Stephan says:
I come from the Tiruchy Province, my origins. Each call is so personal and unique. I wonder how the Lord has been preparing me for His mission. I joined the Salesians in 2012. During the initial formative year I was blessed with the opportunities to be an active member in the Missionary groups. Then, with great enthusiasm, I applied to become a missionary ad gentes in 2018.
The clarion call of our Rector Major, asking the Indian Provinces to be generous for the missions, has touched me with great impact. I felt grateful to all those missionaries who, over the years, have planted the spirit and youthful style of Don Bosco in India. I was ready to go and be sent anywhere in the world. The Lord chose Mexico for me and I accepted with joy and trust.
I followed the month of the missionary course with other missionaries from all over the world, animated by the General Councilor for Missions, Fr. Guillermo Basañes. The course strengthened my will to leave and clarified my motivations in accordance with the promptings of the Lord.
Here in Mexico I found myself anew with a grand scale of possibilities of mission works for young people in need. They are my burning bush from whom I draw inspiration and the reason for my being a Salesian. They help me in learning the local language and culture; in their midst, I am completely at home.
Based on my experience, to anyone who aspires to undertake the missionary journey, I would say: 'Listen to Him alone who has called you! Listen to your inner voice and no one else.' Surely the Lord will help us in the form of Spiritual directors. Let us all keep alive the missionary spirit. I have not made the profession to a particular territory. My 'Yes' belongs rather to the entire Congregation and to all the people of God. In these times, in fact, we need to move from 'the mission as an action' to 'a mission as an attitude,' a lifestyle.
