South Asia Salesian Family Studies Mission (By C. M. Paul)

Special Correspondent, Aug. 7. KOLKATA - Some 50 members of the Salesian Family in South Asia (India, Sri Lanka, and Nepal) are engaged in a five day mission study in the three-fold context of South Asia - rich cultures, ancient religions and oppressive poverty, at Nitika Don Bosco, 7 - 11 August.

Salesian Mission Study Days Kolkata 2011

“This is not a seminar where you come and listen to speakers”, insisted Fr Alfred Maravilla from Salesian Mission Department in Rome explaining the study day concept.

Fr Maravilla said, “study days are meant to foster reflective discussions and a deeper contextualized reflection on the importance of initial proclamation in the three fold context of South Asia”.

Explaining who are the recipients of initial proclamation, Fr Maravilla said, “[they] are not only those considered to be `non-Christians` but `those who do not know Christ, especially the unbaptized as well as the baptized”.

The study days convened by SDB & FMA mission departments follow workshop methodology with three moments: situationer (context), study & reflection, and formulating action plans. Members of the Salesian Family participating in the study days are: Salesians & Salesian Sisters, Missionary Sisters of Mary Help of Christians, Sisters of Mary Immaculate and The Disciples.

The moderators of the sessions include Fr. Maravilla and Sr. Agatha Shadap FMA assisted by study facilitators Sr. Teresa Joseph FMA and Fr. T. C. George SDB national mission delegates.

The speakers chosen outside Salesian family circles are expected to give a `different voice` regarding the topic and help participants to `think out of the box`.

The speakers are: Mr. Henri Tiphagne (Initial Proclamation in a multi-cultural Educative setting), Archbishop Felix Machado of Vasai (Initial Proclamation through the dialogue of life in a multi-religious context), and Mrs. Luz Maria Engineer (Initial proclamation and human promotion and empowerment).

Fr Maravilla insists, “this is not a formation seminar for missionaries. It is directed to participants with a certain level of theological, missiological and anthropological and academic formation”.

Sr. Maria Ko FMA`s daily contextualized Biblical reflection is designed to spark off new mission insights.

Besides provincial mission delegates participants from Salesian Sisters include Mission Councilor Sr. Alaide Deretti, Regional Councilor Sr. Lucy Rose and Kolkata provincial Sr. Maria Pettayil.

Among the Salesian superiors from Rome was Regional Councilor Fr. Maria Arokiam Kanaga. Salesian Mission Councilor Fr. Vaclav Klement is occupied with a mission meeting in Europe.

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