austraLasia

Interview with Br. Reto Wanner, Swiss missionary in PNG

Salesian Brother sharing in view of the EAO Congress 2018 (II)

Port Moresby, PNG, 14 August 2017 --

What makes you happy or joyful as Salesian Brother?

Happiness and fulfillment gives me the possibility as a lay Brother to be among the young people for a longer period of time. This means for me to spend several hours per week with the youths in the lecture rooms, workshops; as well to meet them before and after school hours. With this possibility to stay with the young people over a longer period of time a relationship is slowly developing. This relationship will turn after a certain period of time to a friendship where a father-like relationship grows. With this relationship of love, trust and confidence in the lay Brother arises. In this state, the young people can be formed to become a good Christian as well an upright citizen. This experience is for me the most beautiful as a consecrated lay Brother, which fills me with lots of joy and happiness.

Who is your Salesian Brother model? Attraction to this form of Salesian vocation?

My models of a Salesian Brother is blessed Stefan Sàndor (1914 – 1953) and Brother Reinhold Kurtz (1935 – 2008) from the German Province. Both dedicated their life for the technical education and religious formation of young, less privileged people. Both where role models for the youth, the employees and for the society. Br. Reinhold was at the age of 10 deported from the Polish army to East Germany (DDR). Later on he could escape the DDR and settle in the Western Germany (BRD). There he got into contact with the Salesians. He made an apprenticeship as painter. In 1992, after the break down of the Berlin wall, Br. Reinhold started to build a vocational center for less handicapped youths in the former East part of Germany (Burgstädt). He was instructor for painters. At the evening he was assisting in the boarding house. He got cancer and passed away at the beginning of the year 2008. I became his successor and worked for seven years in the same institution he has formed with his outstanding concern for the apprentice, staff and the entire institution. I worked in the machining and metal fabrication section with handicapped apprentices. More important to teach them skills, was to motivate them and to give witness of Christian life – a life as Salesian Brother.

Similar to Br. Reinhold was Br. Stefan. He was as well very active in the field of technical training of less privileged youths. At the same time he spent a lot of time in the oratory and spent time with the young people, to form them to good Christians and upright citizens.

What is the specific contribution of Salesian Brother to the Salesian mission or community?

The Salesian Brother contributes a lot in the field of professional education, practical work in the community (cooking, housekeeping), in the institution (maintenance, care for the environment) and in the oratory or boarding house. His simple life style and appearance helps the young people to get easier in contact. Less “barriers” hinders the youths to approach the Salesian Brother. In the community I experienced, that Salesian Priests are often busy with saying mass, catechesis, visits of families, parish work and so one. Therefore what often lacks is the care for the house where the community lives, for cooking and to maintain order. Often Salesian Brothers have absolved an apprenticeship and can perform a trade that serves the community as well the youths in the oratory, in the boarding house and workshops.

How to make the vocation of Salesian Brother more visible in the Church?

Often I made the experience that the Salesian Priests forget to mention or introduce the Salesian Brother in the community. It is true; priests are more visible – with their cassocks and more visible in Church services, spending of the Sacraments etc. It would be good, to give Salesian Brothers visibility for example in Church services as lector, to distribute Holy Communion, for Bible sharing and as spiritual guides.

Importance must be given, to young people, that the Salesian Brother is not the second men in the community, the servant of the Salesian Priests. Both are equal and complementary. Like Don Bosco said, the two hands of a person: One is the Priest, the other the Brother. Only together can be the education and evangelization of young people fruitful. To consider, that in the first mission expedition 1875 out of 10 missionaries were 4 Salesian Brothers. Therefore, in youth ministry the Salesian Brother must be more introduced and promoted. Best is always, that if young people interested in religious life, in becoming Salesians, the will be inserted in communities with at least one Brother living in it.

A nice tradition in the German Province is the annual gathering of all Brothers from the Province. This fosters unity and motivates in living the Brother Vocation with joy and enthusiasm. At the same time, the visibility of the Salesians Brother becomes more powerful.

Any wish about the Salesian priest contribution to the Salesian Brother vocation promotion?

Dear Salesian Priests, be more sensitive towards us Salesian Brothers. Do not forget us in introducing the community members to the society, to the parish members. Get more information of the Salesian Brother and promote them during your pastoral works, in the homilies and so one. When giving catechesis and youth ministry to the young, invite Salesian Brothers to speak with them, to get to know better the meaning of the Salesian Brother in the Society of St. Francis de Sales. Please give the Salesian Brothers space and a platform to become more visible in the parish and society!

The spirituality of Salesian Brother? What does sustain your vocation?

Salesian Brothers need a lot of self-discipline to maintain a deep and constant religious life. Especially to celebrate the Holy Eucharist is for Brothers not always possible. In my seven years in the community in the German Province I had to go to three of four parishes, only to be able to take part in the daily Eucharist. In the morning – and also often in the evening – I had to recite the morning and evening prayer alone without any member of the community present. As well my daily meditation I did it alone. Reason was that I was the only confrere involved in the technical education of apprentices. The other community members where either engaged in the parish or in the Oratory. They came home late in the night and the next morning the prayers and Eucharist were held on a time, I was already expected in the training institute to instruct my apprentices.

We Salesian Brothers have fewer obligations in the prayers and the Sacraments. In spite of this fact, we never should neglect our prayer life as well to take part in the Sacraments – especially in the Holy Eucharist and Confession.

My backbone is the daily Eucharist, the Holy Rosary, the mediation, the community and personal prayers, devotion to Mary, Help of Christians and frequent confession. In Germany I had my spiritual guide. Here in PNG I am still looking for one. Without rootedness in a deep spiritualty and Communion with God, my apostolate as a Salesian Brother would not be meaning and successful. Without this backbone, hardly Brother Vocations will arise – young peoples must see, that the Salesian Brother is a consecrated religious, the same as the Salesian Priest. This visibility is also very important to foster the form of the Salesian Brother!

Any expectations, suggestion for the path towards the EAO 2018 Salesian Brothers Congress?

I never took part in a Salesian Brothers Congress. If invited to the EAO 2018 Salesian Brother Congress I would really appreciate to get to know more Salesian Brothers from the EAO Region, to have a lively exchange and build up contacts.

I am grateful for the opportunity to give a little contribution to “How to foster the Salesian Brother visibility”. Anytime I will be available to share my vocation story, my experiences as Salesian Brother, to promote the form of the Brother in the Society of St. Francis de Sale, to help to make the Salesian Brother more visible in the Congregation as well in the environment I am living in.