Called to Radiate the Word of Truth

Popes Message for the World Mission Day

Pope Benedict XVI, on January 6th, on the solemnity of the feast of the Epiphany, announced the theme for this year’s World Mission Day as ‘Called to Radiate the Word of Truth.’ He said, “This year the celebration of World Mission Day has a very special meaning. The 50th anniversary of the beginning of the Second Vatican Council and of the opening of the Year of Faith and of the Synod of Bishops on the theme of the New Evangelization contribute to reaffirming the Church's desire to engage with greater courage and zeal in the missio ad gentes so that the Gospel may reach the very ends of the earth.” Taking inspiration from the Holy Father’s message, here are some of the important aspects to live this theme in our day to day life. 

Mission: a Challenge to the Salesians of South Asia

Today there is an increasing awareness in the Church of the declining interest at the global level to evangelize. In fact the Church acknowledges that missionary activity especially directed to the nations (ad gentes) the proclamation of the Gospel is relevant also for immense section of the non Christian religions. Jesus Christ gave his disciples the mandate to proclaim the gospel and make disciples of all nations (Mt. 28; 18-20). The church is mindful of the Lord’s command to preach the gospel to every creature (Mt;16-15) takes zealous care to foster the mission. The mission of Christ the Redeemer which is entrusted to the church is still far from completion. In fact the number of those who do not know Christ and do not belong to the church is constantly on the increase. Hence an ever greater commitment to evangelization is imperative for all and we ought to reject all excuses which might deflect us from evangelization. 

Salesian Presence among Muslims

Abstract of the Paper Presented by Fr. Václav Klement

Introduction

We are meeting to reflect together on the Salesian Presence among the Muslims. The world of globalisation has changed a great deal in these 11 years. Starting from 9.11.2001 – scarcely six months after the previous Seminar in 2001, throughout the whole world relations between Christians and Muslims were subjected to great tensions and challenges. And again after 9.12.2006 – the date of the conference Benedict XVI gave at the University of Regensburg – it is clear that the growth of Islam signifies for the disciples if Jesus Christ one of the ten 'megatrends' which exert a great influence on the future of the Catholic Church.

Salesians: Missionaries of the Young

God called Don Bosco and gave him a specific mission in life which was to work for the salvation of the young. It was among the young people that Don Bosco developed his style of life his pastoral and pedagogical legacy, his system of education, his spirituality and method of evangelization. Now his sons also follow the same style of life and it is very relevant in today’s mission field. This makes our charism unique giving primary importance to young. 

Don Bosco, the Missionary

The missionary dimension was always an original inspiration of Don Bosco. It can be said that the missionary ideal was almost part of don Bosco’s fundamental make up. Don Bosco had great desire to become a missionary and preach the good news in foreign lands but he realized that divine providence had other plans for him. 

The Missionary Spirit of Don Bosco

Don Bosco was in love with the missions from his early years. In his young age, he felt an interior voice calling him to preach the Gospel in mission lands. But Fr. Cafasso guided him to fulfill God’s plan for another mission. Though Don Bosco never went to the missions, he never abandoned his missionary ideal; rather, he nurtured it in his heart. It was this zeal that inspired him to send his sons as missionaries all over the world. One of his last recommendations was: “Save many souls in the missions.”(Don Bosco nel mondo 157)          

The ideal of the missions was always alive in Don Bosco. In 1861 in the “dream” of the magic lantern the Lord disclosed to him the future of the Salesian Congregation. He showed him “an immense crowd of youth, from different countries, speaking various languages… ‘They are all your sons’.”[VI 897-916].Eleven years later the Lord revealed to him the mission field for his sons: Patagonia. The dream was rich in hope because Don Bosco saw that his sons, with the help of the Blessed Virgin, were reaping abundant fruit where others had failed. (X: 54—55). After this dream “he felt his zeal for the missions burning bright, but he could not understand where the crowd of young people belonged. (X 1267).