“This is an important part of discernment because they know the candidate very well. We also want to ensure that the candidate had been accompanied to discern his missionary vocation,” explained Fr Alfred Maravilla, the General Councilor for the missions. “Although it is a prerequisite that each candidate is always open to be sent where the Rector Major will send him, in actual fact there is always a good dialogue with each candidate regarding their possible missionary destination,” he added.
The destination of each missionary is ultimately presented to the Rector Major and the General Council for approval. The coming missionary send off on Sept 25 in the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians, Valdocco will be composed of 25 missionaries from Africa and Madagascar, South Asia, East Asia and Interamerica regions of the Congregation. They are sent to Africa, East Asia, South Cone and Europe Center north.
The missionary sendoff will be preceded by the “Orientation Course for new missionaries” which will be held in Colle Don Bosco starting September 1. The new missionaries, members of the 153rd missionary expedition, are now on their final preparations to travel to Italy.
