By Our Own Correspondent
Mandalay, Myanmar, October 24, 2015 - Although the Salesian Mission in Myanmar was started already 76 years ago (1939), the 80+ Salesian confreres SDB and 7 novices are going through a period of charismatic re-foundation.
As the whole Catholic Church in Myanmar did experience during past 50 years some kind of isolation from the world wide Catholic community, also the Salesian Vice-province does slowly recover the gift of full communion within the Salesian World Community. During past six days animation visit among the confreres, the EAO regional councilor did touch many visible signs of charismatic new spring:
- Apart of our four formation houses (Aspirantate, Pre-novitiate, Postnovitiate and Theologate) there are not yet other canonical communities. Under the leadership of the third superior of the Vice province Fr. Charles Saw (2015-2021), the other seven apostolic presences with one-two confreres are being slowly consolidated in numbers and in quality.
- Fortunately our Salesians are located amidst the poorest young people in many parts of the large country and slowly developing small scale vocation training centers for the youth at risk. Especially the Kachin State located Don Bosco Vocation training center in Myitkyina with 80+ out of school youth is becoming the Valdocco of Myanmar. Many livelihood programs for the young people are now being developed in Yangon, Mandalay, Myitkyina, Anisakan and Kalay Myo. Dynamic presence of 6 young Salesian Brothers does guarantee a professional backbone to this typically Salesian mission of vocation training.
- Average age of the Salesians is 34 years and that brings also a challenge of mature growth. Among the first steps after the Bicentenary desired is to guarantee personal spiritual guide for each confrere (Provincial circular n.4). For us to be the most numerous male religious Congregation in Myanmar is a honor but also a responsibility to witness the shining beauty of consecrated life.
- In order to bridge the long-lasting lack of communion with the worldwide Congregation, the Salesians of Myanmar are trying to connect to all other EAO provinces. First two students of theology will soon leave for their studies in Melbourne (AUL), Salesian mission office of Seoul is preparing first youth and medical mission in Yangon (KOR) and the province is trying to learn from similar education works in Vietnam (VIE) or Thailand and Cambodia (THA). First two young MYM missionaries ad gentes are now being formed in Nairobi and Jerusalem and first EAO meeting in Myanmar (Economers) is being scheduled for next March 2016.
- After the successful Don Bosco Bicentenary celebrations there are some small beautiful signs of charismatic spring – like a vibrant start of Don Bosco Past Pupils Association in Myitkyina, new Don Bosco Bakery in Mandalay, first steps towards the necessary PDO (Planning and Development Office), systematic translations of Salesianity materials into Burmese language and participatory process for the first OPP and SEPP of the Vice-province.
Every 17th of each month the EAO Salesian family members are invited to pray for the MYM viceprovince. In this period of history they need our prayers indeed! Mary Help of Christians, pray for us!
