for example a vague wish to work for poor youngsters or in a poor setting …

It is not enough just to be enthusiastic about the missions, since this may not last long if this does not mature by developing concrete attitudes.

5. Specific criteria for discernment (for the candidate, the Rector and Council)

( ) Good health, human maturity and psychological balance

( ) Relational capacity, sense of responsibility in the mission, Community-oriented person

( ) Capacity to adapt to the local and Salesian culture, to the culture different from one’s own

( ) Personal prayer life, a life centred on the Eucharist.

( ) Respect for others (lay mission partners, the young), for the different cultures, religions

( ) Commitment to the new country and culture ad vitam, leaving everything for the Kingdom.