austraLasia #3238
ROME: 1 July 2013 -- The Missions Department has just published the Acts of the Study Days on the Salesian Mission and the Initial Proclamation of Christ in Oceania. The beautiful lay-out, which clearly reflects the rich cultural diversity of Oceania, is in itself an attractive invitation to the reader to thumb through the 240 page booklet. The content gives the reader a sensation that what one has in between his hands are solid yet practical reflections.
The Acts opens with an excerpt from Don Bosco’s 4th missionary dream on July 2, 1885 where he saw “a number of islands grouped together, whose inhabitants were varied in temperament and appearance” and the youth from these innumerable islands cried out to him “Come and help us! Why do you not fulfil what your fathers have began”? Don Bosco concludes his narration saying “I felt that all this indicated that Divine Providence was offering part of this evangelical field to the Salesians, but for some future period. Their efforts will bear fruit, for the hand of God will be constantly outstretched over them, unless they become unworthy of His graces…”
The first missionary seminar on The Challenges of Missio ad Gentes in Oceania was held in 2004. The recent Study Days held in 2011are actually a deepening of the reflections in 2004. The Acts reveal how the different speakers and the group discussions sought to respond to the question: Is the topic on initial proclamation relevant in Oceania where a great majority are baptised Christians? The discussions and reflections underlined that at baptism the child received the habitus of the faith (the capacity to believe), but not the personal act of faith (the firm commitment to orient one’s own life according to the Gospel of Jesus Christ). However, in the context of Oceania’s traditional societies and secularised cultures today, the initial proclamation a child receives in the family is often not adequate to become the foundation of a robust faith. Without this initial conversion and initial personal faith, catechesis risks becoming sterile. In this light, even Oceania’s Catholics who frequent our parishes and Religious Education classes in our schools as well as other Christians who frequent our youth centres all need initial proclamation of the Gospel in view of developing their faith and personal adhesion to Christ. In fact the General Directory for Catechesis insists that Christians who have abandoned the practice of their faith as well as those who live their faith out of habit all need initial proclamation of the Gospel in view of fostering their personal option and adhesion to Christ. Thus, initial proclamation is the first and necessary step towards a new evangelisation of Oceania!
The booklet, which has been mailed already directly to the communities of Oceania, is not only a record (ACTS) of the Study Days. Its value lies on the 10 activity sheets which are intended for the local community so that these Study Days may be used for the 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 Oceania but even those in East Asia as well as in other regions of the Salesian world.
The full text is also available in PDF version from SDL.
Acts of Oceania Study Days on
Initial Proclamation
Initial Proclamation
ROME: 1 July 2013 -- The Missions Department has just published the Acts of the Study Days on the Salesian Mission and the Initial Proclamation of Christ in Oceania. The beautiful lay-out, which clearly reflects the rich cultural diversity of Oceania, is in itself an attractive invitation to the reader to thumb through the 240 page booklet. The content gives the reader a sensation that what one has in between his hands are solid yet practical reflections.
The Acts opens with an excerpt from Don Bosco’s 4th missionary dream on July 2, 1885 where he saw “a number of islands grouped together, whose inhabitants were varied in temperament and appearance” and the youth from these innumerable islands cried out to him “Come and help us! Why do you not fulfil what your fathers have began”? Don Bosco concludes his narration saying “I felt that all this indicated that Divine Providence was offering part of this evangelical field to the Salesians, but for some future period. Their efforts will bear fruit, for the hand of God will be constantly outstretched over them, unless they become unworthy of His graces…”
The first missionary seminar on The Challenges of Missio ad Gentes in Oceania was held in 2004. The recent Study Days held in 2011are actually a deepening of the reflections in 2004. The Acts reveal how the different speakers and the group discussions sought to respond to the question: Is the topic on initial proclamation relevant in Oceania where a great majority are baptised Christians? The discussions and reflections underlined that at baptism the child received the habitus of the faith (the capacity to believe), but not the personal act of faith (the firm commitment to orient one’s own life according to the Gospel of Jesus Christ). However, in the context of Oceania’s traditional societies and secularised cultures today, the initial proclamation a child receives in the family is often not adequate to become the foundation of a robust faith. Without this initial conversion and initial personal faith, catechesis risks becoming sterile. In this light, even Oceania’s Catholics who frequent our parishes and Religious Education classes in our schools as well as other Christians who frequent our youth centres all need initial proclamation of the Gospel in view of developing their faith and personal adhesion to Christ. In fact the General Directory for Catechesis insists that Christians who have abandoned the practice of their faith as well as those who live their faith out of habit all need initial proclamation of the Gospel in view of fostering their personal option and adhesion to Christ. Thus, initial proclamation is the first and necessary step towards a new evangelisation of Oceania!
The booklet, which has been mailed already directly to the communities of Oceania, is not only a record (ACTS) of the Study Days. Its value lies on the 10 activity sheets which are intended for the local community so that these Study Days may be used for the 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 Oceania but even those in East Asia as well as in other regions of the Salesian world.
The full text is also available in PDF version from SDL.
