From Latin America to Africa
I arrived in Recife (Brazil) by plane, at peace and, I must say, happy, after having said goodbye to Salesians and
friends at the airport. I was starting out on a new adventure in Africa.
However, when the aircraft began to take off, lifting off from the local
soil, I thought of everything I was leaving behind: Brazil, a Salesian
Province, lots of initiatives, many young people and friends I had got to
know over 18 years of working in the North East.
With the lights fading behind me, I shed some tears , thinking about it
all. And here I was, alone, setting off for another destiny! This when
when I found comfort from the reason for my choice, because being a
missionary means having courage, and also leaving everything for
Jesus to set out on the new paths he has pointed out!
On 31January 2009 the plane landed on African soil. I immediately
sought the intercession of Mary Help of Christians and Don Bosco, on his Feast Day, so that my Salesian mission
experience would be blessed and protected.
On the first Sunday on Angolan soil, I took part in a beautiful celebration in the community of Mbondo Chapé, on the
outskirts of Luanda... There was no church here but a shed on a piece of ground. I saw more than 800 arrive from
where I could not say; they came from poor and distant homes, along sandy tracks under a hot sun, but all dressed up
for a feast, cheerful and happy.
And while Mass was being celebrated, I felt the vibes and a great sense of participation, especially from the songs and
dances. For me it was the discovery of a Church which was alive and growing amidst difficulties: not a church made
of walls (because the shed had no walls, nor seats to sit on), but
a lively church, made up of a people which sang and hoped in
God their salvation.
Salesian theology students in Nairobi from 7
African Provinces
On that Sunday afternoon, more than 200 people belonging to
different groups of the Salesian Family, especially ADMA (but
Salesians, Salesian Sisters and Cooperators too), came together
in the courtyard of St Paul's Church (a parish at the centre of
Luanda, run by the Salesians), to hear the Rector Major's
Strenna, presented by Fr Gino Favaro, Vice Provincial. Here in
Angola one can sense the enthusiasm of the Salesian Family
working for the same ideals as Don Bosco and truly being a
great movement at the service of the young!
Fr. Luigi De Liberali, Salesian missionary in Angola
From Africa to Oceania
Since 24 August 2007 I have been away from my country and spent a month in Rome to receive the missionary cross
then a year to learn English in Nairobi (Kenya). My sojourn in Nairobi wasn't a tourist stay but a time for maturing in
my missionary calling. It is easy to tell someone to be patient, but to actually be so is sometimes difficult. That was
what I experienced and I found that it was very important to be patient in order to live a good missionary life … now,
after 7 months living with the young in Papua New Guinea, I have found that my greatest joy is to feel so welcome
amongst the young. It is certain that here I truly find myself amidst family. This gives me courage to persevere in my
life as a missionary.
Despite their simplicity and hospitality the young need points of reference and models to shape their life around … my
presence amongst them is nothing else but that of a poor servant of Jesus Christ. This is why I discover that when one
lives amongst the young there is nothing greater than being at their service. If Don Bosco himself was at the service of
the young until he died, why not do the same thing for the glory of God and the salvation of souls?
I have become a missionary because I am fascinated by the love of Christ and would like to witness to it amongst the
young following the way traced out by Don Bosco. It wasn't easy for me to leave Africa and especially the Congo, my
own country. But fascinated by the love of Christ and the young, I could no longer delay in committing myself to the
path of mission: “Go out to the world and proclaim the Good News”!
Br. Martin Ngoyi, young Salesian missionary in Papua New Guinea
Brs. Pedro Sachitula (Angola) and Addis Gebrekidan (Ethiopia) are also young Salesian missionaries in PNG
