Cagliero 11 marzo 2012-ing


Cagliero 11 marzo 2012-ing

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Nome società
Titolo n otiziario
Newsletter for Salesian Missionary Animation
A Publication of the Mission Department for the Salesian Communities and Friends of the Salesian Mission
Myung Hun
My friends led me to Jesus
D ear friends of the Salesian mission and missionaries,
Here is a story of a young Korean showing how his Christian friends have pro-
claimed to him Jesus accompanying him at every step in his journey of faith,
yet allowing the Spirit to act in his heart: “My name is Myung Hun. I was a person
with a rather negative attitude, without great dreams and a life that is far from
exemplary. A chain of events show the hand of God in my life: A friend of mine in-
vited me many times to visit the Catholic Church, but I did not take notice of it.
One day in the cafeteria of the University I saw him making the sign of the cross
before eating. I was so impressed by his gesture that after I felt like I was 'caught'
by someone unknown to visit the Church. One day, while waiting at the bus stop, I
saw a poster advertising a movie that my friend had earlier recommended that I go and watch “Don’t cry
for me Tonj”, about Fr. John Lee a missionary in Sudan. After watching the movie I felt so many things in
my heart. I wondered why he gave his whole life and all his energies to others. On the other hand, I realised
that when I die, perhaps nobody will even cry for me! Then I decided: “I want to be baptised!”
So I started the catechumenate in the Church next to the University, then I joined the Bible study group on
campus. 3 days before the feast of Don Bosco, I received an invitation to participate in the recollection of
the Salesian Youth Movement. I also accepted the invitation of the Assistant Parish Priest to serve as an as-
sistant at the children ‘s catechism. At the University I also accepted the invitation of the chaplain to be a
tutor of the young Korean-Chinese migrants who have no one with them. I did all these because I discovered
the joy in serving others which I have never felt before. Last year I was baptised on the day of Pentecost and
I chose the name John Bosco. Looking back at the journey I have made these past two years I realised how
the good Lord has guided me to the knowledge of Jesus through friends who proclaimed to me Jesus with
respect and freedom, accompanying me step by step. Thanks to them the little flame of faith has now be-
come a great light. Now I want to share Jesus too with other young people!”
I wish that the Salesian Missions Day 2012 may be a stimulus to all of us to “Tell the Story of Jesus” to
our friends who do not know him yet!
Fr. Václav Klement, SDB
Councilor for the Missions
B When storytelling becomes Gospel proclamation
lessed John Paul II highlighted the possibility of proclaiming the Gospel through storytelling in
Ecclesia in Asia. Unlike direct proclamation which could appear as a culturally insensitive and religiously dis-
respectful monologue to followers of other religions or non believers, the narration of the story of Jesus
springs from the experience of the Christian storyteller, and takes place in the context of the local culture
and a web of relationships among friends and neighbours. It is rooted in an attitude of mutual listening and
narrating, of giving and receiving, of deepening and enriching one another’s faith and understanding.
Impelled by his love for Christ and for those who do not know Him, every Christian narrates the story
of Jesus and his faith in him with respect and without forcing it on the listeners yet never timid when the
Holy Spirit, the Great Storyteller, opens the door to proclaim explicitly that Jesus is the Saviour and the An-
swer to the fundamental questions of human existence. It also implies a convincing witness of Christian life,
and the capacity and necessity of opening one’s heart to the other and of speaking one’s mind with courage
and respect. Only then could it foster the development of true friendship which opens the way to narrate the
story of one’s own encounter with Jesus and on the meaning of life and human existence. The rest is left to
the Spirit who works in the hearts of the listeners even before our arrival!
Fr. Alfred Maravilla, SDB
Missions Department

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I want to share with the Achuars
the faith that I have received from missionaries
The witness of the love for Christ of Salesian missionaries in my
country has opened my heart to ask to be sent to the foreign mis-
sion. My dream was fulfilled when the Rector Major sent me in Ecua-
dor.
I am grateful to the Provincial who sent me to the post-novitiate in
Quito under the guidance of the Rector for a year of introduction. I
had the opportunity to attend the Spanish course and postnovices
helped me to learn Spanish and the traditions and culture of Ecua-
dor. It was not easy. I felt like becoming a child again. But during
this time I also had the experience of accompanying youth groups
every weekend which gave me the opportunity not only to practice
Spanish and share the love of Christ, but above all to understand
that God is already present among the young people before of my
arrival.
After a year I was sent to a community in the forest. Wasakentsa is far from everything. There are no buses to
get there. It is reachable only by small plane. I was in an international community (an Argentine rector, an Italian
vice rector, I an Indonesian and two Ecuadorian volunteers) which ministers to an
indigenous group called the Achuar. We have a secondary school with a boarding
house. I was the assistant in the boarding house as well as teacher in the school. We
work with the Marianitas sisters who are responsible of the girls boarding house.
They also teach in the school.
The Achuars have their own language, traditions, culture and laws. It takes
time for us to learn all these and above all to accept that these contain the seeds of
the Gospel. To help us live like the people we minister to we eat like the Achuars
every day: bananas, yucca and fideo. Sometimes we eat rice with chicha
(traditional drink of the Achuars).
Certainly there are difficulties, but the personal and communal prayer as well
as mutual support have helped me to continue our mission. The example of the mis-
sionaries in my country, like Fr. José Carbonell, and of the missionaries here, like
Fr. Luigi Bolla, not only continue to impel me to share the faith in Jesus Christ that
I have received but also strengthen me to continue this difficult mission with the Achuar people.
I am sure that we are here to do the will of God, so He is always with us. This year I was assigned in Guayaquil.
I'm glad and happy to be a Salesian missionary in this country. I hope that my missionary vocation will grow every
day here in Ecuador, the land beloved by God!
Cl. Agustinus Togo
Indonesian, missionary in Ecuador
1st On-Going Formation Course for Missionaries in America
The Centro Salesiano Regional de Formación Permanente, Quito and the Missions Department announce the 1st On-
Going Formation Course for Salesian Missionaries in all the Provinces of America from August 6 to 27, 2012 in
Quito, Ecuador. For more information write to cagliero11@gmail.com. Send your application possibly before April 1,
2012.
Salesian Missionary Intention
INDIA - for Christians in the state of Orissa
That Christians who live in areas disturbed by community violence in
2007-2008 may live in security and build-up relationships of mutual
respect and trust in the territory which has suffered so much violence
against Christians.
Four years have already passed since the acts of violence against Christians in
Orissa (2007-2008), where churches, convents were looted, and many Christians
have suffered martyrdom. We pray for all Christians in the area. A new presence
in Orissa in Muniguda (Province of Hyderabad), which is a project suggested for
the Salesian Mission Day 2012, has a special need of our prayers.
All previous issues of "Cagliero 11" are available at purl.org/sdb/sdl/Cagliero