(ANS - Yaoundé) – The visit of the Rector Major, Fr Ángel Fernández Artime, to the Vice-Province of Equatorial Tropical Africa continued with a visit to the Salesian houses of Yaounde, Cameroon.

The Rector Major arrived at the Salesian House of St Augustine, the Centre of Theological Studies at Nkol'Afeme, Yaoundé, on the morning of Saturday 14 February. He was welcomed by the community with songs and traditional symbols. The students of Theology then staged a performance on the theme of the 27^th General Chapter, dedicate to the Rector Major. This was followed by a family meeting in which the Salesians in formation presented their questions and the Rector Major highlighted the strengths of the congregation and the areas for improvement.

The morning then continued with Mass, celebrated by the Rector Major, and the community meal, which also provided the occasion for the meeting between Fr Á.F. Artime and Archbishop Piero Poplar, Apostolic Nuncio in Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea.

In the afternoon the Rector Major visited the work of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians at Cité Marie-Dominique in the district of Mimboman. After the traditional welcome with traditional Sawa actions and gestures, he had a fraternal meeting with members of the local Salesian Family, on the triple theme of communion, dynamism and mission. The day ended with Evening Prayer, the Good Night in which the Rector Major invited all to look to the future with hope, and an evening of festivities.

Yesterday, Sunday 15 February, many faithful and members of the various groups of the Salesian Family of Cameroon (including Salesians, FMA, Daughters of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary and Salesian Cooperators) and numerous friends of the Salesian community gathered in the parish of Mary Help of Christians to participate in the Eucharist with the Rector Major. In his homily Fr Á.F. Artime invited all present to ask themselves what was their own leprosy they wanted to be healed from, and then to turn to Jesus with the courage of the leper who asked to be healed.

After Mass the Rector Major visited and blessed the site on which the new church is to be built, and then held a press conference. There he was asked a question about the significance of his trip to a continent in political, economic and social crisis. Was his visit meant to bring solutions or just encouragement? Fr Á.F. Artime said he had no magic solutions, but he had not come just as a tourist. He said that he had come to support his brothers who live in a context of crisis, and also to promote communion and dialogue in communities to combat fundamentalism.

In the afternoon the young people performed various cultural and artistic activities. In the course of the conversation Fr Á.F. Artime advised the young people from the vocation research group to develop a culture of vocations, seeing life as both gift and service. It is from this perspective that all forms of Christian vocation are born.

After his visit to Equatorial Tropical Africa, the Rector Major leaves today for Ethiopia and then on to South Sudan.

Published 16/02/2015