Paul CHERUTHOTTUPURAM , Sri Lanka says, Missions: Busting the Myth
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Sri Lanka, Dec. 31. About 30 years ago, with Project Africa launched by then Rector Major Fr Egidio Vigano`, there was a spurt in Indian Salesians going for overseas missions. April 2009 saw the formation of Salesian Missionary Association , first ever South Asian outfit of missionaries ad gentes under the leadership of former South Asia Mission Delegate Fr Joseph Puthenpura. In a 2009 year-end List of Salesians in the foreign missions from South Asia region and particularly the Indian provinces, prepared by Fr KJ Anthony (Secy to the Regional at the Pisana) puts the total number to 113 ( 21 clerics, 12 Lay Brothers and 80 priests). This is a list of Salesians from South Asia gone overseas for mission ad gentes in the last 30 years. Being a first time compilation, the list may have some discrepancies in data collection.
overseas missionary contribution , over these years, by each of 11 South Asian provinces is as follows: Bangalore (39 in Africa, Asia, Middle East & Europe); Chennai (18 in Africa, Asia, Middle East & Europe); Kolkata (14 in Africa, Asia & South America); Bombay (13 in Africa, Middle East & Europe); Guwahati (11 in Africa, Asia & South America); Dimapur (6 in Africa); Hyderabad (5 in Africa, Asia & Europe); Delhi (3 in Asia & Europe); Trichy (3 in Europe); Panjim (1 in Africa) and Colombo (nil).
ad gentes ,`` said Fr Chavez at the Don Bosco in India centenary celebrations (1906 to 2006) putting his enthusiastic listeners into a pensive and silent mood. That means, in simple mathematical terms, the Rector Major expects an average of 33 Salesians from the region every year! That is a whopping number of 99 Salesians at RM`s disposal over the last three years! Did that seem a tall order or mere wishful thinking? Let us check the facts. Here is a list of 67 South Asia missionaries in the last three years, after RM`s missionary call: In 2007 (23) South Asia Salesians went to overseas missions. While in 2008 the number rose to 27 missionaries and in 2009, it fell to 17.
overseas missionaries who came to India over the last 100 years. They were 460 of them, and a handful of them are still around. They came from 25 different countries, Italy leading the pack with 286 missionaries (62%), says Fr K.J. Louis (Don Bosco in India Centenary 1906 to 2006, p.292).
ad gentes mission. We can meet it by facilitating willing, dynamic and younger confreres for ad gentes mission in other parts of South Asia or elsewhere in the world. It is bound to create a climate for mission also in India. God will bless our land with more workers in His vineyard, India.
ad gentes mission. The ball is in the court of the Indian provinces and confreres.
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