The fraternal meeting on 23 September opened with the Rector Major who invited the missionaries to remember that theirs is a gift from God that needs to be nourished. As missionaries they must above all be witnesses of the Gospel. A moment of dialogue followed during which the 10th Successor of Don Bosco answered the questions and reflections of the missionaries.
The next day, during the solemn and emotional ceremony in the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians in Turin, the Rector Major, Fr Ángel Fernández Artime, gave the Missionary Cross to the 24 departing missionaries, while the Mother General of the FMA, Mother Chiara Cazzuola, gave it to the 13 departing FMAs.
“At his missionary appeal of 18 December 2022, 43 confreres responded by presenting their missionary availability. After a journey of discernment, involving the candidates, their Provincials and rectors, 24 confreres were accepted to be part of the 154th missionary expedition" said Fr Alfred Maravilla, General Councillor for Missions, in his presentation of the candidates.
"Today we do as Don Bosco did on 11 November 1875. The missionary vocation is a special call for some within our common Salesian vocation. Thanks to this special call we feel the vitality of our Congregation" said the Rector Major in his homily.
