(ANS – Shillong) – An inter-regional ongoing formation course for Salesian Missionaries working in the South Asian, East Asian and African regions began on August 2, 2014 at Don Bosco Provincial House, Mathias Institute, Shillong, India.

It is organised by the Missions department of the Generalate in close collaboration with Vendrame Missiological Insititute, Sacred Heart Theological College, Shillong. There are 23 participants in the programme - 19 Salesians, 2 FMAs and 2 Visitation Sisters of Don Bosco.

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.  “The course is also aimed at a renewal in the missionary ardour of the Salesian charism, and a deepening in the participants` love for Scriptures as source of nourishment for their spiritual life”, says Fr. Joseph Anikuzhikattil, the director of the Course who is also the Secretary of the Missions Department.

During the 4 weeks 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 moments of every module: drawing out from one`s personal experience, listening and evaluating through the input, personal study and reflection, and the sharing and reformulation of one’s own personal understanding of the topic.

The course directed by Fr Joseph Anikuzhikattil is the second inter-regional course in English organised by the Department in this region. Fr. Guillermo Basañes, the Councillor General for the Missions was actively present with the participant missionaries for the first four days of the programme.

Published 08/11/2014