In his homily Fr. Guillermo said that our congregation is founded on the Holy Spirit and so this venture too should be founded on the same spirit who led the Congregation so far. “A centre of Theology is a dangerous in nature, it challenges the society, dictators, and if it does not it is not fulfilling its mission,” he said.
After the Mass there was the opening ceremony in which the new dean Fr. Hailemariam introduced the guests, after which the Rector of the newly inaugurated Theologate welcomed all who were present. He gave examples from the life of Don Bosco and told the students of the importance he gave to pastoral work at the stages of formation. Fr. Gianni Rolandi in his speech gave the history of Utume and its long journey from Upper Hill to Karen and now at Langata.
The guest of honour for the day was the dean of the faculty of Theology of the Catholic University of Eastern Africa, Fr. Clement Mjawa who in his keynote address spoke of the importance of proper Theological formation rooted in the Universal Church. He insisted that Theology should be Informative, Formative, Per-formative and Transformative. By his speech he laid the basis for the scholastic and intellectual tone that should prevail in the new place of study.
In the first year there are 18 students of which 16 salesians and 2 from the congregation of Cottelengo. The salesians are: 7 from Africa West (AFW), 7 from Africa East (AFE) 1 from Zambia and 1 from Ethiopia.
In a time when the formation houses are being closed down elsewhere in the world here in Africa the Lord has blessed us with many vocations.
The function was concluded by the cutting of the ribbon by Fr. Basanes.
Published 18/08/2010
