Francesco Motto – “Salesian missionary activity while blessed Filippo Rinaldi (1921-1931) was Rector maior with particular reference to eastern Asia” in “The beginning of the Salesian presence in east Asia”.

On 6 February l922,Pius XI (1939) ascended the Papal throne: he would become known as a “Pope of the Missions” (as was his predecessor, Benedict XV). Two months later, on 24 April, Fr. Filippo Rinaldi ( 5 December 1931) was elected Rector Major: his ten years in office would be recalled for the great re-launching of the Salesian missionary movement. After a rapid glance at the “missionary policy” of the Papacy during the same period, we shall concentrate on that.

Il 6 febbraio 1922, Pio XI (1939) salì al trono pontificio:  sarebbe divenuto noto come il  “Papa delle missioni” (come era il suo predecessore, Benedetto XV). Due mesi dopo, il 24 Aprile, Filippo Rinaldi ( 5 dicembre 1931) fu eletto Rettor Maggiore: i suoi dieci anni di mandato verranno ricordati per il grande rilancio del movimento missionario salesiano. Dopo un rapido sguardo alla “politica missionaria” del Papato durante quello stesso periodo, ci concentreremo su quello.

Indice:

• Introduction
• 1. A change in the ecclesiological-missionary approach of the pontifical magisterium
• 2. Location, form and timing of a Salesian missionary reawakening in the decade 1922-1931
  • 2.1. Missionary expansion
  • 2.2. The opening of houses for missionary formation
  • 2.3. A missionary youth movement (1922…)
  • 2.4. Vatican missionary exhibition ( 1925) and Salesians in Turin (1926)
  • 2.5. ” Missionary” Congresses of Cooperators, of Youth and of Salesians (1925-1926)
  • 2.6. Visit by Fr. Ricaldone to the Missions in the East (1927)
  • 2.7. Missionary Crusade (1928)
  • 2.8. Beatification of Don Bosco, 13th General Chapter (1929)
• 3. Some problem issues
• Conclusion

Reference time period: 1921 – 1931

Reference institution:
ACSSA