(ANS - Madrid) - The Rector Major of the Salesians, Fr Ángel Fernández Artime, visited the Mission Office in Madrid yesterday, 8 October. He brought a message of thanks to the staff there for being "the arms that reach so far" and being "close to missionaries around the world, so that they feel that they are not alone." The Rector Major greeted the staff in all the departments of the Missions office and spent some time speaking about the Salesian Missions and the NGO "Jóvenes y Desarrollo".

He had just returned to Rome from his trip to Albania and Kosovo, and was immediately flown to Madrid to spend a few hours at the Salesian Mission Office. He wanted to learn about the work done by this office in supporting missionary projects around the world and to meet with all the staff.

Fr Ángel Fernández Artime went to greet all the departments of the Missions Office and the workers of the NGO "Jóvenes y Desarrollo" one by one. Later in the morning he went to the conference hall to express his support and appreciation "for their work on behalf of the needy." "We are all united in the educative and evangelizing work of the missionaries,” he said, “because life in Salesian works is impressive."

He also gave a brief report on his last journey to the Salesians of Albania and Kosovo: "I met with school children, who do not study, do not eat, and do not work, but just being in a Salesian centre literally changes their lives. They receive an education and learn a trade. They also learn to live with other children like themselves. For those who have nothing, life changes completely when they meet Don Bosco."

The Rector Major also made ​​reference to one of the most dramatic situations in the world today, the Ebola epidemic in some West African countries. "In Sierra Leone, the situation is dramatic, but the missionaries are determined to stay there, in the centre of the epidemic, with the most disadvantaged. I gave them my support and I resolved to find whatever is needed to help them. At that moment I thought of you in the Mission Office as the people to get it."

Published 09/10/2014