Fr Ángel Fernández Artime, Rector Major, landed in the afternoon at Ulaanbaatar airport, along with his secretary, Fr Horacio López and Fr Václav Klement, Councillor for the East Asia-Oceania Region.
The welcome could not have been more festive and solemn, in keeping with Mongolian traditions. Salesians, Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, Salesian Cooperators, past pupils and of course students and young people, were waiting at the Don Bosco Technical School, led by Fr Paul Leung, Salesian Delegate in Mongolia. They prayed together and shared a meal, with the characteristic features of the colourful traditions of Mongolian culture.
Around 10.00 a.m. on Sunday morning they arrived in Darkhan, the second community, 250 kilometres away. The Rector Major and the regional Fr Klement entered the Salesian house on camelback.
During the Mass Fr Á.F. Artime appreciated the simplicity and the genuine faith that he met, and encouraged the people to work closely with the Salesians, the FMA and the Missionaries of Charity who live with them. In the meeting with the Salesians he gave space first of all to listening to their experience of life and Salesian mission in Mongolia.
At the end the Rector Major pointed out:
- The importance of personal witness of Salesians with a lifestyle in harmony with the Gospel, which touches people’s hearts more than the words. It goes hand in hand with care for the spiritual life and mutual support among confreres.
- The primacy of fraternity and communion, also in discerning the steps to be taken in the mission: reflection, prudence, and sharing of vision and strategies.
- To implant the Salesian charism it takes a strong charismatic motivation. The intercultural and international character of the confreres is to be maintained and we must look even now to the generations of Salesians to come.
Before he left he received the traditional blessing with milk and good wishes for a safe journey: 'Huree, Huree, Huree'.
