By Fr. Ding Cortez, SDB

Manila, the Philippines, 10 November 2017 -- Each of the 90 Salesian provinces around the world is invited to celebrate once a year a "SALESIAN MISSION DAY". There are many ways how to celebrate it in a meaningful way. Some provinces use to celebrate on one special day with the lay mission partners and benefactors collecting funds for the missions. Some provinces use to dedicate one full week in all Educative Pastoral Communities to this theme.

In the Philippines North - Malaysia Province (FIN) also this year is ending another edition of the ' Salesian Mission Month' (October 11 - November 11). This year the whole dynamics is rather simple but with a meaningful invitation to pray for all Salesians from the Philippines who are working out of their country as missionary ad gentes (not counting those who work for the oversea Filipino workers or as chaplains in the USA, Canada or Italy).

During the missionary month each was sent via SNS (Facebook) or via email simple photo of the respective missionary with an invitation to pray one Hail Mary for him, for his perserverance in the Salesian missionary life.

From both Filipino provinces (FIN & FIS) the following 34 missionaries ad gentes working in five continents (Africa, Middle East, America, Asia and Oceania) were target of this prayer campaign reaching out to hundreds of Salesian Family members of the youth of our works:

• Fr. Mon Borja, Fr. Andre Belo & Bro. Manuel Arroyo (FIN, Malaysia)


• Bro. Carlo Bacalla (THA, Laos)


• Fr John Cabrido (PGS, Papua New Guinea)


• Fr. Edgar Carbon (CIN, Taiwan)


• Bro. Jomar Castillo (BMA, Brasile - Amazon)


• Fr. Sonny Fajardo (PGS, Papua New Guinea)


• Fr. Rolando Fernandez (ITM, Timor Leste)


• Fr. Joseph Garcia (CIN, Taiwan)


• Fr Edwin Genovia (PGS, Papua New Guinea)


• Fr Cef Ledesma (THA, Cambodia)


• Fr. Albert Lenon (PGS, Solomon Islands)


• Cl. Rodil Lladones (MOR, Holy Land)


• Fr. Ariel Macatangay (PGS, Papua New Guinea)


• Fr. Alfred Maravilla, PGS (provincial)


• Fr Rommel Mendoza, CIN (Hong Kong)


• Fr. Roger Miranda (PGS, Papua New Guinea)


• Fr. Leo Ochoa (THA, Cambodia)


• Fr. Ramoncito Padilla (ITM, Indonesia)


• Fr. Peter Porio (CIN, Taiwan)


• Fr. Gigi Ravasco (THA, Cambodia)


• Fr. Angel Sanchez (PGS, Papua New Guinea)


• Fr. Jojo San Juan (ITM, TImor Leste)


• Bro. Efrem Santos (ITM, Indonesia)


• Fr. Roel Soto (THA, Cambodia - delegate)


• Fr. Noel Sumagui (LKC, Sri Lanka)


• Fr. Juanito Tamayo (THA, Thailand)


• Fr. Eleuterio Tapay (THA, Thailand)


• Fr. Aaron Alcoseba (THA, Thailand)


• Fr. Noel Villafuerte (ITM, Indonesia)


• Fr. Carlo Villegas (VIE, Mongolia - now in Zatti Clinic, FIN)


• Bro. Efren Umandal (AET, Ethiopia)

In the same time there are the following missionaries working in the FIN province: Fr. Joe Fernandez, Fr. Alton Fernandez, Bro. Luigi Parolin, Fr. Andres Cervantes, Fr. Pepe Reinoso, Fr. Sal Putzu, Fr. John Andreu, Fr. Henry Bonetti and Bro. Quang Peter Tran Van.

There are really many different ways how to help the missions, but the basic is our prayer for the missionaries and for new missionary vocations! Thanks to all who answered to our invitation to pray during the Salesian Missionary Months 2017!

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