Councilor for the Missions
Bangladesh - Utrail, 11th November 2009
Missioni-061
 
To the Rev. Fr. Provincials
Delegates of missionary animation
Formation houses

141°   Missionary expedition - preparation

Dear Fr. Provincial,

Today I’m sending a heartfelt greeting from Bangladesh - Utrail, one of the most recent frontiers of the Salesian missions. Right on the anniversary of the first missionary expedition of Don Bosco (1875, November 11) I’m here with Fr. Francis Alencherry, in order to express gratitude to the Lord, who is sending us again to be signs and bearers of his Love to the youngster and to the people of this wonderful country.
     For Don Bosco to be a Christian, does mean the keep the awareness of being sent by God to proclaim his Gospel. There is no better and happier way how to spend own life, than to give him/ herself as the missionary ad gentes – ad extra – ad vitam. This is one of the most visible expressions of ‘Da mihi animas, cetera tolle’ driven life.
     After accompanying a group of 33 new missionaries of 2009 during the immediate preparation course and passage to their new provinces, we look already towards the missionary expedition of next year. During the Salesian Holy Year of 2009 – celebrating the 150° anniversary of our Congregation – we experienced truly an increased missionary generosity. Beyond the 37 new missionaries some 60 more confreres did apply for the missions and are discerning their missionary vocation.
    The topic of the 2009 Salesian Missions Day (Keep your missionary flame burning!) helps to re-launch the missionary animation in many provinces. Before the end of this year I was able to meet missionary animation delegates of almost all 8 regions (with exception of Africa and Western Europe Region). I would like to keep your informed through the monthly bulletin of Salesian missionary animation – Cagliero11 – about the needs and progress of our missions.

Without the missionaries there are no missions! Best fruits of the missionary animation are the missionary vocations ad gentes. Thanks to these confreres we experience in visible way that the ‘faith is growing, when is shared’ (Redemptoris missio, 2 – John Paul II). I would like to help the Provinces to rebuild some of the missionary dynamics of our history, when each new departure of the missionaries produced a lot of enthusiasm – when Don Bosco was sending his best Salesians to the missions, when in 1888 about 20% of his Salesians were working in America. Each 11th of the month we pray for the missionaries and for the new missionary vocation. I’m presenting you also the fruits of the missionary expedition n.140 and updated list of urgent needs of our missions - 2010.

In order to help our confreres to discern well their new call within the Salesian vocation, here are some basic steps of the missionary candidate path:

1. The whole process begins with a request addressed to the Rector Major, obviously based on a first discernment by the confrere. Each candidate places himself at the disposal of the Congregation. However, he may express his preference or practical predispositions.

2. Above all a good process of discernment regarding the missionary vocation ad gentes is needed. Usually after the request addressed to the Rector Major, the Superior of the candidate is asked to arrange for a discernment process following the criteria (Appendix - Criteria). The key to good discernment is collaboration at three levels – local, province and the Department of the Missions. Above all the opinion of the Provincial and his Council on the candidate is very important.

3. After a positive result of the discernment process, the Rector Major assigns to the candidate the destination of his future mission. A good knowledge of the person and the candidate’s capabilities helps us greatly in avoiding unwanted surprises in the future. There then follows a dialogue between the two Provincials concerned to facilitate an apropriate  preparation and transfer.

4. The course for the new-missionaries in Missionary Expedition n.141 will be held in Rome-Generalate, and in Turin (2-26 September 2010). The aims of the course follow a first orientation in responding to the new call – in its cultural-anthropological, theological and Salesian dimensions. Two weeks in Rome and a week of pilgrimage to the roots of the Charism are a help in deepening the motivations and starting a process of ongoing formation for each missionary. We can send the materials of the course as a help for initial formation as may be required (Fr. Aldred Maravilla: cagliero11@gmail.com).
   
To facilitate a good process of discernment and the preparation of the future missionaries I invite you to send me the names of any of your missionary candidates or else to send their requests directly to the Rector Major as soon as possible (better before January 31, 2010).

At present in the Department we have a list of several candidates who have sent requests to the Rector Major in last years. Some of them are still novices, post-novices or students of theology, who cannot leave at once. There are some candidates on their first year of practical training in missionary places in order to evaluate their missionary ad gentes vocation. For any questions or clarification I am always at your disposal.

General Chapter 26 suggests that each province “fosters the missionary spirit, put at the disposal of Rector Major generously their confreres for the missio ad gentes and fosters also the missionary vocations among the lay people and the families (n.49). Few months ago the list of the Salesian missions urgent needs was updated by the Rector Major.

