(ANS-Addis Ababa) –Yesterday, November 5th , at the centre of the Vice-Provinces of Africa Ethiopia Eritrea in Addis Abeba, the study days started on Salesian Mission and the first proclamation of Christ in Africa and Madagascar. The meeting, which will end on 9th November,   will promote a contextualized reflection in order to arrive at a deeper understanding of  the challenges and discover new insights and perspectives in view of a renewed missionary procedure.

The first announcement is the topic of the Study Days organized in this Sexennium (2008 – 2014) on all continents of the Department and the Scope for the Missions of the Salesians (sdb) and the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (fma). "Redemptoris Missio" states that the first announcement is "the permanent priority in the mission". It has "a central and irreplaceable role" in the Church's mission because "all forms of missionary activity aspire to this proclamation" (No. 44).

There are 32, sdb and fma, participants at the meeting, responsible for mission promotion in the Provinces or in the pastoral and evangelizing activities.

The program of the days of Addis Abeba, as other meetings, will be marked by three stages: analysis of the situation, the study and the reflection and the formulation of the conclusions.

Yesterday, after the greetings from Fr Genaro Gegantoni and Sr. Roberta Tomasi, superiors of sdb and fma Vice-Provinces, the works were opened with assistance of two Councillors for the Missions: Fr Václav Klement and Sr. Alaíde Deretti. Then, Sr. Ruth del Pilar Mora and Fr Alex Mulongo, presented the status of the situation of the first proclamation in Africa, opening dialogue with participants. In the afternoon, Fr Alfred Maravilla, a member of the Department for the Missions, gave a presentation: "the First Announcement: its significance and relevance to Africa".

This morning, Fr Innocent Maganya Halerimana, from the Society of African Missions, proposed a reflection to the participants: "The first proclamation and dialogue with cultures and traditional religions and urban societies of Africa and Madagascar". The work in groups and comments in the hall have highlighted the implications for the Salesian mission.

Published 06/11/2012