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Missionary Formation - ENG

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Missionary Formation - ENG

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“Every Christian is a missionary to the extent that he or she

has encountered the love of God in Christ Jesus: we no longer

say that we are ‘disciples’ and ‘missionaries’, but rather that

we are always ‘missionary disciples’. If we are not convinced,

let us look at those first disciples, who, immediately after

encountering the gaze of Jesus, went forth to proclaim him

joyfully: ‘We have found the Messiah!’” (Jn 1,41)

(Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium, n.120)

“The going out of the disciples to the whole world

derives precisely from the eternal going out of God to

meet every person in Christ the Lord, and precisely for

this reason it should reflect in depth: there can be no

decisive journey on the basis of human calculations; it

has to allow itself to be continually shaped by its

docility to the will of the Lord Jesus”

(Fr. Pascual Chávez, Letter “Spirituality and Mission - Disciples and apostles of the

Risen Lord”)

Missions department - Formation department

Missionary Formation

of the Salesians of Don Bosco

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Missionary Formation

of the Salesians

of Don Bosco

Missions department - Formation department

Rome 2014

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Translated from the Italian original:

La Formazione Missionaria dei Salesiani di Don Bosco

by Julian B. Fox and Alfred Maravilla

Editrice S.D.B.

Edizione extra commerciale

Direzione Generale Opere Don Bosco

Via della Pisana, 1111

Casella Postale 18333

00163 Roma

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Table of Contents

PRESENTATION .................................................................................... 5

ABBREVIATIONS .................................................................................. 9

INTRODUCTION.................................................................................... 11

INITIAL FORMATION ............................................................................ 13

Prenovitiate.............................................................................. 13

Contents to be emphasised ..................................................... 13

Attitudes to be fostered ......................................................... 14

Experiences to be encouraged ................................................. 14

Novitiate .................................................................................. 14

Contents to be emphasised ..................................................... 15

Attitudes to be fostered ........................................................ 15

Experiences to be encouraged ................................................ 16

Postnovitiate ............................................................................ 16

Contents to be emphasised .................................................... 17

Attitudes to be fostered ........................................................ 17

Experiences to be encouraged ................................................ 18

Practical Training ...................................................................... 18

Contents to be emphasised .................................................... 18

Attitudes to be fostered ........................................................ 19

Experiences to be encouraged ................................................ 19

Specific Formation of Salesian Priests and Brothers ...................... 20

Contents to be emphasised .................................................... 20

Attitudes to be fostered ........................................................ 21

Experiences to be encouraged ................................................ 21

ONGOING FORMATION .......................................................................... 23

Contents to be emphasised ......................................................... 23

Attitudes to be fostered ............................................................. 23

Experiences to be encouraged ..................................................... 24

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SPECIFIC FORMATION OF THE SALESIAN MISSIONARY ....................................... 27

Discernment ............................................................................. 27

Criteria for discernment ......................................................... 27

Persons involved .................................................................. 27

Counter indications ............................................................... 27

Insufficient elements ............................................................ 28

General Criteria .................................................................... 28

Specific Preparation .................................................................. 29

Discernment ......................................................................... 30

Preparation .......................................................................... 31

Insertion ............................................................................. 32

Ongoing Formation ............................................................... 33

APPENDICES ...................................................................................... 35

The Salesian Missionary Vocation ................................................. 35

Who is the Missionary Today? ...................................................... 43

The Mission Group ...................................................................... 46

The Missionary Aspirantate ......................................................... 50

The Urgent Need for Missionary Animation..................................... 52

The Salesian Mission Day 1988-2015 ............................................ 58

Some Centres for Postgraduate Studies ......................................... 60

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DIREZIONE GENERALE OPERE DON BOSCO

Via della Pisana 1111 - 00163 Roma

The General Councillor for the Missions

The General Councillor for Formation

Rome, January 24, 2013

Prot. 13/0033

Subject: Missionary Formation of the Salesians of Don Bosco

Dear Confreres,

We are sending you these reflections and proposals concerning

the “missionary formation of the Salesians of Don Bosco”. These are the result

of the joint work of our Missions and Formation sectors, after consulting with

the respective Province Delegates; these find their foundation in the duty

which the Constitutions assign to the Councillor for the Missions regarding “the

specific preparation and updating of the missionaries” (C. 138); they were ap-

proved by the Rector Major and his Council on January 23, 2013.

We are acquainted with the missionary awareness which Don Bosco had

gradually developed over his lifetime and which had matured through the

sending of the first missionary expedition on November 11, 1875, and with

successive expeditions. Similarly, we are aware of Don Bosco's “Souvenir for

missionaries” which the Rector Major, Fr. Pascual Chávez, had taken up again in

his letter “The inculturation of the Salesian charism” (ACG 412, Rome 2011).

We also see today the missionary commitment of the Congregation, likewise

codified in Article 6 of the Constitutions.

These reflections and proposals seek to keep the missionary spirit of the

Congregation alive. At a time of globalisation and migration we need to be

open to pastoral and intercultural formation. The Church's commitment to the

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new evangelisation and ordinary evangelisation demands that we continue to

push the frontiers of first evangelisation. The need to establish international

communities and Project Europe are a call to missionary mobility in the Congre-

gation.

In particular, these notes offer a twofold purpose. Above all they aim at the

growth of missionary awareness in every confrere as well as the capacity for

missionary promotion among young people and the laity; we know the poten-

tial of mission groups and of the missionary volunteer service for pastoral work,

which open the young people to a style of life that is simple and in solidarity

with the poor, and which engages them in the cause of the Gospel and chal-

lenges them in their Salesian consecrated vocation.

Secondly, they aim at offering a range of strategies for discovering, dis-

cerning and developing a true Salesian missionary vocation. Such a vocation is

born, grows and develops as a gift of God, following the evangelising commit-

ment of Jesus and through the impulse of the Holy Spirit; at the same time its

historical circumstances require our cooperation.

We entrust these reflections and proposals to the commitment of the

Provinces so that they may bear abundant “missionary” fruit during the immi-

nent bicentenary of the birth of Don Bosco.

Cordial greetings and thank you for your attention.

Fr. Vaclav Klement, SDB

Councillor for the Missions

Fr. Francesco Cereda, SDB

Councillor for Formation

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Abbreviations

Const. Constitutions of the Society of St Francis de Sales.

BM Biographical Memoirs of St. John Bosco. 19 vol. (Salesiana Pu-

blishers: New Rochelle, 1965-2002).

FSDB The Formation of the Salesians of Don Bosco. Principles and

Norms. (Editrice SDB: Rome, 2000).

GSSFI Guidelines concerning Salesian Studies during Initial Forma-

tion. Methodology and Distribution of Study Courses during

the Various Phases of Formation (Rome, 2005).

Reg. Regulations of the Society of St Francis de Sales.

RM John Paul II, Encíclica Redemptoris Missio (1991).

SSCS Salesian Social Communications System. Guidelines for the Sa-

lesian Congregation. Second edition (Editrice SDB: Rome,

2011).

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Introduction

TThis document seeks to encourage every Salesian to

keep alive Don Bosco’s missionary zeal alive through for-

mation, and enable him to be a missionary animator as

well as help him to discern whether God is calling him to

be a missionary ad gentes.

This document highlights the contents, attitudes, expe-

riences for various moments of formation. The contents are

offered to highlight the missionary aspect of the forma-

tion experience; attitudes to be cultivated and experiences

to be promoted are also indicated. These are contents, at-

titudes and experiences to be continually deepened in the

various stages. Since the formation communities are lo-

cated in different settings, the various proposals need to

be contextualised.

At the end of the document specific issues are present-

ed: criteria for discernment of the Salesian missionary vo-

cation and formation of the Salesian missionary.

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Initial Formation

THE PRENOVITIATE

TThe pre-novitiate is the first stage of formation; it

aims at stirring up interest in and enthusiasm for the

Salesian vocation; it offers an experience of Salesian

community and apostolic life where pre-novices deepen

their vocational choice; it helps the pre-novices to ma-

ture in various human and Christian aspects as mis-

sionary disciples1 and fosters their preparation for the

novitiate.

Contents to be emphasised:

– the study of Don Bosco's life shows his zeal for souls,

also expressed through his desire to go to the mis-

sions since his early years of priestly formation and

which developed following his launching of the mis-

sionary frontier of the Congregation when he was

much older;

– a description of the current presences of the Congre-

gation offers pre-novices an insight into the variety of

the Salesian mission in different countries and en-

thuses them particularly regarding the work mission-

aries do in different parts of the world, despite the

challenges and difficulties they encounter2;

– the presentation of historical figures and current wit-

nesses of Salesian life also offers the pre-novices the

example of missionaries from whom they can draw in-

spiration for their lives.

1 CELAM V, Aparecida.

Documento Final, n.

146, 216-220, 278

(Conferencia Epis-

copal Peruana: Lima,

2007) 62, 118-119,

143-145. The docu-

ment emphasises

that all Christians are

called to be mis-

sionary disciples of

Christ. Consecrated

life is living this mis-

sionary discipleship

radically.

2 Cf. GSSFI, 1.2; 1.3.

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Attitudes to be fostered:

– gratitude for the faith received, interest in study of

the catechism, the joy of knowing and loving Christ

and the Church, the desire to share his faith with

others;

– openness to different social and cultural realities of

their country and the world, to situations of poverty, to

the reality of many young people who are like “sheep

without a shepherd” (Mt 9, 36), and thus the sense of

compassion and solidarity;

– apostolic generosity which leads to a simple life and

to the free gift of self, fruit of a Salesian spirituality

that requires commitment to responsible service.

