AFE Salesian Family Bulletin 2nd Quarter April 2012

Don Bosco Eastern Africa, APRIL 2012 1




2ND QUARTER2


Chief Editor:
Fr. Sebastian Koladiyil


Editorial Team:
Fr. LUIS Neville - Kenya


Fr. FELICE Molino - Kenya
Fr. VINCENT Mokaya - Tanzania


Fr. ShyjaN George - Sudan
Sr. VIRGINIa Bickford - FMa


Sr. jaCqUELINE Wanjira - FMa


Administration Office
DByES


Tel: 020 3577991
020 2025591


Publisher
Bosco Eastern africa Multimedia


Services [B.E.a.M.S.]
P.O. Box 2 - 00502, Karen -


Kenya.
E-mail: afebulletin@donboscoeastafrica.


org
www.dbafe.org


Photos Courtesy
B.E.a.M.S.


Printed by:
DON BOSCO PRINTING PRESS


P.O. Box 158 - 01020,
Makuyu, Kenya


E-mail: boscoprint@donbosco.or.ke
http://www.boscoprint.too.it


2 Editorial
3 jesus taught them as one having


authority
6 Don Bosco Didia Shines
8 jesus’ resurrection
10 Don Bosco Novitiate, Morogoro
11 Loneliness a step closer to God
12 SyM - Utume charity visit at Grace


Children’s home
15 africae Munus - Overviews
16 Team Visit
19 The holy Martyrs aloysius Versiglia


and Callistus Caravario
21 Former child girl soldiers
25 Church affirms its commitment to


life


27 Star who became nun to attend
Oscars


28 One woman’s inspiring journey to
Catholicism


We welcome letters to the Editor. Send your comments
and suggestions.


CONTENTSDon BoscoEast Africa


Salesian Bulletin was founded by St.John Bosco in 1877. ‘Don Bosco
Eastern Africa’ is the Salesian Bulletin published by Salesians of Don


Bosco, Eastern Africa Province Nairobi, Kenya.


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Salesians of Don Bosco East Africa is a Registered Trustee


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Don Bosco Eastern Africa, APRIL 2012 3


We welcome letters to the Editor. Send your comments
and suggestions.


The Salesian province of Eastern africa was only digesting the pilgrimage of the Relic of Don Bosco early
in the month of February and trying to understand the significance of this event for the salesian presence
in Eastern africa when another historic event, The Team Visit took place here in Nairobi. This too required
long and intensive period of preparation-material and spiritual. With the presence of the Rector Major and
his council, all the provincial and their council from all over africa, it was also an occasion to show case our
province to the africa Region and to the Salesian world as a whole. With all the preparations that went before
and the performance during the event we did show to the rest the true face of aFE. In this bulletin you will read
about the Team visit and two homilies given by the Rector Major during the Eucharistic celebration during the
event.


another important event that took place in the province was the symposium on africae Munus, the new
apostolic Exhortation promulgated by the Pope on 19th November 2011 at Benin charting the direction for the
Church in africa in coming years. This was organized by the Salesian Theologate, Don Bosco Utume. The expert
reflection and the presentation of this document put the salesians at the forefront in studying and trying to
put in to practice this very important document for the Church in africa. an overview of this document is given
in this bulletin and in the coming issues various presentations made during the Symposium will be presented.
With the approval of the provincial a DVD is being prepared which will be distributed to the houses for helping
each community to understand and put into practice this document which gives us a way forward as to how
the Church in africa can be at the service of reconciliation, justice and peace.


as per the suggestion from various quarters, in addition to the news from the province you will find that
news from the various parts of the congregation and from the other parts of the Church is given a good bit of
space in this bulletin. This we hope to continue.


In 2015 we shall celebrate the bicentenary of the birth of Don Bosco. Without doubt we can say that Don Bosco
made and extraordinary impact on the world and it is noticeable also in East africa. his tireless commitment
to improving the situation of the disadvantaged of his day is carried forward by the salesians today. We are
grateful to the early missionaries who showed the charism of Don Bosco. The Rector Major invites us to a three
year preparation for this very important event in the history of salesian calendar. he invites us to begin our
preparations by trying to understand Don Bosco.


This first year offers us the opportunity to draw closer to him in order to know him from close up and always
better. If we do not know Don Bosco and we do not study him, we cannot understand his spiritual journey and
his pastoral decisions; we cannot love him, imitate him, and invoke him; in particular, it will be difficult for us
to inculturate his charism these days in the various contexts and in the different situations in which we find
ourselves. Only by strengthening our charismatic identity will we be able to offer to the Church and to society
a meaningful and fruitful youth service. Our identity is directly linked to the image of Don Bosco; in him the
identity becomes credible and visible. For this reason the first step that we are invited to take in the three years
of preparation is precisely coming to know the history of Don Bosco. (Commentary on the Strenna for 2012)


Let us take this invitation to heart to study Don Bosco and to put them into practice especially by being in
the midst of the young wherever we are called to be.


Sebastian Koladiyil


From the


EDITOR




2ND QUARTER4


INTRODUCTION
The catch words today are


networking; dialogue; synergy; and
pulling resources together. I think
the understanding and rightly so is
that UMOja NI NGUVU, UTENGaNO
NI UDhaIFU. This seems to be the
future. henry Nouwen; in a small
Book called “In the Name of jesus,
Reflections on Christian Leadership,”
observes that; “God is a God of the
present and reveals to those who
are willing to listen carefully to
the moment in which they live the
steps they are to take toward the
future.” The present and listening
carefully to that present is key step
towards the future. In this regard,
the interpretation of the reality we
find ourselves in is the key for the
future.


I would like to daze myself with
the situation in the Salesian East
africa. and my point of departure
is interestingly from the Gospels.
at the closing of the Sermon on
the Mount; Matthew says: 7: 28
– 29 we read; “Now when Jesus
had finished saying these things,


the crowds were astounded at
his teaching, for he taught them
as one having authority, and
not as their scribes.” (NRSV). The
Three Chapters precluding these
words are full of fundamental
teachings that were to form the
New Israel. The Pharisees, and the
Scribes, were very good at the
understanding of the Law and the
prima facie issues of the law. With
my rudimentary understanding of
jesus and his discourse with the
Pharisees, the challenge was mainly
on the interpretation of the entire
gamut of the Law and of course
the Covenant demands. I would
like to focus on the following issues
or non-issues depending on one’s
frame of reference:
Ø The Salesians Knowledge of


Don Bosco in East africa and
the Transmission of the Salesian
Charism. (will be reflected upon
in this issue)


ØCompetency/Relevance as
Modus operandi and Irrelevance
mode or vulnerability mode of
Ministry open to all things and


situations…(The dynamics of
the Salesian Charism founded
on the Love of jesus).


ØThe Social Transformation aspect
of the Salesian Charism (Social
and Political commitment in
relation to the Recruitment
process of the candidates
to Salesian life). This is the
relationship of youth Ministry
in general and the decisive fruit
of youth Ministry, i.e. Vocation
Commitment.


The Transmission of the
Salesian Charism/Knowledge
of Don Bosco in Eastern
Africa.


Learning today encompasses the
transmission of skills; knowledge;
values and ultimately bring about
attitudes or form attitudes. In this
case, whatever is received today in
learning is not merely according
to the mode of the receiver, but
also according to the mode of the
giver. The giver in this case, is the
one handling the transmission,
and the transmission of knowledge
presupposes the categories of
which the giver received the
knowledge, values and skills that
led the formation of the attitudes.


The easiest thing in the realm


JESUS TAUGHT THEM AS ONE
HAVING AUTHORITY:


THE TRANSMISSION OF SALESIAN CHARISM IN EAST AFRICA


Our awareness of the Salesian charism or
Don Bosco for that matter has to been in


space and time, and actually place.


From the Province




Don Bosco Eastern Africa, APRIL 2012 5


of learning was to impact the
knowledge to the students; they
were there to receive the content
and the teacher/instructor was
the master or the final authority in
the classroom. The contemporary
learning theories give little
attention and actually emphasis
on this mode of learning. Coming
closer home; how was/is the
Salesian Charism being transmitted
in the Salesian East africa? Lately,
I have been grappling with this
question, including; what aspect
of Don Bosco are we familiar with?
and what aspects are we handing
over to the young and even to
ourselves?


In the Month of December,
towards the end, I happen to visit
those sites of Ingo and in one
Parish; The Parish Priest asked me,
“alex, I do not understand how
you the Don Boscos can decide
to carry the hand of your founder
around!!! “In any case I explained
to him, that it was not merely the
hand, but the Masalio of the right
hand that had been preserved
in a special casing. On our part,
with the communications, and
the media facilities we had was;
“Don Bosco himself is visiting us!!!”
This is rather very romantic way of
expressing it and it is exactly where
I want to focus the transmission of
the Charism of Don Bosco and our
Knowledge of Don Bosco.


The presentation of the Charism
of Don Bosco; or rather that what
was handed over to me; was
cased in such Romantic terms
that some sounded like fairy tales.
I may be mistaken; but that is
what has remained and continue
to be offered to our youngsters.
however, few years ago I had the
priviledge of teaching Salesiana in
the Novitiate; and I came to realize
through my own reflection that,
the stories of Don Bosco and about
Don Bosco that I was given, need
to be decoded and presented in a
systematic way putting in mind the
human situation and the vocation
of man. One example, I will single
out is the meeting of Don Bosco
with Mike Magone at the Railway
Station. To many of us and even me
before serious reflection it is simply
the issue of Don Bosco meeting
a ruffian and appealing to him to
come to the oratory!!! however,


we have to go a step further and
present a serious treatise on Love,
i.e. the power and experience of
Love. In this case, in the little story of
Don Bosco and Mike Magone…we
meet the dynamics of love. It is the
dynamics of Love that as a Salesian
I will need to form my value system
and of course attitudes towards the
young.


