By Fr. Pedro Sachitula
PGS missionary animation

PGS, 13 July 2020 -- During the last few decades the 11th of the month has become a symbol of missionary animation day. Since 2009 the 11th of the month has become a special occasion to animate each SDB community with the help of the monthly Salesian Missionary Animation newsletter 'Cagliero11' available in more than 15 different languages. Cagliero11 is named after the leader of the first Salesian missionary expedition Fr Giovanni Cagliero (1838-1926) and the number '11' is a symbol of the solemn send-off ceremony at which Don Bosco presided in the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians on 11 November 1875.

Most of the Salesian formation houses have their missionary group that animates the 11th of each month with prayer services or community session with video, discussion or by exploring some missionary perspective. On 11 July this year in Paranaque - SnDB community saw the recorded video-testimony shared by Fr Ramoncito Padilla (INA) a Filipino missionary in Timor Leste and Indonesia.

The FIN province requested a special video message from the General Councillor for the Missions, Fr Alfred Maravilla for the 11th of July on the Facebook pages.

The PGS viceprovince produces a simple 3 pages of their own each month for missionary animation. Each month a missionary model is introduced (July - PNG Martyr Blessed Peter TOROT) and also some practical topic for daily life (July - Throw-Away Culture and Laudato Si').

What can be done in each Salesian community without investment of special time or energy?

At least include the Salesian missionary intention in community evening prayer. Or print the Cagliero11 in their own language and distribute to each confrere. Or listen together to the missionary testimony (back page of Cagliero11) as spiritual reading and simply watch a 3-5 minutes missionary video clip together or a sharing from a missionary ad gentes who works in the province.

Related resources (11th of the month)

Salesian Missionary Animation Handbook (ed. 2019)

Missionary Anathem (Nashik-India 2012)

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