austraLasia

?

Shortcut

PrevPrev Article

NextNext Article

Larger Font Smaller Font Up Down Go comment Print Attachment

20190118_PGS.jpg


By Stephen Stafstrom and Matthew Nguyen


Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, 18 January 2019 -- The Salesian Lay Missioners of the New Rochelle Province (SUE) had sent missionaries to PNG from way back in 1993 until 2005. Since last year the new PGS Vice-Province (PGS) has sought to revitalise the presence of lay missionaries. This year a lay volunteer from Ecuador and 2 from the USA are coming. Below is the self-presentation of the 2 Salesian Lay Missioners (SLM) who have arrived and recently concluded their initial cultural introduction to their host country, Papua New Guinea.


Stephen Stafstrom


My name is Stephen Stafstrom, 21 years old. I come from Florida, USA. I graduated last May 2018 from University of Central Florida. All my life I have been surrounded with witnesses of “yes” to God’s call in their lives. From my mother’s example as a youth minister at my parish to the name of my parish itself “Annunciation” the theme of choosing God’s will for your life has always been apparent; I have tried to live my life accordingly.


It was only in the Fall of 2017 that the call to spend a year or more of my life in foreign mission crystalised. From there my story is a story of God clearing the way for me to find the Salesians. Briefly, I talked to our campus minister who suggested a few great options (Salesian Lay Missioners [SLM] included). During my research on the Salesians, I was able to speak with a former SLM who served in Ethiopia and Rwanda and our conversation only confirmed the charism I most identified with. Next, I received confirmation from numerous friends and acquaintances along the way. Indeed, the Lord has put me on a journey to mission with the Salesians.


The introductory orientation for 5 days upon our arrival in Port Moresby guided by Fr Alfred Maravilla, Provincial, deepened our understanding of culture and gained us an appreciation for the way of Don Bosco works with local Melanesian traditions and values.


Now that I have arrived in Papua New Guinea God has further confirmed this call to mission through the support, kindness and welcome of the people and the Salesian community. PNG is beautiful and every day I am fascinated anew by something unique and wonderful.


Matthew Nguyen


My name is Matthew Nguyen, 21 years old. I come from Texas, USA. I graduated from St. Matthews University in 2017. My parents immigrated to America during the Vietnam War when they were very young, and consequently, was raised in America, learning English and assimilating into the culture. I speak no Vietnamese and many times would have to learn a little Vietnamese here and there to communicate with some of my peers. This taught me what it means to be unable to communicate efficiently with others, yet I have also learned the joy of being able to communicate at all.


When I went to Saint Matthew’s University I suddenly found myself surrounded by friends who were on fire for spreading the faith, who wanted to do more than just “be holy”. But I started to discern being a missionary only a couple years ago when I met my very devout, very zealous friend at university who was on fire for sharing her faith with others. A few years later she mentioned she was looking into the Salesians among other things. I hadn't heard that name in almost a year and I went back to my texts with my mom only to realise it was the same program she had texted me the year before. Mother knows best, I guess.


I found the introductory orientation like a breath of fresh air giving me life and peace in what will be my home for a while. To be able to just live with my brothers here helped me realise that God was here before me in this place. Now he is just asking me to experience his love and mercy in a new way. These first 5 days I spent eating, learning, walking with the people here has made me fall in the unitive love of the Trinity. My brothers and sisters have welcome me with an open arms. I do not know if I’m ready, but I am not afraid to follow anymore.


If mission is a call, I had the opportunity to answer. Papua New Guinea responded with a resounding ‘Hello!’ I’m extremely excited to continue the conversation with our Lord as I meet him in every person that offers me welcome and love. I know we have much more to learn and are very excited for every opportunity we will have to serve and deepen our own faith this year. I recognise that I may have more to receive than to give. I desire to continue to grow in humility and to understand more intimately the value of community. I hope my missionary service will increase my dependence on God and develop the virtues of charity and love.




20190118_PGS1.jpg


20190118_PGS2.jpg


Attach

Drag and drop your files here, or Click attach files button.

Maximum File Size : 0MB (Allowed extentsions : *.*)

0 file(s) attached ( / )

  1. 4986(III)_'I am with you always, until the end of the age.’

