Number 3 "Salesian Mission Animation Bulletin" 11 March 2009

IN THIS NUMBER

• from the General Councillor

• new missionaries sought (Africa)

• Salesian missionary intention – March 2009

• the missions: ultimately the full result of Don Bosco's energetic charity

• A question for Missionaries

Dear confreres and friends of the Salesian missions!

The lenten period invites usto rediscover the roots of our faith in Jesus Christ crucified and risen. The Easter event is at the heart of the Church's mission.

In the Church's thinking “mission animation activities are always aimed at specific purposes: informing and forming the people of God for the universal mission of the Church, giving rise to vocations ad gentes, and eliciting cooperation for evangelisation.” [John Paul II, Redemptoris Missio 83]

It is possible that we are not all fully aware of the urgent needs of the Salesian missions in thefive continents. I am suggesting that in your prayer and interests you involve the mission trritories which now, in 2009, are most in need of missionaries ad gentes and pray that many of our young confreres (including the not so young!) can respond to a missionary calling from the Lord in this Salesian Holy Year and generously offer themselves to the Rector Major for missions ad gentes. This means in practice: praying and getting others to pray, speaking with young people in our settings, presenting the urgent needs of the missions viva voce and through media.

Fr Václav Klement, SDB
General Councillor for the Missions

Salesian missionary intention – March 2009

"So that all groups of the Salesian Family in the China Province may develop good formators, leaders, guides"

Throughout the China province territory the Church is facing many socio-cultural changes,which which demand responses deeply rooted in the Gospel of Christ. Groups of Religious in the Salesian Family are involvved in vocation ministry, and lay groups (Salesian Cooperators and past pupils, VDB, CDB) need a solid Christian and Salesian formation.

for the missionary and general intention of the Pope see www.sdb.org for suggestions and contributions: cagliero11@gmail.com

Dear confreres and friends of the Salesian missions!

The lenten period invites usto rediscover the roots of our faith in Jesus Christ crucified and risen. The Easter event is at the heart of the Church's mission.

In the Church's thinking “mission animation activities are always aimed at specific purposes: informing and forming the people of God for the universal mission of the Church, giving rise to vocations ad gentes, and eliciting cooperation for evangelisation.” [John Paul II, Redemptoris Missio 83]

[fuzzy] It is possible that we are not all fully aware of the urgent needs of the Salesian missions in thefive continents. I am suggesting that in your prayer and interests you involve the mission trritories which now, in 2009, are most in need of missionaries ad gentes and pray that many of our young confreres (including the not so young!) can respond to a missionary calling from the Lord in this Salesian Holy Year and generously offer themselves to the Rector Major for missions ad gentes. This means in practice: praying and getting others to pray, speaking with young people in our settings, presenting the urgent needs of the missions viva voce and through media.

Fr Václav Klement, SDB
General Councillor for the Missions

The missions: ultimately the full result of Don Bosco's energetic charity

At the beginnings there is (after God's grace) the heart of Don Bosco. What strikes us most about Don Bosco is his unity. In all of history he is one of the most amazing examples of unity between the human and hsi work. From his dream at 9 years of age until his final illness at 73, we see the development of a clearly identified vocation: the da mihi animas on behalf of the young and the poor. Don Bosco was a holy person from the beginning; he was passionate, and this noble, holy passion was urged on constantly by love.

Our Constitutions say in article 10: "Don Bosco experienced and handed on, under God's inspiration, an original style of life and action: the Salesian spirit. Its centre and synthesis is pastoral charity, characterised by that youthful dynamism so strongly revealed in our Founder and at the origins of our Society: it is an apostolic thrust to seeks souls and serve God alone". Don Bosco's missionary commitment is nothing other thanthe ultimate result andlively manifestation of the energy and impulse of pastoral charity. We could take up here St Paul's hymn to charity (1 Cor 13,:4-7), adapting it to Don Bosco's life: "Charity is strong; charity is dynamic; charity is brave. Charity never tires, never stops, never says: enough! Charity has great horizons and immense desires. Charity refuses to be limited and accepts sacrifices. Charity invades times and space to embrace the universe".

Thus we can explain three main stages inDon Bosco's life, the three ever-widening ripplies from from his pastoral love. From around 1841- 1850, he says to the Lord: "Da mihi animas iuvenum!" (Give me the souls of the young), and founds his first work for the young. From 1850 - 1860, at a time of great danger for the faith of the ordinary people, he adds: "Da mihi animas plebium!" (Give me the souls of the people), and founds his Letture Cattolicheand a vast enterprise of teaching and Christian press. and after having spent fifteen years to found three groups of disciples, three branches of the Salesian Family in view of the future, broadening out his prayer further: "Da mihi etiam animas gentium!" (Give me the souls of the people), and sends out his first missionaries, giving them as the first of twenty 'reminders':"Seek souls, not money, honour, recognition" (MB XI, 389). On his death bed, 26 January 1888, he would tell Bishop Cagliero: "save many souls in the missions!" (MB XVIII, 530). The missions: the ultimate, great wave flowing out ofl Da mihi animas!

Don Rua gives only this interpretation when he writes in January 1897: "Our wonderful father Don Bosco, devoured by burning zeal, broke into that cry: da mihi animas and it was this need to save souls that convinced him the Old World could be left in peace for a while and to send his sons to the far distant missions in America" (Sal Bulletin, Jan. 1897, p.4).

Don Rinaldi applies even more meaningful words in 1925, the fiftieth anniversary of our missions: "His great heart had built up the apostolic zeal of a Francis Xavier over many many years, nurtured by a divine flame that had him launch out into the future on the basis of his dreams…. I look back on our beloved father through the distant memories of my Salesian vocation, right at the time of his greatest missionary fervour; and it has left an indelible impression on me: he really was a missionary, an apostle consumed with passion for souls" (ACS 1925, n.6, p.367). "A giant of charity", Pope Pius XI said.

(Cf. J. Aubry, Renewal of our Salesian life, 49-51)

An example of a missionary request

25 February 2009

Dear Fr Chávez,

… I am happy here as a Salesian aspirant in our mission apostolate amongst the poor youngsters inthe outskirts of our country's capital city. The experience has given me a sensitivity for the missions and has nurtured and deepened my missionary vocation...

..After having experienced Salesian life for six years and after a careful discernment over the years of initial formation, and in dialogue with my superiors and confessor, I N. from the … province, offer you my desire to be a Salesian missionary. My country no doubt has much need for missionaries but I am sure that God in exchange for my departure, will send many other vocations inspired by the "da mihi animas" of Don Bosco...

...After consideration of our Congregation's needs,and well knowing my limits, I would prefer to be sent to n., however I am ready to be sent to any part of the Congregation where the need is greater... I make this request in full freedom, without any form of coercion. I promise to put all my efforts towards those to whom I am sent...

… thank you for your attention and I assure you also of my prayers.

your ever affectionate son,