One dynamic is that Love beyond
telling is beyond Calculations…
Don Bosco was not bothered with
being left by the Train.


The Presence to the other, i.e.
the meeting that results into
an encounter. It becomes a life
changing experience.


I think and am rather convinced
that, the true knowledge of Don
Bosco had to encompass his spirit,
and as we have been reminded
now and then, not repeating Don
Bosco. This is clear, but the mode
of transmitting the Charism of Don
Bosco in East africa, especially in
Salesiana, is wanting to repeat Don
Bosco or to play Don Bosco. This is
as Fr. Bruno in Moshi will say, is the
first stage, i.e. Romanticism, but
beyond Romanticism we have to get
serious if we have to move the next
level, which is very Critical. The next
level is where the key or the spirit
is brought and emulated or handed
on using the transcendental aspects
present in every human spirit.


The Pharisees and the Scribes
remained on the Romantic level
of the Covenant and the laws,
hence it became burdensome on
themselves and more so others. The


Salesians in East africa, in modus
Operandi, have operated from the
Romantic level for far too long and
at the end we are not able to face up
to the challenges of the times more
so, handing over the Charism to the
Local Church. The situation is even
made worse, when even those who
brought the Charism, what they
had was the mere Romantic Don
Bosco, who grapples in the face of
challenges. Whatever is received is
according to the mode of the giver,
i.e. the categories he/she gives
from and the mode of the receiver.
The challenge for the Receivers,
in case of the first Salesians, there
is lack of depth concerning the
Salesian Charism!!! I am ready to be
challenged on this!!!


The results are there for all to
see, those who care to see. The
danger remains the perpetuation
of the romantic understanding and
presentation of the Salesian Charism.
This explains why it becomes
news, actually big news when we
are told that Don Bosco belongs
to the Church!! The romantic
understanding or conception may
be very possessive and protective!!
The nature of the Charism is lack
of Limitation as any gift of the
Spirit. according to the thinking of
Fr. Bruno, the Vice Rector of Moshi;
the Philosophate, which is quite
telling that, in the Congregation,
Rome, the centre, can be more
open than the peripheral Salesians.
The less the understanding the
more romantic we become. I think,
the romantic understanding of




2ND QUARTER6


Don Bosco is more appealing given
the fact that it is not so involving;
it is the easy way out, no much
reflection, given that reflection will
challenge our mind, nice mindset
with its status quo.


It suffices to look at the three
levels of Love i.e. EROS; PhILIa and
aGaPE. In East africa to a large
extend we have been very erotic
in our presentation of Don Bosco.
however, this understanding is
slowly being questioned and this
reflection is the contribution to
that. Salesian East africa, it is time
to forge ahead, since our erotic Don
Bosco is not enough; its time to
grow up!!!


To sum up our Knowledge and
presentation of Don Bosco, I would
like to appeal to Paulo Freire,
the Brazilian educationist. In his
education system, Freire looks at the
possibilities of the human person in
this world. This is given the strong
believe that education aims at
conscientization which is linked to
self-awareness. Our awareness of
the Salesian charism or Don Bosco
for that matter has to been in space
and time, and actually place. For us
it is here in the reality of East african
situation. Conscientization is seen
as a process “by which people
achieve a deepened awareness,
both of the socio-cultural reality
that shapes their lives and of their
capacity to transform that reality.”
This for us has to be in relation to the
Salesian charism, given that the end-
product of this charism is the social
transformation that presupposes
social and Critical consciousness.


This entails the following process,
or rather to claim authority in
Salesian charism we need to
evaluate ourselves under the
following levels of consciousness:


Magic Consciousness: here is
when one apprehends the facts
and the problems, but he cannot
articulate them, thus he appeals to
superior powers or magical powers.
In this case there is experiential and
intellectual knowledge, and at the
end the response is the resignation
to the situation, fatalism, I cannot
do much!!!


Naïve Consciousness: at
this level, one understands the
problems and facts and assumes
that he/she can control them. It
is like the manipulation of the
reality through the intellectual and
rational categories. In this stage,
the understanding of the situation
is very academic, abstract and may
be isolated from the reality. The
practical part of it, is the unrealistic
or idealistic response…which is
naïve.


Critical consciousness: One
analyses the situation, the facts
and problems realistically, in the
horizon of the fundamental value
system, in our case, the Salesian
Charism. This leads to rational and
critical understanding giving birth
to concrete response. This involves
what Freire calls both reflection
and action that gives birth to
praxis. and it is here that, the social
transformation will develop. This
is the level where studying, Don
Bosco become realistic and hence
challenging to the future.


The is a requirement for all who are
working in the Salesian East africa,
and actually it is more demanding to
those who are directly responsible
for transmitting the Charism to
the young folks; the Salesians. This
calls for serious interiorization;
understood here as; “Grasping the
activity of human understanding is
the main characteristic of interiority;
not as it happens in others but as it
happens in oneself.” The Charism
has to be lived, but before this it
has to known and assimilated in the
given sitz im leben.


The above process requires
investment in people, not structures,
and in investing in people the
aim is to know; live and hand over
the charism. This is where the
attitude formation and automatic
inculturation of the charism will take
root. This is a task!! Our authority
will be felt in the way the Charism
is interpreted through the handing
over through the interiorization
process. In the power of the spirit
jesus made a deep impression on
them, because unlike the Scribes
and the Pharisees, he taught them
with authority. The authority lies in
the interpretation of our Charism
and living it in this part of the world,
today not yesterday.


(The other two components will
be presented in the subsequent
issues).


Mulongo Alexius
amulongo2001@yahoo.co.uk




Conscientization
is seen as a


process “by which
people achieve


a deepened
awareness, both of
the socio-cultural
reality that shapes
their lives and of
their capacity to
transform that


reality.”




Don Bosco Eastern Africa, APRIL 2012 7


Perhaps the most moving event
that took place in Didia in the recent
past was the visit of Don Bosco to
our community and to the diocese
on 15th December 2011. It was
wonderful to see how the diocesan
clergy and the people of Shinyanga
welcomed the Relic of Don Bosco!
Though the school had closed
for the holidays several students
came from their homes to see Don
Bosco and to pray before the relic.
The welcome given to him was so
spontaneous and so touching for
a Salesian who witnessed it. Our
sincere thanks to the organizers for
taking all the trouble to bring Don
Bosco to Shinyanga!


The feast of Don Bosco, the
graduation of the Form VI and the
golden jubilee of the religious
profession of Sr. Mary Lalita SND
were celebrated on 28th january
2012. 48 Form VI students
graduated on that day. The
celebration was presided over by
Rev. Fr. Sospeter Shole, the Vicar
General of the diocese as our
bishop is not keeping well these
days. Please pray for him as he is
undergoing chemotherapy.


In the month of February we
received the good news that all the
students who sat for the Form IV
in 2011 passed. True, we expected
much better results than what we
received but considering the results
of all other schools this year they
were good. Our school secured


104th position in the country out
of over 3500 schools. Congrats to
Fr. Melchades, the headmaster, the
staff and the students.


We were also blessed with the
visit of Mr. and Mrs. Lion our great
benefactors and friends from
England representing Sean D.
Children’s Fund. They promised to
help us in many other areas. We are
very grateful to their concern and
support.


The Rectors of Tanzania made
history by deciding to have their
meeting of February 2012 at Didia.
It was a nice opportunity for our
students to see so many Salesians
at one time. We are very grateful
to the Rectors for the sacrifice they
made to be at Didia.


The boys of the hostels decided
to dig another check dam as their
Lenten penance this year. Many of


them volunteered and managed to
dig a dam this year. They sacrificed
their games time to do this
sacrificing job. May God bless their
generosity.


On 9th March 2012 the golden
jubilee of the religious profession
of Sr. anne who was nicknamed
Ms. Bugisi was celebrated in grand
scale. as a community we are very
grateful to Sr. anne for she was
always there to support us and to
advise us as an elder. Congrats Sr.
anne. Sr. anne spent 18 years at
Bugisi!


Fr. Babu Augustine


DON BOSCO DIDIA SHINES


If YOU are not for YOU who wIll be? If YOU are only for YOU what are yoU ?
Man, as we all know is a social being. This is to say


that a society is a blend of individuals and the latter are
inseparable members of the society. The relationship
between the society and its members is highly inter-
reliant.


The quality of one member shapes that of the group
to which they belong. I think the gospel assurance
that the tree is known by its fruits also suggests that
the fruits are known by their tree(s). The corrupt society
is an evidence of corrupt individuals and in turn the
decent society signifies the decency that has its genesis
deep within individuals.


This therefore calls for personal development in
the holistic sense. They say that charity begins at
home. The genuine intrapersonal charity is reflected


in the interpersonal charity and the latter is an objet
of the former. I hope we all know that a sanatorium
is nothing but a community of sick persons. how
chaotic it becomes when the society of the well feeling
people becomes a sanatorium. It speaks louder that
because charity begins at home then one must be
highly “charitable” to themselves so that they may be
charitable to those around them. This does not mean
being selfish. The biblical imperative exigency “love
your neighbor as you love yourself “ has in its depth
an implicit sister obligation to love ourselves well so
that we may love others well lest we love others badly
as we love ourselves badly. May be the Lord foresaw
the possibility of intrapersonal apathy and said in the
gospel of john “love one another as I have loved you.”




