(ANS – Rome) – The annual meeting of the Directors of the five international Mission Procures of the Salesian Congregation took place at the Generalate in Rome from 7 to 9 June. It was their last meeting before the 27th General Chapter.
The meeting was coordinated by Fr Václav Klement, Councillor for the Salesian Missions, and Bro. Jean Paul Muller, Economer General. The participants were the Directors of the five major Mission Procures which depend directly on the Rector Major: Fr George Menamparampil (Bosconet, India), Fr Mark Hyde and Jaime Correa (New Rochelle, USA), Fr Pierluigi Zuffetti (Missioni Don Bosco of Turin), Fr Agustin Pacheco (Misiones Salesianas, Spain), Fr Clemens Schliermann and Nelson Penedo (Don Bosco Mission, Bonn).
The Rector Major spoke twice. On Friday 7 June he thanked all the directors for the work of the past six years, and shared a thought with them on the present worldwide financial and economic crisis, viewed from a Christian perspective. He drew attention to the role of the Mission Procures not only in raising funds but also in evangelizing the world of economics, where the culture of profit rules supreme, and the needy are overlooked. The following day, during Mass for the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, he pointed to Mary’s journey of faith as a model for every disciple and missionary of Christ.
On the first day, the group took part also in a meeting of the Council of Don Bosco Network, made up of the President Joanna Stozek and three other councillors. They dealt with ‘Capacity Building’ in the Planning and Development Offices (PDO) in the various provinces, and the Guidelines for Emergency Situations which will be finalized later this year.
On the Saturday evening, visits to the Salesian Printing Press and to the Redemptoris Mater chapel, and a fraternal meeting with the Salesian Community in the Vatican, offered an occasion for prayer and helped the participants to feel fully in tune with the universal Church.
The work done over the past six years, in line with the Rector Major’s Programme for 2008-2014, was shared and studied. Some new themes and new models emerged: benefactors who want to become actively involved in missionary projects; the need for maximum transparency at all levels, in the collection and distribution of funds for the missions; developing new means of communication with society and with our benefactors, not only through social networks but also dynamic people to people contacts (P2P). Great satisfaction was expressed at the increasing Salesian identity of the Mission Procures, both through formation of collaborators and in the criteria adopted for operations.
The meeting also indicated some necessary strategies to reinforce missionary solidarity, which will be valid also after the 27th General Chapter.
The meeting ended with an expression of gratitude from the General Council and the whole Congregation for the work of the five major Salesian Mission Procures, for the large volume of assistance they generate and, above all, for being “windows of the Congregation on the world” and “windows of the world on the Congregation”.
Published 10/06/2013
