(ANS – Xuan Hiep) – In a spirit of joy and communion, the Salesian Province of Vietnam held a grand Missionary Animation Dayat the Xuan Hiep community to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Congregation’s first missionary expedition (1875-2025). The event was graced by the presence of the General Councillor for Missions, Fr. Jorge Mario Crisafulli, and the Economer General, Fr. Gabriel Stawowy, from the Salesian headquarters in Rome.
The celebration brought together a wide array of members from the Salesian family to rekindle their missionary fervor and commitment to spreading the Gospel. The program began in the morning with a thematic hymn and an inspiring video retracing 150 years of missionary blessings. The highlight of the morning was the address by the General Councillor for Missions, Fr. Crisafulli, who offered profound reflections on the missionary spirit. He emphasized that mission work is not peripheral but lies at the heart of the Salesian charism.
Fr. Crisafulli urged the Salesian family in Vietnam to courageously engage with the “Patagonias” of the 21st century: the digital world where young people are present, migrant youth, and the marginalized on society’s fringes. His speech was followed by a lively dialogue session where representatives from various Salesian groups voiced their challenges and aspirations for today’s mission work.
The day’s pinnacle was the Thanksgiving Mass, during which the Economer General, Fr. Gabriel, delivered a stirring homily. He stressed that the foundation of missionary work is a deep personal encounter with Christ: “You cannot give what you do not have.” He called for boldness in venturing into new frontiers, including digital spaces, indifference, and poverty, urging every Christian to live out their baptismal call as missionaries in daily life.
The day concluded with a fraternal banquet, strengthening familial bonds and spreading the joy of the gathering. The 2025 Missionary Animation Day left a lasting impact, energizing Vietnamese Salesians to “write new chapters” in their mission of serving God and the young.