By EAO Missionary Animation Team

During 155th Salesian Missionary Expedition last September 29, 2024, our EAO Region sent 6 missionaries but also received 5 new missionaries. Here is one of the two sent to PGS Vice-Province in view of the new presence in Vanuatu in 2025.

I'm Fr Joseph Vanga. I am 37 years old. I originally belonged to Hyderabad Province, India (INH). I come from a remote village in the State of Andhra Pradesh. My parents are farmers who depended on God's Providence in times of hardship and crop failure. From them, I learned the important lesson of trusting in God’s Providence. We are 3 children. My sister who is a Sister of St. Anne, and a brother who is married with 2 children and myself. When I told my parents I would be a missionary, they accepted this and blessed me.

During my theological studies at the Sacred Heart Theological Studentate in Shillong, a young missionary priest visited us from Africa. He gave us the Salesian Goodnight and shared his experiences in the missions with us. That talk was the spark that ignited the flame of my missionary vocation. I have asked my Provincials to go to the missions so many times but every time I expressed my desire I was told to serve the Province first. This went on for years. I was ordained six years ago. In 2014 I obtained my MA in Communication major in journalism from Kannur University, Kerala. In the meantime, my missionary desire grew even stronger.

During the Team Visit to South Asia in February 2023, I took courage and approached Fr. Alfred Maravilla, General Councillor for Missions, and presented to him my story. We talked a few times after which he spoke to my Provincial then brought me directly to the Rector Major. Hearing my desire and story, Fr. Angel Fernandez assured me that I would be sent to the missions as soon as I conclude my term as Provincial Delegate for Social Communication in 2024. In the meantime, I sent him my missionary application.

As part of the discernment process regarding my destination, Fr Alfred Maravilla asked for my opinion on the possibility of being sent to Oceania. I gave my consent, saying that I trusted God and I was ready to serve anywhere in the world. I'm not scared of the place, or the people. Later he communicated to me that the Rector Major was sending me and another missionary to the PGS Vice-Province, "in view of the new presence in Vanuatu”. He pointed out to me that this does not mean that we two will go to Vanuatu, but that we could replace the confrere who would be sent to Vanuatu in November 2025. I am happy to be part now of our EAO region.

The five weeks of the "Corso Germoglio" for departing missionaries, particularly the spiritual journey through the places of Don Bosco, gave us enough time to reflect on our missionary vocation and its challenges. Through prayer, I am able to form my beliefs. What I believe is: “I trust that the Lord who called me will lead me forward. In every culture, God is vividly present in people's lives". I'm sure there will be challenges in PGS. But it does not matter, because, trusting in God's grace, I will be able to accept them and eventually overcome them.

---

---