| Italy – World Advisory Council for the Missions |
| RMG – The World Consultative Committee for the Missions begins work |
Following its first meeting in 2008, the Committee again demonstrated that it is an effective means for profitably sharing a variety of missionary experiences. The global nature of the meeting was reflected in the fact that for the first time among those present were two Salesians from the Africa-Madagascar Region and also a Spanish Salesian-Cooperator with 7 years missionary experience who added her valuable contribution as a committed lay person to the debates. Over 50 written reports some of them the result of team work at Province level were submitted and considered.
After the final three working sessions or missions promotion yesterday 30 September, the practical conclusions were presented. In the specific area of promotion the Committees emphasised the central role of the Provincial Delegate and his team, and proposed as an example of “good practice” to be followed by others the activities undertaken in the South Asia Region and in Japan.
From the experience of the Salesians in the South Asia Region, in fact, emerges the fundamental requirement of the missionary which consists in a profound personal experience of the Risen Jesus, in a context which is profoundly multi-religious. From the “Saint Francis Xavier” Province of Japan (GIA) other suggestions for keeping alive interest in the missions included the organisation in each community of a monthly day of recollection with the theme of the missions and the missionary heart; or in a fraternal spirit working closely with the members of the Salesian Family. “If it is possible in Japan, it is possible in any Province in the world” it was said.
Among other proposals, the Committee indicated the need to produce a single reference document bringing together the suggestions of the Frame of Reference for Salesian Missionary Activity with a Manual on the themes of Vocation, Formation, Animation and Missionary Solidarity. It also took note of the meetings of the Consultative Committees for Youth Ministry and Social Communications planned for 2011. It put forward the idea of setting up by 2012, an “Association of Salesian Mission Experts” on the model of other existing Salesian associations (Salesian (Biblical Association, Salesian Historical Association …), and in view of 2015 to promote a Salesian Missionary Congress.
A practical measure for the sharing of reflections and good practice is the well–advanced preparation of the whole patrimony of official Salesian documents on the missions from Don Bosco’s day until today in digital form. By 31 January 2011 they should all be available in the Salesian digital library, http://sdl.sdb.org.
Published 01/10/2010
