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
D ear Salesian missionaries
and friends of the Salesian
Missions!
A few weeks ago I received a very
valuable gift in Japan. Sr. Rosa, an
FMA of 82, painted during the Spiri-
tual retreat the whole journey of
faith of Mary. She drew on a 4 me-
ter roll of paper the journey from
the Virgin’s YES up to the upper
room while awaiting for Pentecost
with the Apostles. The roll recalls
the foundation of our Christian life
- the journey of faith can never be
stopped!
On the right hand side of the trip-
tych of Aparecida given by Bene-
dict XVI to the Church in America in
2007 there are three scenes from
the Bible depicting listening, and
on the left hand side three other
scenes of proclamation. The dy-
namics of a living faith are simple -
Listen to Jesus (Come to me!) and
be sent by Jesus (Go and proclaim)!
In the journey of Advent 2012 I in-
vite all to live with a heart more
open to Christ Jesus. We meet him
in the Word and the Eucharist, but
also in our young people, especially
non-Christians. Thanks to the young
people - who are awaiting our wit-
ness and word of faith – we can live
more fully the missionary mandate
of Jesus!
Fr. Václav Klement, SDB
Councilor for the Missions
Rediscover the experience of the Salesian
“sodalities” and of missionary groups
I n the November 2012 issue of the Italian Salesian Bulletin
Fr. Pascual Chávez wrote that «almost instinctively, Don
Bosco felt the importance of “social reinforcement” in the for-
mation of young people, especially those formed by friends and
peers. Young people need friends like the air they breathe. The
gang, peer group, group of friends can badly influence even
the well educated youth. Don Bosco, in his genial pedagogical
instinct, invented a “place” for friends which brings out the
best in them».
The Rector Major underlined that «social ties and friendships
are an important protective factor. A person is satisfied when
he feels recognised, endorsed, supported, treated with kind-
ness by people with whom he lives ... the “sodalities” devel-
oped from these insights as original and fruitful experience of
youth groups, and became part of the Salesian panorama. To-
day, the charismatic heritage is passed on to the Salesian
Youth Movement (SYM). It is an educative movement offered to
all young people, to make them subjects and protagonists of
their own human and Christian growth, with a will to have an
influence in the neighborhood and in civil society in which it is
inserted and make its contribution to the local church».
It is also in this light that the missionary groups in every Sale-
sian presence fosters the revival of the missionary conscious-
ness of young people and of the whole Educative Pastoral Com-
munity in order to achieve new levels of faith and commit-
ment, with a specific interest in sharing their faith in Christ,
witness of life, and Christian solidarity. As a result, the mis-
sionary group revitalises the enthusiasm for the faith and the
fascination for the Salesian charism. It helps to «overcome
faith fatigue and rediscover the joy of being Christians, of be-
ing sustained by the inner happiness of knowing Christ and be-
longing to his Church» (Benedict XVI). This, in turn, stirs up the
ardour that gives birth to new vocations.
May Christ be the centre of our Christmas celebrations!
Happy New Year 2013!
12-6-2012 14