2ND QUARTER8


LEARNED ARE NOT ALL SAINTS AND
IGNORANT ARE NOT ALL DEVILS


In our lives we need solitude to be
able to reflect what is happening
in us and in our environment. I
ask myself ‘why do people see
and approve the better things in
life and yet they follow the worse
things’? Why only a few of us see
and disapprove the bad things and
follow the better things of life. as I
was going through the holy bible
I came across a verse in Rom 7:19
where St Paul expresses his inmost
mood when he cried out ‘I do not
do the good I want, but the evil I
do not want is what I do’. This was
a challenge from the time of adam
and Eve. Today people are trying to
get the answer but before you get
your answer I would invite you to
take your heart in your hand as a
kind of crucible and distil out of it,
its most nature. What do you find it
to be? are you not really a bundle of
contradictions? Is there a disparity
between what you ought to do, and
what you actually do? Do you not
sometimes feel like a radio tuned
into two separate stations, heaven
and hell, getting neither but only
static and confused? you feel this
schism in yourself because you
usually do what you like not what is
best for you. you have allowed your


soul to be the battle field of a great
civil war. There is fight against your
members and law of your mind,
indeed you are a legion! People
have discovered this and want to
explain this basic contradiction
within us contradicting us all the
more.


Many explanations are given for
this contradiction within a person,
such as: intellectual, cultural, social,
economic etc. They attribute the
evil in you due to lack of education.
They say that many people are
perverse because they are ignorant.
Once you are educated, you will
be good. But is it true? No! and I
say again no! you do not have this
inner contradiction because you
lack knowledge , for the educated
are all not saints and the ignorant
are not all devil. Being Enlightened
does not necessarily make you
better, never before was there so
little coming to the knowledge of
truth. Much of modern education
is merely a rationalization of evil.
It makes cleaver devils instead of
stupid evil. Bad use of the modern
gadget is all a result of clever
devils. It is this broad mindedness
which has reduced the truth to
opinion and dissolving entities into


environment. It’s not easy to believe
this but, think why intellectuals of
today think like this?


Through experiencing the risen
Christ, the truth, the way and life
you come to understand that
unless our souls are saved nothing
is saved. Now, the education will
help us to draw out what God has
bestowed in every creature, the
holiness. Let us never lose sight of
our need to grow in holiness. May
all our learning lead us to a deeper
understanding of Christ and of his
Gospel. May the risen Christ, the
light of the world enlighten your
mind to understand this truth.



NOV. BEDAN NJUE IRERI


(cf. jn 13:35) it is like he was saying “love one another
as I have loved you and not as you love yourselves,
because some of you will love others poorly since they
love themselves poorly.”


In jn 12: 24, it is given as an imperative exigency
to give ourselves in communion with the others for
the betterment of many including ourselves “Verily,
verily, I say unto you, except a corn of wheat fall into
the ground and die, it abides alone: but if it dies, it
brings forth much fruit.” but to this we ask how about
the decayed seed?, from sure even if it falls to the
ground it will bear nothing and even itself risks its own
depletion. The same bible asks but when salt becomes
insipid, with what can it be seasoned?


adam smith, the father of economics remarked “in
his pursuit of personal progress man contributes to a
communal progress better than when he really intends
to do so” (wealth of the nation). all these speak that


the better you are,
the better we are and
personal development
is the genesis of
societal Excellency.



Nov. Edward


Kalinga Gwelino




Don Bosco Eastern Africa, APRIL 2012 9


Foundation of the Christian
Faith


We all know that our Christian
faith is totally based on the fact of
jesus’ resurrection. just as St. Paul
put it: “if Christ has not been raised,
then our preaching is in vain and
your faith is in vain” (1 Cor 15:14).
Consequently, to be or not to be
of the Christian faith depends
on the truth of jesus’ death and
resurrection. at the same time, the
belief in the resurrection of jesus
is what distinguishes Christianity
from all the other religions, both
in the first and twenty-first century
after Christ.


according to the early Christian
tradition handed over to us in the
books of the New Testament, the
event of the resurrection constituted
a turning point in the life of all those
who experienced it. We may recall
in this context the two disciples
on the way to Emmaus whose
disappointment and hopelessness
were transformed into joyful zeal to
witness to jesus (Luke 24), or St. Paul
who from a ferocious persecutor
of the Christian “sect” became an
untiring apostle of the crucified
and risen Christ, spreading his new
found faith throughout the entire
world (acts 9–28).


It is also St. Paul who in his First
Letter to the Corinthians, chapter
15, gives us the oldest tradition
concerning the resurrection of
Christ. his testimony is particularly
precious not only because his letter
is older than all the four Gospels,
but also because it contains an even
older tradition. Thus, by reading this
text, we do not only learn what St.
Paul thought about the resurrection
of Christ, but also what the earliest
Christian communities thought and
believed about it.


Reality confirmed by human
senses


First of all, Paul clearly states
that the gospel/the good news he
preached to the Corinthians was in
accordance with the earlier tradition
which had been handed on with
care and that through this gospel
his fellow Christians are saved.


Then, he carefully reiterates the
content of that gospel: that “Christ
died for our sins in accordance with
the scriptures, that he was buried,
that he was raised on the third day in
accordance with the scriptures, and
that he appeared to Cephas, then
to the twelve. Then he appeared to
more than five hundred brethren at
one time, most of whom are still alive,
though some have fallen asleep. Then
he appeared to James, then to all the
apostles.” (1 Cor 15:3-7). The core of
this announcement is the death and
resurrection of jesus. jesus died and
was buried — the burial confirms
the reality of death. jesus was not
in a temporary coma, but he was
really dead and therefore he was
buried. But, then, he was raised on
the third day and then he appeared
a number of times to different
people. Thus his resurrection was
not an invention of disappointed
and frustrated disciples but a reality
that they experienced through their
senses. St. john will later summarize
it in these words: That which was
from the beginning, which we have
heard, which we have seen with
our eyes, which we have looked
upon and touched with our hands,
concerning the word of life — the life
was made manifest, and we saw it,
and testify to it, and proclaim to you
the eternal life which was with the
Father and was made manifest to
us — that which we have seen and
heard we proclaim also to you, so
that you may have fellowship with us;
and our fellowship is with the Father
and with his Son Jesus Christ (1 John
1:1-3 emphasis mine).


Reality understood in the
light of the Scriptures


jesus’ death was not just an
accident but a purposeful and
expiatory death — he died for our
sins. Both his death and resurrection
happened in accordance with
the scriptures. It means that we
cannot understand them if we do
not see them against the horizon
of the word of God. according
to the Old Testament scriptures,
death was something impure and
the contact with a corpse made


a person unclean (cf. Num 19:11-13;
9:6-7; 31:19; Bar 3:11; Ezek 43:7; hag
2:13). The prohibition of touching
corpses was even greater for the
priests (cf. Lev 21:1-2; Ezek 44:25)
and absolute for the high priest
(Lev 21:11), who could not touch
any corpse, for he had to enter the
holy of holies, the most sacred
place in the Temple. Now, jesus not
only died (which made him impure)
but he died on a cross (that made
him accursed). according to Deut
21:23: “... his body shall not remain
all night upon the tree, but you shall
bury him the same day, for a hanged
man is accursed by God; you shall not
defile your land which the LORD your
God gives you for an inheritance.”
This passage is quoted by Paul in his
Letter to the Galatians 3:13: Christ
redeemed us from the curse of the
law, having become a curse for us —
for it is written, ‘Cursed be every one
who hangs on a tree’. In other words,
jesus died the most shameful kind
of death and he did it for our sins,
in our place, for according to the
scripture the wages of sin is death
(Romans 6:23). If jesus had not
risen, it would have meant that our
sins had overcome him. Without
resurrection, his cross would have
symbolized the tragic end of a man
who went about doing good (acts
10:38). It would not have changed
anything in human history. Despite
Good Friday, we would still be living
in sin and would be dying without
hope — If Christ has not been raised,
your faith is futile and you are still in
your sins. 18 Then those also who have
fallen asleep in Christ have perished
(1 Cor 15:17-18).


A Good News for us
The fact that jesus actually rose


from death means that our sins have
been overcome. The cross becomes
the sign of salvation demonstrating
that God is present even in death
and in the curse (of the cross);
that human beings cannot fall so
low as to be separated from God.
jesus’ death on the cross and his
subsequent resurrection shows
that we are loved by God even in
our sins, that nothing can separate


Jesus’ Resurrection — Good News
and a Program of Life




2ND QUARTER10


us from his love and the love of
Christ: If God is for us, who is against
us? He who did not spare his own Son
but gave him up for us all, will he not
also give us all things with him? Who
shall bring any charge against God’s
elect? It is God who justifies; who is to
condemn? Is it Christ Jesus, who died,
yes, who was raised from the dead,
who is at the right hand of God, who
indeed intercedes for us? Who shall
separate us from the love of Christ?
(Rom 8:31-35)


The fantastic work of jesus was
to show that God is present even
in death. It means that we can
overcome our natural selfishness
and live for others; we can allow
ourselves“ to die” for others,
because precisely where we give
our life we find it. Consequently,
jesus’ teaching — whoever would
save his life will lose it; and whoever
loses his life for my sake and the
gospel’s will save it (Mark 8:35) —
starts making sense, because it has
been demonstrated right in jesus’
own death and resurrection.


