(ANS – Santiago) – Some young Chileans aged between 22 and 25 linked in various ways with Salesian centres in Chile, have asked to be able to undertake missionary voluntary service in Argentina and Paraguay. They will be working in Salesian oratories or centres for street children. The Provincial  Fr Leonardo Santibáñez and his Council will announce their names and they will leave in January.

In Chile this is being organised by the Provincial Missionary Animation and Voluntary Service Department led by the Provincial Delegate, the Salesian in formation Marco Vásquez: However, he points out that the project is an inter-province activity, developed in collaboration with the Salesian Provinces of Paraguay and Northern Argentina and the  Paraguay Province of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians. The missionary volunteers have already had some training sessions in October and there will be others in the next few months .

Cooperation between the Provinces means that there are various projects supported by the different Superiors, in which the six young Chileans will be involved: “Santiago del Estero” in the Salesian North Argentina Province; “Don Bosco Roga”, in the Salesian Paraguay Province; “Tesape Porä di Villarrica”, in the Paraguay Province  of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians with two volunteers in each place.

The missionary voluntary service is the creation of a working party of Salesian past pupils working in the Salesian Youth Movement or Voluntary Service projects. Most of the candidates are university students or recent graduates.

The Provincial Delegate for Chile points out that the candidates for  voluntary service are selected from young men and women 21 years of age who are linked with Salesian centres and activities and  have been involved in pastoral work and spiritual accompaniment.

Published 31/10/2011