ASIA/VIETNAM - Salesian day of missionary reflection and animation: the courage to go to new places, to people who have never heard the Good News

Wednesday, 6 December 2006

Ho Chi Minh City (Agenzia Fides) - Where is mission going? How to be a missionary? What is the mission for young religious in Vietnam? These were some of the questions proposed at a Day of Missionary Reflection and Animation for various groups of the Salesian Family in Vietnam held on 2 December at the Salesian Centre in Ho Chi Minh city.
The 300 participants included young Salesians of the Ba Thon Novitiate, the Dalat post-novitiate Centre and the Salesian Centre for theology in Ho Chi Minh city. The title of the Day was Da mihi animas, the theme of the key conference given by Fr Francis Alencherry, Salesian Missions Advisor and Coordinator for Africa-Madagascar Region.
The participants, men and women religious, students, lay Catholics, shared reflections and experience. The day included a display of national folk dancing and singing. At the end of the closing Mass presided by Rev. Alencherry, four Salesian novices who had completed the novitiate made a formal request to live a missionary experience.
The Catholic Church in Vietnam is looking to new frontiers of mission. The local Bishops stress the need for courage and enthusiasm to announce the Good News to the men and women of today, using the means of communication and latest technology, rediscovering the spirit of mission which filled the Apostles at Pentecost. All Catholics clergy, religious and laity, the Bishops say, must have the courage to go to places where people have never heard the Good News and the use appropriate means to spread the Gospel, adapted to the culture of today.
It is important to pray for evangelisation, in the family in parishes, religious communities; to be missionary through a life style in keeping with the Gospel; to seek dialogue with people of other religions; to have a commission for evangelisation in every diocese; to promote works of charity and human promotion. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 6/12/2006 righe 28 parole 290)


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