(ANS – Manouba) – The first anniversary of the death of Fr Rybinski was celebrated at a Manouba with a large attendance and with Christian joy. In the place where the Polish missionary spent the final years of his life,  the Salesian community supported by the Christians in the city of Tunis and the young people from the school remembered him in various ways which involved those who had known him personally and those who had been struck by the story of his missionary service.

On Friday 17 February, the day before the anniversary of his death. at 13.30 a Delegation from the Polish Embassy in Tunisia went to the Salesian school for a moment of prayer and to unveil two plaques dedicated to the memory of Fr Rybinski, one at the place of his death and another at the entrance to the Institute. Various teachers and school staff also took part in the ceremony.

Afterwards, to recall the two countries Fr Rybinski loved, in the courtyard the National Anthem of Tunisia was sung and that of Poland listened to. This was  followed by an deep minute’s silence almost tangible in his memory. In the class-rooms all the pupils and staff also took part in it.

The programme of games organised to commemorate the Salesian recalled the joy of which Fr Rybinski was a witness and a bearer among the young; some classes took part in basket-ball and football matches.

At 18.30 all the Christian community in the city attended a Mass  at which the Archbishop Maroun Lahham presided. In his homily he referred to various episodes in the life of Fr Rybinski and shared some personal memories e of the Salesian missionary. It was an occasion of intense prayer in communion with the Salesian Family and in spirit with the family of Fr Rybinski.

As a visible sign of the commemoration, thanks to the help of the Warsaw Province,  the Salesians distributed t-shirts with a picture of Fr Rybinski, to all those who asked for them.

Brother Roberto Lionelli SDB, who after receiving the missionary mandate at the last Missionary Departure Ceremony had taken the place of Fr Rybinsky at Manouba, said: “We wanted to remember him in this way so that the beautiful witness he gave will not be forgotten: his willingness, his friendship, hid kindness, his being Don Bosco in a country where it is not always easy to understand and at times to be accepted. There are so many who have fine memories of him, who speak about what he did, the good he sowed and the friendships he left.”

Published 20/02/2012