AND THE DREAM CONTINUES…

A short mass introductory skit on the occasion of

the 135th Anniversary of the First Salesian Missionary Expedition
November 11, 2010

Cast:

Don Bosco: Bro. Jun

Cagliero: Bro. Arnold
Narrator 1: Bro. Gene
Narrator 2: Bro. JM
Narrator 3: Bro. Adie
Missionaries: Bro. Peter
Bro. Andrew
Bro. Rafael

Don Bosco: (walking and meeting Cagliero). A Blessed Morning to you, Don Cagliero. You
know that for days I have been carrying this predicament that kept me still for a
long time.

Cagliero: How can I be of help, Don Bosco?

Don Bosco: I would like one of our older priests to accompany the missionaries to South
America and to stay with them for some time until they are thoroughly settled.
I haven’t the heart even to think of it.

Cagliero: If Don Bosco cannot find anyone for this task, I am ready to go, if he thinks I am
qualified.

Don Bosco: Good!

(Powerpoint Slide 1: map of Patagonia or South America)

Narrator 1: For Don Bosco to devote so much energy in preparing his Salesians for the
missions, this has been dream…

Narrator 2: or perhaps an obsession…

Narrator 3: but now a reality taking place as he is about to dispatch the first Salesians to
Patagonia in 1875.

Don Bosco: I could have gone myself to the missions, if given the chance.
 (Powerpoint Slide 2: Fr Cafasso)

Narrator 1: He had this mission awareness in 1844 after completing his course at the
Convitto, and soon wanted to join the OMI, the Oblates of Mary Immaculate

Narrator 2: It’s a good thing Fr. Cafasso directed him away from this, otherwise, we Salesians
wouldn’t have existed today…

Narrator 3: He would have gone to the missions instead!

Don Bosco: (Again meeting Cagliero) Don Cagliero! The day of departure to Patagonia draws
nearer. Are you still of the same mind about going to South America? Were you
joking, perhaps, when you said you were willing to go?

Cagliero: You know very well that I never joke when talking with Don Bosco!

Don Bosco: Good, then. It’s time to get ready!

(Powerpoint Slide 3: Savages killing missionaries)

Narrator 1: Time really flies so fast. It all just began in a dream.

Narrator 2: He dreamt of savages in a far away wild region, killing missionaries of various
orders who were trying to preach Christian faith to them.

Don Bosco: After witnessing this horrible bloodshed, I said to myself: How can one convert
so brutal a people?

(Powerpoint Slide 4: First Salesian Missionaries)

Narrator 3: Then he saw in his dream a small band of missionaries whom he recognized as
his very own Salesians...

Don Bosco: I feared for them. They are walking to their death.

Narrator 1: But to his amazement, the barbarians lowered their spears and warmly
welcomed them.

Don Bosco: And this I took as a heavenly sign. I did not grasp its meaning thoroughly at first,
but now, everything is clearer…
 (Don Bosco, Cagliero and the missionaries assemble in a tableau – a photograph
taking before the departure with Don Bosco posing with the act of handing on to
Cagliero the Constitutions)

(Powerpoint Slide 5: First Salesian Missionary Expedition)

Don Bosco: I would like to go with you myself, but since I cannot do so, these Constitutions
will take my place.

Cagliero: We shall remain to be as your Salesians, faithful to your rule, Don Bosco!

(Powerpoint Slide 6: Jesus Christ ascending or sending off his Apostles)

Don Bosco: My dear missionaries, Our Divine Savior, before leaving this earth to return to
His heavenly Father gathered His Apostles and said: Go into the whole world,
make disciples of all nations, preach the Gospel to every creature.

(Powerpoint Slide 7: Salesian Missionaries)

Narrator 2: Just as Don Bosco has dreamt and become a reality…

Narrator 3: And so the dream continues in every heart of the missionary in each of us.