The Congregation's Mission Offices

The Congregation’s Mission Offices
At the service of Don Bosco’s Charism

L-R: Dr. Pinedo, Ms. Sanchez, Fr. Mairura, Fr. Stawowy,
Fr. Conway, Fr. Moral, Bro. Muller, and Fr. Maravilla

(ANS – New Rochelle – November 15, 2024) – Fr. Alfred Maravilla, general councilor for the missions, convened the directors of the 4 congregation-level mission offices in New Rochelle, November 12-13. Dr. Nelson Pinedo (Don Bosco Mission Bonn); Fr. Luis Manuel Moral Lamela and Paula Alvarez-Naveiro Sanchez (Misiones Salesianas, based in Madrid); Fr. Michael Conway and Fr. Gabriel Stawowy (Salesian Missions, New Rochelle) were present. Bro. Jean Paul Muller, treasurer general, was also present. A representative of Missioni Don Bosco in Turin was unavailable.

This meeting looked at issues addressed at the previous meeting, January 2023 in Turin, focusing on the identity of the four mission offices at the congregational level (R. 24). Fr. Eric Mairura, from the Salesian Missions Department in Rome, moderated the discussion, which focused on the importance of the identity of the mission offices as an expression of the charism of Don Bosco at the service of the charism.

The reflections also stressed that the primary purpose of the mission offices is to be at the service of the Rector Major, organizing initiatives to generate interest in the Church and in society on the missionary commitment of the Salesians of Don Bosco; and then to promote and maintain this commitment, supporting the needs of evangelizing activity and the integral development of the Congregation and new missionary presences.

Each mission office has its own historical development in response to the needs of the missionary activities of the Congregation. “Unfortunately, due to historical circumstances, the mission offices have been seen by many, above all, as an inexhaustible source of funds. This is a distorted and incomplete vision of the mission office,” Fr. Maravilla said. “The mission office is a form of Salesian ministry that makes known the missionary activities of the Congregation and takes a pastoral approach for people who share their resources for the missionary activities of the Congregation regardless of their religious affiliation, so that they can have a spiritual perspective, come closer to God, and be in new spiritual communion with the wider human family,” he added.

Discussion also revolved around how the 4 mission offices can better coordinate the help provided to the provinces thru the Rector Major’s distribution of funds; how to agree on common criteria in responding to direct requests for project funding from the provinces; and how to promote the development of the province mission offices.

The next meeting will be in June 2025 in Rome, where the procurators will also be able to meet the new rector major and the members of the general council, who will be elected in March.