Experiences to be encouraged:

– know the work of missionaries in one’s Province, in

the local church, in one’s country and around the

world, for example through videos and visits by mis-

sionaries;

– be part of a missionary group in the pre-novitiate;

– experience the sharing of one’s faith with others, with

other pre-novices and with young people;

– commit themselves in catechesis and in the aposto-

late, stirring up questions about the meaning of life

in young people, fostering interest in the faith, cre-

ating the desire to know the figure of Jesus.

THE NOVITIATE

TThe novitiate is the beginning of the experience of

Salesian consecrated life. The novices increasingly con-

figure themselves to Christ the Good Shepherd as his mis-

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sionary disciples, deepening their relationship of love

and friendship with him. By starting to live the conse-

crated life, they learn to situate themselves in the heart

of the Church and place themselves entirely at the

service of its mission3. As the Ratio states,”the service of

the Kingdom, the witness to the Gospel, a sense of

Church and missionary enthusiasm are all characteristics

of the novitiate experience”4.

Contents to be emphasised:

– the study of the Memoirs of the Oratory with the in-

tent of helping the novices understand the oratorian

heart of Don Bosco as an expression of his missionary

zeal and his apostolic inner life5;

– contact with holiness lived out by some significant

figures of the Salesian Family, particularly by mission-

aries, and the reflection on the characteristics of their

holiness in view of fostering the growth of a mis-

sionary heart among the novices6;

– the study of the Salesian Family with a view to broad-

ening the horizons of the novices through collabora-

tion and contribution of members of the Salesian

Family and the laity, in the fulfilment of the Salesian

mission, with particular reference to the missions.

Attitudes to be fostered:

– the willingness to identify oneself ever more with the

sentiments of Jesus and with his commitment, so that

all people may know the Gospel, and desire to see him

known and loved by all, especially to young people;

– identification with the missionary heart of Don Bosco

and the desire to become signs of the Father's love, es-

pecially for young people who do not know Jesus;

3 Cf. Const. 6.

4 FSDB 366.

5 Cf. GSSFI 2.1.

6 Cf. GSSFI 2.3.

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7 Cf. Reg. 89.

8 FSDB 367.

9 Cf. RM 78.

– the ardour of the Da mihi animas that leads the novices

to the total gift of self to God in religious profession

according to the way of life traced out by Don Bosco;

– a positive attitude towards the missions and Salesian

missionaries and a growing interest and willingness to

offer themselves to the missions, if this is the will the

God for them.

Experiences to be encouraged:

– take advantage of the possibility of insertion in the

social and apostolic context7 and express pastoral

charity at the service of the Kingdom through various

educational and pastoral experiences, in order to have

the possibility of “knowing and experiencing the

world of the young, especially of the poorest”8;

– foster prayer for missionaries and the missions9, espe-

cially Eucharistic adoration and the Rosary;

– interact in a friendly manner, where possible, with

young people of other religions;

– maintain contacts with some Salesian missionary,

preferably from one’s own Province;

– be involved in the annual celebration of Salesian Mis-

sions Day, in the monthly remembrance of the mis-

sions every 11th of the month, and in personal prayer

for missionary vocations and the missionary needs of

the Church and the Congregation.

THE POST-NOVITIATE

TThe post-novitiate is the stage in which the newly

professed Salesian strengthens the vocational experience

of the novitiate for what concerns Salesian consecrated

life; where he prepares himself for practical training, en-

ters into dialogue with culture through philosophical,

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pedagogical and catechetical studies and integrates

faith, culture and life10.

Contents to be emphasised:

– critical and Christian reading of culture and ecclesial

and world events, in order to understand their impli-

cations today for evangelisation, especially among

young people;

– the study of the history of the Congregation and the

Salesian work, with particular reference to its mis-

sionary expansion in the world11;

– the study of the Preventive System with attention to

its inculturation especially in today's multicultural and

multi-religious context12;

– knowledge of the phenomenon of migration and its so-

cial, cultural and religious challenges;

– the study of catechesis and social communication to

learn how to bring the Gospel to young people, and

particularly to those who are indifferent, non-be-

lievers, or non-Christians;

– knowledge of the Criteria for the Discernment of the

Salesian Missionary Vocation in order to initiate a pos-

sible discernment of a missionary vocation.

Attitudes to be fostered:

– critical and compassionate openness to the social,

cultural and religious situation in one’s country and in

the world, especially of young people, and to listen to

the cry of the people for a better life;

– sensitivity to the needs of young migrants, street chil-

dren and youth at risk;

– interest and participation in the evangelising mission of

the Church and the Congregation and the desire to con-

tribute to its growth in one’s country and the world;

10 Cf. FSDB 396;

Const. 114.

11 Cf. GSSFI 3.4.

12 Cf. GSSFI 3.1; P.

CHÁVEZ, “The Incultur-

ation of the Salesian

Charism”, AGC 411,

pp. 49-51.

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– the willingness to be challenged by the missionary call

and the generosity of offering oneself joyfully through

a life that requires commitment, sacrifice and self-

giving.

Experiences to be encouraged:

– apostolate among young migrants, among the poor in

rural or urban areas, and among young people at risk in

the context of the apostolic experiences of the post-

novitiate;

– organise and animate mission groups in places where

one goes for apostolate;

– have some experience of missionary promotion using

the means of social communication13;

– reflect personally and in community on the Criteria for

the Discernment of the Salesian Missionary Vocation.

P PRACTICAL TRAINING

Practical training is the vital stage of intense evalua-

tion of Salesian activity in a pastoral and educative expe-

rience which helps young Salesians to mature in their

consecrated Salesian vocation and to ascertain their suit-

ability in view of perpetual profession14.

13 Cf. SSCS II, 3-4.

14 Cf. FSDB 428-429.

Contents to be emphasised:

– the personal and community reflection and evaluation

with other practical trainees on their life experiences

and Salesian activities;

– direct knowledge of the life of the Province and the

Congregation.

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Attitudes to be fostered:

– the joy of faith and love for Jesus and the enthusiasm

to bring young people to know him, especially

through catechesis;

– Don Bosco’s passion for proposing to young people,

especially those who do not know the Gospel or are

far from the Church, the experience of the Christian

faith;

– availability for the practice of the Preventive System

as an expression of passion and joy in sharing the ex-

perience of the fullness of life in Christ;

– theoretical and practical exploration of the Preventive

System with attention to inculturation.

Experiences to be encouraged:

– set up and animate a missionary group among young

people and stir up their enthusiasm to take part in

various initiatives in favour of the missions, including

missionary volunteer service;

– find ways to interact with young people from other re-

ligions in one’s context, and where possible provide

direct experience in a Salesian missionary presence in

one’s Province.

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THE SPECIFIC FORMATION OF SALESIAN PRIESTS

AND BROTHERS

TThe specific formation is that which completes the

initial formation of the Salesian pastor, missionary dis-

ciple, educator and shepherd, along the lines of his spe-

cific vocation as a brother or priest15.

Contents to be emphasised:

15 Cf. FSDB 446.

16 Cf. GSSFI 4.1.

17 Cf. GSSFI 1.3; P.

CHÁVEZ, “The Salesian

Youth Ministry”, in

AGC 407, n. 4.2, pp.

48-51.

18 Cf. SYNOD ON THE NEW

EVANGELISATION, Propo-

sition 9.

19 Cf. CONGREGATION FOR

THE CLERGY, Circular

Letter “The Missionary

Identity of the Priest”

(Libreria Editrice Vati-

cana: Vatican City,

2011), n. 2.

– the study of Don Bosco the Founder in his later years,

when he faced new pastoral challenges, involved nu-

merous apostolic forces, opened the Congregation to

missionary frontiers16;

– the study of Salesian Youth Ministry, which helps to

deepen the missionary dimension of evangelisation,

that is, the urgency of proclaiming Christ and edu-

cating young people to faith, new forms of presence

among young people, the Salesian presence in the

country, attention to missionary promotion17;

– the study of pastoral theology with attention to docu-

ments of the Church dealing with missionary activity,

theology of religions, theology of evangelisation, mis-

siology, inter-religious and intercultural dialogue, and

other related issues such as the challenges of globali-

sation, secularism, multiculturalism and multi-reli-

giosity, immigration, popular religiosity and ways of

proclaiming the message of the Gospel in today's con-

text18;

– the study of social communication and how to make

use of the instruments and language of modern media

in proclaiming the Gospel and transmitting its mes-

sage to the very culture of modern media itself;

– the missionary zeal and dynamism of the priest by

virtue of his configuration to Christ the Shepherd19.

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Attitudes to be fostered:

– the bond of deep friendship with Christ which leads

those in formation to conform themselves to Him and

then to draw their deep pastoral charity from Him;

– love for the Church as the People of God which wel-

comes all peoples;

– belief that the Salesian charism is a missionary

charism20.

Experiences to be encouraged:

– the experience of missionary work with young people

who are followers of other religions;

– knowledge and the animation of the catechumenate

program according to the Rite of Christian Initiation

for Adults;

– the summer missionary experience;

– involvement in Salesian missionary promotion at the

local and Province level;

– the proposal to the sick to pray for missionaries and

the missions.

20 GSSFI 4.2.

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Ongoing Formation

OOngoing formation is the natural continuation and

necessary deepening of the Project of Life as a Salesian

missionary disciple, which was initiated and experienced

in initial formation and lasts throughout life. It takes

place primarily in the ordinary daily life of each confrere

within the community and it aims at keeping alive in him

the joy and enthusiasm of completely dedicating himself

to the cause of the Gospel.

