austraLasia #3025
A missionary's Golden Jubilee: Bro Cesare Bullo sdb
NAIROBI: 25 February 2012 -- VK: Some impression from your first trip from Italy to Vietnam?
CB: I have received the missionary crucifix in November, 1961, then waited a few months for the visa for Vietnam. Due to this delay I was the only missionary of our lay brothers group who travelled by airplane. The route was Rome – Calcutta – Bangkok overnight, Saigon. In Bangkok I was lost with no language skills, in the hotel. Next morning I was woken up by receptionist to catch the airplane connection. Frs. Maria Aquistapace and Andre Majcen were in Saigon airport to welcome me.
I got to Vietnam on Saturday. On Sunday I already had my picture taken with the DB Go Vap Technical School; 500 boarding students. By Monday I was already in the classroom, teaching the technical drawing class. I drew, and at the end told them ‘Chep’- meaning ‘copy’. And they did!
VK: What was your initial motivation for leaving for the missions?
CB: Already in Italy, at Chioggia – in the ‘most Salesian’ Oratory grades 4-5, there was a lot of talk about the missions. But after my novitiate at Rebaudengo - Turin, during the three years of technical and religious preparation, plenty of missionaries passed by, and talk about the need for technically prepared Brothers in the missions was heard many times. They were coming back from all over the world – all continents. At the end of the third year I wrote my request for the missions to the RM, Fr. Ziggiotti. It was accepted immediately, and the Missions Councillor, Fr. Ignido Bellido, came to tell us our destinations. We sent out about 10 Salesian Brothers each year for the missions, a total of 90 Brothers at the Rebaudengo formation house, a 3 year course.
VK: What are the different ministries, experiences that you have been involved with
CB: Vietnam – first it was language study – all of ‘one day’! Effectively I studied Vietnamese while working! When I was assisting in the Go Vap school dormitory, a thief entered one day. Everyone was shouting, and I was scared. But it was not a revolution, just a thief! I spent time from 1962 to 1970 t the school, then was sent to Rosemead, CA USA, then for another course in Verona, and in '74 came back to Vietnam. I was invited to leave the country in September 1975. When I arrived in Rome – it was during the famous World Brothers Congress, I was welcomed by the then RM, Fr. Ricerri, and during the Congress Assembly I recall greeting all participants.
Back to Rome briefly for the Salesian Missions 1975 centenary celebrations, Fr. Tohill invited me to help in the Centenary office. Then after few months I asked another mission. I was offered to go to Latin America. But Fr. Tohill realized I knew English and asked me if I would like to go to Ethiopia. My answer – OK for anywhere except the Pisana!
On 19 March, 1976 I left for Adis Ababa. We were three SDB in the first group in Ethiopia. It was called, "new frontiers" – before Project Africa started. When the first Ethiopia Salesian, formerly a diocesan priest, then bishop of Adigrat invited us to the country he was present for the 1975 Missions Centenary. I had asked him for only one piece of advice, his answer was ‘patience’!
In our first Ethiopia community there was one Irish priest who died early in the piece, one US Brother and myself. After his death, us two brothers were without a priest for 6 months. The Economer General, Fr. Pilla, sent us there with no money, then he promised to visit us and we started to build our first SDB Ethiopia Residence at Makale. At the same time we were also digging wells for the people, and building the technical school – so we were very well accepted by the local people. In 1982-83 we were involved with famine relief, and in the great famine of 1984-1985 we were in the frontline of the UN relief agencies feeding some 500,000 people in this big operation.
VK: What is the greatest lesson that you have learnt from the people you serve?
CB: ‘To be available’: if they see you are for them – they love you! First we love them, then they will love us! I found a similar mentality both in Vietnam and Ethiopia (a semitic touch?) – which calls for a similar approach to the people. I was immediately able to understand the situation of the youth. I noted, interestingly, having left Vietnam after the communist unification of the country - that in Ethiopia I began work under a communist regime. Can’t escape them! The two years 1977-1978 was the worst time of all - the 'red terror' started – some of our students were killed, and a ‘liberation’ movement started p.
