San Paolo (Brazil). From 3 to 24 July 2022 in O. L. Aparecida Province (BAP), the ‘Missionary Weeks’ took place that involved 170 Missionaries among them adolescents, young people, lay educators, Novices, Postulants, FMA, and young people in vocational discernment.
The ‘Missionary Weeks’ are a project carried out by the School and Social Works Pastoral, a tradition lasting many years that is concretized in the project “Salesian Missionary Youth”. After two years of pause due to the pandemic of Covid-19, they created a large involvement, not only on the part of the Parish community and the families that welcomed the various groups, but above all on the part of the adolescents, of the young people, and of the educators who made themselves available to live this experience.
There were 14 missionary groups, distributed in the Parishes and the communities of 7 cities of the States of San Paolo, Paraná, and Santa Catarina, all ‘Churches in outreach’, moved by the joy of the Gospel, according to the invitation of Pope Francis. In fact, the ‘Missionary Weeks’ constitute a concrete response to the needs of the local ecclesial communities and to the challenges of evangelization.
In the three months preceding the experience, the missionaries had systematic encounters of formation and of preparation. Before leaving, they participated in the ‘Celebration of Sending’, supported by their families and by representatives of the Educating Communities.
The organized and articulated program planned times of daily spirituality to illumine the evangelizing action with the Word of God; times of celebration with the local communities such as Missionary Rosary, Prayerful Reading, Eucharistic Celebration, Adoration, and visits to the families with the Blessing of the home; ‘the Pastoral of Listening’, workshops, and the Salesian Oratory, an educational proposal that involved not only children and teenagers, but also adults, especially mothers.
The time of the pandemic notably accentuated distances and isolation. At the start of the Weeks there was a certain agitation on the part of the participants. It needs to be emphasized that some adult educators who had signed up as volunteers, decided to dedicate some days of their school vacation to accompany the teenagers and young people in this experience.
Every year, the missionaries leave with the intention of bringing the Word of God and joy to the people they meet. However, each time they experience that they are the first to be evangelized by the people they meet insofar as a beautiful relationship is established with the local communities, enthused at being chosen to welcome the missionaries.
This is what one of the mothers of St. Anthony Parish of Tambaú (SP) expressed, “When I found out that there would be a mission here at Tambaú, I was very happy because this mission is mainly done by young people, ‘the saints in tennis shoes’, the faithful the Church needs. When I welcomed the group into my home, I was happy and grateful to share the joy of Christ, a breath of fresh air in the midst of many commitments and worries”.
The missionaries also highlighted the importance of interaction with the people of the place, “joyful, contented, and caring…even if each one has their own problems and sufferings. We had the opportunity to spend time with them, to listen to their stories, and to discover the beautiful journey already begun. The families who welcomed us have become our extended family”.
“It is an experience that I already miss. All the relationships I built will always remain inside me. Even the bond with God amazed me. I never felt and thought so much about Him”, Lara said, who had served in the city of Americana.
“This experience had an enormous impact on my life and showed me things I had never realized,” said another missionary who also highlighted the merit of ‘being without a cell phone. We profit more from the various moments”.
“During the week I managed to unplug from the noises that prevented me from feeling the concrete presence of God in my life. And how good God is! During this time, He prepared and placed next to me the people who helped me on this path”, said Ricardo.
“For me, the mission was a re-encounter with God. A few weeks before, I had literally abandoned everything. Then, seeing everyone’s joy led me to ask myself, why have I distanced myself from God? What is the purpose of it all? This last week was the best I had ever lived”, concluded Samantha.
“I never regretted even a little my yes, and I believe that none of the participants at the Missionary Week regretted it. Rather, we are grateful for the opportunity”.
“I can say with my whole heart that this experience was the most regenerative of my life. I hope that Don Bosco and Mother Mazzarello are proud to see us put on their shoes. I thank God for having chosen me; I feel loved and privileged,” highlighted Maria.
The Missionary Weeks concluded with the celebration of Missionary Day, during which the young people and teenagers committed themselves to continue to be missionaries in their own reality: family, school, work, social life…
In 2022, the resumption of the “Missionary Weeks” was even more significant for O. L. Aparecida Province. On 5 August, the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians celebrate the 150th anniversary of the foundation of the Congregation (1872-2022), born from the missionary heart of St. John Bosco and St. Mary Domenica Mazzarello, with a specific project aimed at missionary and evangelizing action especially towards the poorest and most abandoned young people.
