Introduce yourself
I am HUMTSOE Zabenthung Dominic, from the Salesian Province of Dimapur. I come from the North Eastern part of India, belonging to the state of Nagaland. I completed my second year of Practical Training in May 2025. My life as a Salesian has been a beautiful journey filled with moments of joy, learning, and encounters with the Lord. Each stage of formation has taught me that vocation is not something we possess but a joyful response to the gentle voice of Jesus who lovingly calls, “Follow Me.”
What inspired you to make this choice to become a missionary?
The seed of my missionary vocation was planted during my days in the apostolic school, which I entered in 2012. Occasionally, missionaries ad gentes would visit our community during their home holidays. They were Salesians of the Dimapur Province who were serving in different countries as missionaries ad gentes. They shared with us about distant lands, about poverty, struggle, and sacrifice. Yet, on their faces shone a radiant joy that came from encountering Christ in every human heart. Their lives spoke louder than their words. They carried within them a light that no hardship could extinguish, a joy that no suffering could steal.
Those encounters awakened in me a deep longing to dedicate my life entirely to the mission of the Gospel. I began to pray, asking the Lord to let me share in that same missionary fire. I sought the guidance of my Rectors and spiritual directors and nourished my heart with the life stories and biographies of missionaries and saints whose courage was born of divine love.
Twice I was blessed to go for mission experience at I-CARD, a Salesian center in my home province that serves the Mising tribe, one of the most economically deprived communities in the northeast. There, I came face to face with the reality of poverty, not in books but in the dust, sweat, and tears of daily life. I lived among families whose joy often bloomed in the midst of hardship. Their huts were simple, yet their hearts overflowed with kindness. Their smiles, even when life was hard, revealed the face of Christ more clearly than any sermon. It was a tough time, demanding in every sense, yet it remains the most beautiful experience of my Salesian life so far. That experience strengthened my missionary desire and confirmed within me the call to be a Salesian missionary ad gentes, ready to go wherever the Lord sends me.
Are you happy about the place where you are going? Have you any fears and inhibitions about the new place, culture and people?
I have been assigned to the Delegation of Romania and Moldova, belonging to the Salesian Province of North-East Italy (INE). My heart is filled with gratitude and peace. I am truly happy to go wherever the Lord sends me. For me, the real homeland of a missionary is the will of God.
I was told that INE is largely an Italian-speaking province, while the people of Romania and Moldova speak Romanian and Moldovan. I carry no fear in my heart. Rather, I feel a deep eagerness to learn, to adapt, and to serve with joy.
This new beginning fills me with hope. I believe that Our Lady Help of Christians has gone ahead and prepared the place where God is sending me. With patience, love, and openness, I trust that I will soon feel at home among the people she has made ready for me.
How did your family members, friends and confreres react when you told them about your missionary vocation?
My family has been my first school of faith. They are very supportive and encouraging in every step of my journey. My mother remains my greatest strength and silent companion in prayer. Every morning and evening she offers the rosary for my vocation, apart from our family moments of prayer. Her faith and love are my anchor, reminding me that every vocation grows through the hidden sacrifices and prayers of those who love us.
My confreres and friends in the Province received my decision with joy and encouragement. Many assured me of their prayers and shared wise words of guidance. Some, out of concern, reminded me of the challenges of missionary life, but their concern only deepened my sense of purpose. I felt surrounded by a communion of love and support. I realized that a missionary never walks alone, for he carries within his heart the prayers and blessings of all who send him forth.
What are your plans and dreams about your missionary life?
I have no great plans of my own. My one desire is to remain open to the will of God and to the gentle guidance of the Holy Spirit. My dream is to fall ever more deeply in love with Jesus present in the Eucharist, to draw strength from His presence, and to let that love radiate to everyone I meet.
I wish to live close to the poor and to discover in them the face of Christ who suffers yet continues to love without measure. I want to listen to their stories, share in their joys and sorrows, and walk beside them in faith and hope.
My greatest dream is to live each day as a Eucharistic offering, broken and shared in love. I want my life to speak of the goodness of God, especially to those who feel forgotten or unloved. To be a missionary, for me, is to be a joyful witness of God’s tenderness wherever I am sent. I hope to bring comfort to the weary, light to those in doubt, and hope to those who struggle. In this way, I pray that my life may become a song of gratitude to God who calls, sends, and sustains every missionary heart.
Have you in mind any model of some great missionaries whose style and life you want to follow?
My perfect model is Jesus Christ, the first and eternal Missionary ad gentes, sent by the Father to bring light and hope to all people. He is the Word made flesh who walked among the poor, healed the sick, comforted the sorrowful, and welcomed everyone with compassion.
How do you feel about the experience you are going through now doing the missionary course (Corso Germoglio) and being part of this 156 th missionary expedition?
Being part of this missionary course with confreres from many nations is a joyful and enriching experience. Though we come from different cultures and languages, we are united by the same Salesian spirit and the same love for Christ. From the very beginning, I felt a strong sense of brotherhood and joy among us.
This course has deepened my understanding of what it means to be a missionary ad gentes. I have come to see that ad gentes is not merely about crossing geographical boundaries but about opening the heart to those who are different from us. It calls for readiness to adapt, to listen, and to serve with humility. It is a vocation that asks for courage, patience, and a spirit of lifelong learning. To be a missionary ad gentes is to allow oneself to be shaped each day by the Gospel and to become a bridge of friendship between cultures, languages, and people.
I first expressed my desire to be a missionary ad gentes in 2019, but I was asked to wait. Looking back, I see that waiting as a time of grace. Today, belonging to this 150th missionary expedition fills me with gratitude and humility. It is a privilege to be part of the same dream that once inspired Don Bosco to send his sons to the missions.
What is your message for young people about missionary choice and vocation?
The world today is full of activity, distractions, and opportunities. Yet many hearts still search for peace, direction, and meaning. In the middle of all this, the gentle voice of Jesus calls, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” This call often comes silently, through prayer, a kind gesture, or the needs of people around us. It begins when we learn to love sincerely and care for others.
If you feel that quiet stirring in your heart, take time to listen. Pray, talk with someone you trust, and notice the joy that comes when you think about giving your life to God in the service of humanity. That joy can be a sign of God’s call. The vocation is not about leaving home but about finding where you belong in God’s plan.
You do not need to be perfect. What matters is a willing heart and trust that God will guide you. The world needs people who live what they believe. Even small acts of kindness, forgiveness, or service can already make a difference and bring light to someone’s life.
