Turin (Fides Service) – The Salesian world is celebrating the great event of Harambee, a major Salesian Missionary Animation initiative to share experiences of serving in developing countries following the spirit of St John Bosco. The event, organised jointly with the VIS international (volunteers for development), NGO connected with the Salesians, will take place 27 and 28 September in Turin. Some 350 young people working in different fields of cooperation and mission are expected to attend.
These young people who have chosen to live in poor countries will share their experience of mission. Aged mostly around 25, they volunteer to go for a month to countries in the south of the world to share the life of the Salesians involved in helping youth in need. The meeting will also discuss the causes of poverty and outline projects for development.
During the Harambee, Salesian rector major Fr Pascual Chavez, repeating something Don Bosco used to do, will hand the missionary cross and mandate to Salesians ready to depart for mission and to 26 lay persons who will be part of a two year Salesian Pastoral Education Project. Among the lay missionaries there is a whole family, father, mother and two children who will go on mission to Brazil.
The theme of this year’s Harambee is the ecclesial and charismatic role of youth, Saint John Bosco’s great intuition. Reflection will be guided by Enrico Sacchi, world consultor of the Association of Co-operators; Fr Michele Molinar, inspector delegate for Co-operators; Andrea Sebastiani national secretary of Civil and Social Service; Fr Francis Alencherry, general counsellor general for missions; Antonio Raimondi, president of VIS and Fr Ferdinando Colombo national missionary animator. PA (Fides Service 26/9/2003 EM lines 31 Words: 332)