Cagliero 11 gennaio 2015 - ING


Cagliero 11 gennaio 2015 - ING

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Nome società
Titolo n otiziario
Newsletter for Salesian Missionary Animation
A Publication of the Missions Department for the Salesian Communities and Friends of the Salesian Missions
D ear
friends!
Now, we have
entered fully
into the Bicen-
tennial year. We
entered the year 2015 “with both
feet” (as they say in Angola).
The month of January is always
for us a month full of Don Bosco. A
month under the light of January
31, which is the dies natalis, the
day of true and definitive birth of
our dear Father, his birth to eter-
nity. He always wanted one thing:
that young people are happy in time
and eternity!
It is impressive how the great
Salesian missionaries have always
connected with such naturalness
these two births: caring for life and
promoting respect for it, the ten-
derness with the little ones and
those newly born, and at the same
time, enthusing everyone and eve-
rything through the witness of the
boundless joy of a life totally rooted
in God.
In this perspective I recommend
to show to others the testimony of
Don Luigi Bolla, a missionary in
Peru, in the video of the Salesian
Mission Day 2015.
Happy feast of Don Bosco !
Fr. Guillermo Basañes SDB
Councillor for missions
All Rectors Major from
the Special General Chap-
ter (1972) onwards have
consistently insisted that
The missionary dimension
of Don Bosco’s charism:
live our Salesian life
“missionary activity is an
essential characteristic,
that touches the essence
“permanently in
a state of mission”
and the very life of our
Congregation.” (D. Ricceri, ACS 267, p.13). This means that “the mis-
sionary dimension is an essential element of our charism,” (D. Vi-
ganò, AGC 336, p.11), hence it “is part of our identity.” (D. Fernández,
AGC 419, p.22). This implies then that the “the missionary sense is
not an optional trait but forms part of the Salesian spirit in every
time and situation.” (D. Vecchi, ACG 362, p.8).
Being an essential feature of the Salesian spirit, this presup-
poses that every Salesian wherever he is - in a school, university,
parish, vocational training centre, oratory, in the forest, in the
city, in his country, out of his homeland - must live this missionary
spirit if he is to be faithful to the charism of Don Bosco. This is con-
cretely expressed by his “passion for the salvation of others” and
“the joy of sharing the experience of the fullness of the life in Je-
sus” (D. Chávez, AGC 401, p.137). In fact for our founder, “the the
source to his missionary activity was his ardent apostolic zeal, his
longing to save souls.” (D. Ricceri, ACS 267, p.15).
Today Pope Francis enlightens us that living this missionary
dimension of our charism implies living our Salesian life
“permanently in a state of mission” and thus, keep alive our pas-
sion for Jesus and his people that makes us overcome pastoral
acedia, small mindedness, the tomb psychology and helps us to re-
discover the joy of evangelising! (Evangelii Gaudium 25, 82-83, 268).
On the other hand, this missionary spirit which every Salesian
must live does not exclude, but actually implies that there are
Salesians who have a specific vocation to be a missionary
amongst those who do not know Christ or have abandoned him,
outside one’s own country, for life.
This, then, is the sense of the Sale-
sian Mission Day 2015: to keep alive
in every Salesian the missionary spirit,
and help in the discernment of those
who feel that they have the missionary
vocation ad gentes, ad exteros, ad
vitam.
Fr. Alfred Maravilla, SDB
Missions department
Starting this year 2015 the video for the Salesian Mission Day will be available only
online (http://www.sdb.org/en/Departments/Missions/SMD_2015&lista=video_2015). It is the task of
the PDMA to download it and send to communities who have no access to the internet.
If any community desires the video in DVD the PDMA should send the request to the Mis-
sions Department. The cost of production and postage will be charged to the Province.

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My missionary vocation ad gentes, ad intra amongst the Xavante
M y first contact with the indigenous people was during my novitiate in 2003. It was part
of this formative stage to know the Bororo and Xavante indigenous communities in the
Salesian Mission of Mato Grosso. It was a very meaningful contact. Eventually I asked,
and I was sent to do the second year of my practical training amongst the Xavante community of
San Marcos. This missionary experience continued during the holidays while I was doing my theo-
logical studies.
In 2011 I was ordained a deacon in San Marcos and I was assigned to be part the Salesian
missionary community of the ‘personal’ parish of St. Dominic Savio, Nova Xavantina. The aim
was to work for the indigenous Xavante people of the region. In 2013 I was part of the Salesian
community Sangradouro, home to the indigenous Bororo and Xavante people. I was there as a
teacher, coordinator of the youth group, animator of the liturgy, of cultural festivals and of the Oratory; Besides taking
the initiative to write the history of the Salesian Mission in these missions during these last 50 years, I also took care of
the maintenance of the hydropower plant, agricultural work and the daily business of the community ...
Today I’m back in the personal Parish St. Dominic Savio. The parish covers two
dioceses and a Prelature, four indigenous lands; more than 150 villages; a huge
land area; and a population of about 15,000 indigenous people.
I see myself as a person who, through baptism, is called to live as Don Bosco in
the Spirit of Jesus Christ. The Pope, in his Evangelii Gaudium, calls attention to
this important missionary dimension of Jesus which should characterize the com-
munity of those who follow him.
Don Bosco understood well that call, he sent missionaries to the Indians of
America. Many missionaries, leaving their lands, have dedicated themselves to this
work with faith and love. So, in this indigenous reality, I see myself as part of the
dream of many other dreamers ... and as a challenge of GC27, which calls us to be
Don Bosco in the real frontiers, and where a prophetic and an evangelising presence is most needed. Aware of my limi-
tations, but also with a heart open and available to God and to others, I know that something good can come out from
here. This is evidenced by Don Bosco and many missionaries who have given their lives for the indigenous peoples.
There are certainly challenges like learning the language and culture of the Xavante; inculturated evangelisation;
the change of pastoral mentality; openness to what is new which challenges us; internal and external conflict (between
indigenous and non-indigenous people) through dialogue and mutual acceptance; the lack of material and human re-
sources for the most significant work.
But it is also positive that the Salesian missionary work among the indigenous people is bearing fruit. I am especially
happy of the effort made by the Salesian Mission: this shows that the struggle and dreams continue; the ‘little’ that we
have, when shared, becomes ‘a lot’.
Deacon José Alves de Oliveira
Brasilian, missionary amongst the Xavante
Witness of Salesian missionary sanctity
From the letters of Venerable Msgr.Vincent Cimatti (1879-1965), missionary
in Japan: “Don Bosco! This name must remind me of my duties sworn to God
on my profession; it should remind me of the life of my Venerable Father;
and through what ways he formed our Society; it should remind me of his
immense love for Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, for Mary Help of Chris-
tians, for the Pope, and for souls” (December 25, 1925).
For all Salesians of Don Bosco
Salesian Missionary Intention
That as a Congregation which “goes forth” in a Church without borders may the
Salesian Mission Day 2015 inspire every Salesian to have the missionary audacity
to go out to the peripheries.
In the name of Don Bosco, during the month of Don Bosco, during the bicentenary of Don
Bosco ... this month we pray for all the sons of Don Bosco, that they may have the same
missionary heart of our founder, always open to everyone to bring God to all.