Contents to be emphasised:

– the possibility offered to the confreres of the Province

to take part in any formation program, conference,

course ... which may help in exploring or better prepar-

ing them in some aspects of their apostolic task, e.g.

inter-religious dialogue, new evangelisation, …;

– exploring reflections and guidelines of the Congrega-

tion for the Evangelisation of Peoples and of our

sector for missions;

– missionary promotion in the Province and the Congre-

gation;

– volunteer service among young people and lay people.

Attitudes to be fostered:

– the desire to live up to one’s task in order to give

one’s best in the evangelising mission;

– openness to new contents and methods that could im-

prove the apostolic effectiveness in one’s context;

– awareness of one's fragility and poverty in the fulfil-

ment of the missionary mandate and thus the need for

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meditation and prayer, self-assessment of one’s ac-

tions, and a renewed determination to journey with

greater commitment and fervour.

Experiences to be encouraged:

– reflect and share one’s experiences in order to keep

alive the “the passion for the salvation of others, and

the joy of sharing the experience of the fullness of life

in Jesus”21;

– take advantage of study days and reflection together

with the members of the Salesian Family and lay col-

laborators on topics relating to evangelisation and

culture, commitment to mission ad gentes …;

– use social communication media for a critical assess-

ment of new and emerging cultures and value the op-

portunities they offer in the proclamation of the

Gospel;

– learn new methods of evangelisation;

– animate missionary groups.

21 P. CHÁVEZ, “Address

at the closing of

GC26” Acts of the

26th General Chapter,

p. 137.

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Specific Preparation

of the Salesian Missionary

DISCERNMENT

CCriteria for discernment of the salesian missionary vo-

cation22 “ad gentes, ad exteros, ad vitam”

Individuals or groups involved at various levels:

– the confrere who is accompanied by a spiritual guide

and by the confessor;

– the community where the confrere lives, that is, the

Rector, formators, confreres;

– the Provincial and his Council;

– the General Councillor for the Missions.

Counter indications of the missionary vocation

– the search for adventure and simple desire to change

the place where one works;

– urged on by a third person: parents, confreres, friends;

– escape from one’s relational, personal, vocational

problems;

– inability to integrate into the life and apostolate of

the community. If such a confrere is sent to the mis-

sions, he will be exposed to a more demanding envi-

ronment (due to language, culture, and other factors)

and will only worsen, rather than improve, his situa-

tion.

22 Cf. Ad Gentes 25;

L. ODORICO, “The

Candidates for the

Salesian Missions”,

in AGC 337, pp. 52-

56.

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Insufficient elements

– It is not enough to have some general missionary mo-

tivation like, for example, a vague wish to work for

poor youngsters or in a poor setting…

– It is not enough to have a superficial enthusiasm for

the missions that is not accompanied by concrete at-

titudes of commitment, sacrifice, generosity; such en-

thusiasm will not last long.

General Criteria for Vocational Discernment – for the

confrere and for the Rector and his Council

Three essential aspects: (1) Right intention, (2) free

decision, (3) necessary qualities. The necessary qualities

are:

– good health;

– human maturity; sense of responsibility; relational ca-

pacity;

– robust personality; psychological balance; persever-

ance in difficulties;

– patience, understanding, humility, capacity to appre-

ciate authentic values in other cultures and religions

and to adapt oneself in changing situations;

– supernatural spirit, so as not to reduce mission to

something merely philanthropic or social activity;

– spirit of faith; rootedness in Christ through personal

and community prayer life, centred on the Eucharist,

regularity in the reception of the sacraments;

– salesian life lived with missionary zeal shown by his

ardour in making Jesus known, especially to poor and

marginalised youth;

– profound love for the Church and the Congregation;

– spirit of sacrifice; generosity; being content with the

conditions in which he finds himself in;

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– fortitude in enduring fatigue and fruitlessness of one’s

own effort;

– flexibility and ability to adapt oneself and to love life

in an intercultural community;

– capacity to learn a new language;

– capacity to live in community and to work as a team

with the members of the community, lay mission part-

ners, the young;

– communion with and obedience to the local bishop in

overall pastoral activity.

SPECIFIC PREPARATION OF THE SALESIAN MISSIONARY

TThe Salesian who feels the call to be a missionary out-

side his homeland, cultural milieu and language group

(ad exteros)23, among those who have not yet heard the

Gospel, where the Church is not yet fully established (ad

gentes)24, through a life-long commitment (ad vitam)25,

may offer himself any time to serve in missions.

Young confreres are preferred for their ease in

learning a new language and culture and their spirit of

adaptation; generally it is preferable to end the process

of discernment of their missionary vocation during the

post-novitiate, but it is also possible during the specific

formation of the Salesian priest and the Salesian brother.

The 19th General Chapter also opened the possibility

for Salesians to be missionaries ad tempus, for at least 5

years, “provided that they are considered suitable”26. This

can be done for specific and urgent tasks in the mis-

sionary activity of the Congregation or to help the con-

frere better discern his Salesian missionary vocation ad

vitam.

23 Cf. FABC Office of

Evangelisation, “Con-

sultation on Asian

Local Church and

Mission ad Gentes”,

ed. Franz Josef Eilers,

For All the Peoples of

Asia, III, n. 5 (Clare-

tian Publications:

Quezon City, 2002),

p. 222.

24 Cf. Ad Gentes 6

25 Cf. RM 66.

26 Acts of the 19th Ge-

neral Chapter no. 18,

Orientations, 2.

4 Pages 31-40

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4.1 Page 31

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Discernment

The process of discernment is a gradual and progres-

sive journey with the help of a spiritual guide. In this

process the candidate learns, like the Virgin Mary, to

listen to the voice of the Spirit, to purify and deepen his

motivations, to discern his qualities and attitudes which

determine his suitability for Salesian missionary life. The

community has also an important role in this process. For

this process the Criteria for the Discernment of the Sale-

sian Missionary Vocation are used. It is also possible that

the missionary candidate is given, for example, the expe-

rience of working in a missionary context outside of his

own Province on a trial basis for a year. This experience

could also be useful in the discernment of his Salesian

missionary call.

When, as a result of the discernment, the candidate

comes to the conclusion that he is called to serve in the

mission field, he sends a letter to the Rector Major in

which he explicitly manifests his wish and puts himself

at the disposition of the Congregation. This does not re-

move the opportunity to specify his preferences or con-

crete predispositions for a determined mission territory;

this applies particularly to Project Europe.

The Rector Major, through the Councillor for the Mis-

sions, enters into dialogue with the confrere's Provincial,

asking from him and his Council a written opinion re-

garding the missionary vocation of the candidate, always

with reference to the Criteria for the Discernment of the

Salesian Missionary Vocation.

Having successfully completed the discernment and

having obtained the opinion of the Provincial to release

the confrere for the missions, the Rector Major assigns

the candidate his destination.

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Preparation

In the intervening period before departure, the

Province:

– offers the possibility to the future missionary, as far

as is possible, to learn the language and culture of

the place in which he is assigned, as well as take part

in meetings or courses organised for missionary candi-

dates by the Conference of Religious or by the Epis-

copal Conference;

– offers the possibility of knowing the basic concepts of

cultural anthropology and the dynamics of intercul-

tural dialogue;

– sends the missionary to take part in the Orientation

Course for new missionaries organised by the Missions

Department as an immediate preparation of the mis-

sionaries before the giving of the missionary cross;

– prays and invites prayers for the confrere who will be

sent as a missionary.

Insertion

Meanwhile, the Province, to which the new missionary

has been assigned, creates a welcoming atmosphere and

receives him fraternally when he arrives.

To facilitate his insertion into the new cultural, social

and ecclesial context, the Province:

– starts by offering him an orientation program re-

garding not only the history, the culture and values of

the country, but also the history, mission and works in

the Province;

– guarantees him adequate time to learn the language;

– assures him initial accompaniment through a spiritual

guide who assists and advises him during the first

years of his inclusion, listening to his expectations,

deepening his motives, removing his eventual preju-

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dices, helping him to draw up the plan of Salesian

missionary life;

– facilitates his gradual insertion by refraining from ap-

pointing him to positions of administrative responsi-

bility during the first two years;

– organises regular meetings of new missionaries, for

example, twice a year, with their formators, rectors

and the one in charge at Province level and at the

same time offers indications to the rector of the new

missionary;

– gives him the possibility to participate in the Orienta-

tion Course for new missionaries organised either by

the Conference of Religious or by the local Bishops’

Conference in order to know and be inculturated in

the local culture.

After five years, the missionary is helped to evaluate

his missionary experience, and in particular:

– his integration into the life and apostolate of his

Province;

– his insertion into the local culture, especially among

young people entrusted to him, his capacity for open-

ness;

– a reflection on his apostolic zeal and commitment to

missionary life.

Meanwhile, the missionary who is in the formative pe-

riod completes his initial formation, is ordained to the

priesthood and / or makes the perpetual profession. For

those who are at the practical training stage, the two

years envisioned in the Regulations (R. 96), are counted

starting from his educative and pastoral insertion in the

local community to which he is assigned; for example:

the time spent exclusively for the study of the language

or waiting immigration procedures are not to be counted

as practical training.

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Formation continues

The missionary inserts himself fully into the missionary

work of the Province and pays attention to his continuing

formation, taking advantage of the opportunities offered

by the Province to deepen his personal relationship with

Christ as the source of his missionary zeal, continually in-

culturate himself in the culture of the people in the light

of the Christian faith and the Salesian charism.

