【慈幼通訊社 ─ 2019 年 09月 30 日意大利都靈訊】 ─ 9月29日，慈幼會總會長范達民神父，在感恩祭中主持第150批傳教士派遣禮， 36名慈幼會士及13名母佑會修女，從總會長手中領受傳教十字架，在場的有慈幼會副總會長謝理達神父、母佑會總會長溫幗儀修母及母佑會傳播委員Alaíde Deretti修女。
在聖母進教之佑大殿庭院的鮑思高像前，總會長偕同36名慈幼會第150批傳教士，預備展開2019年傳教呼籲的工作，一如他每年在12月8日聖母無原罪瞻禮所作的。在慈幼會第150批傳教士環繞之下，總會長希望在這個看到我們家庭的肇始，並聚合了慈幼神恩的重要庭院，向普世所有慈幼會士作出呼籲。
在這莊嚴的禮儀舉行之前，在華道角慶禮院劇院，舉行了新一批傳教士，生動活潑而媒體技術高超的演說介紹禮。；母佑會傳播教委員Alaíde Deretti修女負責12位母佑會傳教士的部份，而慈幼會總部傳教議員Guillermo Basañes神父，則負責36位慈幼會傳教士（分為三個「十二宗傳徒」小組）的部份。活動透過Rete 7作現場轉播，並上載於不同臉書頻道。
總會長在感恩祭講道中，強調今天對修慈幼會、善母佑會團體及教會而言，都是重大慶節。自1875年派遣首批傳教士的144年之後，派遣了第150批傳教士，即使在兩次世界大戰期間也沒間斷。
范達民神父強調了一個有趣的地方。在傳教議員的辦事處，有一本傳教士手冊，記錄了歷任總會長，在這大殿所派遣的150批，共9,542名傳教士的名字……傳教士的確實數字似乎超越了10,400。我們的修會公認為向青年施教育及作福傳的修會，在這個數字上，我們可以安心說，我們確實是真正福傳教的修會團體。耶穌的愛火，卻不會讓我們緊閉於四面圍牆之內。
最重要的，就是耶穌是我們生活的中心：天主召叫派遣我們……分享生命，賜予……以生命、愛德善表、對每個人多元的最大尊重，為耶穌作見證。
這次傳教士的派遣，就是慈幼會士對教宗方濟各主持的特殊傳教月（2019年10月）所作的回應，使耶穌在各大洲（這次澳洲除外）的臨在更為豐富。
總會長在講道中，述說了三個具體的見證，因為世界不需要導師或教授，卻需要見證人。
Marcello Melani蒙席：祖籍意大利，在阿根廷傳教多年。當他完成巴塔哥尼亞（內肯烏教區）主教（內肯烏教區）任期後，他返回原來的會省，當堂區主任司鐸並講授要理。他感到已作好準備，回應教宗及總會長的召叫，在得到批准下，將前往秘魯。
Bashir Souccar神父：敍利亞人，現年71歲，為在穆斯林地區運作慶禮院的專家。他已預備從中東地區MOR會省，前往突尼西亞……把喜樂帶進慶禮院，尤其穆斯林青年身上。
Germain Plakoo-Mlapa神父：多哥人。他目擊了兩名神父（César Antonio Fernández神父：在2019年2月及Fernando Hernández 神父：在2019年5月，在布吉納法索殉道。他就在兩人身旁，但不知道為何倖存。現在他康復了，心中充滿平靜與安寧，因為他懂得如何寬恕，並繼續全心充滿耶穌及祂的愛生活。
以上這些見證，非言所能表達盡在不言中。
慈幼會士Gianni Rolandi神父
Celebration of 150th Missionary Expedition
(ANS – Italy–Turin, 30 September 2019) – Yesterday, 29 September, the Rector Major of the Salesians, Fr Ángel Fernández Artime, presided at the Eucharistic celebration of the 150th Missionary Expedition during which he consigned the missionary cross to 36 Salesians and 13 Daughters of Mary Help of Christians in the presence of his Vicar, Fr Francesco Cereda, of the General Councilor for the Missions, Fr Guillermo Basañes, the Mother General of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, Mother Yvonne Reungoat, and Sr. Alaíde Deretti, Councilor for the Missions.
In front of the statue of Don Bosco in the courtyard of the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians, the Rector Major, together with the 36 new SDB missionaries of the 150th Expedition, began to prepare the ground to launch the 2019 missionary appeal, which he will do, as every year, for the feast of the Immaculate, December 8th. Surrounded by the Salesian missionaries of the 150th Expedition, the Rector Major wished to make the appeal to all the Salesians in the world from this very courtyard that saw the beginnings of our family and the consolidation of the Salesian charism.
Taking place immediately preceding this moment, in the theater of the Oratory of Valdocco, was the very youthful and media-savvy presentation of the 12 new FMA missionaries, by Sr. Alaíde Deretti, Councilor for the Missions, and of the 36 new SDB missionaries, by Fr Guillermo Basañes, General Councilor for the Missions, in three groups of “12 apostles”. The recorded interviews of several missionaries are lively and definitely worth seeing. The event was broadcast live by Rete 7 and on various Facebook channels.
In the Eucharistic celebration, during the homily, the Rector Major emphasized the fact that today is a day of great celebration for the Congregation, the Institute and for the Church, in what is this 150th Missionary Expedition, 144 years after the first expedition of 1875, without interruption, even during the two terrible world wars.
Fr Á.F. Artime highlighted an interesting point. In the office of the Councilor for the Missions, there is the Book of Missionaries, which records 9,542 Salesian missionaries sent by the Rectors Major from this Basilica in the 150 Expeditions … It seems that the real total number of those sent is more than 10,400. Our Congregations are recognized for the education and evangelization of the young, and with these numbers, we can safely say we are indeed and truly a missionary Institute and Congregation. The fire of love for Jesus has not allowed us to remain closed within four walls; on the contrary.
The most important point is precisely that Jesus is at the center of our lives: God calls us and sends us … to share life, to give … To witness Jesus with life, with the example of charity, with great respect for the diversity of each and every one…
The Salesian response to the extraordinary missionary month – October 2019, launched by Pope Francis – is this missionary sending, to enrich the presence of Jesus in all continents, except Australia this time.
The Rector Major, during the homily, then presented three examples of particular witnesses, since the world wants witnesses and not teachers / professors.
Monsignor Marcello Melani: Italian of origin, missionary for many years in Argentina. Once he finished his service as bishop in Patagonia (diocese of Neuquén), he returned to the province to which he belonged and served as parish priest and catechist. He felt ready to answer to the call of the Pope and the Rector Major, and his availability was accepted. He will go to Peru.
Fr Bashir Souccar: Syrian, 71 years old, expert in running the oratory with Muslims. From the MOR Province he made himself available and will go to Tunisia … to bring the joy of the oratory, especially among young Muslims.
Fr Germain Plakoo-Mlapa: Togolese, he was present at the martyrdom of both Fr César Antonio Fernández (February 2019) and of Fr Fernando Hernández (May 2019), which took place in Burkina Faso; he was next to both and does not know why he was not killed too. Now he is here, recovering, and his heart is full of serenity and peace because he knew how to forgive and continues to live with the heart full of Jesus and his love.
Here is the testimony of life beyond words.
by Fr Gianni Rolandi, sdb
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