(ANS - Rome) - Among the participants in the 152 Salesian Missionary Expedition is one of the oldest, with his 47 years; but the zeal that animates him is that of the youngest. We are talking about Fr Barnabé Gbodonoumèto Noudéviwa, originally from Benin, destined for Argentina. Speaking of how his missionary vocation was born, he says: "Our Congregation is missionary by charism and the first Salesians I knew were Spanish missionaries who bore witness to their love for God, Don Bosco and young people. Moreover, salesianly I grew up in the Vice Province of Francophone West Africa (AFO), which includes seven countries, so I have always been available to 'depart', to leave my country and my culture, to work in any country of the Vice Province."

(ANS - Rome) - "What prompted me to make the missionary choice is none other than love, the will to give myself to others and to serve Christ as a missionary ad gentes." Thus says, with the serene determination the young missionary Cito Christophe Kasavubu, a 27-year-old Congolese Salesian, who will receive the Missionary Crucifix in Turin next Sunday, 21 November, to then leave for his final destination. He is one of those who have made a long discernment before making a fundamental decision for their lives. He is assigned to the Salesian missions on the island of Cape Verde, belonging to the Province of Portugal (POR).

(ANS - Rome) - Malgache, just 25-years-old, the youngest of three children, but above all full of Salesian energy and enthusiasm -this is, in a nutshell, the identikit of Germain Maevatoky, member of the 152nd Salesian Missionary Expedition, destined to serve in the Middle East Province. "I leave my country to become a missionary according to the heart of Jesus and Don Bosco," he affirms with conviction.

(ANS - Rome) - Daniel Glass is a young American, 33-years-old, who grew up in the Province of the United States East and Canada (SUE) but destined for the Province of Africa Congo Congo (ACC). He is the second missionary to be featured in ANS in view of the 152nd Salesian Missionary Expedition (Turin-Valdocco, 21 November 2021). Speaking of what prompted him to become a missionary, he states: “Two things, above all: to be completely available to the Rector Major to fill in and go where the Congregation might need me the most; and the desire to serve God above all else. Because being sent away from your home province and comfort zone is that step into the unknown that can bring out a great leap of faith and a deeper dependence on God.

(ANS - Rome) - Next Sunday, 21 November, the sending of the 152nd Salesian Missionary Expedition will take place in the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians during a mass in Turin with a small representation of the missionaries who will be sent ad gentes this year. In view of this, a series of interviews with the departing missionaries begins today. The first to introduce himself is Mbaziira Cyprian, a 27-year-old Salesian brother. Born in Uganda but destined for Slovenia. “It is the love of Christ and Don Bosco which made me decide to express to my superiors the desire of working in the Salesian missions, to preach the Gospel of Christ to those who do not know it yet or who have forgotten it, especially the young people in the footsteps of Don Bosco,” he says.

(ANS - Rome) - “It gives us great joy to see the 23 new missionaries who form the 152nd Salesian Missionary Expedition: we thank the Lord for this great gift. We know that it is not at all easy, especially in the last two years, to opt to be a missionary ad gentes and, often having to wait many months before actually being able to leave. As always, a missionary is required to be strong, robust and humble because such high expectations from so many are placed on his shoulders,” says Fr Pavel Ženíšek, SDB, a member of the Sector for the Missions, in a reflection on the missions with an eye on the map of the Salesian missionaries of the forthcoming Salesian Missionary Expedition.