THE FINAL STATEMENT RESEARCH SEMINAR ON EVANGELISATION AND CATECHESIS NEW DELHI 6-8 April 2005 1. The Salesians of South Asia conducted a research seminar on Evangelisation and Catechesis at Don Bosco Specialised Training Centre (Provincial House), Okhla, New Delhi, from 6 to 8 April 2005 in preparation for the national research seminar on Salesian life and mission in South Asia, marking the centenary celebrations of the arrival of the first Salesians at Tanjore India in 1906. Thirty-nine Salesians from the region, except Mynmar, participated in it. The keynote address by Archbishop Thomas Menamparampil SDB of Guwahati, Assam, under the title “Holding up Hope to the World” placed the participants in perspective. Reaffirming the primary mission of the church as evangelisation, the archbishop said it is not a threat to people’s cultural heritage or ethnic identities. Evangelisation is God’s loving kindness reaching out to every person in human society through human agencies. However, he cautioned against doing evangelisation in a hurtful way or the evangeliser being distant from people, their lives and actual realities. The six research papers of the seminar dealt with the influence of the Salesian Catechetical apostolate on the Indian Church, holistic approach to evangelisation, social communications, inter-religious dialogue, subaltern perspectives and harnessing youth power for evangelisation. There were eleven reports from the provinces and the vice-provinces and workshops on selected themes. The seminar also studied Fr. Francis Convertini (1898-1976) and Mgr. Orestes Marengo (1906-1998) as two model evangelisers, and reflected on inculturation and on the spirituality of the Salesian evangeliser. The main objective of the seminar was to enable the Salesians of South Asia to take a critical look at the past hundred years of their involvement in Evangelisation and Catechesis and to formulate orientations for the future. 2. The celebration of the centenary is a significant event in the annals of the Salesian history in South Asia. It is a time of thanksgiving for the wonders that the Lord has done in the region during the past 100 years. We acknowledge with gratitude the motherly presence of Mary Help of Christians, and the pastoral zeal of Don Bosco’s da mihi animas which has guided and continues to guide the Salesians in South Asia. We remember with affection and gratitude all the Salesians who laboured tirelessly in South Asia, beginning with Tanjore, South India, in 1906. Today, looking back to the last hundred years, we can honestly say that we Salesians have been able to contribute much to the building up of the Church through our involvement in evangelisation and catechesis. The various dioceses that came into existence as a result of the evangelising efforts of the Salesians, promotion of vocations in view of building up the local Church, the many seminaries and parishes they run, the different religious institutes that were initiated by them to enhance evangelisation and catechetical apostolate have great impact on the Church and society. The pioneering educational and developmental activities initiated by the Salesians have also influenced the Church and the society. 3. As disciples of Jesus Christ and members of a Church which is missionary by her very nature (Cf.AG.2), we Salesians too have received the missionary mandate (Mt 28:18-20) to proclaim the Gospel according to the charism of Don Bosco. “We look upon missionary work as an essential feature of our congregation” (Cons.Art.30); “For us too evangelising and catechising are the fundamental characteristics of our mission” (Cons.Art.34). The Salesian is an evangeliser and educator in the faith who makes his own the words of St. Paul: “For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the Gospel” (1Cor 9:16). This call opens before us a vast horizon for evangelisation in South Asia. Hence proclamation of the Gospel is the permanent priority of our mission and we uphold its centrality and irreplaceable role in all our apostolic endeavours. 4. The Good News of Jesus Christ should permeate and transform cultures. Evangelisation and inculturation are naturally and intimately related to each other and the former is incomplete without the latter. Inculturation means allowing the seed of Christian faith to sprout and grow in a culture under the influence of the Holy Spirit who is its prime agent (Cf.EA.21), using the resources and genius of that culture. Much work has been done by our missionaries towards inculturation in the process of their proclamation of the Gospel. However, we acknowledge certain deficiencies that must be addressed with greater commitment especially in the areas of theological and philosophical thinking, in catechetical and liturgical ministries, in the understanding and living of religious life, in Salesian formation, in the expression of art, architecture, etc. 5. South Asia is the birthplace of many religions. Inter-religious dialogue is part of the Church’s evangelising mission (Cf.RM.55). In this context, our evangelisation in the region demands that we have great respect for these spiritual traditions and engage in patient and sincere dialogue with them. We also recognise that both inculturation and inter-religious dialogue are integral to the Salesian charism as envisaged by the Preventive system, which is the hallmark of the Salesians. 