In communion with the
Risen Christ


In baptism, we start our journey of
faith in jesus; our communion with
his death and resurrection: We were
buried therefore with him by baptism
into death, so that as Christ was raised
from the dead by the glory of the
Father, we too might walk in newness
of life (Rom 6:4). In this communion
with jesus, we are enabled to leave
behind all the tendencies of our
sinful nature and live in the newness
of life, that is, live according to the
holy Spirit, Christ’s first gift after the
resurrection: We know that our old
self was crucified with him so that the
sinful body might be destroyed, and
we might no longer be enslaved to sin
[…] But if we have died with Christ,
we believe that we shall also live with
him (Rom 6:6.8). Thus, our baptism
is not something that happened in
the past, but something that needs
to be happening day by day in our
life — dying to sin and living the
life of love that has been poured
into our hearts by the holy Spirit:
God’s love has been poured into our
hearts through the Holy Spirit which
has been given to us (Rom 5:5). It is
this love of God that calls for the
response of our own love towards
God and towards our neighbour. If
we truly love God and our neighbour


we cannot sin, for that would be a
negation of this love.


Together with our bodies, we
are meant for Eternity!


By living the life of love we are
truly united with jesus and since
jesus cannot die any more, we also
cannot really die. Our natural death
will be only a passage to another
form of life. having the love of God
in us and collaborating with it, we
have already the life of God, that
is, eternal life within us. That is why
we cannot die. Christ resurrection is
the anticipation and the guarantee
of our own resurrection: Christ has
been raised from the dead, the first
fruits of those who have fallen asleep
(1 Cor 15:20). In fact, Christians do
not die, they fall asleep in order
to wake up to a new life. as jesus
rose from the dead in his own body
that could be touched and still bore
the signs of his passion, so also
those who belong to him will rise
with their bodies. as jesus’ body,
though the same, underwent a
transformation and was not subject
to all the physical laws (john 20:26-
27: The doors were shut, but Jesus
came and stood among them, and
said, “Peace be with you.” Then he
said to Thomas, “Put your finger here,
and see my hands; and put out your
hand, and place it in my side; do not
be faithless, but believing.” ) so also
our bodies will be transformed,
will become imperishable, spiritual


bodies, that is, our physical bodies
but totally permeated with the holy
Spirit: So is it with the resurrection of
the dead. What is sown is perishable,
what is raised is imperishable. It is
sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory.
It is sown in weakness, it is raised in
power. It is sown a physical body, it
is raised a spiritual body. If there is a
physical body, there is also a spiritual
body (1 Cor 15:42-44).


We can say that in jesus’
resurrection, God reveals his
faithfulness to his own creation.
Since the human body “came out
of the hands of God” (cf. Genesis
2), God will not allow it to perish,
but will raise it up so that victory
over death may be complete. It was
this understanding, that allowed
St. Paul to close his argument
on the resurrection with a joyful
proclamation and exhortation: “O
death, where is thy victory? O death,
where is thy sting?” The sting of
death is sin, and the power of sin is
the law. But thanks be to God, who
gives us the victory through our Lord
Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved
brethren, be steadfast, immovable,
always abounding in the work of the
Lord, knowing that in the Lord your
labor is not in vain. (1 Cor 15:55-
58). how can we respond to such
a proclamation? Only with our
believing aMEN.


Dr. Christopher Owczarek, sdb




Don Bosco Eastern Africa, APRIL 2012 11


Parents’ Day at the
Novitiate: as our twelve Novices
have finished more than half of their
Novitiate year I would like to share
with you some events of the past
three months. almost immediately
after the visit of the Relic of Don
Bosco which brought many young
people closer to our community,
on 17/12/2011 we had the parents’
Day of the Novices here at Novitiate.
Parents of all the 6 Novices from
Tanzania came to the Novitiate
to share in the lives of their sons
and to encourage and accompany
their sons in their Spiritual journey.
We briefed the parents about the
Salesian congregation and the
SDBs in the world and in particular
about the presence of SDBs in aFE.
It was followed by a presentation
about Religious life and particularly
about the Vows. after Lunch each
Novice met the director of Novices
with his parents. In the evening
through power point presentation
we presented to the parents the
life of Mamma Margaret and her
role in the formation of john Bosco
and the congregation. The parents
also had a chance to go through
briefly the various activities in the
Novitiate and the major events that
took place in the past four months
and particularly the unforgettable
visit of the Relic of Don Bosco to
our community and to the diocese


of Morogoro. It was encouraging to
hear from the parents about their
own expectations from the Novices.
The parents made great sacrifice to
come from Lindi, Mwanza, Moshi,
Dar, and Mahenge. The experience
was so enriching for the entire
community and for the parents. The
parents of the Novices from Kenya,
Ethiopia and Sri Lanka could not be
present for the occasion.


Feast of Don Bosco: On january
20th the Don Bosco Cup Football
Tournament started involving 6
teams including two teams (Bosco
and Savio) from the house oratory.
The tournaments were played on
week ends and the finals were played
on january 28th in the presence
of Fr. Provincial who was in the
community making his canonical
visitation of the community. These
days of tournaments were also
opportunity for us to make Don
Bosco and the Salesians known
and loved by the people around us
especially through the Don Bosco
quiz. The feast of Don Bosco was
celebrated with the young people
and the priests and religious from
our neighbourhood on 29th with
the Vicar General of the Diocese
presiding over the Eucharist
celebration.


Mid-year retreat: after six months
of their Novitiate the Novices had
their mid-year exams and then


from February 19th to 22nd they had
their mid-year retreat at Don Bosco
Oyster Bay. The retreat was preached
by Fr. Michael sdb from Don Bosco
Moshi. after the retreat the Novices
had the privilege to meet with the
new apostolic Nuncio to Tanzania,
archbishop Francisco Montecillo
Padilla.


Salesian past Pupils’ Unit at
Morogoro:


On 13th March with 8 Past
Pupils from Don Bosco Mafinga
(Bonventure Mtalimbo, Camillius
Mgoa, jackson Mkirikiti, alexander
Mapunda, Theogomins Igonja,
Godfrey Mkuwa, Florian Mwalongo
and Frederick Pemba) who are now
settled in Morogoro met together
with the community of Don Bosco
Morogoro to officially begin the
Salesian Past pupils’ Unit here in
Morogoro. They shared with the
community their good memories
of their life with the Salesians. The
recent visit of Frs. Casti Giuseppe
and jose Pastor from Rome to our
community has enlightened the us
about the Salesian Family and it is
our hope that the Salesian Family
will grow and take deep root here
in Morogoro.



Novitiate correspondent.


Don Bosco Novitiate, Morogoro




2ND QUARTER12


Loneliness a step closer to God


Silence.


The very fabric of human life is
loneliness. We come into this world
alone and return from here also
alone. Our daily life and relationships
are actually movement of this great
experience of loneliness. I could be
among a thousand people yet still
be lonely. Most often in life we feel
being lonely. Many a times we try
to share our feelings and longings
with someone and ultimately realize
that person is very far away from us.
Our inner longings and struggles
are only ours. Most of us would not
like to share our vulnerable side of
life with anyone. Even if someone
plucks up courage to do so the
other person may not understand
the depth of it and in the end the
one who opens up the other end
up in feeling miserable.


Loneliness is not only the
experience of priests and religious
who do not have a constant
companion in their lives journey.
Even the family people are basically
lonely. Our deepest longing and
loneliness could only be satiated by
our deepest desire for God. Only God
can fill the void within us. at times
we frantically look for alternatives


to fill the loneliness within us with;
music, various activities, journeys,
artwork, etc. Some people also
get into wrong alternatives such
as drugs, sexual promiscuity, loose
living, etc. The noise we create
around us is often a way to escape
the painful reality of loneliness. But
the noise and all other distractions
in life cannot ultimately free us from
this great reality of being alone. Left
to ourselves we are always faced
with this great truth that we are
aLONE.


as the Morning Prayer hymn
(breviary week 2, Thursday) puts it


so beautifully, “alone with none but
thee, my God, I journey on my way;
………” yes this is the only solution;
we need to embrace this loneliness
and journey with it. To realize only
God can give us lasting company
and only our CLOSENESS to him can
satisfy our inner longing and search
for fulfillment.


Let us not get discouraged or
disheartened with the feeling of
loneliness but let us harness this
feeling to get closer to the LORD and
enjoy the solitude in his company.


(Fr. Shyjan C. Job, SDB)


Sound is a defined sensation with a clear meaning
destined to the listener’s ears. Noise has been defined
as a cloud of sounds without a definite meaning.


Silence is not absence of sound but it is a gift from
God that should seclude us from the world around and
enable us to reflect more on Godly virtues like love,
kindness, goodness and meaningful neighborhood.


For long, music has been used as a means to pass
message; good and bad news, expressing joy and
happiness amongst other.


In the 21 centaury noise has overcome silence,
making it obsolete and almost unacceptable.


The electronic gadgets transmitting sound have
become reasonably defined and smaller, yet the quality
and loudness of sound has superbly improved, to meet


consumers’ wants.
Therefore, noise


has become
a c c e p t a b l e ,
t o l e r a b l e ,
admirable and
f a s h i o n a b l e .
Portable phones,
computers and
ipods as well as


small radios have really taken over.
For example, a Sunday service with loudest sound


systems; music and preaching, will be highly attractive
to more ‘Christians’ in comparison to a tranquil, serene
environment; conducive for individual prayers and
relaxation.