Takes part in the various meetings in the Province (com-

munity day, meetings of the educative and pastoral com-

munity and Salesian Family, and other initiatives), in the

country (as for example, courses organised by Salesian re-

gional centres for on-going formation, meetings organised

by the Conference of Religious or Bishops’ Conference), as

well as at the Salesian Pontifical University which offers the

course for on-going formation of missionaries.

If he has the necessary gifts and if these correspond to

the needs of the Province, the missionary is asked by the

Provincial to take up further studies in missiology, anthro-

pology, intercultural dialogue, inter-religious dialogue,

and new evangelisation in order to render a competent

service in the Province.

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4.6 Page 36

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Appendices

The Salesian Missionary Vocation

Egidio Viganò, SDB1

The missionary heart of Don Bosco

“We may safely say that Don Bosco can be listed among

the great missionaries of the 19th century, even though

he was never personally on the missions ad gentes.

‘It can be said’, wrote Eugene Ceria, ‘that the mission-

ary idea grew in him’2. It is an idea that is intrinsic to his

vocational plan as a Founder, and coextensive with his

whole existence. At first it was present in embryo and he

was hardly conscious of it, but then it gradually took on a

form that became progressively clearer and more distinct.

The same thing is said in more incisive or delicate

terms by both Fr Paul Albera and Fr Philip Rinaldi, who

trace back Don Bosco’s missionary vision to his dream at

the age of nine.

The foreign missions, wrote Fr Albera, ‘were always a

burning aspiration in Don Bosco’s heart, and I am quite

sure that Mary Help of Christians, from her first motherly

revelations to him while he was still a boy, had given him

a clear intuition in this regard... He spoke about it con-

tinually to us his first sons; we were filled with wonder

and felt ourselves carried away by a holy enthusiasm... At

the bedside of young John Cagliero who was dying, Don

Bosco saw the Patagonians waiting to receive redemption

at Cagliero’s hands, and he foretold his recovery and re-

vealed in part what the future had in store for him’3.

1 Excerpts from E. VI-

GANÒ, “The Pope’s Ap-

peal for the Mis-

sions”, in AGC 336

(1991) pp. 5-12.

2 E. CERIA, Annali della

Società Salesiana I,

p. 245.

3 P. ALBERA, Lettere

Circolari (Direzione

Generale Opere Don

Bosco: Torino, 1956)

pp. 132-133.

4.7 Page 37

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4 ACS, VI, June 24,

1925, p. 364.

5 Cf. BM I, 328.

6 Cf. BM III, 363.

And Fr Rinaldi said in his turn: ‘In commemorating that

first dream of our venerable Father we have implicitly cel-

ebrated the centenary of the beginning of the whole of

Salesian work; because we may say that it was in that first

vision that he was consecrated as the apostle of youth,

the father of a new religious family, a missionary to non-

Christian peoples; that vision it was that stirred up also in

his heart a lively desire for religious life and the evangeli-

sation of pagans’4.

The missionary ideal in fact, that had been alive in him

from the time of his secondary school studies5, developed

and matured with the passing of time.

At the end of his period of pastoral formation in the

College of St Francis of Assisi in Turin (1844), he was

thinking of entering the Oblates of the Blessed Virgin,

who had opened a flourishing mission in Vietnam, so that

he could soon become a missionary, and for this he began

to prepare himself by prayer and the study of the appro-

priate languages. Fr Cafasso, his spiritual director, let him

go along on this line for a while, but then at an opportune

moment said a decisive ‘no’ and bade him stay in Turin,

where he found him a post at the refuge of the Mar-

chioness Barolo, where he could concern himself with

large numbers of young people. He obeyed, and Provi-

dence guided his steps. But his apostolic work among the

young, far from quenching his missionary zeal, shed fresh

light on it and gave it a new and original slant.

We know that missionary undertakings, reported in the

Annals of the Propagation of the Faith one of his favourite

sources of reading material made a deep impression on

him6. There were so many souls to be saved, and he felt

that in some way he shared the responsibility for them.

From 1848 Fr Rua and others had heard him exclaim

more than once: ‘Oh, if only I had lots of priests and

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young clerics! I would send them to preach the Gospel in

Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego...’7.

He was often seen, during those same years, looking at

a map and heaving a deep sigh at the thought that ‘so

many regions were still lying in the shadow of spiritual

death’8.

When after indescribable sacrifices he was finally able

to launch his missions (1875: the Congregation’s greatest

enterprise!) his missionary heart exulted, and he seemed

to give them the whole of his eager attention.: ‘From then

onwards’, wrote Fr Albera, ‘the Missions were at the centre

of his heart and he seemed to live only for them... He

talked about them with such enthusiasm that we all mar-

velled and were deeply edified by his burning ardour for

souls’9.

With no less intensity Fr Rinaldi, drawing on memories

of the distant past, wrote: ‘In his great heart there had

been accumulating for years on end the apostolic ardour

of a Francis Xavier, nourished by a heavenly flame that was

revealing the future to him through dreams... For me there

has never been a missionary as zealous and tireless in his

propaganda as he was. I can still see him, the loving Fa-

ther, in the distant memories of my Salesian vocation, pre-

cisely in those years when his missionary fervour was at

its height; and it has left an indelible impression on me:

he was a true missionary, an apostle devoured by a pas-

sion for souls’10.

But Don Bosco was not satisfied to keep the missionary

ideal to himself; he passed it on to his Congregation (and

Family) as an essential element of his spiritual and apos-

tolic patrimony. A memorandum he sent in 1880 to Pope

Leo XII is quite explicit: ‘The foreign missions have always

been a cherished concern of the Salesian Congregation’11.

It was his wish therefore that his foundation should be al-

so truly missionary ad gentes.

7 BM III, 363.

8 BM III, 546; IV,

424.

9 P. ALBERA, Lettere

Circolari, p. 134.

10 ACS, VI, June 24,

1925, p. 367.

11 BM XIV, 510.

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It will be worth our while to consider, albeit briefly,

some of Don Bosco’s dreams that manifest very dearly his

plans as a Founder.

12 Cf. F. JIMÉNEz, Los

Sueños de Don Bosco

(CCS: Madrid, 1989).

13 Cf. ASC n. 300.

14 BM XVII, 281.

He dreamed of sons going to the South and the East

Don Bosco had many dreams: not without justification

has he been called ‘the dreaming Saint’.

Their classification is a ticklish problem, and their in-

terpretation still more so. We still lack a critical and sci-

entific study of them, nor is it easy to make one12.

But this does not mean that some of his dreams lack

historical and prophetic importance; they have given sub-

stance to his charismatic personality and prompted him to

undertake courageous initiatives inexplicable from a pure-

ly human point of view.

Commenting on the so-called dream of the diamonds13,

I said that one can speak of Don Bosco’s dreams at a lev-

el that is different and more vital than scientific criticism

(though the latter is also desirable for a serious investiga-

tion); it is the level of the existential influence they had

on the mind of the Founder and in the life of his followers.

Some of the dreams must be considered as revelational

in character; they cannot be explained merely by an analy-

sis of the personal inner feelings of the Saint.

Fr James Costamagna (who later became a bishop and

had verified at first hand in Latin America the charismatic

value of various dreams) saw dearly in Don Bosco a

‘prophetic personality’; after reading of a missionary dream

in 1885 he wrote to Fr Lemoyne and told him of a phrase

said to him in confidence by the good Father: ‘perhaps of

all religious Congregations and Orders, ours is the one

which has received most the Word of God’14.

Among the dreams containing ‘revelations’ there are

five that refer specifically to the missions ad gentes:

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• one in 1872 on Patagonia; this was the one that made

Don Bosco begin his missions;

• a second in 1883 which describes a journey through

Latin America: it relates many details that were un-

known not only to Don Bosco but even to scholars of

the time;

• a third in 1885 about the lower part of South America;

this was the one that led Fr Costamagna, who was al-

ready in America, to write back and quote the phrase

referred to above;

• a fourth, also in 1885, on Africa, Asia and Oceania; we

look upon this one with special wonder and interest at

the present day, because we are already witnessing its

prodigious realisation;

• and the fifth in 1886, on the journey by air from Val-

paraiso to Peking: I have checked the geographical de-

tails myself during various journeys I have made, so as

to encourage all of us to renew our hope as we coura-

geously approach ‘Project China’15.

These missionary dreams help us to understand the

mind of our Founder, his magnanimity and the boldness of

his initiatives. In them the Congregation clearly appears

as being among the ecclesial groups committed as such in

the mission ad gentes, and this precisely in the South and

East of which the Encyclical speaks: they foretell the flour-

ishing of vocations among native peoples and provide

scope for verification – in 500 years time16!

The period from the first missionary expedition (1875)

to the present day shows that such dreams have come

true, even though prospects of further growth still remain

open, especially in China where, for that matter, Salesian

missions were launched with unhoped-for success and be-

dewed with the blood of our first martyrs.

They are dreams which – and this perhaps is a fact

unique in history – have traced some decades in advance

15 Cf. AGC n. 323.

16 Cf. BM XVII, 596.

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5.1 Page 41

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17 Cf. Const. 30.

what would be done later by his followers. And not with-

out reason Don Bosco is felt today, in the most widely

separated places on earth, as a fatherly and forestalling

presence friendly to local culture and a powerful protector.

