Voluntary Service in the Salesian mission
Don Bosco wanted the young themselves to take the lead in his mission, by forming youth groups. One of the groups set us was the Conference of St. Vincent de Paul with two aims: to teach the catechism to the boys of the festive oratory and to help those among them who have most need of material or moral assistance. (Wirth M., Don Bosco and the Salesians, ELLE DI CI,2000, p. 67). The experience of voluntary service undertaken by the boys of the oratory during the period of the cholera epidemic was also particularly important and significant and helped them come to a decision about their vocation in life.
In the course of 150 years of Salesian history we have seen the continuing development of group activities and various forms of voluntary service on the part of the young.
From the ‘60s we have witnessed a continuous expansion in the experience of young lay missionaries in our circles, taking various forms. Different voluntary service groups from Europe (e.g.: OMG - Operation Matto Grosso) encourage the American Provinces. In this way missionary voluntary service has come into being in this continent. Forty years later we have an impressive variety of different forms of voluntary service: from the experience of missionary groups of voluntary service in Latin America, to the highly organised NGO in Europe.
To have some idea of the variety of experiences of about thirty Provinces it is sufficient to consult the CC of the Salesian Missionary Day for 2011, where a great deal of very interesting material has been put together, the result of the work carried out by the Provinces in the last three years.
Starting from the ‘80s we can identify some stages which have contributed to the growth in quality of voluntary service in the broad sense:
Moving on from an isolated initiative to its integration in the overall proposal of Youth Ministry in the Province. In fact in some Provinces we now have a vocational – missionary ministry.
The involvement of the former-volunteers themselves in the formation of the younger ones, even to the extent of their taking on totally the management of voluntary service at the side of the Salesians.
Growth in the relationship between the communities, Provinces which send volunteers and the Provinces which receive young voluntary missionaries.
Growth in the number of vocations coming from volunteers in all the continents, thanks to an explicit and focused vocational accompaniment.
Improvement in the quality of the preparation of the young volunteers: from a week to a month for those leaving; a process of 10 monthly meeting for those who have returned.
Increase in the number of the volunteers coming from our own educational – pastoral centres
Greater openness in the communities receiving volunteers, who recognise the fruitful benefits to be had from the presence of the volunteers, their life and their mission.
Increase in the number of volunteers who having once returned from the missionary experience involve themselves ‘at home’. In fact some organisations in European Province have arisen with the support of the former-volunteers who have returned from their experience in Asia, Latin America or Africa.
Practical Reflection by the Congregation
(international events – meetings about voluntary service)
The progress of the Congregation in the field of international voluntary service is marked by the following fundamental stages.
Annual meetings of the Heads of Missionary Offices (1986-1990)
They devoted many meetings to the subject of missionary voluntary service from various points of view, including: preparation, formation, accompaniment, placing the volunteer in the local situation of the missions, specific features of Salesian voluntary service in the missions.
Accepting voluntary service in the communities is a duty and a challenge; the Mission Office help the Provinces to set up voluntary service.
Voluntary Service and the Salesian Mission
There are many different experiences of voluntary service: this is something valuable but there can also be a danger regarding the identity and formation capability of voluntary service itself. This led the Congregation in 1995 to draw up the document Voluntary Service and the Salesian Mission, through the Departments for Youth Ministry, for the Missions and for the Salesian Family.
International Congress in Rome (2001)
Generalate; following a world-wide enquiry which was conducted by the Salesian Pontifical University in Rome (UPS), with the participation of 30 Provinces. (Malizia G. - V. Pieroni, I gruppi/organizzazioni di volontariato salesiano nel mondo, Roma, 2001)
Basic frame of reference for Salesian Youth Ministry
Ten years after the first manual the need was felt for a fresh look in the light of the abundant experience of voluntary service, according to the guidelines of the GC24 (1996). After several years of revision a first version was published on 31 January 2000.
Voluntary Service in the Salesian Mission
In 2007 seven regional meetings were organised, on the basis of which on 31 January 2008 the manual Voluntary Service in the Salesian Mission was published which offers a frame of reference for all types of voluntary service.
SMD 2011
During the GC26 (Rome, February - April 2008) many delegates pressed for a more active support for the development of a specifically missionary voluntary service, along the lines of Da mihi animas, cetera tolle. The aim of the SMD 2011 is to promote an exchange of the wealth of local and Provincial experiences for a common growth.
General Chapters of the Salesians of Don Bosco on voluntary service (missionary):
GC 21 (1977) n. 145, 146, 147d
GC 22 (1984) n. 10: Working guidelines and deliberations
GC23 (1990) n. 179. 252.
GC24 (1996) n. 26.34. 122.124.126:
GC25 (2002) n. 40,46
GC26 (2008) n. 49,53, 57, 68
[insert as box)
GC26: 49 (each Province to foster the missionary spirit), 53 (we are called to encourage the young to be apostles among their own companions and to be involved in missionary projects), 57 (to offer our young people diversified spiritual paths and service opportunities), 68 (each Province to offer experiences of apostolic service to young people, of belonging to groups, and voluntary work)
Main Salesian Bibliography
Esperienze di volontariato salesiano (Dossier PG 10, Esperienze a confronto), Dicastero per la Pastorale Giovanile, SDB – Roma, 1995, p. 170)
Malizia G. - V. Pieroni, I gruppi/organizzazioni di volontariato salesiano nel mondo, Roma, 2001
Voluntary Service and the Salesian Mission (Rome, Department for the Missions, 1995, p.58)
Voluntary Service in the Salesian Mission (Rome, Youth Ministry and Missions Departments, 2008)