Moreover, both television and FM radio stations
are diversifying and multiplying each day, in order to
quench the listeners’ thirst for information and most
importantly, entertainment.


Consequently, matatu with Ear drum - damaging
sound system, are more fashionable and demand
exorbitant fares, than the seemingly, silent common
transport -that enables you reconcile with self, on the
way home after a busy day’s work. This choice has led
to a stiff, cut - throat competition.


Our fathers and fore-fathers adored silence: a time of
inner searching and understanding. It created a time to
critically examine yourself and relax your whole being.


When did you last participate in a family gathering,
with stories from grandparents under a tree or at night,
around a fire place, just before or after a meal?


Gerald.




Don Bosco Eastern Africa, APRIL 2012 13


In the month of March, the SyM
members of Utume as part of their
Lenten exercise went for a charity
visit to the Grace Children home
along Langata road. The Children
home which caters for the orphaned
children is run by the Pentecostal
Church. Prior to the visit, the SyM
members had sent an appeal to
the parish priests and the youth
from where they hail to help them
too with their little contribution of
which some did.


The Children who were about
seventy in number were so happy
to receive us and interacted with
us freely. The activities carried
out that day included a talk from
Sr. Laurenzia, prayer service, special
games, party games, planting trees
among others. The SyM Members
were touched by some of the


testimonies given by the children
regarding their background.


Most of the times we are used to
visit Children’s home run by our
own Catholic denomination; but
this time round the choice of visiting
a non – Catholic home saw many
learning different things regarding
the Pentecostal belief rather than
the visit. We were able to have the
Inter-religious prayers among other
faith oriented services. This to us
was one of the ways of promoting
the spirit of ecumenism among
different Christian churches.


The management of the Grace
Children home was glad to have
been visited by us and requested
us to strengthen the bond that had
been put in place through the visit.
The day came to an end with St.
Elizabeth academy which is part


of the SyM group, distributing the
gifts to the children on behalf of the
SyM Members.



Benn Agunga


Utume


SYM – Utume charity visit at Grace
Children’s Home




2ND QUARTER14


Tangaza basketball champs: Don
Bosco Utume


Don’t sit back and take what comes,
go after what you want


Tangaza College is a constituent
of the Catholic University of
Eastern africa; and as you know
it is a Theological Centre for the
Religious besides other Institutes
offering other programs. Every year
it organizes inter-communities’
tournament. Don Bosco Utume
being a member congregation in


Tangaza has for a long time been a
participant in the tournament. Our
chances have not been favorable
in football and volleyball; most of
the times finishing as runners-up.
however, in Basketball, our heads
have always been up with 100%
conviction that we would always
carry the day. This year being our


year of “BYE” in Tangaza, having
started our own Theologate, our
Basketball team did us proud
again by winning all their matches
to be crowned the BaSKETBaLL
ChaMPIONS of the year in Tangaza.


The Principal of Tangaza, Fr. Patrick
Roe congratulated the Salesians
of Don Bosco and especially the
current group in Tangaza for
promoting and enhancing serious
competition in the field of sports.


Benn Agunga- Utume


“are you waiting for God or he is waiting for you?” “Is God your
hope or your excuse?” These are questions many youth ought to ask
themselves. William Menninger says, “The amount of satisfaction
you get from life depends largely on your own ingenuity, self-
sacrifice and resourcefulness. youth who wait around for life to their
satisfaction usually find boredom instead.”


In this century, many youth don’t have jobs. Many of them have
gone to Universities and other institutions and have opportunities
but are so tired to go for it. Being on the defensive has never produced
ultimate victory. I believe that God helps the courageous. youth
let us not be discouraged by political instability and community
conflicts. We should seize our opportunities as we go forward.


The youth should know that in life we only get those things for
which we hunt, strive for and for which we are willing to sacrifice.
a strong youth should have faith in what he/she believes and not
what he/she knows. It is faith, and not reason, which implies men to
action; intelligence is content, to point out the road but never drives
along it. It is always a bumpy uphill road that leads to greatness.



Diana W. Njoki- SYM


Bahati - Makadara


....our Basketball
team did us proud
again by winning
all their matches
to be crowned


the BASKETBALL
CHAMPIONS of the
year in Tangaza.




Don Bosco Eastern Africa, APRIL 2012 15


When you make your mark in life
you will always attract erasers


The Annual Sports Day at Utume


To succeed in life, you must
overcome the many pull you
down. how you choose to respond
to criticism is one of the most
important decisions that you will
make.


The first and great commandment
about critics is; “Don’t let anyone
scare you. If you limit your actions
in life to things that nobody could
possibly find fault with, you will not
do much.” Nothing significant has
ever been accomplished without
controversy, without criticism.
When you allow other people’s
world to stop you, they will.


The truth is; “a critic is like a gong
at a railway crossing, loudly and
vainly as the train goes by.”Many
great ideas have been lost because
people who had them couldn’t
stand criticism and gave up.
Insignificant people are those most
apt to sneer others. They have no
hope of rising in their own esteem
but by lowering their neighbors.


We should know that “Expecting
the world to treat you fairly because
you are a good person is a little like
expecting a bull not to attack you
because you are a vegetarian.” I
agree with Fred allen who said that,
“If criticism had any real powers
to harm, the sky would have been
extinct by now.” Remember this
about a critic; “a man who is always
kicking seldom, has a leg to stand
on.” “Great minds discuss ideas,
good minds discuss events, and
small minds discuss people.” Don’t
allow yourself to become a critic.
jesus warns,
“judge not,
and you’ll
not be
judged.” (Mt.
7:1). you will
always make
a mountain
out of a
m o l e h i l l
when you


throw dirt at other people. We are
previledged to be guided by our
Salesians of Don Bosco and Sisters
of St. Domenica Mazarello.


Remember this, “If you are afraid
of criticism, you will die doing
nothing, if you want a place in the
sun, you will have to expect some
blisters and some sand kicked on
your face. Criticism is a compliment
when you know that what you are
doing is right.


Diana W. Njoki- SYM
Bahati- Makadara


The annual Sports day: Bosco Meet and Savio Meet took place in Don Bosco Utume in the month of March
and april respectively. just like other years, the number of the participants kept on increasing with years. This
year too saw an addition of two centres that is Karen Parish and Dagoretti Market besides the usual ones. These
events have become for us the real avenue for evangelization having realized that during the Sport’s days
majority of the youth take part including the
less active back in their centres.


The organizers have always been happy
due to the fact that not many casualties are
always observed despite the big numbers
such as cases of indiscipline among others.
In seeing a number of youth taking part
in our events, we are always reminded of
our noble call in transforming the society
through the youth. I remember what one
of the intellectual who is an alumni of Don
Bosco jokingly told me that; “you Salesians
ought to be partly responsible for the post-
election violence since majority of those
who took part were the youth who fall in your
mission field.” We may not transform the whole world, but where we work, we ought to leave a mark.


Benn Agunga- Utume




2ND QUARTER16


Africae Munus – An Overview


The Pope on 19th November 2011
at Benin officially promulgated his
major new apostolic Exhortation,
Africae Munus, charting the
direction for the Church in africa in
coming years, at a time when “africa
is experiencing a culture shock,” an
“anthropological crisis” (aM 11).
The Exhortation deals specifically
on the question of how the Church
in africa can be at the service of
reconciliation, justice and peace.
Africae Munus is the continuation
of Ecclesia in Africa, which was
published after the First Special
assembly for africa of the Synod
of Bishops, and which had taken
up the theme of evangelization.
The theme of Africae Munus
remains fundamentally the same,
but pursues the dimensions of
reconciliation, justice and peace.
“Evangelization today takes the
name of reconciliation,” states the
Exhortation (aM 174). hence the
basic plan of action that the Church
is that of an evangelization which
walks the path of reconciliation,
justice and peace.


The document has two parts.
Part one (nos. 14-96) discerns the
foundations and sources of the
ecclesial mission on the continent,
- so to say the theological
parameters - a mission which
aspires to reconciliation, justice


and peace, and has its origin in the
person of jesus Christ. Listening to
jesus, Christians are invited to let
themselves be reconciled with God,
becoming just, in order to build a
just social order in keeping with
the logic of the Beatitudes, and
committing themselves to fraternal
service for love of truth, which
is a source of peace. attention
then turns to the paths towards
reconciliation, justice and peace.
These include authentic conversion,
the celebration of the Sacrament
of Penance, the spirituality of
communion, the inculturation
of the Gospel, the protection of
life, migrants, displaced persons,
refugees, the good governance of
States, and ecumenical and inter-
religious dialogue especially with
traditional religions and Islam.


In part two (nos. 97-177), all
members of the Church – Bishops,
priests, missionaries, permanent
deacons, consecrated persons,
seminarians, catechists and lay
people (in that order) - are invited
to contribute to communion
and peace in the Church and in
society. It also identifies areas
for the apostolate. They are: the
Church as the presence of Christ,
the world of education, health care
and the communications media.
The Exhortation opens a horizon of


hope to africa which, by welcoming
jesus Christ, must free itself from
the forces which paralyze it.


The Exhortation Africae Munus
speaks of evangelization in at
least three distinct senses: the
first evangelization or missio ad
gentes, deeper evangelization, and
new evangelization (cf. aM 159).
Evangelization in its precise sense is
the missio ad gentes. But it can also
refer to the ordinary pastoral work
(and in that sense it is called a deeper
evangelization). Though the term
“new evangelization” designates
pastoral outreach to those who no
longer practice the Christian faith,
Africae Munus sees it in terms of
promoting reconciliation, justice
and peace.