In many intercontinental journeys I have often been

able to verify to some extent the prophetic element in

these dreams, which always incite us to press on towards a

fascinating future. I have found this to be true in Latin

America, in Africa and Madagascar, in Asia, Japan and the

Philippines, in Australia and Oceania. As our confreres in

those regions read these dreams once again, they consid-

er them as so many providential prophetic messages. In

some places I have even been asked to settle heated dis-

cussions about some geographical point.

They are dreams which have had a real influence on mis-

sionary life in the Congregation, and continue to do so. In

their own way they provide confirmation for the constitu-

tive aspect of the Salesian vocation itself in the Church.

Ours is a missionary congregation

The mind and heart of the Founder and the uninter-

rupted tradition in our Family are an open confirmation of

the fact that the missionary dimension is an ‘essential fea-

ture’ of our charism17.

For us Salesians the missions ad gentes are not just

so many works on a par with others, the only difference

being that they are carried out in distant countries with

different cultures: no, no. They represent something very

much deeper: an essential aspect, a particular dimen-

sion of our identity as Salesians of Don Bosco in the

Church. It is true that the Congregation is not listed in

the Pontifical Yearbook among the ‘Missionary Institutes’

strictly so-called (i.e. among those dedicated solely to the

foreign missions); but in it, and this precisely by ecclesial

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institution, the Founder wanted there to be a true com-

mitment to missions ad gentes. His was a truly providen-

tial plan. Today we cannot but recognise the fact that the

missions have been the historical means for bringing

about the inculturation of the Salesian charism in the

world on a universal scale. And that, is something deserv-

ing of great merit.

From the very beginning we have fostered missionary

vocations in the strict sense, i.e. the care of those confr-

eres – and they are many – who have been enriched with

the ‘special vocation’ which is the characteristic note of

every true missionary. Such a special vocation is not

something that makes them exceptional in respect of

other confreres, but rather a more lively and generous

expression of the vocation of all. It manifests, in fact, a

condition inherent in the nature of the common

charism; every confrere is fundamentally available to

go to the missions if obedience should take him there.

It is no more than 100 years since we began our mis-

sions in Latin America; 50 years later we turned to Asia and

finally (after another 50 years!) we have committed our-

selves in an overall fashion to Africa and Oceania. We can

say that we have directed our attention, as the Pope sug-

gests, towards the South and the East18, where the greatest

demographic growth of people is taking place: so many of

them young and in conditions of such great poverty.

Our missions are a standing demonstration, in three

great and successive stages and at world level, of the

practical preferential option of the Congregation for the

young who are poor and in such great need.

The last two decades have seen a relaunching of mis-

sionary activity among us. This is something providential

which is giving new life to our charism and leading us for-

ward into the future with hope. In my letter on Our African

Commitment19, I said that the opening of this new mis-

18 Cf. RM 40.

19 Cf. ACS n. 297.

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sionary frontier was inherent in our living tradition and

would be the harbinger of great blessings from the Lord.

We are witnessing the truth of that statement. The mis-

sionary commitment is freeing us from the dangerous

trend towards a soft and easy life, from superficiality in

spiritual matters, and from genericism. In the missions

we get a taste of the origins, we experience the peren-

nial validity of the oratory criterion, and we seem to

see Don Bosco once again in the authentic beginnings

of his mission to the young and the poor”.

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Who is the missionary today?

Alfred Maravilla, SDB

It is not rare to hear Salesians from technologically de-

veloped countries asking “Why send us missionaries? We

are not a poor country!” Similarly, some missionaries

from countries once considered ‘mission land’ also wonder

at the sense of being sent to materially well-off or tech-

nologically developed countries.

To many Salesians here lies the non verbalised ‘prob-

lem’ regarding the last General Chapter’s directive to re-

launch the charism in Europe by taking the necessary ac-

tion to renew the Salesian presence in the continent (GS

26, 108, 111) now known as ‘Project Europe.’

Actually the problem is deeper than mere socio-geogra-

phy or a Congregational project! It is rooted in the selec-

tive comprehension of ‘mission’ expressed in the concil-

iar decree Ad Gentes no. 6 understood solely as unidirec-

tional movement from ‘Christian’ countries to ‘pagan’ lands

where peoples or groups do not yet believe in Christ or

where the Church has not yet taken root. And so it is with

the apostolic exhortation Evangelii Nuntiandi no. 31,

where human promotion and development are seen as the

most important components of mission. It seems that the

understanding of mission of many is fossilised here.

Yet, already way back in 1991, John Paul II had insist-

ed in Redemptoris Missio nos. 33-34 that mission can no

longer be seen solely in unidirectional geographic

terms but primarily as the proclamation of Jesus Christ

in interpenetrating contexts where there is a need of ei-

ther missio ad gentes, ordinary pastoral activity or new

evangelisation20. Thus, he called for interdependence and

mutual assistance between Churches in what was tradi-

tionally called ‘Christian countries’ and ‘mission countries.’

20 Fr. Viganò had al-

ready pointed out

that among the new

perspectives of this

encyclical was preci-

sely the “new criteria

for the specific de-

scription of missio-

nary activity - cri-

teria that are not

only geographical but

also cultural and so-

ciological”. E. VIGANÒ,

“The Pope’s Appeal

for Missions”, p. 15.

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21 Cf. FABC Office of

Evangelisation, “Con-

sultation on Asian

Local Church and

Mission ad Gentes”,

p. 222.

22 CELAM V. Apare-

cida. Documento Final

(Lima: Conferencia

Episcopal Peruana,

2007) n. 213; JOHN

PAUL II,

“Address to the

CELAM Assembly”

(March 9, 1983).

23 FRANCIS, Evangelii

Gaudium (2013) 268.

24 BENEDICT XVI, Africae

Munus (2011) n. 167.

In Asia, a context where everyone has a neighbour who

is a follower of another religion, the Federation of Asian

Bishops’ Conferences has pointed out that the missionary

is one who goes out of his or her cultural context, linguis-

tic group or country, (ad exteros) amongst those who have

not yet heard the Gospel and where the Church is not yet

fully established (ad gentes) to proclaim the gospel. And

every local church, the Asian bishops insisted, is called to

send and receive missionaries21.

In this light, mission is no longer just a movement to-

ward the “mission lands”. It is now a multidirectional

movement, because the mission is wherever a Christian

crosses a human border to proclaim the Gospel. Similarly,

every Salesian Province, rich or poor in personnel or re-

sources, shares responsibility in the missionary initiatives

of the whole Salesian Congregation. All Provinces, there-

fore, send and receive! That is why today's missionaries

come from and also are sent to Africa, Asia, America, Eu-

rope and Oceania. In this perspective, what is important is

not only the geographical place, insisted the Latin Ameri-

can bishops, but to live one’ life “in a state of mission”22.

Therefore, the missionary today is one who is sent either

to the forest or to the city, either to the parish or to the

school, either among followers of other religions or among

those who do not have any religion, among those who live

their Christian faith as something cultural or among those

who live it in a routine manner. What is important is that

the missionary keeps alive his or her passion for Jesus

Christ and his people23.

It is in this light that Pope Benedict XVI invited the

Church in Africa “to contribute to the new evangelisation

in secularised countries” which “are today sadly lacking in

vocations.” This, he underlined, is not a weakening of mis-

sionary impulse ad gentes but “a concrete sign” of its

“fruitfulness”24! With this renewed vision of mission Pope

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Francis continually invites Catholics “to reach all the ‘pe-

ripheries’ in need of the light of the Gospel”25.

This multi-directional movement, in reality, is already

something that happens for some time now in many dio-

ceses and religious congregations. Is it not perhaps that

some Salesians or Provinces prefer to be either only

“senders” or simply “receivers” rather than send and re-

ceive at the same time? Thus, the Rector Major’s insistence

that Project Europe is a “Congregational Project” which

involves “all Regions and Provinces”26 primarily demands

from all Salesians a conversion of mind and heart to

make their own this profound change in the understanding

that ‘the whole Church is missionary.’ Only then will there

be a multidirectional exchange of Salesian missionaries

animated by mutual trust and openness which, in the final

analysis, will enrich all Provinces and renew the whole

Congregation!

25 FRANCIS, Evangelii

Gaudium, 20.

26 Acts of the General

Chapter XXVI, p. 147.

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The Salesian Mission Group

T.C. George, SDB

Woe to me if I do not share the Good News (1 Cor 9,16)

27 Ad Gentes 2, RM 62.

28 RM 3.

The Church is missionary by her very nature27. Our Sale-

sian vocation places us at the heart of the Church, and

hence is missionary. Right from the beginning, Don Bosco

wanted the Salesians to have a real commitment to evan-

gelisation and mission ad gentes in particular28. Don Bosco

handed on the missionary ideal to the whole Salesian Fam-

ily as a constitutive element of his spiritual and apostolic

heritage. Immediately after the approval of the Constitu-

tions in 1874, he sent the first missionary expedition on

11 November 1875.

The glories of the Salesian presence and activities in

the South Asia region today are the fruits of the mission-

ary enthusiasm and commitment of the early Salesian mis-

sionaries who brought the Da mihi animas of Don Bosco

to our region. The mind and heart of the Founder and the

uninterrupted missionary tradition of the Salesian Family

are an open confirmation that the missionary dimension

is an essential feature of our charism.

