Missionary Resources for October

By Fr. Sean McEwen, SDB, Delegate for Mission Animation

The Feast of St. Therese of Lisieux ushered in the month of October, and appropriately so, as she is the Patron Saint of the Missions, with October 23 designated as World Mission Sunday. October, as we well know, is also a month dedicated to Our Lady, who as the Mother of our Lord is the first missionary.

Salesian Mission Day is not necessarily a day in itself, but rather is a commemoration of the First Salesian Missionary Expedition, which took place on November 11, 1875, when Don Bosco sent his first missionary group to Patagonia in Argentina. Each year, a theme for the Salesian Mission Day is presented to the Congregation, which gives members of the Salesian Family worldwide a particular focus to reflect on during October and November.

This year’s theme is "COMMUNICATING CHRIST TODAY – MissionariesOnline:" evangelizing is an act of relationship that needs the right means of communication to convey the message of the Gospel. This year, the Salesian Mission Day intends to create a link between missionary animation and social communication by addressing the theme of proclaiming the Gospel in the world of social media.

Each community should have received a copy of the Salesian Mission Day booklet which provides reflections that are guided by three elements which make up the theme: COMMUNICATING, through a concrete experience of media education; CHRIST, the true source of all forms of communication of the Gospel; TODAY, exploring the relationship between young people around the world and social media.

The booklet can be accessed online here. In its contents, the booklet offers many practical suggestions that may be used to commemorate these months dedicated to the missions in our communities. A community may want to take some time to reflect on the theme of Communicating Christ by studying a short but profound article by Fr. Silvio Roggia, found on page 15 of the booklet which encourages each of us to "Be Gospel," where "The witness that comes from the holiness of life is an art where the evangelizer without realizing it, gradually becomes the Gospel."

A Lectio Divina is offered on Page 29 by Fr. Fabio Pasqualetti that also provides a biblical exercise that can be tailored as a personal reflection.

This month, communities may choose to dedicate a communal Rosary for the intentions of the missions or take some time to pray for and write to the members of our own province who are currently serving in the missions throughout the world. Supporting them with our prayers and sending them a personalized message or letter creates a moment of solidarity and support that would be much appreciated by them. Their addresses can be found in our Province Directory. Finally, a community may want to pray the Salesian Mission Day Prayer during the communal prayer times in the month of November. These prayer cards were sent to the communities but can also be found via this link.

God bless, and may we all continue to fervently Communicate Christ as Missionary Disciples.