VK: What is the biggest challenge in sharing the lives of people different from yourself?
CB: When you are available, you don’t feel it's a challenge! I have always been learning: new language, new people. After one month in Ethiopia I was already working for them. They were waiting for us! Actually two Salesian brothers for the founding the technical school were the first Salesians present. AET was started with brothers! And after that in Ethiopia a lot of youth wanted become brothers. Even now if you like to deepen the technical education we need more brothers! But never there was a distinction, no big thought about priest brother relationship. First of all we are Salesian.
VK: Can you mention some achievements?
In Ethiopia after 25 years already we had already become a (vice) province, in 1998! You feel proud to be a founder!
In Vietnam we felt like we were amongst the pioneers, and it was a very positive and exciting experience. When I attended the 50th anniversary of Don Bosco in Vietnam (September 2002), I was looking around at the TV cameras. Then I was taken by our past pupils – with 50 motorbikes - to all houses in Saigon. I could see the progress, and people who had been my students!
Today too, the 7 Vietnamese missionary brothers who came and their gave me their gift – a small statue of our Lady of La Vang, are an expression of my missionary dedication.
I was sent to new places to plant the Salesian charism, being part of the first groups in Vietnam and Ethiopia! This is very, very rewarding… for sure.
VK: What did you regret in your life?
CB: As the RM tells us, I could always start again! I left when I was 20 years old. With permission from my mother (widowed at 39 years of age, with 3 younger sisters, the youngest was 8 years old) as my father had died just a few years before my departure. I have never regretted being a Salesian missionary! All the time I felt sure about my vocation.
VK: What are your dreams for the future?
To be able to see the continued increase of the Salesian Charism both in Vietnam and Ethiopia and see them sending more missionaries abroad, especially Salesian Brothers!
VK: And a short message to your first love – Vietnamese youth, Salesians and past pupils?
CB: I still love them!
A missionary's Golden Jubilee: Bro Cesare Bullo sdb
CB: I have received the missionary crucifix in November, 1961, then waited a few months for the visa for Vietnam. Due to this delay I was the only missionary of our lay brothers group who travelled by airplane. The route was Rome – Calcutta – Bangkok overnight, Saigon. In Bangkok I was lost with no language skills, in the hotel. Next morning I was woken up by receptionist to catch the airplane connection. Frs. Maria Aquistapace and Andre Majcen were in Saigon airport to welcome me.
I got to Vietnam on Saturday. On Sunday I already had my picture taken with the DB Go Vap Technical School; 500 boarding students. By Monday I was already in the classroom, teaching the technical drawing class. I drew, and at the end told them ‘Chep’- meaning ‘copy’. And they did!
VK: What was your initial motivation for leaving for the missions?
CB: Already in Italy, at Chioggia – in the ‘most Salesian’ Oratory grades 4-5, there was a lot of talk about the missions. But after my novitiate at Rebaudengo - Turin, during the three years of technical and religious preparation, plenty of missionaries passed by, and talk about the need for technically prepared Brothers in the missions was heard many times. They were coming back from all over the world – all continents. At the end of the third year I wrote my request for the missions to the RM, Fr. Ziggiotti. It was accepted immediately, and the Missions Councillor, Fr. Ignido Bellido, came to tell us our destinations. We sent out about 10 Salesian Brothers each year for the missions, a total of 90 Brothers at the Rebaudengo formation house, a 3 year course.
VK: What are the different ministries, experiences that you have been involved with
CB: Vietnam – first it was language study – all of ‘one day’! Effectively I studied Vietnamese while working! When I was assisting in the Go Vap school dormitory, a thief entered one day. Everyone was shouting, and I was scared. But it was not a revolution, just a thief! I spent time from 1962 to 1970 t the school, then was sent to Rosemead, CA USA, then for another course in Verona, and in '74 came back to Vietnam. I was invited to leave the country in September 1975. When I arrived in Rome – it was during the famous World Brothers Congress, I was welcomed by the then RM, Fr. Ricerri, and during the Congress Assembly I recall greeting all participants.
