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(ANS – Bamako) – On  12 and 13 October, at the “Abbé David” Centre in Bamako, there was a seminar on the presence of the Salesians in the Muslim world. 25 Salesians took part: one from the Salesian Delegation of Sudan, in the East Africa Province (AFE); 2 from the Vice Province of Equatorial Tropical Africa (ATE), 4 from the Vice Province of English-speaking West Africa (AFW), and 18 from French-speaking West Africa (AFO).

The Superior of AFO Fr Faustino García opened proceedings. Then  Fr Jean Bevande, an African Missionary, spoke about the work of the first day on the subjects of the approach to  the evangelisation and education of the young in the context of  a Muslim majority in West Africa.

On the  second day there was reflection on the Salesian way of getting close to people starting from a knowledge of the context. Some priorities and guiding criteria were identified by those taking part, with an emphasis on  the need: to understand the surrounding area, the local language and Islam; to prepare Salesians for this specific mission; to develop in the Salesian communities attitudes suited to the Muslim environment, (showing respect for the surrounding circumstances, a spirit of patience and of being ready for sacrifice, acceptance of failings, not expecting immediate results...); giving attention to personal living witness; and, finally, supporting the formation of the small groups of Christians as though they were “grains of mustard seed”.

The Salesians also agreed that in order to interpret the Preventive System in  the working environment in which each community found itself it was  necessary to know one’s own spirituality, the local culture and the values promoted by Islam.

This seminar in Bamako was intended to be a first response to the process launched by Fr Guillermo Basañes, Regional Councillor for Africa-Madagascar, during the meeting of the Inter-Provincial Conference of Africa-Madagascar (CIVAM) on Youth Ministry held at Dakar in 2008. On that occasion Fr Basañes insisted very much on the fact that the AFW and  AFO Vice Provinces should undertake a reflection on how to achieve a more effective pastoral approach in the context of a Muslim majority.

Those taking part expressed their satisfaction with this first  meeting which had helped in the understanding of the ways of working in Muslim contexts  and showed the clear desire to continue to work also in this specific area of the mission.

Published 15/10/2010