 Wishing you a fruitful animation of the confreres entrusted to you,

in  Don Bosco
 
Fr. Václav Klement
Councillor for the Missions

THANKS FOR THE MISSIONARY GENEROSITY DURING THE 150° ANNIVERSARY OF OUR CONGREGATION

Salesians (SDB) who have received the missionary cross on 27th Sept 2009 from the Rector Major
1 P De Verchère Xavier FRANCE - CHAD (ATE)
2 P De Pablo J. Juan Carlos SPAIN-Bilbao ARGENTINA-Patagonia (ARS)
3 S Werun Antonio INDONESIA MONGOLIA (VIE)
4 S Vincent Nguyen Quoc Bao VIETNAM PARAGUAY (PAR)
5 S Joseph Do Van Dung VIETNAM VENEZUELA (VEN)
6 L John Baptist Doan Van Tan VIETNAM UGANDA (AGL)
7 L Dominic Vu Van Khanh VIETNAM PARAGUAY (PAR)
8 S Paul Tran Bao Thang VIETNAM PERÙ (PER)
9 S Jos. Mart.Nguyen Manh Hien VIETNAM ZAMBIA (ZMB)
10 S James Dang Dinh Minh Thang VIETNAM VENEZUELA (VEN)
11 P Cyril John Edamana INDIA - Bangalore GREAT BRITAIN (GBR)
12 P Somora Stanislav SLOVAKIA – KENYA (AFE)
13 S Jayaraj Mari Arulappan INDIA - Chennai GREAT BRITAIN (GBR)
14 S Guria Paules INDIA - Guwahati UGANDA  (AGL)
15 P Santiago Martìnez Martin SPAIN - Madrid CUBA (ANT)
16 L Matellan Carro Antonio SPAIN - León GUINEA EQUATORIAL (ATE)
17 P Vazquez Francisco SPAIN - Sevilla BENIN (AFO)
18 P Adaikalaraja John INDIA - Tiruchy HOLAND (BEN)
19 P Perego David ITALIA LITHUANIA (ILE)
20 S Lopez Mulet Druhznier CUBA ARGENTINA-Patagonia (ARS)
21 P Kociolek Pawel POLAND - Krakow BANGLADESH (INC)
22 S Maswili Stephen Musya  KENYA Papua New Guinea (FIN)
23 S Praveen Antony INDIA - Chennai AUSTRIA (AUS)
24 S Kariuki Peter KENYA - Delegation SUDAN (AFE)
25 S Paluku Maneno Moise – Peoples Republic of Congo  - Papua New Guinea (FIN)
26 P Idczak Blazej Sebastian POLAND - Pila AUSTRIA (AUS)
27 P Vladimir Fekete SLOVAKIA -  AZERBAIJAN (SLK)
28 P Escobedo Marcos Sergio MEXICO -  ITALY (RMG)
29 P Timothy Choi SOUTH KOREA Papua New Guinea (FIN)
30 P Anton Odrobinak SLOVAKIA -  ECUADOR (ECU)
31 S Esteves Ramalho Enio TIMOR LESTE - ECUADOR (ECU)
32 S De Rossi Raja INDIA - Tiruchy HUNGARY (UNG)
33 S León Mendoza Alejandro Josè  VENEZUELA MIDDLE EAST (MOR)

SDB confreres who were sent, but were not able to reach the course and Valdocco Eucharist
34 P Emil Ekka INDIA – Kolkatta BANGLADESH (INC)
35 P Boix Santiago URUGUAY - ANGOLA (ANG)
36 S Augustin Togo INDONESIA - ECUADOR (ECU)
37 S Andrea Jebarus INDONESIA - HOLAND (BEN)

During past 12 months almost 100 confreres answered to the appeal of the Rector Major. Apart of 37 members of the 140° missionary expedition, there are some 70 more doing their missionary vocation discernment journey in view of the future expeditions.

Members of the Salesian Family sent by the Rector Major (2009)
Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (6 FMA)
Daughters of Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary (1 HHSC)
Lay missionary volunteers (16 – Italy, Poland, Czech republic, Spain, Slovakia) – representing some 250 young people of different European missionary volunteer groups who offer at least 12 months of their life commitment for the Salesian missions.

