By Fr. Joseph Almeida, SDB
Superior of the Sri Lanka Viceprovince

Sri Lanka, 9 January 2016 - The Salesian missionary in Solomon Islands, Fr. Priyanga Srimal from Sri Lanka gave a meaningful and inspiring missionary animation programme for missionary groups in the Aspirantates, Pre-novitiate and Novitiate. There were also other Salesian missionaries to Sri Lanka present for the programme. Among them were Fr. Joseph Giame, from Italy and Fr. Noel Sumagui from Philippines. The seminar was held on the 9th of January 2016 with the dawn of the Month of Don Bosco in the New Year 2016. The purpose of the seminar was to give the students of various formation houses an orientation towards the Salesian mission in the world and to promote a missionary culture among the students of aspirantates, Pre-novitiate and the Novitiate in Sri Lanka. The programme was well conducted with inspiring living experiences from the life of the missionary. The interesting video clips relevant for the occasion were used every now and then to keep the group alive and awake.

The programme began with a prayer for mission and a short Introduction by Fr. Janze, an elderly Salesian priest from Sri Lanka and introduced the missionary to the group. Then the missionary developed the theme on mission from the cultural, social, religious and educational points of view. He began the animation by explaining to the group about the geographical background of Honiara the Capital of Solomon Island and the social values of the people and the way he integrated himself into the culture of Melenesian in Solomon Islands. The later part was set aside to share about the type of mission that is done by the missionaries in Honiara. It’s DBTI Henderson, a centre for Technical Studies. Non formal education for the poor youth is the main mission in Honiara and the priest is fully involved in the centre as the Principal and the Administrator of the Institute.

Finally he also gave some tips about being a missionary in the Congregation. He raised few questions to the group with regard to missionary group animations done in the community and explained to them about the importance of the missionary groups in the community. Praying for the mission and the missionaries in the world is essential and coming forward to volunteer for mission is the best expression of missionary zeal one has in his heart. The joys and sorrows are part of everybody’s life and the missionary too has to undergo that experience. At last he threw an open invitation to all the participants to come forward with love and courage to continue the mission of Jesus in the Salesian way. The life of a missionary is a gift for the people who are still in need on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Prayer can support the missionaries in an enormous way.

The animation programme by the missionary from Solomon Island came to an end by a meaningful celebration of the Holy Eucharist praying for the Salesian mission and the missionaries in the world. It was an appropriate moment for the group present to show their solidarity for the missionaries around the world by asking the Lord to bless all of them with his grace and missionary spirit.

Rev. Fr. Joseph Almeida, the Provincial Superior who planned the animation programme for missionary groups arrived during the Holy Mass to thank the animator for his availability. He also addressed the missionary group by sharing a motivating life story of a missionary from North Italy to the Province of Guwahati and invited the young men to be enthusiastic about the call to be a missionary and requested the boys to pray for this intension. The community of Dankotuwa sincerely thanked the missionary for making him available for the animation programme and assured him of our prayerful support as he leaves the country for the continued mission in Solomon Islands. God bless him.

Any family or home visit of the missionary is a good opportunity to animate his province of origin. We are happy that Fr. Srimal took this opportunity with the new Superior of LKC (Sri Lanka) and pray that this example will inspire also other 150 missionaries who are out of the EAO in other parts of the world!

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