The First african Synod and
the exhortation Ecclesia in Africa
have given great impetus to the
growth of the Church in africa
developing, among other things,
the idea of the Church as Family
of God. Africae Munus aims to
reinforce this ecclesial dynamism,
and to outline a programme for
pastoral activity for the coming
decades of evangelization in
africa, undertaking the mission of
reconciliation, justice and peace.


Dr. Fr. George Kocholikal




Don Bosco Eastern Africa, APRIL 2012 17


Dimesse Sisters, Nairobi,
February 21st to 25th


There’s an old adage that says
“all roads lead to Rome”. This is an
adage that was true during the
Roman Empire as every road had
to be constructed with the view
of Rome (imperial and economic
centre of the time) in mind.


But in a very concrete way this
proverb became a reality for the
Salesians of Don Bosco working in
africa and Madagascar. For a full
week, February 20th to 26th, 2012,
Nairobi was a beehive of activities
of the Salesians. We celebrated
what was christened as CIVaM Team
Visit. CIVaM is the Conference of
the Provinces and Vice Provinces of
africa-Madagascar for the Salesians
of Don Bosco.


What is Team Visit?
It is an animation and governance


tool used by the Rector Major and
the General Council for meeting
up with the different Regions in
the Congregation. For africa, team
Visit brought together provincial
superiors and their councils from
twelve (12) circumscriptions called
provinces (aFE, aET, aTE, ZMB,
MOZ, aNG, aFM, aGL, aFC, MDG,
aFW and aFE-Su). The meeting
was presided over by the Superior
General (Rector Major) of the
Salesians of Don Bosco, Very Rev. Fr
Pascual Chavez Villanueva, assisted
by his Vicar, Rev Fr adrian Bregolin.
The Rector Major and his Vicar
were accompanied by the General
Council who assist him in the


governance of the congregation.
Rev. Fr Guilermo Basagnes, is the
Regional Councillor for africa and
Madagascar, and therefore he was
the hosting Regional Councilor
for this particular Team Visit. Fr
Basanes was accompanied by the
Regional Councilor for South asia,
Rev Fr arokiam Mary Kanaga. In
total 94 people were in attendance,
including the translators!


The Purpose?
The main purpose of the Team


Visit was to provide a forum to
assess and evaluate the extend
at which recommendations and
decision made at the conclusion
of the General Chapter 26 have
been implemented here in africa. It
also examines those areas that are
not implemented and reasons as
to why the implementation could
not take place. The presence of the
Rector Major, his Vicar and majority
of the General Council members
give credibility to the seriousness
of the discussions and evaluations.
The discussions also helped to
clarify the general state of the
congregation and the level of its
seriousness in different parts of the
Salesian World.


It should also be noted that quite
often it is from the sentiments
gathered in forums of this kind
that the Rector Major, aided by the
General Council, determines the
theme for the subsequent General
Chapter, hence the importance of
it!


For us here in africa, the Team Visit
was also a beautiful occasion given
to the members to interact with
one another and especially with the
Rector Major, especially enriching
were moments of liturgical
celebrations, goodnights talks,
group discussion either according
to province groups or according to
the established groups for the Team
Visit.


The forum was also graced by
the presence of two personalities
who gave a new dimension to our
gathering, namely, The apostolic
Nuncio to Kenya, his Excellency
archbishop alain Paul Lebeaupin
who paid a courtesy call on Friday,
February 24, 2012 and shared a
lunch with the Team Visit Members.
The previous day we had been
visited by his Grace Peter Kairo,
the archbishop of Nyeri who came
to initiate our reflections of the
post synodal document entitled
aFRICaE MUNUS. Most enriching
was his own reflections to which he
showed clearly that africa still has
to walk a long journey.


Before concluding the Team Visit,
the Rector Major called on the
Salesians to remember that we need
to be on the forefront with regard
to bringing genuine education to
the young people of africa and
especially in collaboration with the
local churches, hence an appeal to
be involved in the study, reflection
and the implementation of Africae
Munus.


Team Visit


From the Team Visit




2ND QUARTER18


himself. and so that he himself
would not forget this covenant
in the future, he set a rainbow
between heaven and earth. God
never wanted to forget his covenant
with humanity again: “When...the
bow appears in the clouds… I will
recall the Covenant between myself
and you”. This ongoing covenant
between God and ourselves is the
power and life of the “dust” that we
are. So, Lent is a favourable time
to return to the Lord and keep the
memory of his covenant. Too often,
in fact, we forget and we often
continue to break it. and we break
it each time peace is violated or
harmony between human beings is
damaged. Prayer and fasting, with
which we have opened this period
of Lent, lead us towards the spiritual
depth that allows us to understand
once again the meaning of the
covenant with God, between us,
and between peoples.


The Gospel that was proclaimed
on this first Sunday of Lent, invites
us to remain in jesus’ company
during the forty days in the desert.
he himself leads us along so that
we might rediscover God’s heart
and rediscover the meaning of


The Homily of the Rector Major
during the Team Visit


Ist Sunday of Lent
(Gen 9:8-15; 1Pt 3:18-22; Mk 1:12-15)


Dear Confreres,
The ash Wednesday celebration


has reminded us of the reality of our
lives, personal and social. We are
all weak, individuals and nations,
even though the world urges us
to consider and show ourselves
to be strong and self-sufficient.
Each of our lives really is like dust;
dust like the ashes placed on our
foreheads. Our pride is but dust, our
presumptuousness too, our desire
to prevail is dust, dust is our feeling
of peace and tranquillity, our safety
is dust, our initiative, all our restless
activity is dust. The power of human
beings and nations is dust, especially
when they crush human rights and
when they look down upon justice
and peace. The ostentatiousness of
force, manifestation of arrogance,
the use of violence inexorably lead
human beings into a dramatic spiral
of mutual destruction.


This is what happened in Noah’s
time. The author of the Book of


Genesis shows the breadth and
depth of evil which had poisoned
the heart in its depths: “The Lord saw
that the wickedness of man was great
on the earth and that the thoughts
in his heart fashioned nothing but
wickedness all day long” (Gn 6:5). The
flood, the inevitable consequence
of a world mired in sin wiped out life
on earth, submerging it in the turgid
waters of hatred and violence. after
the flood the Lord had to intervene
with a kind of new creation by
establishing a new pact with Noah,
his children, his descendants and all
living beings. It was a pact between
God and men, still before the
pact made with abraham. Noah’s
covenant is a universal covenant
embracing every living being,
every man and woman, all peoples
on earth, excluding nobody. God
made a covenant with all peoples:
everyone belonged to God. and
the Lord solemnly promised
himself and Noah the solidity of this
covenant: “No thing of flesh shall be
swept away again by the waters of
the flood. There shall be no flood to
destroy the earth again”. That “dust”
that we are is finally defended,
protected and guarded by God


“The kingdom of God is close at
hand: repent and believe in the


Good News!”




Don Bosco Eastern Africa, APRIL 2012 19


our life and the world’s. We know
well how difficult life can be in the
desert. Mark the Evangelist tells us
that jesus, precisely, for forty days,
had to be there in the desert in the
company of wild animals and of
Satan who would tempt him. Mark,
different from the other Synoptics,
does not describe the content of the
temptations. he tells us only that he
was tempted by the devil, and by
this identified himself with each of
us. Nevertheless, it was also a time
when jesus strengthened his bond
with his Father in heaven. he would
have undoubtedly recalled the
words of the Prophet hosea: “That is
why I am going to lure her and lead her
out into the wilderness and speak to
her heart” (2:16). at the end of those
days of struggle with the demon
and of intimacy with the Father the
angels came and ministered to him.
We too have forty days left to arrive
at Easter, and at the end the angels
will come; after having rolled way
the heavy stone covering the tomb,
they will proclaim the victory of life
over death.


In the meantime let us come
close to jesus, and with him we
will live and struggle in the desert
of this world. The forty days of
Lent describe, to be truthful, the
paradigm of all of jesus’ life and
so the life of every believer. There
is no need therefore for more or
less lonely places in order to find
a “desert” to retire to. Our cities,
where a life of sympathy is rare
and loneliness is frequent, where
understanding and forgiveness
have disappeared and violence and
abuse of power are ever stronger,
are today’s desert. a desert that has
also penetrated hearts and made
them cold and hard. We could talk
of a true and proper process of
desertification of hearts that leads


to aridity and violence, or at the very
least to indifference. how could we
not notice in our daily lives that we
are ever more in the company of
wild beasts and demons of division
and hate that make life hard and
bitter?


The Spirit of the Lord urges us,
more than getting away from our
cities maybe in search of some
meagre sort of tranquillity, to
enter them more deeply with
new evangelical energy and new
responsibility.


The “desert” of our cities can
therefore become an occasion for
renewing our hearts, expanding
them and filling them with feelings
of kindness, mercy, forgiveness,
benevolence and love for those
who are very weak. With renewed
hearts we can overcome the
ruinous and violent dimension of
the desert: the wild animals will
no longer be cause for fear since
the love we experience is stronger
than evil, heat and hunger will
disappear because the one who
fasts from selfishness and pride is
protected by God and becomes a
source of life for others. Each of us
can become like those angels that
serve the good bread of the Gospel
to those they meet. at a time when
we feel a sense of irrelevance with
respect to choices that count, the
Gospel reminds us of the value and
power of peace experienced in our
own hearts.


