(ANS – Addis Abeba) – Between 1 and 11 March in various places in Ethiopia there was the second stage in the “formation programme for the National Delegates for the Salesian Family.” Taking part were the various people  responsible at Provincial and local level for the Salesians-Cooperators, Don Bosco Past Pupils, Volunteers of Don Bosco, Damas Salesianas and the  Association of Mary Help of Christians.

To enable those taking part to make contact with the different communities in a continent relatively young in Salesian terms, the Regional programme provides for a visit to all the circumscriptions in the Region. This second stage in Ethiopia made it possible to give continuity to the guide lines already drawn up by the Delegates in the first formation stage  held in Addis Abeba between 21 and 25 September 2011.

The main aims of this second stage were: to come to know better at first hand the situation of the Salesian Family in African in order to assess together the carrying out of the takes undertaken at the first stage; to encourage the growth in numbers, in quality and an identity of the groups; to study and to analyse the Charter of Charismatic Identity  of the Salesian Family; to examine further the identity and the role of the Delegates of the Salesian Family (Assistant, Counsellor, Animator…); to study the identity of the various groups of the Salesian Family present.

Fr Adriano Bregolin, Vicar of the Rector Major as the one responsible for the formation programme, sent  Fr Giuseppe Casti, World Delegate for the Salesians-Cooperators and Fr José Pastor Ramírez, Confederal Delegate for the Past Pupils to coordinate the work. Support and encouragement were in addition provided by the Conference of the Provinces and Vice Provinces of Africa-Madagascar (CIVAM) and by the Regional Councillor Fr Guillermo Basañes.

The meetings began on 1 March at Addis Abeba, and continued at Gambella, Adwa, Makelle, Zway and Dilla. In the various meetings over 200 people, took part including Salesians, Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, Past Pupils and other representatives of the various groups. In this first phase the programme was developed by Fr Pastor Ramírez on his own.

As well as analysing the “Charter of the Charismatic and Spiritual Identity of the Salesian Family”, topics considered in an interactive and well-participated manner were: “What is the Salesian Family?”; “Vocation and mission of the Salesian-Cooperator”; “Identity and mission of the Don Bosco Past-Pupil” and finally “Identity and role of the Delegate for the Salesian Family”. There was great interest shown by those taking part in formation proposed and they took up the task of the new challenges.

Today, 12 March, Fr Giuseppe Casti, previously engaged with other appointments in Rome, will join Fr Pastor Ramírez to continue the meetings with the Salesian communities in the East Africa Province (AFE).

Published 12/03/2012