(ANS – Rome) – The Department for the Salesian Missions has organised again this year a  formation course for the missionaries who will be leaving on the  142nd Expedition. Theological formation, a sharing of experiences and topics of interculturation are just some of the issues dealt with in an attempt to respond to the needs of the missionaries and prepare them adequately for the challenges awaiting them.

The course helps the new missionaries to understand better the significance of the vocation the to “missio ad gentes”. Prayer, listening to accounts of the missions, personal reflection and living together help the missionaries to appreciate the motives behind his departure; while the various topics, workshops and visits to  significant places of Christianity and of the Salesian world add to the skills and experiences for their mission.

The four modules followed are: an introduction; one dedicated to the examination of anthropological-cultural dynamics and the processes of inculturation; one dealing with the principles of missionology; one concerning the specifics of Salesian missionary work.

This year there are  38 on the course – 31 Salesians and 7 Sisters of Charity of Jesus. It is being led by Fr Václav Klement, Councillor for the Salesian Missions, who has also had a personal meeting with each one; Fr Alfred Maravilla, Fr Placide Carava and Fr Stanislaw Rafalko, members of the Department for the Missions. There are also three others dealing with cultures  the Salesian brothers Pedro Sachitula and Mark Choi and  Fr John Baptist Khong Huu Hien.

The  programme began on 1 September at the Salesian Generalate in Rome, and will end on 25 September in Turin  with the  142nd Missionary Expedition. As well as sessions for everyone there were others when they were divided into language groups. In the evenings there were power-point presentations or short films in which they shared their own cultures and backgrounds.

Among places visited in Rome have been places associated with St Paul, apostle of the gentiles; the Catacombs of Saint Callistus; the Historical Archives of the “De Propaganda Fide” Congregation; the Vatican for the audience of the Pope; and places associated with Don Bosco in Rome.

On Sunday 18 September they will travel to the places where the Salesian charism had it beginnings visiting  Mornese, Castelnuovo, Valdocco and Turin where the departure ceremony will be held on Sunday 25 September.

Published 15/09/2011