This deep and inner peace is
contagious and strong: it allows
us to reject temptations of “Satan”
and become communicators of
the Gospel of peace. Mark writes
that jesus, when he began to
communicate the Gospel, said: “The
time has come and the kingdom
of God is close at hand; repent
and believe the Good News”. The
time of absolute power of evil is
over because God’s love, come to
dwell on earth, has vanquished it.
The desert, up till now dominated
by devils and wild beasts, has
been pacified and populated by
angels. The Lord calls us to be part
of his angels to communicate to
everyone the Gospel of peace and
communion.


I cannot but recall the Salesian
story as part of this, when young
john Bosco was only nine and had a
“dream” where he felt called to work


for the good of poor youngsters
through education. he himself tells
us that in the dream he seemed to be
in a wide yard where a crowd of kids
were playing. “Some were laughing,
others playing, and not a few were
swearing. When I heard these
evil words I jumped immediately
amongst them and with words
and fists tried to silence them”.
Right at that moment appeared “a
venerable and nobly dressed man”
wrapped in a white cloak, who
would have been jesus Christ This
man of the mantle invited him to be
a guide for those boys and warned
him: “Not with blows but with
kindness and charity you will win
over these friends of yours”. Then
a woman appeared, and she too
was dressed in a shining cloak that
“shone like the firmament”, and this
would have been Mary, the Mother
of jesus. Then the vision changed:
the boys fled and a large number of
goats, dogs, cats, bears, and other
animals had taken their place.. The
woman too advised him: “This is
the field of your work” and added:
“Make yourself humble, strong and
energetic, and what you will see
happening with these animals in a
moment you will have to do for my
children”. Where there were once
wild beasts now there were gentle
lambs. They were all jumping and
bleating as if to welcome that man
and lady”.


That was what Don Bosco did
then and what Salesians today
continue to do in the world,
through education: preventing
negative, damaging experiences
for youngsters, things that put their
health, happiness and eternal life at
risk, and at the same time, Salesian
help them to develop all their
energies and potential until they
achieve the stature of the perfect
man, Christ jesus.


May Mary help of Christians
continue to be mother and teacher
for us too, so we can make the
Kingdom of God present for
youngsters and together with them
give God back the first place in our
lives, chasing Satan out from every
corner.


Pascual Chávez Villanueva
Team Visit


Nairobi, 26.02.12


At a time when
we feel a sense of
irrelevance with


respect to choices
that count, the


Gospel reminds us
of the value and
power of peace


experienced in our
own hearts.




2ND QUARTER20


The Homily of the Rector Major
during the Team Visit


“Unless a wheat grain falls on
the ground and dies,


it remains only a single grain;
but if it dies it yields a rich


harvest”
Wis. 3:1-7a.8b-9; Ps 126; Jn 12:24-26


My dear confreres,
On the day on which we recall


the memory of our Salesian
protomartyrs, bishop aloysius
Versiglia and priest Callistus
Caravario, missionaries, we are
concluding our Team Visit for
the africa - Madagascar Region. I
think Providence could not offer
us a word and message for our
departure which is better than
this one represented by the two
Salesian Saints. They remind us of
our fundamental vocation: holiness
as the fullness of the love of the
Good Shepherd who gave his life for
his own so that they may have life in
abundance. Is this not perhaps our
mission and program for Salesian
africa?


and although it is natural for us to
think of the martyrs with admiration
and as people beyond our reach,
it is also true that they were men
and women like us, Christians like


us: some of them were religious,
priests, bishops, but many were
also lay people who had made the
choice however of living their faith
to the full, even to the extent of
sacrificing their lives, aware that,
as the Gospel says “Unless a wheat
grain falls on the ground and dies,
it remains just a single grain; but
if it dies, it yields a rich harvest”. It
was like this for the martyrdom of
Bishop Versiglia and Father Callistus
Caravario. The first was taken in as
a twelve year old by Don Bosco at
the Oratory in Valdocco, and once
he was a priest (1895) he became
Director of Novices at Genzano
near Rome. In 1906 he led the first
Salesian expedition to China, thus
realising a much-vaunted prophecy
of Don Bosco’s, who had seen his
sons in several dreams in China
working for the evangelisation of
the young. In Macau he set up the
Salesian “mother house”, opened
the mission at Shiu Chow and on 22
april 1920 became the first bishop
of that mission. he was wise and
tireless, a true pastor completely
dedicated to his flock, and he gave
the Vicariate a solid structure with
a seminary, houses of formation,
various residences, an orphanage,
and a place for the elderly


Callistus Caravario, a much


younger man, meeting Bishop
Versiglia in Turin in 1922 told him:
“I will go to China”. he kept his
word, leaving two years later. When
he was ordained priest, always
faithful to his religious consecration
and filled with ever more zealous
charity, he was with Bishop Versiglia
on his pastoral visit to the Lin Chow
district along with two teachers,
two catechists and another girl
student, when on 25 February 1930,
in an isolated sector along the river,
they were attacked by Communist
pirates. In their efforts to protect
the young girls – who succeeded in
fleeing –the two missionaries were
brutally beaten then shot, in hatred
of the Christian faith which upholds
the dignity of the human being.


Certainly, we are not all born to
have the grace of martyrdom. Nor
should we seek it, according to
Don Bosco. But we are all called to
be witnesses to the Lord jesus and
his Gospel with our lives, and to be
ready to pour out our own blood
should the moment every come.


We should never forget that often
the Church seems to be a counter-
cultural reality, in the sense that it
is the bearer of a Gospel that does
not adhere to the world’s way of
thinking. In this paradoxical nature
of the Church, which we see very
clearly in the Sermon on the Mount
in Matthew’s Gospel and in the
Sermon on the Plain in Luke’s, we
find precisely its prophetic strength
and meaningfulness.


Certainly, the courage to stand
up against the common way of
thinking, denouncing proclaimed
ways of acting but for that no less
unjust, brings loneliness, rejection,
and in certain cases persecution
and even death, as in fact so many of
our brothers and sisters around the
world have experienced. Regarding
what jesus says in his Sermon on the
Mount, especially in the Beatitudes,
one might say that when believers
are not persecuted in some way, or
despised, marginalised, they need
to ask themselves whether they
have not lessened their efforts in
their prophetic task. Whoever is
an accomplice to sin in the world


The Holy Martyrs Aloysius Versiglia
and Callistus Caravario




Don Bosco Eastern Africa, APRIL 2012 21


today, whoever does not cause
people to be uncomfortable, does
not create some crisis, whoever
does not denounce the dramatic
problems afflicting us and about
which nobody seems to want to
say anything, risks betraying the
Gospel.


an authentic faith instead
is always accompanied by
martyrdom, witness of daily life,
the carrying out of one’s duties,
ecclesial and social involvement.
It should not be forgotten that the
martyrs, yesterday and today, those
canonised and those not officially
recognised, are not only the glory
of the Church, but also a point of
reference for all believers, called to
render testimony of their faith in
whatever circumstance of life.


The liturgical texts offer a joyful
exultation concerning these martyrs
because after they have “witnessed
to Christ before the world”, now
“Christ honours them before the
Father. “By their blood they have
witnessed” to the prodigious signs
of the Father who reveals “his power


in the weak and gives the strength of
martyrdom to the defenceless”, the
strength, that is, to struggle until
death to proclaim the Gospel and
defend human dignity.


From this example that leads
human suffering back “to the
passion of Christ”, the assembly
comes to the awareness of having
to face up to daily martyrdom as
a lively witness “of the blessed
passion of the Son”. This is why
in the memorial celebration of
the mystery of the passion and
glory of Christ, the faithful call on
the Father to have the strength
to imitate the testimony of the
martyrs “with persevering faith
and assiduous charity”, so they can
“participate one day in the glory of
the Resurrection”.


For its part the Word of God, as
usual, enlightens what we celebrate,
especially the martyrdom of these
holy confreres of ours and lets us
see where their greatness is to be
found and how we can imitate
them today.


In the first reading the sacred
author tells us that the Lord was
pleased to accept them as a holocaust,
because they knew how to put all
their trust in him. With courage and
an attitude of sacrifice they faced up
to the sufferings that the Gospel and
mission brings, with the certainty
that God is transforming them for
glory. So they enjoy the expected
reward and their persecutors find
themselves before their victims
who now become their judge.
here then is the message of this
text from Wisdom, confirmed by


the martyrdom of Bishop aloysius
Versiglia and Callistus Caravario:
everything does not finish with
death, and the one who has believed
in God until the end can experience
God’s faithfulness; he who raises up
from the dead, as he did for jesus,
those who have been faithful.


The Gospel tells us that this is
possible thanks to the dynamics of
God’s love poured out on us by the
holy Spirit who is given to us on the
day of our Baptism. Love leads us
to collaborate with the Father in his
work of redemption. For love of the
Father and mankind the Son gave
himself, gave his own life so that we
may all have life in abundance. The
disciple too is called to perpetuate
a similar act of love in time. It is the
only thing that truly counts and that
renders our life meaningful. This is
what these sons of Don Bosco, our
holy protomartyrs, Bishop aloysius
Versiglia and Callistus Caravario
knew how to accomplish. and this
is how we are being called to live.