Today we are called to keep alive the missionary zeal

and apostolic passion of Don Bosco our founder in the

vicissitudes of time and even amidst newly arising chal-

lenges in the region. We need to discover new ways of

presenting the person of Jesus Christ to all, especially

the young. Every Salesian should become convinced that

Christ is the best gift to be received, to be lived and to

be shared. And, sharing Christ with our brothers and sis-

ters is not the duty of just a few who are called “mis-

sionaries”. It is the privilege of everyone who has ac-

cepted him.

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Keeping in mind our missionary nature, we need to live

our missionary Charism enthusiastically and hand it on ef-

fectively to the young under our care so that they too, set

on fire for Christ, may take up the challenge to “go and

proclaim” (Mk 16,15). We need to pass on our beautiful

Salesian missionary heritage. In the past, missionary

groups have played effective roles as instruments of mis-

sionary formation and missionary activities in the Church

and in our congregation.

The Province Delegates for Missionary Animation of

the South Asia region and the Salesian Family members

at the Study Days on the Salesian Mission and the Initial

Proclamation of Christ in South Asia (from 7-11 August

2011) once again felt the need to transmit our mis-

sionary charism to the young especially to those under

various stages of formation. Fr Václav Klement, the Coun-

cillor for the Missions, had already been requesting our

Provinces to form missionary groups. The Province Dele-

gates for Missionary Animation of the South Asia drew up

an action plan to revive or establish missionary groups in

our various settings with the purpose of revitalising and

building up a missionary culture in the region.

Aims and Objectives of the Salesian Mission Groups

The Salesian Mission Group aims at participating ac-

tively in the missionary mandate of Jesus Christ to go

and proclaim discovering its missionary model and

source of strength in the heart of Christ himself, the

Missionary of the Father. Through prayer, reflection and

action the group promotes missionary spirit in its own

setting and foster interest in mission ad gentes while

endeavouring to ensure its own growth in Christian com-

mitment to mission and bearing witness to each one’s

faith in Christ.

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Suggested Activities of the Mission Group

• Conducting formative programmes for the group mem-

bers themselves through group study and reflection on

the Word of God, group Masses, conferences, etc.

• Getting familiarised with the documents of the Church

on evangelising mission, etc.

• Praying for evangelising mission of the congregation

and promoting prayer ministry through the prayer mis-

sion hub of the South Asian region.

• Meeting fortnightly to evaluate and plan activities.

• Collecting and maintaining some resource materials for

missionary animation and documenting the activities of

the group.

• Fostering mission ad gentes vocations.

• Organising annual mission congress.

• Disseminating Cagliero 11 in various ways.

• Organising conference, seminars, prayer services, quiz

for the community/groups and displaying of informa-

tion, reflection, etc on missionary themes on notice

boards.

• Celebrating the Salesian Mission Day every November 11.

• Arranging missionaries to come and share their mission-

ary experiences with the community/group.

• Screening the DVD produced by Missioni Don Bosco of

Turin for the community/ groups.

• Organising mission exposure programme, field visits etc

to impart mission experience during holidays.

• Networking with other missionary groups in the Province

and Region.

• Promoting a culture of donating to the missionary activ-

ities by making efforts to raise funds even in a small

way.

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The Structure of the Group

A mission group can be organised in our settings: for-

mation houses, parishes, schools, youth centres.

The mission group will have a core team consisting of a

president, a vice president, a treasurer and a secretary. The

core team will be responsible for the overall functioning of

the group.

The group will undertake activities in consultation with

the staff representative and the Province Delegate for

Missionary Animation.

The mission group is not to be considered as an exclu-

sive group of “missionaries” but of “missionary animators”

who work towards instilling missionary consciousness

among the confreres as well as the young. They are like

the leaven that enlivens the missionary culture, the salt

that adds a missionary taste and the light which makes

everyone see opportunities for mission.

6 Pages 51-60

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The Missionary Aspirantate

Václav Klement, SDB

After the First World War the universal Church experi-

enced a period of missionary revival, marked by large-scale

meetings and missionary exhibitions, a flowering of mis-

sionary youth groups and publications at all levels. Mis-

sionary promotion has contributed to sending thousands

of European missionaries to all the other continents. The

young Salesian Congregation also received various respon-

sibilities in mission territories (mission Prefectures, Vic-

ariates or Prelatures) in America, Africa, Asia and Oceania.

The third successor of Don Bosco, Blessed Philip Rinal-

di, in communion with the Church, founded the magazine

Gioventù missionaria to animate groups of the ‘Friends of

Gioventù missionaria’. Finally, in 1922, the first institution

which was meant for the formation of future missionaries

ad gentes was founded in Ivrea near Turin. After high

school young people were leaving for the missions, where

they began their novitiate.

From the first missionary Aspirantate - Cardinal John

Cagliero Institute, Ivrea - other missionary aspirantates

were established in Penango, Gaeta, Bagnolo, Mirabello,

Novi Ligure, Cumiana, Turin - Rebaudengo, Colle Don

Bosco (Italy), Astudillo (Spain), Shrigley (UK), Coat-an-

Doc'h (France) - not to mention other specifically mission-

ary houses of formation (Turin Valdocco, the various ‘mis-

sionary seminaries’). A good part of the 11,000 Salesian

missionaries is the result of the typical Salesian tradition,

having confidence in young people - even in the field of

mission ad gentes, ad extra, ad vitam.

Like many other traditions in the immediate post-Vati-

can II period, all the missionary aspirantates in Europe

were closed in the 60s. On the other side of the globe, in

the region of South Asia during the centenary celebrations

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of Don Bosco in India (2006), the idea to continue the

original tradition of Salesian missionaries aspirantates

came up. Thus, with the permission of the Rector Major,

the first two missionary aspirantates outside Europe were

opened. The first in Sirajuli (Hubert D’Rosario Institute,

Guwahati, 2011) and the second in Perambur (Don Bosco

Missionary Aspirantate, Chennai, 2012). Now there are

about 70 young aspirants in India, 18 pre-novices, 6

novices being formed specifically to be missionaries. The

project is open to all 12 Provinces of the region. It is en-

visioned that after the postnovitiate the young missionar-

ies will be sent either to other parts of the region or to

missions ad gentes in other continents. The main motiva-

tion of the project is that “after receiving 400 Salesian

missionaries, we now have a strong faith and vocations.

As a sign of gratitude, the time has come for India to send

missionaries around the world and in Europe”.

The opening of missionary aspirantates was warmly en-

dorsed by other Provinces rich in apostolic vocations. The

specific missionary formation is expressed mainly in the

environment permeated by missionary enthusiasm: con-

tents of conferences, good nights, missionary literature,

and contact with missionaries ad gentes, missionary expe-

rience in the local oratory or the experience of initial

proclamation of Jesus in the rural area.

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The urgent need for missionary promotion

Alfred Maravilla, SDB

It is not uncommon to hear statements like “we are in

the missions already, so what is the need for missionary

promotion?”, or “we also need personnel in our Province

so why encourage our Salesians to be missionaries

abroad?”. These statements seem to indicate that mission-

ary promotion is often misunderstood as fishing for mis-

sionaries. No wonder confreres sometimes wonder at the

sense missionary promotion has when there is lack of per-

sonnel in the Province!

Looking back to Don Bosco

What is missionary promotion? It might be helpful to

return to Don Bosco in order to shed light on what we

mean by Salesian missionary promotion. From 1841 to

1850 Don Bosco established his first works for the

young. From 1850 to 1860, at a time of great danger for

the faith of the people, he undertook a bold initiative of

founding the Salesian Society in 1859 and of establishing

a printing press as well as the publication of the Catholic

Readings. In the next fifteen years he founded the other

branches of his family: the Association of Mary Help of

Christians in 1869, the Daughters of Mary Help of Chris-

tians in 1872 and the Salesian Cooperators in 1876. Fi-

nally, he opened an entirely new page in the life of his

young Congregation by sending out his first missionaries

in 1875, immediately after the approval of the Salesian

Constitutions (1874).

A closer look at the missionary thrust of Don Bosco re-

veals that it is but the ultimate fruit and liveliest mani-

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festation of his missionary zeal to make Jesus known. This

apostolic passion is the dynamism which underpins all his

initiatives. In fact, if we examine closely his ministry to

young people, it is easy to realise that this was deeply

permeated by his passion for preaching the Gospel: During

the outbreak of cholera in 1854 Don Bosco challenged his

best boys to look beyond the safe confines of the Oratory

and go and help those stricken with cholera. Dominic

Savio’s dream-vision of the Pope bringing the light of faith

to England reflects the missionary spirit that reigned in

the Oratory. “Don Bosco’s oratory” stressed Fr Vigano, “is

conceived with a missionary perspective for young people

without a parish”29.

This missionary zeal – synthesised in Da mihi animas

– was the animating dynamism which cuts across all his

initiatives. Fr Michael Rua wrote that “Don Bosco, in

the ardent zeal by which he was devoured, shouted out:

Da mihi animas! It was this need to save souls which

made the old world seem narrow and drove him to send

his sons to the distant missions of America”30. In 1925,

the fiftieth anniversary of the first missionary expedi-

tion, Fr Philip Rinaldi used these words to describe Don

Bosco’s missionary zeal: “The apostolic ardour of a

Francis Xavier had been burning in his large heart for

many a year, fed by a divine flame which lit up the fu-

ture through his dreams... He was a true missionary, an

apostle devoured by a passion for souls”31. Indeed, Don

Bosco passed on to his first Salesians and to his boys

this ardent desire to share his faith with poor and aban-

doned boys in Valdocco, with the people of Turin and

with those who lived beyond Italy’s shores. Truly his ex-

ample indicates that the missionary commitment to

mission ad gentes “would be the Congregation's on-

going concern, in such a way that it forms part of its

nature and purpose”32.

