Cagliero 11-07 2009 ing


Cagliero 11-07 2009 ing

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Number 7
«Newsletter for Salesian Missionary Animation»
11 July 2009
Dear confreres – missionaries of the young, and dear friends of the Salesian missions!
In July and August in lots of provinces we have summer holidays, with plenty of
opportunities for school camps, faith experiences, enjoyment and even missionary
experiences. The mission volunteer movement in many forms is a youth ministry offered
by now in many provinces.
IN THIS ISSUE
From the General Councillor
Salesian mission intention
July 2009
We know of the experience of some mission groups from Latin America, Asia which
involve their members every week, or month in mission work in villages in areas not
reached by priests – helping especially with catechesis and first evangelisation.
The most beautiful gift received
from the young
We know of the experiences of mission groups from Latin America who bring their Missionaries amongst the Muslims
members during important liturgical moments (Holy Week, Christmas) into the favelas of
the huge cities or amongst native groups in the Amazonia for explicit mission work. We
know the the three week mission experience, preceded by a month of preparation during the school year – as happens in some
provinces in Europe or East Asia.
We also know about the experiences of the young volunteer missionaries in their own country, as happens in some Latin American
provinces like Ecuador. Here, each year around two hundred young people leave for 12 months work in various parts of the country
– in the Amazon forests, in the communities in the Cordillera, along the coast, or amongst street children – and they fully share the
life of the Salesians. Other provinces also send their volunteers out of the country.
We also know about other experiences of volunteers who offer their professional training on behalf of certain development projects
(like JTM – Spain, VIS – Italy, COMIDE – Belgium etc).
We know of other groups of the Salesian Family who are explicitly missionary and who send lay members, married couples, or
others, after making a missionary promise –for some years, and some even for life, in mission countries.
So then here are various kinds of mission volunteer work. What is important, is a formation curriculum before, during and after these
experiences. It is my hope that in your province too this missionary formation of the young will be kept alive. We hope to bring the
experiences in the South American Continent to the attention of the whole Salesian Family in 2011 with the theme for the Mission
Day being ‘Forming young missionaries’.
I hope you will find a chance for abundant apostolic results, being close to the young, and with the heart of Don Bosco – the
missionary
Fr. Václav Klement, SDB
General Councillor for the Missions
Salesian mission intention July 2009
«That young confreres working in North African countries will daily discover
the patience and courage to witness to the Christian faith in joy and enthusiasm»
In North African countries - Morocco, Tunisia, Libya and Egypt some 30 confreres live and work, involved especially
in educational work of schools, with almost exclusively Muslim students, and offering pastoral service to very few
foreign Catholics. We are talking of a very significant presence which demands almost absolute free gift of daily
service.
For the Pope's general and missionary intention see: www.sdb.org for suggestions and contributions: cagliero11@gmail.com

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The most beautiful gift I have received from the young
I remember, 2007 in the Parish of St Dominic Savio, Bellflower, USA when I first expressed the wish to be a
volunteer with orphans in Ecuador. I have now been working 8 months in Guayaquil. I believe that I have found
my passion in life. If I had to choose an important moment in my life, it would be this experience.
This experience has changed my perception of the world. it has opened my eyes to the reality of poverty, hunger
and situations found in developing countries. This experience has opened my eyes ed and has been an inspiration
for me to be a better person.
At the beginning I was afraid of the new country, far from family and friends, but once I saw these kids all
inhibitions disappeared. I didn't believe when people told me how this experience would change my life I had no
idea how right they were. Seeing an innocent child on the footpath changes your life and is a blessing when that
youngster takes the decision to come back to the Oratory with you. I have the feeling that I non did not only bring
Vince or Eric, but I brought God!
every day spent here is a gift from God. It has helped me understand what love for Him is all about, and I am
extremely grateful for this. The most important thing I have learned here is not to maintain for sure that the things
we have, that “thing” could be shoes, a bowl of rice or parents. Unfortunately I had regarded all these things with
certainty. A year ago my life was on a downhill ride, and I had no motivation for either school or work. Now I am
leaving Ecuador with a new outlook on life and a new desire and new motivation to continue helping others. This
new motivation growing in my heart is the best gift I could have received from the kids, and it is something that
money could never buy.
So, where do I see myself in ten years time? I see myself making a difference in the world and helping others,
perhaps not in Ecuador, but I hope as a fireman! I thank all the Salesian Brothers and Priests who are praying for
me and who believed in me throughout all this. They have helped me to be the person I am today.
John Garcia, 18 years old
Missionaries amongst the Muslims
«… We are here because we are missionaries, because we
have a faith to share, Good News to make known.
Certainly our mission is above all witness. A witness to
the faith that animates us, to the hope that sustains us and
the love we receive from God and which we want to share
with everyone.
I don't feel personally frustrated because there are few
Christians or because there are few conversions to our
Faith. I am convinced that we are here to 'sow' not to
'reap'. We sow through prayer, silent prayer, through
teaching in our own or government schools, or by our
presence in hospitals and clinics... by sharing our lives
Don Václav Klement e Don José Miguel Núñez, Consigliere per la with people who live here.
regione Europa Ovest, con i giovani del Centro di Formazione
Professionale “Assabil”, Marocco.
Missionary activity cannot certainly be measured by
the those registered for sacraments or other measures
like that. Only God can measure it. Only He one day can tell us: I was hungry for hope, for a fraternal world, for
friendship, love, Good News, God ... and you came to me ... Then someone will say: “But when did we give you hope?
When did we offer you a kind Word? When did we tell you the truth about un God as love? When did we help you hope
in a more fraternal world?”And then Jesus will tell us: “Every time you did this for these little ones, for these people
living in a difficult land, you did it for me”. This is why I think the Bishop or priest working here should never feel
deluded because there is no great pastoral ministry . He is called to give witness, through his life and activity to give a
reflection of that Light which illuminates every human being...
… What is important is not gathering the fruits but throwing out the seeds of the Gospel which will one day bear
fruit ... Mission remains “mission” even in Muslim countries. We missionaries however need glasses that only faith can
provide, to be able to see and believe that our activity s meaningful and can leaven the bread that is the world».
Bishop George Bertin
Bishop of DJibuti e Apostolic Administrator of Mogadishu
(Popoli e Missione, March 2009, p. 52-53 – quoted with permission )