I greet you from Manila – the Philippines, where I’m doing the extraordinary visitation in the name of the Rector Major until the end of April. During this Lenten season I wish to share with you a simple reflection.
During these weeks we are invited to fix our gaze on the Cross of Jesus and prepare the Passover of the Lord.
Through the Cross he has saved all peoples of all ages. It is also in this light that we remember missionary martyrs on the 24th of this month with prayer and fasting.
Talking with the confreres, I am often asked the question: Where is the latest frontier of the Salesian missions? It is
implied that one wants to hear of a country, the latest place where we arrived.
Obviously there are many new frontiers where many young people who have never met Christ await and ask us, “Sir,
we want to see Jesus”. There are so many countries, regions or groups who are awaiting Salesians with the missionary
heart. I am strongly convinced, however, that the new missionary activities begin from our heart which is totally open to Jesus, continually searching for him and longing to bring him to all. Here lie the most important new frontiers of
our missions, it does not matter wherever we find ourselves in. Let us always keep our hearts open to the invitation of
Jesus: “Go until the ends of the earth” even if, in some cases, this could lead to suffering or sacrifice of one’s own life!
Fr. Václav Klement, SDB
Councillor for the Missions
Past Editions
April 2010
