Study Days Africa - Initial Proclamation of Christ in Africa
Conclusions - Salesians of Don Bosco (SDB)
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Councilor for the Missions
9 November 2012
Thanks to all who had contributed to the Study Days and to those who were already mentioned by Sr. Alaide Deretti, FMA - Councilor for the Missions. In a special way I'm grateful to all Provincials of CIVAM for sending their well prepared (and new) Delegates of missionary animation. And I can't forget all those who helped in the translations both for the written texts of the resource persons and the simultaneous translations during the sharing sessions in the official languages: French, English, Portuguese and Italian.
These days have brought us into the heart of the Church of Christ. We are educators to the faith of the youth in 43 African countries (some 1400+ SDB and 500+ FMA) who are both Christians or other denominations or believers of other religions. It makes us feel with Don Bosco to be really in the heart of the missionary Church today. In many ways we contribute to the initial proclamation of Christ in our local Churches with our preventive System of Don Bosco. On the other side we recognize our challenge to walk more closely with the local Church in each country!
The reason for a special appraisal of these African Study Days ? Without doubt Africa is the youngest of the eight Salesian Regions worldwide, has many confreres well prepared on the intellectual level and also the highest concentration of the missionaries ad gentes, ad extra and ad vitam in the whole Congregation. During these days we experienced this double blessing. Probably among the five Mission Study days (Europe, South Asia, East Asia, Oceania, Africa) this experience was the most vibrant, future opened, very honest and serious in reflection.
The reason to be more and deeply committed in the initial proclamation of Christ. Three basic reasons were shared by the Rector Major in the conclusions of GC26-2008: They are (1) The command of Jesus to go to the whole world and preach His Good News to all the nations (Mt 28, 18-20); (2) Our faith in the Gospel which purifies, perfects and transforms all cultures without exception – hence also all cultures of Africa. In order to be more human we need presence of God amidst our cultures; (3) The pastoral heart of Don Bosco, a heart that is open to all young people of the world, especially those who never met Jesus. Our effort to help the whole Church be more in the state of mission is expressed mainly in this, what we call the 'initial proclamation as Christian Life-Style'.
Together with the Japanese 'Faith journey' scroll pictured by Sr. Rosa, FMA I would like to introduce also the 'American Triptych of Aparecida'(Gift of the Pope Benedict XVI) - which is one of the most visible icons of the initial proclamation lifestyle. At the center is Jesus ascending to heaven - sending his disciples to all nations. On the right side are 3 Gospel events of listening the Word of God and on the left side are three Gospel proclamation - witnessed episodes. It's good for all of us!
At the end I want to share some specific points that needs to be highlighted:
1. Many of us stressed the great importance of the lay people missionary witness for the initial proclamation. Concluding our Mission Study days during the Fourth World Congress of the Salesian Cooperators (Rome, November 8-11) we can't forget our Lay Mission Partners, catechists, parents as the first agents of initial formation.
2. I hope that some of you have watched the film 'Des hommes et des dieux - "Of Men and of Gods", a real story of the presence of a religious community among the Muslims in Algeria. The most significant message for us Salesians is the wonderful community witness and dialogue of life lived amongst the Muslims and also a serious community discernment which touches the reasons of missionary presence. The community witness was highlighted the Second African Synod (2009) intervention of Fr. Guillermo Basañes. He shared witness of one ZMB multi-cultural community in Malawi (four SDB from four different countries) as an icon of true 'reconciliation and peace'.
3. Moreover, the Provincials (and their Councils) are called to share our Study Days experiences with the Delegates of Formation and Youth Ministry and their Team. I hope that our enthusiasm and reflections also reach especially the youth ministry because of your passionate sharing.
I conclude with a glimpse of the future of the Initial Proclamation which is deeply connected to the Life Witness (Verbum Domini, Benedict XVI - ). The forthcoming General Chapter 27 was convened with the theme: ‘Witnesses to the Radical Approach to the Gospel.’ It is a response to sign of the times that makes us understand the lack of credibility, visibility and consistency of our life and mission. The three icons of the Chapter journey is the invitation of the Rector Major to become more and more (1) mystics and to seek God with all our heart, (2) authentic prophets especially by our fraternal life lived in our communities and (3) servants of the young especially the poorest in our mission as educators and pastors.
I hope that your courageous patient and authentic witness, rooted in deep missionary spirituality help the whole Salesian Congregation launch into the journey indicated in the letter of convocation of the GC27 (Letter of the Rector Major, ACG 413).
I commend the whole journey to Mary, Help of Christians and Mother of all God’s children who inspires, guides and protects us in our journey day by day.
Fr. Václav Klement, SDB
