(ANS – Nairobi) – Last Saturday, 25 February the Team Visit to the Africa-Madagascar Region came to an end. The members of the General Council meeting with the Councils of the Provinces and Vice Provinces  of the Region examined together the application of the 26th General Chapter and provided some guidelines for the future.

After their joyful welcome from the young Kenyans on Monday 20, those taking part began their work on Tuesday morning 21. Fr Guillermo Basañes, the Regional Councillor for Africa-Madagascar gave the practical working arrangements, while the Rector Major, Fr Pascual Chávez spoke about the significance and the purpose of the Team Visit. This was followed by a video on the situation in the Region and Fr Jean Claude Ngoy, Superior of the Central Africa Province gave an account of the implementation of the  directives of the General Chapter in the Region. In the evening Rector Major spoke about the experience of the Seminar on Consecrated Life held in Rome in February 2011.

On the second day, Ash Wednesday, Fr Basañes gave a presentation of some of the keys to reading the post-synodal Apostolic Exhortation “Africae Munus”; then in groups there was a process of reflection on the Papal document. In the afternoon Fr Cereda gave a short overall view of the situation regarding formation in the Congregation, drawing attention to some particular issues in the Region.

On Thursday morning 23 February Archbishop Peter J. Kairo of Nyeri spoke to the assembly. He shared his experience as a Synod Father and answered some questions from the Salesians, emphasising that the Salesian missionary efforts in Africa and Madagascar are responding in a practical way to the requests of the Synod. The afternoon, a short period of relaxation, was spent in visiting the Nairobi Safari Park and a meeting of the General Councillors with youngsters from the Street Boys’ centre “Don Bosco Boys Town”.

On Friday 24, Fr Filiberto Rodríguez, Superior of the Angola Vice Province, gave a summary of the state of religious discipline in the Region, which was followed by group work. After welcoming the Nuncio Apostolic in Kenya Archbishop Alain Paul Lebeaupin, in the afternoon, the assembly listened to Fr Fabio Attard, Councillor for Youth Ministry who spoke about the new proposals in the Congregation regarding re-thinking Youth Ministry and the inculturation of the charism. In the evening  after the saying of the rosary the whole Africa-Madagascar Region was consecrated to Mary.

On Saturday the final working day, after Mass  Fr Václav Klement, Councillor for the Missions gave a talk on the missionary experience in Africa and the considerable  progress made in this area. In the group work there was reflection and proposals on new missionary projects. In the afternoon the  Rector Major gave the closing address, thanking all those taking part for their contributions and encouraging them to ensure that the Region continued to develop, to promote a return to the origins of the Salesian charism and to pursue the openings proposed by “Africae Munus”. In the evening the Vice Provincial of East Africa Fr Jose Elegbede expressed thanks to the members of the General Council and to all those who had taken part.

Published 27/02/2012