2022 Salesian Mission Day: Communicating Christ Today

The coincidence of the date is not accidental because this year's theme is well connected to the communicative and evangelising attitude of the Doctor of the Church: "COMMUNICATING CHRIST TODAY - # MissionariesOnline”. Following this slogan, the Salesian Mission Day intends to create a link between missionary animation and social communication by addressing the theme of proclaiming the Gospel in the world of social media.

Many ideas from all over the Salesian world and beyond will help us to reflect and celebrate this important Salesian event, which does not necessarily correspond to a single day, each Province and each community could offer an educational-pastoral itinerary, of which SMD is the culminating point, as an expression of the missionary spirit.

The animation materials will be available on sdb.org at the link https://www.sdb.org/en/Departments/Missions/SMD_Salesian_Mission_Days and include a poster, a prayer and a booklet. In addition to these, short videos will be uploaded on the social channels of the Missions Sector, in the style of TikTok-Point of View, which will tell the three words "Communicate", "Christ", "Today" from the point of view of young people.

The poster for 2022 SMD has five young people gathered around a table, communicating in a simple way with the aid of technological tools that are part of our everyday life: smartphones, computers, tablets... The diversity of cultures is not an obstacle, and the world of social networks brings people together and unites them. St Francis de Sales accompanies the work of transmitting the Gospel in ever new and creative dynamics. The core of everything, permeating all communication, is Jesus whose face is at the centre of the poster. He is the messenger and the message that we want to bring to young people with our lives, even when we use social networks.

The reflection within the booklet is guided by the three elements that make up the theme: Communicating, through a concrete experience of media education; Christ, the true source of all forms of communication of the Gospel; Today, exploring the relationship between young people around the world and social media.

Further insights are given to us by the letter of the Rector Major, the interview with three General Councillors and the lectio divina on the passage from Romans 12, 9-21 "Let love be without hypocrisy".

For a Salesian reference, we have included a reflection on effective communication in Salesian style and a presentation of ANS, a precious resource for the Congregation and the Church. The introduction to the mentality of today's youth – the "millennials" and "Generation Z" -, the experience of a priest on the frontlines on these issues and the voice of some young people of the SYM will help us translate  concepts into life experience.

The testimonies of holiness of Francis de Sales and the young Carlo Acutis show us that this is a path to heaven.

Some graphic game activities accompany the text and can be used with the young people to reflect on the themes of SMD 2022.

The project chosen to be supported this year is the Salesian radio network "ARTESBOL" in Bolivia.

The work for the realisation of the SMD materials, under the guidance of the Missions Sector, has involved many people from different provinces all over the world. The prayer was composed by Mattia, a young student who lives at Sacro Cuore, in Rome, and is involved in the pastoral activities of the house.

All of us can communicate Christ through our simple witness of life on social media, with a little courage and creativity!