The two main topics of the meeting were the distinction between missionary spirit and missionary vocation; and the charismatic identity of Salesian parishes.

The Visitor stressed that the missionary vocation is a call from God not for everyone, but only for some Salesians. Instead, the missionary spirit must be present in every Salesian, wherever he is, because, as Fr Egidio Viganò, 7th Successor of Don Bosco, pointed out, it is an essential element of the Salesian charism. The missionary spirit is characterised, among other things, by the passion for evangelisation, the Oratorian heart and the generous availability of “I'll go”. If the missionary spirit is weak or absent in an Province, Fr Maravilla stressed, then there will be few or no pastoral initiatives; there is a risk of sterile pessimism and a “psychology of the grave”. Then even the movement of the religious in the Province becomes difficult.

All Salesians working in the five parishes and mission stations in Lam Dong Province were invited by the General Councillor for Missions to meet at least twice a year to seriously evaluate their charismatic identity and study the document published by the Youth Ministry Sector “Identity of Parishes and Shrines entrusted to Salesians”, already translated into Vietnamese.

Given that all the Salesian parishes in Lam Dong province are the missionary bases for the evangelisation of the K'Ho indigenous people, who are an important group of indigenous peoples in this plateau, this pastoral activity obviously also becomes a missionary work of the Province of Vietnam.

Therefore, Fr Maravilla stressed that the work among the K'Ho indigenous people must be considered a special apostolate compared to the other works of the Province. This implies, he stressed, that the Salesians who are sent to the K'Ho people must be adequately prepared to understand the language and culture of the K'Ho indigenous people. In addition, it is critical to have an overall plan for this missionary region regarding the preservation, promotion, and enhancement of the K'ho language and culture.

During the closing Eucharist, Fr Maravilla invited the assembly to remember with gratitude the living and deceased Salesians who suffered for being faithful to Don Bosco and the Congregation after the unification of the country in 1975. “Their sufferings and sacrifices are the basis of the flourishing Province of Vietnam today” he said in the homily. The meeting ended with a fraternal lunch.

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