    Fr Anthony Anusit Chanphen, New Salesian Priest By THA SC Hua Hin, Thailand , 19 January 2019 -- In an atmosphere of celebration and joy, our dear Brother Anthony Anusit Chanphen was ordained a Priest. The ordination was celebrated at St Th...
    Date2019.01.22 CategoryTHA Reply0 Views825 file
    Read More
  2. 4986(II)_ASC Delegates as credible and joyful witnesses to the Salesian religious vocation

    Interview with ASC Delegate Sr Ceciia Tse FMA By Our Own Correspondent Hong Kong, 22 January 2019 -- What makes you happy as the Salesian Cooperator’s Delegate? What makes me happy as the Salesian Cooperator’s Delegate is the chance to get ...
    Date2019.01.22 CategoryFMA Reply0 Views890 file
    Read More
  3. 4986(I)_Salesian Contemplation in Ordinary Life

    The life of an FCMN (Nazarene) By Our Own Correspondent Colle Don Bosco, Italy, 20 January 2019 -- Interview with Maria P. FCMN (Fraternidad Contemplativa Maria de Nazareth) N.B. There are three consecrated members at Colle, journeying in t...
    Date2019.01.22 CategoryWorld Reply0 Views655 file
    Read More
  4. 4985(III)_Study, reflect, share and act together

    First Pacific Delegation Assembly By Fr James Hoe, SDB Moderator of the Pacific Delegation Assembly Le'auva'a, Samoa, 20 January 2019 -- For the first time, 28 confreres from the three countries of the Pacific Delegation (Fiji, New Zealand ...
    Date2019.01.20 CategoryPac. Reply1 Views893 file
    Read More
  5. 4985(II)_Salesian Mission Day 2019 and Extraordinary Mission Month 2019

    By the SDB Mission Sector RMG, 20 January 2019 -- The new year 2019 brings at least two special mission animation opportunities for each Salesian community around the world. The first is the by now traditional Salesian Mission Day (SMD), th...
    Date2019.01.20 CategoryRMG Reply0 Views1101 file
    Read More
  6. 4985(I)_General Councils meet for first time at Sacro Cuore

    By Our Own Correspondent RMG, 17 January 2019 -- The by now traditional six monthly joint meeting of the SDB and FMA General Councils took place for the first time at the new General House at Via Marsala, 42 (Sacro Cuore) in Rome in the aft...
    Date2019.01.20 CategoryRMG Reply0 Views877 file
    Read More
  7. 4984(II)_Korean provincial receives Road Map 2025 from the Rector Major

    By Our Own Correspondent RMG, 18 January 2019 -- As does every newly-appointed SDB Provincial since January 2015, the KOR Provincial-elect, Fr Timothy Choi Won Cheol, was also invited by the Successor of Don Bosco to Rome for few days (Janu...
    Date2019.01.19 CategoryRMG Reply0 Views838 file
    Read More
  8. 4984(I)_Window on the World

    Salesian Mission Office Conference 2019 By Our Own Correspondent Rome, Italy, 18 January 2019 -- Two years after the previous encounter in January 2017 the Salesian Mission Office Director, SDB staff and Lay mission partners have gathered i...
    Date2019.01.19 CategoryRMG Reply0 Views939 file
    Read More
  9. 4983_The PGS Vice Province welcomes 2 Salesian Lay Missioners

    By Stephen Stafstrom and Matthew Nguyen Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, 18 January 2019 -- The Salesian Lay Missioners of the New Rochelle Province (SUE) had sent missionaries to PNG from way back in 1993 until 2005. Since last year the new...
    Date2019.01.18 CategoryPGS Reply0 Views1006 file
    Read More
  10. 4982(III)_First Pacific Delegation Asssembly opens in Samoa

    By Cl. Pati Ioane, SDB Leauvaa, Samoa, 16 January 2019 --The day that we, the Pacific Delegation, have been dreaming of has finally arrived. The opening of the first ever Pacific Delegation Assembly was held at St Therese Retreat Centre, Le...
    Date2019.01.17 CategoryPac. Reply0 Views905 file
    Read More
List
Board Pagination Prev 1 ... 278 279 280 281 282 283 284 285 286 287 ... 533 Next
/ 533