The first issues were precisely to see how the confreres would react to this new publication, simultaneously in 5 languages. Its simple 2-page A4 format makes it very easy to read and print for the notice board of a community, school or parish. Initially, reflections about Don Bosco and other Salesian missionaries were published. But not long after, missionaries were invited to share their experiences. This turned out to be the most attractive and most-read part of Cagliero11. Many of these stories have been reprinted in countless editions of the Salesian Bulletin.
How many Salesians, members of the Salesian Family and lay people have discovered their missionary vocation after reading the sharing of a missionary in Cagliero11! A copy is often found on the community noticeboard in many Provinces. It is now translated into twenty languages every month, in a new format and is accompanied by a 1-minute video clip mainly for young people: CaglieroLIFE.
However, Cagliero 11 is just a part of other initiatives to promote missionary animation. It is connected to the monthly Missionary Intention and prayer every 11th of the month, the annual celebration of the Salesian Mission Day, the formation of the missionary youth group in every local setting and the Salesian Missionary Volunteering as a missionary expression of our young adults ministry at the Province level.
Missionary animation aims, above all, at keeping alive in every Salesian the passion and joy of making Jesus known. It is under the care of the Province Delegate for Missionary Animation (PDMA) who works in close collaboration with the Province Delegates for Youth Ministry, for Social Communications and for Formation. Missionary enthusiasm attracts young people to Salesian life. Hence, an effective missionary animation is intimately linked to vocation promotion.
Looking back at the past 150 issues, we can only thank the Lord for this simple yet wonderful inspiration of Cagliero 11. We are similarly challenged to keep alive Don Bosco’s missionary spirit alive with enthusiasm, creativity, and in a spirit of communion and collaboration with all other sectors of the Province.
To celebrate this anniversary, a short video has been produced and can be found on the YouTube channel Settore per le Missioni Salesiane
Fr Alfred Maravilla,
General Councillor for the Missions