29 E. VIGANÒ, “The Po-

pe's Appeal for the

Missions”, p. 34.

30 Bolletino Salesiano

(January 1897), 4.

31 P. RINALDI, ASC 30

(1925) p. 367.

32 Acts of the General

Chapter XIX, 178;

Acts of the General

Chapter XX, 471.

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The Twofold Purpose of Salesian Missionary Promotion

33 BENEDICT XVI, “Ho-

mily, Parco Expo Bi-

centenario, León, Me-

xico” (March 25,

2012).

34 P. CHÁVEZ, “Address

at the Closing of the

General Chapter 26”,

Acts of the General

Chapter XXVI, 137.

35 BENEDICT XVI,

“Christmas address to

the Roman Curia”

(December 22, 2011).

36 Ibid.

37 Ibid.

38 FRANCIS, Evangelii

Gaudium 81, 83.

In the light of Don Bosco’s experience we can now draw

up our purpose for missionary promotion. Salesian mis-

sionary promotion has a twofold purpose which is inter-

related and mutually complementary. Above all it aims at

keeping alive in every Salesian the passion for making

Jesus known and for preaching the Gospel. Such mis-

sionary zeal leads to a rediscovery of “the joy of being

Christians, of being sustained by the inner happiness of

knowing Christ and belonging to his Church”33. Hence, an

effective missionary promotion renews “the passion for

the salvation of others, the joy of sharing the experience

of the fullness of life of Jesus”34 of individual Salesians

and, consequently, makes every member of the local and

Province community “happy from deep within”35. From

this inner joy energy springs “to serve Christ in hard-

pressed situations of human suffering, the strength to put

oneself at his disposal”36 and live our Salesian life radical-

ly. This, in turn, overcomes “faith fatigue” or the “sense of

having had enough of Christianity”37 which causes inner

weariness, small mindedness, and loss of apostolic zeal

which, ultimately, “ends up in a state of paralysis and ace-

dia”38 expressed in the joylessness and inner sadness in

living the Christian and consecrated life. Enthusiastic Sale-

sians attract young people to Salesian life. An effective

missionary promotion, therefore, is intimately linked to

vocation promotion.

This missionary zeal that should be present in every

Salesian does not preclude but actually implies that

there are Salesians who have a specific vocation to be

engaged in the missionary apostolate outside their own

homeland, cultural milieu and language group (ad ex-

teros); among those who have not yet heard the Gospel, or

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where the Church is not yet fully established (ad gentes);

and in contexts where there is an abandonment of the

faith or where it is lived and in contexts where there is an

abandonment of the faith or where it is lived as merely

something cultural (new evangelisation)39 through a life-

long commitment (ad vitam)40. Thus, the second purpose

of missionary promotion which flows from its primary aim

is to help Salesians discern whether they have the mis-

sionary vocation ad exteros, ad gentes, ad vitam. Those

who feel called to be missionaries are helped to start the

initial process of discernment by seeking the help of a

spiritual guide to discover God’s call, purify and deepen

their motives, discern their qualities and attitudes in view

of determining their basic suitability for Salesian mission-

ary life.

Our Salesian vocation places us at the heart of the

Church41 which “is missionary by her very nature” because

she “is sent forth to the nations”42. In the same way that

within the one Salesian vocation some are called to be

priests while others to be brothers, similarly the Salesian

missionary vocation is a call within our common Salesian

vocation43. In this light, it is not a matter of “we need

confreres here” nor of “escaping” from the needs of the

Province. No, no! It is a matter of helping a confrere re-

spond to his vocation to be a Salesian missionary!

Missionary Promotion in Salesian Communities

Salesian missionary promotion in the whole Province is

under the care of the Province Delegate for Mission An-

imation (PDMA) who works in close collaboration with the

Province Delegates for youth ministry, social communica-

tion and formation. In our local communities missionary

promotion could take different forms. Here are 4 simple

proposals:

39 FABC Office of

Evangelisation, “Con-

sultation on Asian

Local Church and

Mission ad Gentes”,

ed. Franz Josef Eilers,

For All the Peoples of

Asia, III, n. 5, (Clare-

tian Publications:

Quezon City, 2002)

222; RM 33; BENEDICT

XVI, Motu Proprio

Ubicumque et Semper

(2010).

40 Ad Gentes 6, 27;

RM 32, 79; Acts of

the General Chapter

XX, 465.

41 Const. 6.

42 Ad Gentes 2; RM 1,

62.

43 E. VIGANÒ, “The Po-

pe’s Appeal for the

Missions”, p. 11.

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• The annual celebration of the Salesian Mission Day on

a common date chosen by the whole Province is meant

to foster awareness to different missionary situations

and overcome every temptation to shut oneself off in

one’s own context. Every year the Missions Department

prepares a poster, printed materials, a DVD with short

films on the theme which are also available on

Youtube. These draw attention to the universality of

the Salesian charism and its vitality as shown in the

expressions of the missionary zeal of Salesians in dif-

ferent contexts.

• The Monthly Missionary Intention as well as prayer

for missionaries every 11th of the month underline

the importance of spiritual dimension of mission and

the possibility of all confreres to support the Congre-

gation’s missionary activity through their prayer and

sacrifices.

• The monthly issue of Cagliero 11, distributed to the

communities through the PDMA, offers resources not

only for spiritual reading of the community but also for

the ‘Good morning’ talks to students.

• The formation of a mission group in every local set-

ting fosters the revival of the missionary consciousness

of young people and the whole educative pastoral com-

munity (EPC), revitalises the enthusiasm for the faith

and the fascination for the Salesian charism. A mission

group could also foster volunteer service among the

young and all the members of the EPC. This, in turn,

stirs up the ardour that gives birth to new vocations.

The Sense of doing Missionary Promotion

So, do we really need missionary promotion today? In

fact, we really do! Salesian missionary promotion helps us

to rediscover the “joy of believing” and of “communicating

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Jesus Christ”44 which “enlivens the community of disci-

ples”45. Indeed, an effective missionary promotion will be

that spark that could trigger an “openness to a constant

self-renewal”46 in every Salesian and, consequently, “the

renewal of structures demanded by pastoral conversion”47

in every community and Province, less we give in to ‘faith

fatigue’, and slide back comfortably to the joyless and ar-

dourless “maintenance mode” of Salesian presence. Sale-

sians overflowing with the “delightful and comforting joy

of evangelising”48 will certainly attract young people to

the Salesian life!

44 FRANCIS, Evangelii

Gaudium 86, 30.

45 Idem, 21.

46 Idem, 26.

47 Idem, 27.

48 Idem, 10, 13, 83.

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Salesian Mission Day 1988-2015

Since 1988 a mission theme has been offered to the

entire Congregation. All Salesian communities are invited

to get to know about a missionary situation in a partic-

ular continent. It is a powerful occasion for Missionary

Promotion in the Provinces, houses, youth groups, and in

the Salesian Family. Is not an isolated event but rather a

chance to involve local Salesian communities and educa-

tive-pastoral communities (CEP) of the Province by of-

fering a proposal that can become an annual practical

project.

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YEARLY THEMES

Year Theme

1988 Guinea - Conakry: The dream continues

1989 Zambia: Lufubu Project

1990 Timor Leste - Venilale: Young evangelisers

1991 Paraguay: Street children

1992 Peru-Valle Sagrado Incas: Christ lives in the steps of the Incas

1993 Togo-Kara: Don Bosco and Africa - a dream comes true

1994 Cambodia-Phnom Penh: Missionaries builders of peace

1995 India - Gujarat: In dialogue sharing the faith

1996 Russia - Yakutsk: Lights of hope in Siberia

1997 Madagascar: Boy, I say to you, get up

1998 Brazil: Yanomami: New life in Christ

1999 Japan: The difficult proclamation of Christ in Japan

2000 Angola: Gospel seed of reconciliation

2001 Papua New Guinea: Walking with the young in PNG

2002 Missionaries among the refugees worldwide

2003 Salesian commitment to human development and evangelisation

2004 India - Arunachal Pradesh: A People awakes

2005 Mongolia: A new missionary frontier

2006 Sudan: - The Salesian mission in Sudan

2007 Sudan: - The Salesian mission in Sudan

2008 HIV/AIDS: The Salesian response - educating for life

2009 Worldwide Salesian Missionary Promotion - Keep alive your

missionary flame

2010 Europe: - The Salesians of Don Bosco walking with the Gypsies

2011 America: Volunteers proclaiming the Gospel

2012 Asia - Oceania: Telling the Jesus story to the young of Asia - Oceania

2013 Africa: Journey of Faith

2014 Europe: we are the others - care of immigrants

2015 Missionary heart of Don Bosco - Salesian Missionary Vocation

7 Pages 61-70

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7.1 Page 61

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Some Centres for Postgraduate Studies

Gregorian Pontifical University (Rome)

Faculty of Missiology (http://www.unigre.it/

struttura_didattica/missiologia/index.php)

• Evangelisation

• Theology of Religions:

• Religions and Cultures of the Mediterranean

• Islamic Studies

• Asian Religions and Cultures

Urbanian Pontifical University (Rome)

Faculty of Missiology (http://www.urbaniana.

edu/it/missiologia/ord_stud.htm)

• Theology of mission

• Missionary Catechesis and Pastoral Activity

• Mission and Religions

• Annual Course of Missionary Formation

(personalised plan)

‘Angelicum’ Pontifical University (Rome)

