The Salesians of Don Bosco have been sending missionaries to serve the young and the poor since the first group was sent to Argentina in 1875. The following story comes from the Salesian News Agency in Rome: The 139th Salesian missionary expedition will shortly be leaving from the Basilica of Mary help of Christians in Valdocco, Turin. Presenting crucifixes, the sign of the missionary mandate, will be Fr Pascual Chávez Villanueva, Rector Major of the Salesians and the IX successor of Don Bosco, during a Mass at which he will preside.
As in recent years this expedition will include religious and lay people, young people and adults of the Salesian Family and others. Receiving their crucifix will be 28 Salesians, 7 Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, 2 lay people from the Mission Community of Don Bosco, in Bologna, 6 young volunteers from Poland and 29 from Italy. In the group there is also a married couple who with their three children aged 5, 2 and the third of six months wil be leaving for Madagascar. Some of the missionaries especially the lay people will be devoting one or two years to the mission to which they are being sent, while others their whole lives.
The Departure of the Misisonaries will come as the culmination of the Harambèe 2008, promoted by the International Voluntary Service for Development and the Italian Salesian Missionary Organisation. Harambèe, which begins on Saturday 27 September, at Colle Don Bosco, will bring together young people who are involved in missionary promotion or who have spent some time during the summer as volunteers in poor countries. On Sunday morning, after having arrived in Valdocco, the young people will listen to the Rector Major speak on the subject: “Living the Gospel serving individuals and society.” After this they will take part in the Mass in the Basilica.
The ceremony will be broadcast live on Telepace and in streaming on www.missionidonbosco.tv with production by Missioni Don Bosco – Media Centre in Turin.
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