In the year in which Salesian Missions day is devoted to Voluntary Missionary Service those responsible for the projects in North America planned a series of meetings to foster consistency and efficiency in missionary activities.
On 15-16 March at Berkeley, there was one such meeting . The first talk was given by Adam Rudin, who introduced the “Salesian Lay Missioners” programme developed in the Provinces of the United States. Starting with the first missionary project in 1983, he explained the selection and formation procedures for the volunteers emphasising in particular those aimed at the acquisition of Salesian principles and those related to inter-culturation.
Afterwards Juan Carlos Montenegro, a former volunteer in Ecuador, spoke about the “Salesian Volunteers” Programme and about the 120 young people who over the years it has sent to Latin America on voluntary service projects. Mr. Montenegro also gave several examples of the successful formation of the volunteers in collaboration with other Salesian programmes.
Speaking about the “Salesian Domestic Volunteers” programme from her personal experience of being part of it was Megan Fraino. Until her second year at university she said that she had never heard of the Salesians; but then getting in touch following the Katrina hurricane, she began to join in their activities without yet sharing in the spirituality. As time passed her involvement increased, and last year, in helping with the formation of the volunteers, she made use of the Strenna of the Rector Major for 2010.
The presentation of the activities of VIDES was shared by three FMA Sisters. First Sr. Jeannine Landry spoke about the main ideas behind the organisation and the first group set up in Canada; then Sr. Denise Ann Sickinger spoke about the spiritual dimension and that of service which supports the voluntary service activities and mentioned the role carried out by VIDES and also by the International Institute of Mary Help of Christians (IIMA) in various parts of UNO; Sr. Mary Gloria Mar, then described the various selection and formation procedures for volunteer candidates.
After the presentations there was a very useful open discussion about the possibilities for collaboration and cooperation. Points which emerged include the unification of the selection of candidates procedures, the sharing of formation criteria, the use of on-line seminars, the production of shared information sheets and closer links between the respective sites. Several people mentioned the need to integrate Youth Ministry with missionary activities.
The next joint meeting of the various organisations will be held 14-15 September on the subject of formation.
Published 31/03/2011