6. Evangelisation is the vocation proper to the Church and it is her deepest identity (Cf.EN.14). But this mission is a complex and multi-dimensional reality that embraces all the pastoral activities of Christians. Hence there is a need to overcome a certain partial and fragmentary understanding of evangelisation prevalent among some Salesians who consider only those who are engaged in the first proclamation of the Gospel as true evangelisers. A diminishing in the zeal among the Salesians to evangelise, quest for academic excellence at the detriment of other values, seeking after ease and comfort, a spiritual slackening and movement away from the heart of Christ the Good Shepherd in our attitudes to the young and the people in general are causes of concern today. 7. Our involvement in the society is multi-pronged. While in our commitment in the pastoral life in the church and educational work has been commendable there is need to explore new avenues by reading the signs of the times. Our apostolic engagement with youth, health care, charitable undertakings, ecumenical and inter-faith dialogue, promotion of indigenous cultures, care of the marginalised of society, youth at risk, empowerment of women, development of tribal and subaltern communities, promotion of literacy, human resource development, scholarly pursuits, training of candidates to priesthood and religious life, media ministry and so on are genuine forms of evangelisation carried out by the Salesians. 8. In the context of South Asia, evangelisation needs to take the form of liberating persons from the evil structures of exploitation, corruption, discrimination, injustice and violence in order to create a world more worthy of human beings, based on justice, equality, peace, solidarity, love, freedom and human dignity (Cf.EA.32-34). These concerns are central to evangelisation because the Gospel offers integral salvation, which is liberation from sin and other evils. However, one needs to guard against possible deviations. 8.1 Unfortunately, at times there has been a negative attitude among some Salesians with regard to the validity of and the need for evangelisation especially in the context of the religious pluralism of South Asia. In addition, there are others who neglect faith formation in their educational and social ministries or are indifferent to it. 8.2 Tendencies such as the above need to be remedied through a specific and systematic formation programme oriented towards preparing Salesians, convinced of the need to evangelise in every setting. Hence we need a formation that can prepare the young Salesians capable of meeting the various challenges in our work of Evangelisation. 8.3 Our ongoing formation programmes also need to be directed towards a renewal in the missionary and catechetical dimension of our vocation. 9. Social Communication media are the ‘New Aeropagus’ (Cf.RM.37) to proclaim the Gospel. The new information and communication technologies of our times call for creative ways of evangelisation and catechesis. We need to become more aware of the influence of mass media and social communication in the life of peoples and cultures and develop competence and skill in using them for greater efficacy in our evangelising mission. But, it is not enough that we evangelise through the media. Our ministry must extend to the evangelisation of the media as well. 10. Evangelisation and catechesis are intimately related. Catechesis is a moment of Evangelisation (Cf. GDC.63). It involves a process of faith formation, which includes knowledge of faith, liturgical education, moral formation, missionary initiation and community education (Cf. GDC.30). At times we encounter Christian communities with inadequate faith formation. Hence there is urgent need of competent catechetical educators who are capable of providing faith formation with great sense of responsibility and dedication. 11. Evangelisation should become a vast apostolic movement of the Salesian congregation in the local Churches. Catechesis is an essential characteristic of this endeavour. We acknowledge the valuable contribution made by our catechetical and publication centres in deepening the faith of the people. We strive to collaborate with the local Churches, Salesian family, religious congregations, laity, other associations, organisations and ecclesial movements like Small Christians Communities (SCC) that are committed to the building up of the Kingdom of God. We recognise their value and importance as new ways of being Church. 12. Every person has an inalienable right to hear the Good News of God (Cf.RM.46). Unfortunately, there exists a certain hostility towards Christian presence and proclamation in many parts of South Asia. But persecutions and violence against Christians do not deter us from proclaiming Jesus Christ. They teach us that the way of the cross is the way of the evangeliser. However, we state in no uncertain terms that denial of religious liberty goes against fundamental human rights, human dignity and freedom of conscience. 13. Evangelisation has its aim to bring about interior change or conversion in a person. But none can convert another person for faith is a gift of God and it is the Spirit who works in the intimacy of the conscience of each person and effects such a total and radical change (Cf.RM.46). We condemn all forms of so-called conversion and ‘re-conversion’ through force, fraud, allurement and other unfair means as they go against religious freedom. We also dissociate ourselves from Christian groups and individuals that manifest ‘fundamentalist’ and ‘fanatical’ tendencies in preaching the Gospel. 