austraLasia #3320
Chennai Celebrates Missionaries
CHENNAI: 26 November 2013 -- Given the recent Province-wide Salesian Missions Day in Seoul, and the fact that our EAO Regional, Fr Andrew Wong, has just completed four months in Chennai for the Extraordinary Visitation of the INM Province, the following item might be of general interest in our Region too. The idea of a Province-wide Salesian Missions Day, using the resources of Salesian missionaries (understand this as including Salesian family, Volunteers as well) from the Province, seems to be catching on more widely around the Salesian world. The other two features which India has recently been strong in is the setting up of two missionary aspirantates, and encouraging 'missionary groups' in formation houses.
The Salesian Province of Chennai celebrated its first ever Provincial Missionary Day, on 24 November 2013, bringing together 190 Salesian missionaries, aspiring missionaries and members of missionary groups under one roof at Don Bosco Boys’ Home, Perambur. The beautifully decorated hall and the exhibition created the air of the missions. Prayer to the Almighty marked the start of the day. Fr. Jayapalan, Provincial, welcomed the participants and invited the members to be grateful to the missionaries that India has received in the past.
The participants had the opportunity to listen to and interact with missionaries. Fr. Johnson Paulraj, Bro. Francis Chinnappan and Bro. Antony Sigamani, all of them missionaries in Africa, shared their experiences in the African missions. Then there was the panel discussion with in which other missionaries Fr. Augustine Sellam, Fr. Suresh Innocent, Fr. Gerald Miranda and Fr. Dominic Mathews spoke and interacted with the participants.
After lunch there was a colourful cultural programme staged by the formation houses highlighting the history of Salesian missions in the world (and India in particular), cultures of mission lands and the crying need for missionaries. The culmination of the day was the Holy Eucharist, the source and summit of our missionary activity, presided over by Fr. Provincial.
Participants listened to the call of God, “Whom shall I send?” and committed themselves to the mission by the strengthening of the missionary groups in the various communities. Saluting the missionaries who gave their past for our present and pledging themselves for the cause of mission, the participants returned to their homes.
Chennai Celebrates Missionaries
CHENNAI: 26 November 2013 -- Given the recent Province-wide Salesian Missions Day in Seoul, and the fact that our EAO Regional, Fr Andrew Wong, has just completed four months in Chennai for the Extraordinary Visitation of the INM Province, the following item might be of general interest in our Region too. The idea of a Province-wide Salesian Missions Day, using the resources of Salesian missionaries (understand this as including Salesian family, Volunteers as well) from the Province, seems to be catching on more widely around the Salesian world. The other two features which India has recently been strong in is the setting up of two missionary aspirantates, and encouraging 'missionary groups' in formation houses.
The Salesian Province of Chennai celebrated its first ever Provincial Missionary Day, on 24 November 2013, bringing together 190 Salesian missionaries, aspiring missionaries and members of missionary groups under one roof at Don Bosco Boys’ Home, Perambur. The beautifully decorated hall and the exhibition created the air of the missions. Prayer to the Almighty marked the start of the day. Fr. Jayapalan, Provincial, welcomed the participants and invited the members to be grateful to the missionaries that India has received in the past.
The participants had the opportunity to listen to and interact with missionaries. Fr. Johnson Paulraj, Bro. Francis Chinnappan and Bro. Antony Sigamani, all of them missionaries in Africa, shared their experiences in the African missions. Then there was the panel discussion with in which other missionaries Fr. Augustine Sellam, Fr. Suresh Innocent, Fr. Gerald Miranda and Fr. Dominic Mathews spoke and interacted with the participants.
After lunch there was a colourful cultural programme staged by the formation houses highlighting the history of Salesian missions in the world (and India in particular), cultures of mission lands and the crying need for missionaries. The culmination of the day was the Holy Eucharist, the source and summit of our missionary activity, presided over by Fr. Provincial.
Participants listened to the call of God, “Whom shall I send?” and committed themselves to the mission by the strengthening of the missionary groups in the various communities. Saluting the missionaries who gave their past for our present and pledging themselves for the cause of mission, the participants returned to their homes.
