| RMG – The work of the World Consultative Committee for the Missions comes to a close |
| Italy – To proclaim Good News to the poor |
| RMG – World Advisory Committee for the Missions |
The Committee meets every two years bringing together experts from different areas of missiology, promotion and formation as well as collaborators of the Department for the Missions from various Provinces around the world, Salesians and lay people, together with representatives of the Departments for Youth Ministry, Social Communication and the Salesian Family.
The purpose of the meetings is to accompany the missionary promotion of the Congregation, by evaluating the steps already taken and by offering contributions and aids for a constant updating process.
Work began yesterday morning with Mass at which the Rector Major, Fr Pascual Chávez presided and his Vicar, Fr Adriano Bregolin, also concelebrated. Afterwards Fr Vacláv Klement, the Councillor for the Missions, welcomed those present and gave a short summary of the work undertaken for missionary promotion in the two year period 2008-2010. In particular, Fr Klement emphasised the growth in quality and importance of some formation developments such as the monthly bulletin for Missionary Promotion and the annual Salesian Missionary Day. Then in the area of missionary solidarity he noted the greater coordination among the activities of the Mission Offices and the missionary NGO.
The Councillor also listed the priorities of Missionary Promotion for the remaining years of the six year period in view of the Bicentenary of the birth of the Founder. The key element for the future had been identified as formation and the care of missionary vocations, thus motivating the Salesians in their generous commitment and opening up to the truly universal horizons of the Church and of the Congregation. “Without missionaries there are no missions” he declared.
Other necessary steps for the future are the development of mission groups in all the Provinces and local communities, and the creation of synergy at various levels between the Don Bosco Network and the Department.
In the afternoon the work continued in two sessions, one on the Framework for Salesian Missionary Activity, and the other on the Missionary Dimension of Salesian Formation. Today, 29 September, there are to be five other working sessions again focused on the subject of missionary formation, both initial and ongoing.
Tomorrow the area of missionary promotion will be further studied and some practical working proposals drafted.
Published 29/09/2010