Back to Rome briefly for the Salesian Missions 1975 centenary celebrations, Fr. Tohill invited me to help in the Centenary office. Then after few months I asked another mission. I was offered to go to Latin America. But Fr. Tohill realized I knew English and asked me if I would like to go to Ethiopia. My answer – OK for anywhere except the Pisana!
On 19 March, 1976 I left for Adis Ababa. We were three SDB in the first group in Ethiopia. It was called, "new frontiers" – before Project Africa started. When the first Ethiopia Salesian, formerly a diocesan priest, then bishop of Adigrat invited us to the country he was present for the 1975 Missions Centenary. I had asked him for only one piece of advice, his answer was ‘patience’!
In our first Ethiopia community there was one Irish priest who died early in the piece, one US Brother and myself. After his death, us two brothers were without a priest for 6 months. The Economer General, Fr. Pilla, sent us there with no money, then he promised to visit us and we started to build our first SDB Ethiopia Residence at Makale. At the same time we were also digging wells for the people, and building the technical school – so we were very well accepted by the local people. In 1982-83 we were involved with famine relief, and in the great famine of 1984-1985 we were in the frontline of the UN relief agencies feeding some 500,000 people in this big operation.
VK: What is the greatest lesson that you have learnt from the people you serve?
CB: ‘To be available’: if they see you are for them – they love you! First we love them, then they will love us! I found a similar mentality both in Vietnam and Ethiopia (a semitic touch?) – which calls for a similar approach to the people. I was immediately able to understand the situation of the youth. I noted, interestingly, having left Vietnam after the communist unification of the country - that in Ethiopia I began work under a communist regime. Can’t escape them! The two years 1977-1978 was the worst time of all - the 'red terror' started – some of our students were killed, and a ‘liberation’ movement started p.
VK: What is the biggest challenge in sharing the lives of people different from yourself?
CB: When you are available, you don’t feel it's a challenge! I have always been learning: new language, new people. After one month in Ethiopia I was already working for them. They were waiting for us! Actually two Salesian brothers for the founding the technical school were the first Salesians present. AET was started with brothers! And after that in Ethiopia a lot of youth wanted become brothers. Even now if you like to deepen the technical education we need more brothers! But never there was a distinction, no big thought about priest brother relationship. First of all we are Salesian.
VK: Can you mention some achievements?
In Ethiopia after 25 years already we had already become a (vice) province, in 1998! You feel proud to be a founder!
In Vietnam we felt like we were amongst the pioneers, and it was a very positive and exciting experience. When I attended the 50th anniversary of Don Bosco in Vietnam (September 2002), I was looking around at the TV cameras. Then I was taken by our past pupils – with 50 motorbikes - to all houses in Saigon. I could see the progress, and people who had been my students!
Today too, the 7 Vietnamese missionary brothers who came and their gave me their gift – a small statue of our Lady of La Vang, are an expression of my missionary dedication.
I was sent to new places to plant the Salesian charism, being part of the first groups in Vietnam and Ethiopia! This is very, very rewarding… for sure.
VK: What did you regret in your life?
CB: As the RM tells us, I could always start again! I left when I was 20 years old. With permission from my mother (widowed at 39 years of age, with 3 younger sisters, the youngest was 8 years old) as my father had died just a few years before my departure. I have never regretted being a Salesian missionary! All the time I felt sure about my vocation.
VK: What are your dreams for the future?
To be able to see the continued increase of the Salesian Charism both in Vietnam and Ethiopia and see them sending more missionaries abroad, especially Salesian Brothers!
VK: And a short message to your first love – Vietnamese youth, Salesians and past pupils?
CB: I still love them!
