(ANS – Shillong)– The Course for Missionaries coming from or working in the South Asian and East Asian regions opened last August 4, 2013 at Mathias Institute, Shillong, India. There are 24 participants from South and East Asia: 16 Salesians, 6 FMAs and 2 Missionary Sisters of Mary Help of Christians.

During the 4 week course the inputs by various resource persons are grouped into 4 nuclei: anthropological, missiological, Salesian and Scriptural. The fourth week will be spent tracing the footsteps of Jesus in the Holy Land. The course gives great importance to personal reflection through the four elements of every module: drawing out from one’s personal experience, listening to and evaluating the input, personal study and reflection, and the reformulation and sharing of one’s own personal understanding of the topic.

The course aims at offering the participants an experience of reflection and renewal in their Salesian missionary vocation through an updating on current trends in mission in order to respond appropriately to the various missionary challenges in their own context; a renewal in the missionary ardour of the Salesian charism; and a deepening in their love for Scripture as the source of nourishment for their spiritual life.

Last year a similar course was held in Quito for the 2 regions of America. It is the second inter-regional course organised by the Missions Department during this six-year period. It is organised in close collaboration with the Salesian Sacred Heart Theological College and animated by Fr. Jose Anikuzhikattil and Fr. Alfred Maravilla of the Missions Department.

Published 20/08/2013