Pascual Chavez Villanueva – “We’ve been waiting for you. We’ve been waiting for you so long. Now at last you’re here. You’re among us and you won’t get away from us!” (MB XVIII,50). Presentation of the region of South Asia” in “Acts of the General Council of the Salesian Society of St John Bosco”

The letter highlights the positive reception of the recent communication about the upcoming GC26 and recounts the author’s recent visits to the South Asia Region. It expresses gratitude for the growth of the Salesian charism in the region over the past century and acknowledges the contributions of missionaries from other countries. The author commits to continue exploring the unique characteristics of the Salesian presence in South Asia.

Contents:

• Introduction
• 1. A great dream fulfilled
• 2. The Region of South Asia.The political, social and religious situation of the Region: India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Nepal, Kuwait, Yemen
• 3. The Salesian history of the Region
  • 3.1 Missionary activity in the first half of the century
  • 3.2 Two great missionaries: Archbishop Louis Mathias, Fr Joseph Carreño
  • 3.3 Rapid development of the Congregation. The Salesians in India, in Myanmar, in Sri Lanka, in Nepal, in Kuwait, in Yemen
• 4. Salesian work at the present day
  • 4.1 Interprovincial coordination
  • 4.2 Formation. Ongoing formation. Initial formation
  • 4.3 Youth Ministry. Educational institutions, boarding schools and hostels, youth centres, apostolate for the benefit of young people at risk (YaR), professional guidance services, vocational guidance
  • 4.4 The Salesian Family
  • 4.5 Social communication
  • 4.6 Missionary activity. The Arunachal mission. Parishes. Social development programme, an integral part of missionary activity
• 5. Holiness of the early missionaries. Archbishop Stephen Ferrando, Fr Francis Convertini
• 6. The maior challenges of the Region
  • 6.1 Giving God to the young, the absolute priority
  • 6.2 Zealous living of the mission “ad gentes”
  • 6.3 Strengthening common life
  • 6.4 Preserving the charismatic identity of the confreres

Reference time period: 2006

Reference institution:
Direzione Generale SDB