Interview with Bro. Reto Wanner, SDB

By Fr. Ambrose Pereira, SDB

Port Moresby, PNG, 1 Agust 2018 -- Bro. Reto Wanner sdb was born on June 10, 1972. He belonged to the Evangelical Protestant Church, Ulrich Zwingli. Drawn to serve, he opted to work as a volunteer in Papua New Guinea. He spent a little over three years at the Don Bosco Technical Institute, Boroko, Port Moresby and returned home in 2004. During his time in Papua New Guinea he was impressed by the Catholic Church and the work the Salesians do for the young, poor and abandoned youngsters. On his return home, he became a Catholic and joined the Salesians in Germany. He made his first religious profession on September 8, 2006 on the Colle Don Bosco in Italy. His Final Profession was made on October 7, 2012 in Chemnitz, Germany. He then opted to return to Papua New Guinea. On April 17, 2014, he arrived in the PNG & SI Delegation, while still belonging to the German Province. After one year, he applied to become a missionary. On September 25, 2016, he was sent by the Rector Major as a missionary to the PGS Vice Province. He shares his thoughts:

hat has impressed you as a missionary in PGS? Share something of your background. Why did you choose to come to the missions?

I believe that it is a call from God. He wants me to share my time, my talents, my whole self with the people of Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands.

How did this call to the missions come about? It all began with a conviction: ‘When I reach the age of 30, I will go to a foreign country. I will share my knowledge with the local people’. I had the privilege of being qualified as a mechanical engineer in Switzerland. Finally, I could realize my dream through a Swiss volunteer organization, sending skilled workers to foreign countries. The Don Bosco Technological Institute in Papua New Guinea was in need of a mechanical instructor. So I applied and I was accepted. This was in the year 2001. I never heard about Don Bosco. At that time, I was not even a Catholic. I had a three-year volunteer contract with DBTI. The longer I stayed in the Salesian school – together with Salesian Priests, Brothers, Aspirants and Salesian Sisters – the more I realized that just sharing my skills and knowledge with the young people of Papua New Guinea was not enough. I felt convinced that the integral formation of young people required ‘skills, knowledge and religion’. This was the backbone. After three years of stay, I could clearly say, that religion kept me in this sometimes ‘wild’ and strange place. God was calling me, calling me to become a religious, calling me to become a Salesian lay Brother, calling me to the mission. It was not I who choose to become a missionary, I was guided by God’s Holy Spirit. I was listening to Him.

Two incidents in my early life influenced to become a missionary. The first was that my dad worked as a foreman - a bricklayer for four years in Ghana, Africa. His stories and pictures influenced my childhood very much. Second, as an apprentice I had an accident at sea. I almost drowned and it was God’s grace that saved me. I was given a second life: a call from God for a certain mission.

How do you see your vocation as a brother at DBTI, PGS? What is the apostolate you are involved in? What gives you joy, satisfaction and happiness?

I am very happy to be a Salesian lay Brother. I am fully immersed with young people – in the class room, in the workshop and laboratories and spend time with them after school hours. Through this intense staying together a relationship of trust and love has emerged. Gradually young people open up themselves to me. They are interested in my life as a religious. I than have the opportunity to share with them Christian values of living. A holistic formation is taking place, which will last far beyond their graduation at DBTI. Now after seventeen years I can see good fruits, emerging from my time as a volunteer at DBTI, as well as during my time as Salesian lay Brother.

Apart from being a mechanical instructor, I love to get in contact with the children, youths and adults from the villages around DBTI. My source of strength and balance to my work as an instructor is the Sunday Oratory. It is a joy for me to share my life with the children and young people coming from the different villages. The Sunday Oratory is filled with games, prayers, Catechism, a variety of activities and a First Aid post, that cater to their mind, body and spirit. The experience of being greeted by the Oratorians gives me deep satisfaction. I also enjoy visiting them in their homes. It is then that I have the opportunity to speak to their parents and understand the home situation.

The daily celebration of the sacraments are an occasion to grow in my faith. Every Sunday, I accompany the children’s choir at the 11 am Mass in the Shrine of Mary Help of Christians. It is much appreciated by the children and the congregation. The daily rosary and an occasional ‘Good Night’ talk with our residents is also a good occasion for me to grow spiritually. To pray, work and live with my community – Fr. Clifford Morais, Rector and Fr. Joseph Dai, in Charge of the Residence and Spiritual Moderator is for me a great fulfilment. This is my family and here I find joy, comfort, love and strength.

How do you see yourself in the years ahead?

My role today, as Head of the Technology Faculty is for me too demanding. I feel, this functions drives me away from the young people entrusted to my care. It forces me to spend time in meetings, organizational matters and dealing with adults. I would rather prefer to be a friend and partner of young people as a professional manager of seven technologies at DBTI.

I trust the Good Lord and His Spirit, will lead me towards this realization. May I always be there for the greater glory of God and the wellbeing of the young people of Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands.

---

---