UPS, Rome, 15 December 2016 -- The 20th Salesian Missionary Ministry course at the Salesian Pontifical University (UPS), Rome concluded the course with a pilgrimage from 9 - 15 December in the Holy Land. Don Luigi Gallo, a scripture professor at the UPS, guided the spiritual journey of 30 participants.
Some other highlights of the pilgrimage were praying the rosary with the Catholic community of Nazareth, visiting SDB and FMA communities and schools in Nazareth, Jerusalem and Bethlehem, getting to know the political situation of the Salesians in the middle east, were among many. They also had a chance to visit the house where Venerable Br. Simon Srugi at the Salesian Monastery of Biet Gemal where he spent his life as a at the service of the young even from other faiths.
The visit to important places at the Terra Santa in Nazareth, Jerusalem, Jordan, Capernaum and Bethlehem guided the participants in reflecting upon the missionary life of Jesus and found time to reflecting upon their own missionary journey. In the evening, there were opportunities to share reflections about the day's experiences which were very spiritually uplifting to everyone. Fr. Sławomir Drapiewski, a Poslish missionary to the Amazon, challenge the participants, in his homily during their final mass at the Santo Sepulcro in Jerusalem, with the worlds “Jesus is not here, but Jesus is actually here.”
Most Rev. Joseph Jules Zerey of the Greek-Catholic Patriarchate of Jerusalem, who is also a great love of Don Bosco, welcomed them in Jerusalem and gave inspiring words to the missionaries. He said that Jesus is always with us. Likewise he highligted the virtue of humility while carrying our own crosses as Jesus did. He echoed the words of Jesus not be afraid in the missions because they were sent with the power of the Holy Spirit.
Missionaries in EAO: Sr. Eleonor Samson and Br. Reto Wanner (Papaua Nuova Guinea e Solomon Islands)
Missionaries from EAO: Sr. Francesca Kim (Madagascar) and Br. Jomar Castillo (Brasil - Manaus Amazonia)
The course and pilgrimage was a close collaboration of the Missions Sector of the Salesians of Don Bosco through Fr. Martin Lasarte and the Daugthers of Mary Help of Christians through Sr. Blanca Sanchez in cooperation with UPS through Fr. Antonio Escudero, Dean of the Faculty of Theology.
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