austraLasia #3241
ROME: 10 July 2013 -- The Missions Department has just published another booklet on the series of Study days it has organised on Initial Proclamation: The Acts of the Study Days on the Salesian Mission and Initial Proclamation of Christ in the threefold context of East Asia. The bright red colour and beautiful lay-out which clearly reflects the unique cultures of East Asia is in itself an attractive invitation to the reader to take up the 300 page booklet. The reflections are very interesting and practical and most especially, easy to read.
The Acts opens with an explanation of the five parts comprising the Chinese character for listening: 聽 pointing out that these Study Days are a privileged occasion for the Salesian Family to listen together to the Spirit who speaks through the rich cultures, ancient traditions and poor multitudes of East Asia. It further explains that “our capacity to attentively listen will make us intuitively sensitive to that unexpected moment when our life, activity, presence or image as consecrated persons and as Church may spark the interest to know Jesus Christ as a person, and have faith in him. As attentive listeners “we shall not be timid when God opens the door for us to proclaim explicitly the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior”!
It is underlined that the Study Days held in 2011 ought to be seen as a continuation and deepening of the themes discussed at the Missionary Animation Seminar on Evangelization and Interreligious Dialogue at Batulao (1994), at the Animation and Missionary Formation Seminar on the Uniqueness of Salvation in Jesus Christ and Need of Primary Evangelization at Hua Hin (1998), and the Salesian Family Missionary Seminar on East Asia and the Challenges of Mission Ad Gentes at Hua Hin (2005).
It is hoped that these Acts of the Study Days “will open up ‘a new and promising horizon’ and our Salesian missionary zeal would ‘be re-kindled now’ (cf. Lk 12:49)… and that we may all be ‘on fire with the love of Christ and burning with zeal to make him known more widely, loved more deeply and followed more closely.’ Indeed, ‘a fire can only be lit by something that is itself on fire,’ less we give in to faith fatigue and slide back comfortably to the joyless and ardourless “maintenance mode” of Salesian presence in East Asia. Indeed, enthusiastic Salesian sisters, brothers and priests attract young people to the Salesian life!”
The booklet, which has been mailed already directly to the communities of East Asia, is not only a record of the Study Days. It contains stories collected by the participants on how people became Christians. Part of its value lies in the 10 activity sheets which are intended for the local community so that these Study Days may be used for ongoing formation as one of the activities of the regular Day of the Community, hence foster its reception by the local communities. It is a highly recommended reading not only for those working in East Asia but even to those who work in other regions of the Salesian world.
-------
If you wish to find all this material together, the best place to go to is the regional website, Bosconet, EAO Missions materials, where you will find other items as well.
If you want this particular item go to SDL English collection or Missions Collection
Initial Proclamation, East Asia
A. Maravilla
ROME: 10 July 2013 -- The Missions Department has just published another booklet on the series of Study days it has organised on Initial Proclamation: The Acts of the Study Days on the Salesian Mission and Initial Proclamation of Christ in the threefold context of East Asia. The bright red colour and beautiful lay-out which clearly reflects the unique cultures of East Asia is in itself an attractive invitation to the reader to take up the 300 page booklet. The reflections are very interesting and practical and most especially, easy to read.
The Acts opens with an explanation of the five parts comprising the Chinese character for listening: 聽 pointing out that these Study Days are a privileged occasion for the Salesian Family to listen together to the Spirit who speaks through the rich cultures, ancient traditions and poor multitudes of East Asia. It further explains that “our capacity to attentively listen will make us intuitively sensitive to that unexpected moment when our life, activity, presence or image as consecrated persons and as Church may spark the interest to know Jesus Christ as a person, and have faith in him. As attentive listeners “we shall not be timid when God opens the door for us to proclaim explicitly the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior”!
It is underlined that the Study Days held in 2011 ought to be seen as a continuation and deepening of the themes discussed at the Missionary Animation Seminar on Evangelization and Interreligious Dialogue at Batulao (1994), at the Animation and Missionary Formation Seminar on the Uniqueness of Salvation in Jesus Christ and Need of Primary Evangelization at Hua Hin (1998), and the Salesian Family Missionary Seminar on East Asia and the Challenges of Mission Ad Gentes at Hua Hin (2005).
It is hoped that these Acts of the Study Days “will open up ‘a new and promising horizon’ and our Salesian missionary zeal would ‘be re-kindled now’ (cf. Lk 12:49)… and that we may all be ‘on fire with the love of Christ and burning with zeal to make him known more widely, loved more deeply and followed more closely.’ Indeed, ‘a fire can only be lit by something that is itself on fire,’ less we give in to faith fatigue and slide back comfortably to the joyless and ardourless “maintenance mode” of Salesian presence in East Asia. Indeed, enthusiastic Salesian sisters, brothers and priests attract young people to the Salesian life!”
The booklet, which has been mailed already directly to the communities of East Asia, is not only a record of the Study Days. It contains stories collected by the participants on how people became Christians. Part of its value lies in the 10 activity sheets which are intended for the local community so that these Study Days may be used for ongoing formation as one of the activities of the regular Day of the Community, hence foster its reception by the local communities. It is a highly recommended reading not only for those working in East Asia but even to those who work in other regions of the Salesian world.
-------
If you wish to find all this material together, the best place to go to is the regional website, Bosconet, EAO Missions materials, where you will find other items as well.
If you want this particular item go to SDL English collection or Missions Collection
