(ANS – Roma) – The animation of the Salesian Family in Africa continues: Between 6 and 30 April, Fr Giuseppe Casti and Fr José Pastor Ramírez, World Delegates for the Salesian Cooperators and the Past Pupils of Don Bosco, respectively, visited three Vice-Provinces and met groups of the Salesian Family in each of them.  This time they were accompanied by Sr Leslye Sandigo, World Delegate for the Salesian Cooperators of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians. This journey was one of a series of initiatives undertaken to support the growth of the Salesian Family in the great continent of Africa. 

With the support of the Conference of the Provinces and Vice-Provinces of Africa-Madagascar, and the Regional Fr Guillermo Basañes, the three World Delegates were  able to take part in several meetings planned in the Vice-Provinces of Mozambique (Maputo, Matola, Namaacha, Inharrime); and Southern Africa (Johannesburg, Lesotho Ennerdale); and that of Zambia, Malawi, Zimbabwe e Namibia (Harare, Lusaka, Chingola, Kabwa, Mazabuka).

These meetings were attended by Salesians, Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, Salesian Cooperators, Volunteers with Don Bosco and Past Pupils of Don Bosco. Worth noting was the presence of young Salesian in initial formation, novices and pre-novices.

In the mind of Fr Adrian Bregolin, Vicar of the Rector Major who is also the one responsible for the Animation of the Salesian Family, the aims of this formation journey were as follows: to get to know the situation of the Salesian Family in Africa; to evaluate  previous initiatives; to encourage the growth in numbers and the sense of belonging of all the groups; to study and analyze the Charismatic and Spiritual Identity Card of the Salesian Family; to clarify the role of the Delegates of the Salesian Family; to study the identity of the different groups of the Salesian Family, especially the Salesian Cooperators and the Past Pupils of Don Bosco.

In the various meetings the following documents were introduced and studied: The Charismatic and Spiritual Identity Card of the Salesian Family; The Identity and Vocation of the Salesian Cooperator: The Identity and Mission of the Past Pupil of Don Bosco; The Identity and Mission of the Delegate of the Salesian Family; and the Statute of the Past Pupils of Don Bosco.

In these three Vice-Provinces which have been in existence for about 40 or 45 years, the Salesian Family is still young and at the development stage. They are becoming aware of the importance of their “autonomy, not only spiritual, formative, financial and governmental, but also apostolic, carrying on their mission with their own structures and in their own special way.” (Identity Card 20). The challenges are to set up and support local and provincial centres of the Salesian Cooperators and of the Past Pupils of Don Bosco, and to help lay people to get to know the Association of Mary Help of Christians. For the Salesians, the challenge is to see the Salesian Family as a charismatic responsibility which they are to carry on with commitment and decision.

This formation trip was preceded by others, the first one from 1 to 31 March 2012 in the Vice-Province of Ethiopia and Eritrea and in the Province of East Africa, and the second from 19 September to 20 October in the Vice-Provinces of Tropical Equatorial Africa, and the Provinces of French Speaking West Africa and English Speaking West Africa. There will be a fourth one from 16 September to 18 October next in the Vice-Provinces and Provinces of Angola, Central Africa and Africa Great Lakes.

Published 02/05/2013