By Cl. Dos Santos Julião, SDB
Practical trainee – missionary candidate
Vunabosco, PNG, 10 July 2016 -- Among the new Salesian missionaries of the 147th expedition we find also one practical trainee from Timor Leste, who applied for the missions already in 2010 (first profession year) to Fr Pascual Chávez. Now, during his final year of the practical training in the new province of PGS is sharing his vocation story. His first obedience is in Papua New Guinea – Vunabosco community.
Why and how it started your missionary vocation journey?
My dream to become a missionary started when I saw same Salesian priests and brother work hard in my own country of Timor Leste. It was the main reason why I wrote the first missionary application to the Rector major, Fr. Pascual Chávez in 2010. I still remember well the reply of the Rector major emeritus: He gave thanks for my missionary generosity and said ‘Preparati bene alla vita salesiana!’ (Prepare yourself well for the Salesian life!)
How do you feel as a practical trainee – missionary in PNG?
I am very happy work in this country of Papua New Guinea. This is not my mind but it’s a God calling. That why, become a religious who have been called to spend our lives, building up Gods kingdom among the young by a God who knows us personally, loves us, has called us by name and set us apart, consecrating us in a new and special missionary vocation ad gentes.
What is your missionary life experience like?
Really, I have still only little experience. My contribution to the Salesian mission is not so much in actions that I do in my life, but it’s in loving the young people entrusted to us. Experience tell me that genuine love is always expressed in close educative presence (assistance) and dedication.
What did you learn so far in the mission land?
Really, in this new place I try to learn very fast the Melanesian cultures of Papua New Guinea. In order to learn the local language (Tok Pisin) l had only two months course in the beginning. Then my rector Fr. Edwin entrusted me with the teaching of two subjects - Agriculture and Religion (Grade 10 and Vocation Trainee 1st year). And of course I’m learning the life in the diversity of our international community of Vunabosco. We are four confreres from four different countries – Philippines, Vietnam, India and East Timor. We have in Vunabosco (Rabaul archdiocese) about 213 boarding students and 11 pre-aspirants with us 24/24 hours a day. It’s a wonderful life in PNG, because I’m able to learn how to live in full the Salesian mission for our youth in need and how to practice in full our SDB Constitutions.
Greeting to the young Salesians in your home Vice-province of Timor-Indonesia?
I would like to invite my confreres in the post-novitiate or in practical training in Timor Leste and around the EAO region to become a missionary ad gentes, to live together with and for our poor boys. In the first article of our Constitutions we read that “Don Bosco have promised to give to God himself to the last breath for my poor boys…” Here in the missions is the best way how to realize the Salesian vocation!
