Over 300 took part including Salesians, representatives of the Salesian Family and the parents of missionaries. There was a significant and lively presence of young Salesians in initial formation, novices and postnovices. Also present at the Day was Fr Vaclav Klement, Councillor for the Missions, in these days visiting the VIE Province.

Among the day’s events were a conference on “Don Bosco’s Missionary Heart,” an academy by the young Salesians in formation and by the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians and the Mass at which the Councillor for the Missions presided. During the celebration five Salesians, four of whom in initial formation, presented a letter expressing their readiness to go on the missions.

The Provincial Fr G. Battista Nguyen Van Then, in his address presented the Salesian Family in Vietnam with a missionary challenge. From the VIE Province n the last nine years 40 missionaries “ad gentes” have departed. “The missionary animation and generosity of this Province is also reflected in an abundance of  vocations.” Fr Klement acknowledged,. “The 40 prenovices and the 36 novices are the fruit of the pastoral work of seven vocation centres which accompany 450 aspirants, all university students.” Fr Klement also expressed appreciation for the  work of missionary animation carried out in the postnovitiate of Dalat.

This is the fifth time since 2004, that the VIE Provinces is celebrating Salesian Missionary Day close to 11 November, the date of the first Salesian Missionary Expedition. “From that day in  1875,”  the Councillor for the Missions recalled, ”at least 11,000 missionaries, receiving in the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians in Valdocco their mandate have left to proclaim the Gospel with the heart of Don Bosco”.

Published 12/11/2008