October 2012
Dear Confreres, I want to start my monthly reflection with a prayer, which perfectly introduces us in the mood of the Missionary Month. Praying for all the African catechists we entrust our personal work of Evangelization among the young and the formation of our immediate collaborators in the hands of Mary (October, month of the Rosary). I would like to highlight the availability on the net of a “special” Rosary with this intention of prayer for Young catechists in Africa. If we can fix the 15th of October for this prayer in the entire Province it would be great. Check the link http://www.sdb.org/en/Departments/Missions/Mission_SMD/Mission_Rosary_Day_2013_A This month also marks the beginning of the Year of Faith. A concrete proposal for our missionary groups, youth groups of formation or even study courses is to put in the hands of our youth the “Youcat”, a simple and attractive way to (re)discover and strengthen our Faith. I propose to you Question 11 of Youcat, the real basis and justification of any work we start in the field of evangelization May God bless all of us
Bro. Paolo Missionary group in Sierra Leone! Fr. Uba sent me an email to inform about the existence of a missionary group in Freetown since three years. He will share with us some good material ready for use (no copyright!). Thank you so much and have a good missionary work.
Salesian Mission intention of prayer for the month of October
For the Young catechists of Africa That the Young catechists of Africa may continue to grow in their faith. In the Post-Synodal Exhortation “Africae Munus” n.127, Pope Benedict XVI urges: “Dear catechists, remember that for many communities you are the first embodiment of the zealous disciple and a model of Christian life. I encourage you to proclaim, by your example, that family life merits great esteem, that a Christian upbringing prepares young people to live in society as persons who are honest and trustworthy in their dealings with others”. Many of the catechists, both in cities and villages, who are young and usually already married, face enormous difficulties and trials in their mission. We pray that accompanied by the confreres and with a good formation they may grow in faith and service to the local Churches
11 Why do we hand on the faith?
We hand on the faith because Jesus commands us: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations” (Mt 28:19). No genuine Christian leaves the transmission of the faith exclusively to specialists (teachers, pastors, missionaries). We are Christ for others. This means that every genuine Christian would like God to come to other people, too. He says to himself, “The Lord needs me! I have been baptized and confirmed and am responsible for helping the people around me to learn about God and ‘to come to the knowledge of the truth’ (1 Tim 2:4b). Mother Teresa used a good comparison: “Often you can see power lines running alongside the street. Unless current is flowing through them, there is no light. The power line is you and I! The current is God! We have the power to allow the current to flow through us and thus to generate the light of the world: Jesus—or to refuse to be used and, thus, allow the darkness to spread.”