(ANS – Rome) – On Sunday 30th September, in the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians in Valdocco, Turin, will see the launch of the 143rd Salesian Missionary expedition. Religious and lay people will be invited to spread the Gospel in the educative style of Don Bosco.

This year the Missionary Cross will be received by 45 Salesians, 15 Daughters of Mary Help of Christians and 11 lay volunteers: 5 Italians and 3 from Poland.
 
The background of the new Salesian missionaries is as varied as their destinations. Among the destinations is also Europe, which in the last few years has been considered as evangelization territory and the reason for the Salesian Congregation’s launch of Project Europe. The social, cultural and religious reality which characterize  missionary areas hasn’t changed at all wherever they are.

The missionary commission will take place in the historic basilica dedicated to Mary Help of Christians and the Rector Major of the Salesians, Don Pascual Chávez Villanueva, the 9th successor of Don Bosco, will preside.

It will be possible to follow the ceremony live from 11.55 (GMT+2) and via satellite on Telepace from 21.00 (GMT+2) on Sunday 30th September, thanks to the Don Bosco Mission production.

Preceding and accompanying the celebration of the Missionary Commission, the event called Harambée, a display of the International Volunteers for Development (VIS) and the Salesian Missionary Animation in Italy, will take place. The traditional event takes place at the Colle Don Bosco in Turin in the last week of September and looks at the participation of young missionary animators and of those who have spent summer holiday time in countries on the road to development.

The celebration of the Missionary Commission is a tradition dating back to Don Bosco. On the 11th of November 1875, always in the same basilica, the Missionary Cross was handed on to the first ten Salesians leaving for Patagonia Argentina, as a sign of their mission to evangelise and educate. Two years later, some sisters from the new Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians joined the Salesians on their departure for the Missions. In the last few years, with the development of the awareness and involvement of the laity, the Salesian Cooperators and Volunteers of the Salesian NGOs have joined the expeditions.

Until today, with 137 years of missionary history, thousands of religious and hundreds of lay people have carried the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the style of Don Bosco to more than 130 countries.

Published 24/09/2012