(ANS – Orange) - The members of the 2018 USA Salesian Mission Band gathered in Orange, New Jersey, for a day of orientation coordinated by Salesian Missions USA and the Salesian Community of the Don Bosco Residence. The orientation began with each missionary introducing himself and telling of his current mission ministry and whether this was his 1st time on the band or a veteran of how many years. The group then joined together in prayer, praying the World Mission Rosary. Following the rosary, veteran MCP preachers gave practical hints to those on the band for the first time. Fr. Mark Hyde gave the required “Safe Environment” training.
After lunch Fr. Mike Pace and Bro. Tom Sweeney welcomed the missionaries to the community of Orange and gave an orientation to the ins and outs of the community and various responsibilities. Then Mission office colleagues, Josephine Trapasso, Joann Oliva, and Kelli Bochnik met with the missionaries and dealt with the practicalities of their summer itineraries, air travel, cell phones, bank cards and Mass intentions.
Twelve Salesian missionaries hailing from Colombia, the Dominican Republic, India, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, Uganda, Zambia, and the USA form this year’s preaching band. In their assignments they will tell of the good accomplished by Salesian Missions in some 85 parishes assigned to us by the Propagation of the Faith in 28 dioceses throughout the United States.
The Mission Cooperation Plan (MCP) of the U.S. Catholic Church has a two-fold purpose.
First, many mission dioceses/congregations/ lay organizations get a chance to personally appeal for prayer and financial support from Catholics of the U.S.
Secondly, Catholics in the United States get the opportunity to be educated about what is happening in the mission fields today. MCP missionaries emphasize solidarity and understanding of situations that make life so difficult for so many people around the globe. The US Catholic Bishops through the MCP program call American Catholics: “to help overcome the divisions in our world. Solidarity binds the rich to the poor. It makes the free zealous for the rights of the oppressed. It drives the comfortable and secure to take risks for the victims of tyranny and war... “
A schedule of when and where our Salesian Missionaries will be preaching this summer can be found at http://www.salesianmissions.org/mcp
Heiligenstadt, Germany - June 2018 - Salesian Brother Mike Goldsmits made his perpetual profession before the Provincial of Germany, Fr Reinhard Gesing, on June 9 in the church of the "Bergkloster". After his first profession in 2012, Mike Goldsmits worked for four years in the "Don Bosco" Youth Services center in Sannerz. Since 2016, he has been working in the protection service for children and youth at "Villa Lampe" in Heiligenstadt. Speaking on preventing violence and bullying in schools is one of his tasks; among other things, he also gives advice to teachers and educators, visits families and provides support for children in related emergencies.
Rome, Italy - June 2018 - A joint meeting of the Missions of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians and the Missions Sector of the Salesians of Don Bosco, an ordinary meeting that is repeated at each session of the General Council, took place on June 16 at the community of San Callisto in Rome. The day featured: a morning of common study, Eucharist, programming, sharing with the local community.
Cuneo, Italy - June 2018 - The twentieth edition of the "24 hours of sport", two days dedicated to sport, celebrations and entertainment, took place in the early days of June at the Salesian oratory Don Bosco, directed by Fr Alberto Goia. Promoted by the Polisportiva Giovanile Salesiana Dilettantistica Auxilium Cuneo, the event saw the participation of a thousand athletes and a huge crowd who filled the courtyards, the sports stands and the center's Salesian spaces, with a heterogeneous crowd ready to share it all in a warm and familiar atmosphere.
Jerusalem, Israel - June 2018 - On June 17, in the Basilica of Gethsemane, five Salesians were ordained deacons by Msgr. Pierbattista Pizzaballa, apostolic administrator of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem. The new deacons study Theology at the "Studium Theologicum Salesianum" and they are: Pushparaj Anthuvan (INM); Jude Fernando and Jerone Warnakulasuriya (LKC); Odise Lazri (AFM); Javier Orengo Quiñones (ANT).
Mumbai, India - June 2018 - On June 8, young people and personnel of the Salesian "Shelter Don Bosco" of Mumbai celebrated World Oceans Day with an interactive training session, held by a German volunteer, on the importance of protecting the oceans, and with a cleaning mission on the beach in front of the "Shivaji Park" of Mumbai. The World Oceans Day was first celebrated in Canada in 1992, and later officially declared a UN World Day by the UN at the end of 2008.