By Fr. Vaclav Klement, SDB
EAO(Vietnam - Timor Leste - South Korea), October 18, 2015 - We are living October, the Missionary month with praying for the missionaries, collecting funds for some concrete missionary projects as well. But the most important and necessary missionary animation is to cooperate for the new missionary vocations.
In his 2015 Letter (Acts of the General Council, n. 421) Fr. Angel invites in his 5th dream - expected fruits of the Bicentenary of Don Bosco all Salesians "I have a dream of a Congregation that is always missionary' (3.5)
At the end of his appeal the Rector Major shares renewed invitation (3.5.2)
Right now I renew my invitation to those who feel themselves called to the ‘missio ad gentes et ad vitam’ to accept the call so that we may carry out at a suitable time the appropriate discernment. I have received letters from confreres, usually young ones, who have told me that it was their desire to be missionaries but that their superior (sometimes the Rector, sometimes the Provincial) discouraged them or simply forbade them or did not give them permission.
Looking with the heart of Don Bosco, I think that I can say that no one should put obstacles in the way of these vocational calls that the Lord makes, and that difficulties at a local or provincial level should not impact on these generous desires. Let us never forget, my Brothers, that the Lord is much more generous than we can be.
Finally I should like to add that I believe the times are ripe and the needs of the mission advise it, so that in a coordinated manner and with the knowledge of the Rector Major through the Regional Councillor and the Councillor for the Missions, we can offer the help of the confreres of those Provinces that have more vocations, on a temporary basis for a fixed period of time, to other places and Provinces of the Congregation. My dear Provincials, be generous. Don Bosco was to an exceptional extent."
Our EAO region is known in past 15 years as the most generous missionary sending Salesian Region. Also this year among the 23 new missionaries ad gentes ad vitam at Valdocco were 9 from the EAO. But also other confreres do answer to the appeal of the Rector Major with their 'temporary missionary commitment' open to the future without limit.
During this DB200 Year one Korean missionary left for the Sudan Delegation (AFE province), one Vietnamese missionary is moving towards New Zealand (AUL province) and one Timorese newly ordained priest is preparing for a new mission for the migrant Catholics in Japan in near future (GIA province). The ordinary arrangement is between two provincials (sending and receiving) according a mutual agreement (usually for 3-5 years). In this missionary months we pray that more EAO Salesians will follow the appeal of the Rector Major: the harvest is rich but the labourers are few!
Thanks to your generosity:
Kam sa hamnida, Fr. Raphael Lee!
Cam on Cha, Fr. Joseph Pham!
Obrigado Barak, Fr. Ambrosio Lucas!