(http://www.pust.it/)

• Centre for Interreligous Dialogue

Scalabrini Migration International Institute (Rome)

(http://diplomasimi.org/)

• Diploma in Migrant Ministry

Pontificio Istituto di Studi Arabi e d’Islamistica (Rome)

(http://www.pisai.it/home.aspx)

• Introductory Course in Islam

• Licenciate in Arabic and Islamic Studies

(3 years, 1st year in Egypt)

• Doctorate

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Ateneo de Manila (Philippines)

• Chinese Studies Program (http://www.admu.

edu.ph/ls/soss/chinese-studies/about)

Dar Comboni for Arabic Studies (Egypt)

• Diploma in Arabic and Islamic Studies

(http://www.comboniegypt.org/Ita/DAR%20

COMBONI%2017.htm)

Fundación Universitaria San Alfonso (Colombia)

• Specialisation in missiology (http://fusa.

edu.co/index.php/la-fundacion/rectoria)

Institute for Consecrated Life In Asia (Philippines)

• Licentiate in Missiology (http://www.icla.org.

ph/index.php/degree-programs)

Dharmaram Vidya Kshetram Pontifical Institute (India)

• Licentiate in Missiology (http://www.dvk.in/View

CourseDetails.aspx?CourseId=52&FacultyId=1)

Sacred Heart Theological College (India)

• Licentiate in Missiology

Tangaza University College (Kenya)

• Institute of African Studies

(http://www.tangaza.org/)

Universidad Católica Boliviana (Bolivia)

• Instituto Latinoamericano de Misionología

(http://www.misionologia.org/info_academica.php)

Université Saint-Joseph de Beyrouth (Libano)

• Centre de Recherches et d’Etudes Arabes -

Islamics and arabic language studies

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7.4 Page 64

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Pubblicazioni del Dicastero per le Missioni

(per titolo e anno di pubblicazione)

1. Il Missionario (1980)

2. Salesian Africa (1986)

3. Pastoral Amazónica. Semana de Estudos Missionários - Campo Grande (1986)

4. Evangelization in India. Study sessions for the Salesian Family on Evangelization in

Tribal Areas of India - Shillong (1987)

5. Africa Salesiana. Visita d’Insieme - Lusaka (1988)

6. Spiritualità Missionaria Salesiana I. La Concezione Missionaria di Don Bosco

(1988)

7. Spiritualità Missionaria Salesiana II. L’Educazione Cristiana e Missionaria di Don

Bosco (1988)

8. Salesian Missionary Spirituality III. Prayer and the Salesian Missionary (1988)

9. Espiritualidad Misionera Salesiana IV. The Ideal of Mission (1988)

10. Spiritualité Missionnaire Salésienne V. The Missionary Project of the Salesians of

Don Bosco (1988)

11. Pastorale Salesiana in Contesto Islamico (1989)

12. Animazione Missionaria Salesiana II. Secondo Incontro di Studi per DIAM - Madrid

(1989)

13. Pastoral Mapuche. Encuentro DIAM Salesiano - Junin de los Andes (1989)

14. The Far East. Cultures, Religions, and Evangelization - Hua Hin (1989)

15. Lettura Missionaria di “Educare i Giovani alla Fede” CG XXIII. Incontro di Procu-

ratori e DIAM dell’ Europa - Roma (1991)

16. Animación Misionera Salesiana. Primer Encuentro de DIAM de America Latina -

Lima (1991)

17. Missionary Animation. First Meeting of the PDMA for Asia and Australia - Banga-

lore (1992)

18. Spiritualité Missionnaire Salésienne, Les Jeunes Africains en Quête de Leur Identité.

Séminaire d’Animation - Yaounde (1992)

19. Evangelización y Cultura en el Contexto de Pastoral Amazonica. Seminario de Ani-

mación - Cumbayá (1993)

20. Evangelización y Cultura en el Contexto de Pastoral Andina. Seminario de Anima-

ción - Cumbayá (1994)

21. Evangelización y Cultura en el Contexto de Pastoral Mapuche. Seminario de Ani-

mación - Ruca Choroi (1993)

22. Evangelization and Interreligious Dialogue. Missionary Animation Seminar - Bat-

ulao (1994)

23. Evangelization and Interreligious Dialogue. Missionary Animation Seminar - Hyder-

abad (1994)

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24. Evangelización y Cultura en el Contexto de Pastoral Mesoamericana. Seminario de

Animación - Mexico (1994)

25. The Volunteer Movement and Salesian Mission (1995) - ENG, ESP, ITA, FRA, POR

26. Educare alla Dimensione Missionaria (1995)

27. Presenze dei Salesiani in Africa (directory published annually from 1986 to1996)

28. Church - Communion and Mutual Missionary Relationship. Missionary Animation

Seminar - Addis Ababa (1997)

29. Incontro Europeo DIAM - Roma (1997)

30. National Missionary Animation Meeting for PDMA - Mumbai (1997)

31. Manual of the Provincial Delegate for Missionary Animation (1998)

32. Uniqueness of Salvation in Jesus Christ and Need of Primary Evangelization. Anima-

tion and Missionary Formation Seminar SDB-FMA East Asia Oceania - Hua Hin

(1998)

33. Missionary Praxis and Primary Evangelization. Animation and Missionary Forma-

tion Seminar SDB-FMA - Calcutta (1999)

34. Seminário de Pastoral em Contexto Afro-Americano. Seminario de Animação e For-

mação Missionária - Belo Horizonte (1999)

35. G. Ballin, I Fioretti d’un Missionario. Paraguay Cuore d’America (1999)

36. Le Projet-Afrique face au Defi de la Première Evangelisation et de la Phase de Con-

solidation. Seminaire d’Animation et de Formation Missionnaire - Yaounde-Mbeal-

mayo (1999)

37. La Primera Evangelización en Diálogo Intercultural. Experiencias y Formación de

Catecquistas. Seminario de Animación y Formación Misionera en el Contexto Pa-

storal Andino y Mesoamericana - Cumbayá (2000)

38. Seminário Sobre a Práxis Missionaria na Região Amazônica. Seminario de Ani-

mação e Formação Missionária - Manaus (2000)

39. Missionari nel Paese del Sol Levante Discepoli di Don Cimatti. Figure che Parlano

ancora (2000)

40. P. Baldisserotto, Rio de Agua Viva. Cartas de Pe. Antonio Scolaro Para a Missão e

Testemunho (2000)

41. Sprazzi di Vita. Figure che Parlano Ancora (2000)

42. Project Africa Between the Challenges of First Evangelization and the Phase of Con-

solidation. Animation and Missionary Formation Seminar SDB-FMA - Nairobi

(2001)

43. Seminario di Animazione e Formazione Missionaria. SDB-FMA in Contesto Islamico

- Roma (2001)

44. Presenza Salesiana SDB-FMA in Contesto Ortodosso. Seminario di Animazione e

Formazione Missionaria - Roma (2002)

45. Salesian Family Missionary Seminar. Mission Animation Notes 1 - Port Moresby

(2005)

46. East Asia and the Challenges of Mission Ad Gentes. Salesian Family Missionary

Seminar. Mission Animation Notes 2 - Hua Hin (2005)

47. Planning and Development Office. Proceedings of the Seminar - Rome (2005)

48. Les Defis de la Mission Ad Gentes en Afrique. Seminaire de Missiologie de la Fa-

mille Salesienne. Animation Notes 3 - Kinshasa (2006)

49. Mission Ad Gentes Today in Africa. Challenges to Mission Ad Gentes in the English

Speaking Provinces of Africa in the Light of the Apostolic Exhortation Ecclesia in

Africa. Mission Animation Notes 4 - Nairobi (2006)

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50. Pueblos Indígenas y Evangelización. V Encuentro de Misioneras y Misioneros Sale-

sianos en Contextos Pluriculturales - Cumbayá (2006)

51. Project Africa [1980-2005] (2006)

52. Impegno Salesiano nel Mondo Islamico. Dossier (2008)

53. Voluntary Service in the Salesian Mission (2008) - ENG, ESP, ITA, FRA, POR

54. Mantén Viva tu Llama Misionera. II Seminario Americano de Animación Misionera

SDB-FMA - Cumbayá (2012)

55. Planning and Development Office at the Service of the Salesian Charism in the

Province - Hyderabad (2012) - ENG, ESP, FRA, POR

56. Provincial Mission Office at the Service of the Salesian Charism - Bonn (2012) -

ENG, ESP

57. Study Days on the Salesian Mission and Frontier Situations and Initial Proclamation

in Europe Today - Prague (2013)

58. Study Days on the Salesian Presence Among Muslims (2013) - ENG, ITA, FRA

59. Study days on the Salesian Mission and the Initial Proclamation of Christ in Oceania

in the Context of Traditional Religions and Cultures and Cultures in the Process of

Secularisation - Port Moresby (2013)

60. Study Days on the Salesian Mission and the Initial Proclamation of Christ in the

Three-fold Context of East Asia - Sampran (2013)

61. Study Days on the Salesian Mission and the Initial Proclamation of Christ in the

Three-fold Context of South Asia - Kolkata (2013)

62. The Missionary Formation of the Salesians of Don Bosco - Roma (2014) - ENG,

ESP, ITA, FRA, POL, POR.

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Tip.: Istituto Salesiano Pio XI - Via Umbertide, 11 - 00181 Roma

Tel. 06.78.27.819 - Fax 06.78.48.333 - E-mail: tipolito@donbosco.it

Gennaio 2014

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7.9 Page 69

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