Tiruchy, Aug. 31. As the Salesian congregation is gearing up to celebrate the bicentenary of Don Bosco`s birth Salesian Province of Tiruchy is proud to send three of its sons as missionaries. The missionaries departed from Chennai on 31 August 2011, early in the morning.
Inspired by the last command of Jesus to his disciples, “Go out to the whole world and proclaim the gospel to all creation“ Mk16: 15, three Salesians from the province of Tiruchy, Fr. Rajan Pushparaj, Br. Thomas John Leo and Br. John Paul Swaminathan, have opted to work as missionaries in various parts of the world.
In the farewell mass celebrated on 28 August 2011, they shared their missionary vocation story. During their sharing the missionaries opined that they are aware of the challenges that are ahead – language, culture, etc. – but are sure to scale them with God`s help. Fr. Provincial wished them well and promised his prayers and support. Quoting the experience of prophet Jeremiah he advised the missionaries “…to hold on to God, come what may.“ “Province of Tiruchy is proud to send its sons as missionaries as a part of its preparations for the bicentenary of Don Bosco`s birth. Once the province benefited from the missionaries, now it is our turn to pay back,“ he added.
Br. Thomas John Leo left on 31 August 2011 from Chennai to attend Missionary Orientation Programme organized at Rome by the Department of Salesian Missions. Fr. Arockiaraj Mariasusai, who has been invited by the Rector Major to work in Amsterdam, Netherlands for a couple of years, too will attend the orientation programme before proceeding to Amsterdam. The other missionaries will travel to Rome, to attend the orientation programme and receive the missionary cross, once their papers are cleared.