HELP DON BOSCO TO REALIZE HIS MISSIONARY DREAMS TODAY!
PRIORITY NEEDS OF THE SALESIAN MISSIONS 2010                              Updated by Rector Major (2009, July 29)
Province-country Necessary language Characteristics – environment and necessary personal qualities
AFRICA – Middle East
MOR- Turkey (n.1)
Arabic countries(n.2) Turkish, Arabic Arab – Muslim environment, multi-religious, great need to rejuventate the Province; witness of life – need of robust vocations
FRA
Marocco French, Arabic Muslim environment, educative works (vocational school, secondary school), life witness, impossible explicit evangelization
IRL
Tunisia French, Arabic Muslim environment, educative works (vocational school, secondary school), life witness, impossible explicit evangelization
MDG
Madagascar French, Malgasy First evangelization – Bemaneviky, few SDB
ATE - Chad,
Guinea Equatoriale... French Few SDB  (multi-religious and islamic environemnt)
AFE Sudan English, Arabic, Tribal languages – dinga  Few SDB in the Deletion, South-animist, first evangelization, North – muslim environment (re-building after the war)
AGL Uganda English Few confreres, need of vocational ministry
ASIA – OCEANIA
INC
Bangladesh English, Bengali Muslim country, foundation in 2009 (Francis Alencherry) - Utrail
CIN
China services Chinese, Inglese Need to help to rejuvenate the province (Macau, HK, Taiwan) with young confreres; need of lay brothers, robust vocations-motivations
FIS
Pakistan English, Urdu Few SDB, challenging muslim environment, education ministry, technical and professional school, need of lay brothers
VIE
Mongolia English Mongolian Few confreres, first evangelization – founding the Church community, vocational training center staff, challenging  cold climate
PNG&SI
Delegation English, Pidgin English Islands of the Pacific, after 30 years few local vocations, technical school and vocation-formation ministry,
THA
Laos English, Laotian Vocation training center started in 2004, run by the past pupils, need of lay brothers in the beginning, communist regime.
SLK Azerbajdian
Missio sui iuris Russiab or English,
Azer  Appena 400 cattolici, Islam moderato; richiesta di internazionalizzare le comunità: confratelli non-slovacchi
AMERICA
BMA – Amazon region Portuguese – indigenous languages Missions among different ethnic groups
BRE – North East Portuguese Need of personnel (requested to the RM in 2009)
ARS - Patagonia Spanish First Salesian missions, few pastors, rural missions among indigenous groups (Mapuche and others)
PAR
Vicariate - Chaco Spanish - Guarani Vicariate of Chaco, only few aged SDB, need to strengthen the missions
PER
Vicariate- Pucallpa etc Spanish,
Indigenous languages Amazon Region – Vicariate with few SDB; Ashuar;
Missions among the “Kichua” people, Valle Sagrado-(Cuzco)
VEN
Vicariate Amazonia Spanish
Indigeneous languages Amazon region – Vicariate entrusted to the SDB, few confreres, Yanomami and other ethnic groups – Alto Orinoco
ECU
Vicariate Mendez Spanish
Indigenous languages Amazon region missions: few young confreres, Ashuar-Shuar;
Andes zone mission with the Kichua speaking groups
CAM - Guatemala
Vicariate El Peten  Spanish
Indigenous languages Indigenous groups ministry, the only Salesian is a bishop
EUROPA – Project Europe (CG26) official requests
GBR
Great Britain English Migrants ministry, parishes, schools; spirituality center,  european and african confreres needed for multicultural environment
BEN – Holand, Belgium Flamish - Dutch Amsterdam – Rijswik : youth center, migrants, international commun. 
AUS - Austria German Youth center – Oratory, Parish, Work for migrants, Youth movement
IRL – Ireland English Youth center, Campus ministry, School - Parish
FRB – South Belgium French Youth center, Spirituality center, School (Bruxelles, Farnier)
CEP
Bulgary Bulgarian, Romani languages Missionaries among the Gypsies, Catholic diaspora in orthodox place, need to internationalize the Czech communities
Yellow color: Territory entrusted to the Salesian Congregation by the Holy See (‘ius commissionis’= agreeement)
Red color: Needs of Project Europe – specific requests from the Provincials to the Rector Major
On the regional level there are other needs of the missions
- South Asia (Central–North India: Delhi Province appeal: INN – area of 500 M inhabitants with very few Catholics)
- Africa (Regional solidarity towards the weaker Vice-provinces: AFM, MOZ, ZMB)
- America (Aparecida 2007 - continental mission – invitation for mutual help, migrant ministry).

DIREZIONE GENERALE OPERE DON BOSCO
Via della Pisana 1111 – 00163 ROMA
Tel: +(39)-06-656-121; ufficio 06-656-1259; fax: 06-656-12-556
E-mail: vklement@sdb.org; vklementsdb@gmail.com