Salesians who have come from overseas to the British (GBR) Province in recent years met during the weekend of 10th-11th December 2011 at Savio House Bollington. Also present in Savio House were those in initial formation, the Province Formation Team and members of BOVA (Bosco Volunteer Action), leading to a lively exchange of experiences.

Missionaries old and new with Fr Martin Coyle (GBR Provincial).

The photograph above shows, from left to right: Fr Cyril Edamana from Kerala who arrived as a missionary in 2009, Fr Ireneusz Pyzik from Poland (via Egypt) who is taking a course, Fr Roman Szczypa from Poland who arrived as a missionary in October 2011, Fr Martin Coyle, Fr Tony Fernandes from Kenya who arrived in 2009, Fr Bennett Aranjo from Goa (via East Africa) who arrived as a missionary in 2010, and Fr Mark Yang from South Korea and Br Joseph Tran Hoang from Vietnam, both of whom arrived as missionaries in October 2011.

Most of the group had been in Rome recently at the conference for Salesian Missionaries in Europe and they were able to share their reflections on the document produced at that meeting. Afterwards Fr Martin Coyle gave a talk about the Province Plan and there followed discussion on how the presence of overseas missionaries could enable future developments in the mission of the Province.

During the Mass for Gaudete Sunday, the missionaries were presented with bound copies of a booklet compiled by Fr David O'Malley: Welcome to the Province of Saint Thomas of Canterbury symbolising the joy of the Province at their arrival and the commitment of the Province to help them to adjust to the culture and faith situation of their new mission territory.