(ANS – Tunis)– A visit by the Rector Major is something quite special in the life of a Salesian community. The house of Manouba, in Tunisia, one of the smallest in the Congregation, with just 2 Salesians, and the only one in the whole country which has a large Muslim majority had this experience last week.

On Wednesay 10 Fr Ángel Fernández Artime landed in Tunis. Waiting for him was the whole Salesian Family in the country: 2 Salesians and 5 Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (FMA), accompanied by the Provincial and the Provincial Economer of Italy-Sicily,  Fr Giuseppe Ruta and Fr Vincenzo Ferrarella, and Sr Agnes, Delegate of the French FMA Provincial, was was engaged in the General Chapter of the Institute.

The visit began with Mass at which Fr A.F. Artime presided in the chapel. In his short homily he expressd his joy at being in the house a small seed in the soil of Islam with which it walked side by side. In the evening after opening a youth tournament  in the Oratory the Rector Major assured his confreres that Manouba is a valid and significant presence for the Congregation, that needed to be consolidated not by “doing more”  but by making ever more sound and visible its fraternal witness perhaps also by sending more missionaries.

On Thursday 11 the Rector Major visited the house of the FMA, where he received a very warm welcome in a friendly atmosphere. After meeting the religious community he ended the morning with  the staff and pupils of the Salesian school before having lunch with Mons. Ilario Vescovo, Archbishop of Tunis, and speaking with him about the future prospects for the Church in the country.

In the afternoon Fr. Artime  returned to the Salesian house and had a friendly discussion with collaborators and friends of the centre - Christians and Muslims.

On Friday 12 September, after Mass with the community – during which were recalled the religious anniversaries of some of the Salesians, including Fr Ruta and the Rector of Manouba, Fr Domenico Paternò – the  Rector Major met some Argentine religious of the Verbo Incarnato present in Tunis and the Muslim members of the school staff; to these he expressed his appreciation for the work of education they shared together and for the variety of cultural wealth which contributed to the progress of the students.

Then after a meal with the community of the Salesian school the Rector Major returned to Rome.

Published 16/09/2014