By Fr. Guillermo Basanes, SDB
General Councilor for the Missions
Many animation materials are already available on the internet and they look very familiar: With the focus on the Vocation Training Center, we can watch and read the narratives of many Salesian Brothers: Br. Luis Parolin (FIN - Poster SMD: on the left side and story p. 37-39), Br. Andrew Phuong (VIE - Mongolia, story p. 36), Br. Roberto Panetto (THA - Cambodia, interview p. 33-35) and Br. Carlo Bacalla (THA - Laos, video).
The focus on the TVET and Technical Education centers (120 in South Asia Region and 60 in EAO Region) shows the heart of the Salesian Charism, where our education does transform the lives of poor young people and also does whisper the Gospel to their souls.
The whole animation package does comprise four different tools: First there are five videos online (www.missionidonbosco.org) about the young people in the VTC: Sri Lanka, Nepal, Laos, Vietnam and Overall introduction, all in 5 languages. Second, there is a beautiful Poster. Third is the 44 pages Animation Booklet with many simple materials for the animation, reflection and missionary formation in the local communities. The last is the small SMD 2018 Prayer card.
Last but not the least is the 'Project of the SMD 2018' that aims to help the Myitkyina Don Bosco (MYM Viceprovince) located in the Northern part of Myanmar within the very challenging context of young drug addicts and ongoing armed conflict in the Kachin state.
Each Salesian confrere and members of the Salesian Family would receive a simple SMD 2018 Prayer Card in order to be involved first at the faith level. Let's welcome this precious gift and chance: The Salesian Mission Day 2018 – “Whispering the Gospel!”
Prayer of the Salesian Mission Day 2018
Almighty God,
Maker of heaven and earth,
who revealed Yourself to Elijah
neither in the violent wind,
nor in the earthquake,
nor in the fire,
but in the whisper of a gentle breeze,
make us docile to the whispering of the Spirit
to announce the heart of the Gospel
to the heart of the Asian continent.
May the harmonious and joyful sound
of an education that leads to employment
dignify the lives of our young people
and lead them to an encounter
with Jesus, the “Carpenter of Nazareth”.
Amen.