14. We affirm the right to baptise any person who accepts Jesus Christ, and who freely and with full knowledge asks for the same in order to enter the Church which is the visible community of believers in Jesus Christ. It is also willed by Christ himself as the sign of the fullness of new Life in Him (Cf.RM.47). But we are also aware that there are many people in South Asia who accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour though they may not receive baptism by water. We believe that they too belong to the Kingdom of God. 15. We recognise that the person of the missionary and his witness of life are basic to evangelisation. Without a deep spiritual life the proclamation of the Gospel ceases to be genuine. A true missionary is a contemplative in action (Cf.RM.91). Kingdom of God means the reign of God’s love in the hearts and minds of people. We make it happen when we approach people in love. In the process, the evangeliser himself, in the first place, undergoes a conversion. Austerity, simplicity, contemplation and prophetic witness are recognised as the signs of being religious in today’s world. We affirm the need for these in the lives of individual Salesians and our communities, so as to be “the salt and the light of the world” (Cf.Mt 5:13-16). For us Salesians, Don Bosco is our model in the spirituality of evangelisation and we strive to imitate his missionary zeal (Cf.Const.Art.30). We also draw inspiration from the examples of many valiant missionaries of South Asia. 16. The celebration of the centenary of the arrival of the first Salesian missionaries in India is a call to recognise the responsibility we have to become missionaries with a global perspective. We should be prepared, like Abraham of the Old Testament, to forget our country, our people and our father’s house for the lands that the Lord will show us (Cf. Gen 12:1). 17. In order to make the above a reality, this seminar suggests the following: 17.1 The mission ad/inter gentes or first proclamation of the Gospel is to become the priority in all our works. 17.2 Kindle the flame of evangelisation in all our settings and forms of apostolate. 17.3 Following the example of Don Bosco, every Salesian is to live his vocation as authentically as possible in order to become an evangeliser through his personal witness. 17.4 Greater sharing of personnel to meet the demands of first proclamation wherever the Gospel has not reached. 17.5 Launching a South Asian Salesian missionary project towards challenging and responsive areas (eg. Arunachal Pradesh) with urgency and with a time-bound plan. 17.6 Exposure of candidates to Salesian life and of Salesians in initial formation to the missions where missionaries are involved in the first proclamation of the Gospel. 17.7 Involvement in the lives of the people, especially the poor and the marginalised and having it manifested in the lifestyle and training of Salesians. 17.8 Development of knowledge and skills to dialogue with people of other faiths and cultures. 17.9 Preparation and involvement of the laity, especially the youth, in evangelisation. 17.10 Celebration of the Salesian monthly missionary day by every community. 17.11 Formation of a Salesian Missionary Association as a forum to study and discuss matters relating to evangelisation. 17.12 Revitalisation, reorganisation and strengthening of structures (eg.Nitika, Viswadeep) and the Salesian Catechetical Association to ensure the realisation of the catechetical vision and co-ordination and networking at South Asia level. 17.13 Drawing up a syllabus for the catechetical formation of Salesians at all the phases of formation. 17.14 Giving greater importance to the Word of God (Bible) in the daily lives of our youth, (eg. through the practice of lectio divina, bible camps, bible classes, etc) 17.15 Greater collaboration and networking among Salesians for a more effective use of mass media and social communications for evangelisation and catechesis. 17.16 More creative and conscious effort to present the life and message of Jesus in all our presences, particularly in our educational institutions. 18 The above proposals are incorporated in the final statement as responses to vastly different situations in our region. They need to be carefully studied and reflected upon by all the Salesians of South Asia at the local, provincial and national levels in order to draw up appropriate action plans for the renewal of our evangelising mission. 19. We the Salesians of South Asia enter into the third millennium convinced of the preciousness of the gift of faith in Jesus Christ and the urgency and the relevance of a clear and unequivocal proclamation of Him as Lord and Saviour. We imitate the missionary zeal of Don Bosco and the courage and the enthusiasm of the numerous Salesians who have preceded us in South Asia during the last 100 years. Reminding ourselves of Don Bosco’s words, “have devotion to Mary Help of Christians and you will see what miracles are” we entrust all our endeavours to her. We resolve to carry on the mission entrusted to us with responsibility and dedication. We strive to make our Christian communities truly South Asian in outlook and expression through a more serious engagement in inculturation. We also commit ourselves to enter into dialogue with people of other faiths in order to promote peace and harmony in the region. New Delhi 8 April 2005