My dear confreres, through their
intercession may the Lord give us
the grace to not resign ourselves to
a mediocre and selfish existence, to
not conform to the ways of thinking
of this world , but may he make us
ever more like jesus, consummate
pioneer of our faith. This is the
criteria for our charismatic identity.
This is the secret of our happiness,
our holiness and our pastoral,
spiritual and vocational fruitfulness
in africa. amen


Fr Pascual Chávez V.
Nairobi – 25 February 2012


...everything
does not finish
with death, and
the one who has
believed in God


until the end can
experience God’s
faithfulness;...




2ND QUARTER22


about 40% of the children caught
up in the conflict were girls. yet
there is hardly any talk about girl-
soldiers. Like the boy-soldiers and
probably more, these victims need
support even after the conflict is
over. In Sri Lanka, the Daughters of
Mary help of Christians are taking
care of them.


Their life is very hard and they
have many different roles. When
very small, as soon as they are
captured, they act as maids to the
soldiers, cook and collect provisions
and as soon as they reach puberty,
they are forced to marry the head of
the guerrillas. Others are enslaved
by the soldiers who abuse them
and others again fulfil an active role
in the guerrilla warfare, fighting,
acting as spies and becoming
informers.


The problems for these young
women do not finish with the end
of the war. anything but. When
they return to their villages, these
girls, often accompanied by their
children, are ostracised because
of the violence they have suffered.
They have notable psychological
and physical problems.


In Sri Lanka the country has been
torn apart by a civil war lasting 25
years. It began in 1983 and finished
in 2009 and generated almost
280,000 refugees, the majority
of whom are young. “«Once the
conflict ended, states Sr. Maryann
Fernando animator of the Mary help
of Christians house at Negombo
in the south of Sri Lanka – the
government looked desperately
for some non-government
organisation to rehabilitate and take
care of them Punitha Nayagam, a
lawyer and leader of Vavuniya, and
his friend alexander, a magistrate,
contacted Church leaders asking
them to open a house, so that the
children orphaned by the war could
be taken care of and rehabilitated.
and we accepted. »


On various occasions the FMa
were being pressed to take in
certain girls but they insisted on
keeping their own autonomy and
respecting their charism: “In the
beginning, they asked us to make


some changes to the admission
system…. They absolutely wanted
us to take care of the girls that they
entrusted to us, but we decided to
accept the most vulnerable girls,
those who were really poor and
marginalised. We also set up a short
stay house where the children who
could not find their parents lived
until their own family came to get
them».


at Vavuniya, a place often the
theatre of operations between the
Government forces and the Tamil
Tigers, the FMa run the “house for
girl soldiers and ex-soldiers” which
houses 173 girls. Of these, 77 attend
between the 6th and 8th classes
and 80 are orphans. The youngest is
3 years and is in the kindergarten.
One girl is studying at university, 20
are following professional courses
and 2 a course in physiotherapy.


Ten of the older ones are working.
«The progress of the girls at


school has suffered a lot because of
the war and there is a tutor system
in operation for all of them….., the
trauma undergone during the war
has left indelible marks: many suffer
from psychological difficulties
linked to depression. Others have
badly treated war wounds, which
they have borne for years».


The initiative of the FMa is
directed towards supporting their
physical and psychological health,
education and spiritual formation.
They are also in active collaboration
with other non-governmental
organisations like the International
Red Cross, Unicef and the World
Food Program and national ones like
ShaDE and SEED, Social Economical
and Environmental Developers,
who collaborate weekly with
the Don Bosco Children’s home.
The experience of the FMa in Sri
Lanka was presented by Sr Mary
ann Fernando at the recent Salesian
Family Spiritualit Days.


ANS


Former child girl soldiers:
the work of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians


On 18th February at the Salesian Institute “Pastor Lenssen” Polytechnic in
Tirunelveli there was a “recruitment drive” during which about 2750 young people
were interviewed by representatives of 26 companies. Taking part were students
from “Pastor Lenssen,” in the Tiruchy Province, and those from the Salesian “Don
Bosco Vazhikaati” in the Madras Province.


It was inaugurated by the Mrs. Pitchama arumugom, the Regional Deputy
Director of Employment, Southern Region of Tamilnadu. Fr. Thomas Louis,
correspondent of the college delivered the welcome address and Fr. joseph Leo,
Director of Don Bosco Vazhikaati introduced the companies to the students.
Mrs. Pitchama arumugom, urged the students to dream big and work towards it
tirelessly, and gave some valuable tips to win over the interviewers.


Most of the 2750 taking part came from the 2 organising Institutes, but other
college students from Madras, Trichy, Madurai and Bangalore were brought to
the venue by their college representatives. at the end of the interviews more
than 1432 students were selected on the spot by the clients like ashok Leyland,
E-care India, TVS Sundaram Fasteners, Royal Enfield, etc., and a few even got
selected for the second round of interview which will be held after the successful
completion of their course.


Staff of the two Salesian Institutes assisted in the whole process of the Campus
Drive. Students got a first-hand experience of attending an interview, and the
companies had a chance to unearth fresh talents from the remote places of the
country. ANS


India - Work interviews for
thousands of young people


News from the Salesian World




Don Bosco Eastern Africa, APRIL 2012 23


The meeting of principals of
Salesian centres of philosophical
studies, of centres affiliated and
aggregated to the Faculty of
Philosophy of the Pontifical Salesian
University (UPS) and directors of
post-novitiate studies who use
non-Salesian centres concluded on
Sunday March 25th.


The meeting began in the
afternoon of Thursday March 21st.
It was attended by 51 Principals
and Directors from the various
regions, 8 lecturers from the Faculty
of Philosophy of the UPS, three
members of the Department of
Formation and some students
of Philosophy from the UPS.
This participation surpassed all
expectations.


Fundamental interventions were
made by the General Councillor
for Formation, Fr. Francis Cereda,
and by the Dean of the Faculty of
Philosophy of the UPS, Fr. Mauro


able to gain a Pontifical Diploma,
recognized by the UPS. The
possibility was outlined of creating
a link between the Salesian centres
and the Faculty of Philosophy of the
UPS. Besides affiliation, aggregation
and incorporation it is now possible
have an “association” with the
Faculty of Philosophy, obtaining a
Diploma recognized by the UPS.


The members were asked to make
a rigorous study of the identity of
philosophical studies in Salesian
centres; to understand present-
day culture in their own context
and in that of our globalized world,
in order to single out the roots,
affinities and challenges in relation
to the Christian view of life. The
aim of post-novitiate studies is to
build up in the minds and hearts
of the students a philosophical
wisdom based on the human
person in all it aspects, open to
theological wisdom, which is fruit
of divine revelation, and besides, to
motivate and support vocational
choice, laying a solid foundation
for the mission of education and
evangelization. Fr. Cereda specified:
“For us Salesians these studies take
place in the post-noviciate; they
form the consecrated Salesian,
whether cleric or coadjutor, as
educator and pastor; they enter into
dialogue with the human sciences.”


The meeting was concluded
by the Rector Major in a masterly
address in which he showed the
need to take care of the post-
novitiate which today is the most
complex and difficult phase and
in which there persists a notable
vocational fragility. For this
reason Philosophical studies must
contribute to reinforce vocational
identity in consecrated life. he
proposed the actuation of some
aspects regarding the need for
study, the importance of knowledge,
depth of culture and care of
the processes of inculturation.
Fr. Pascual Chávez then presided at
the final Eucharist.


ANS


Montovani. In the light of the
“Decree of Reform of Ecclesiastical
Studies of Philosophy”, promulgated
by the Congregation for Catholic
Education, they explained the
proposal of a three year course
leading to a Bachelor’s degree and
a two year course for the Diploma.


This proposal sought to meet
the requirements of the Decree. It
singled out the elements which can
characterize the curriculum from
a Salesian angle, and it indicated
the possible specific (and hence
optional) areas for each centre of
study. These interventions enabled
the regional groups and the whole
assembly to make comparisons
and offer suggestions about the
proposals put forward.


a study was made of the pattern
of the minimum requirements to
meet the demands of the Decree of
Reform. With the various two-year
courses proposed students will be


Philosophical formation:
a solid base for Salesian vocation


Philosophical studies must contribute
to reinforce vocational identity in


consecrated life.




2ND QUARTER24


On the weekend 17 to 19
February about 300 young people
gathered at the at the Salesian
youth Centre in Daejeon to take
part in Korea Salesian youth Day.
This event was the result of
cooperation between Salesians
(SDB) and the Daughters of Mary
help of Christians (FMa), especially
those who are involved directly in
the youth ministry field and the
formation of the Salesian youth
Movement (SyM) helping them to
know jesus and Don Bosco better.
The title of the gathering was “Ecce


homo, Ecce Don Bosco!”.
During the three days they were


able to listen to the story of Don
Bosco, experiencing his love for the
young, and had the time to explore
God’s plan for each of them. In
particular, listening to the some of
the Salesians’ vocation story, they
leaned something of what God’s call
might mean for them - that each of
us has his or her own call that needs
to be realised by the following the
Lord.


During his homily at the closing
Mass Fr Stephanus Nam, Provincial of
South Korea told the young people:
“Being young, in other words, means
having dreams. Like Don Bosco,
each one of you has your dream and
needs to put in the effort to realise
it. We Salesians are going to always
accompany you on your journey to
make it come true”. he encouraged
young people to strengthen the
SyM and be more active in a society
in these uncertain times, so they
can help many other young people
who can often be found without any
dream of their own.


One young person at the event
said “I would like to offer this fantastic


experience to my friends around me.
Over the three days and two nights of
SyD, I was certainly able to discover
the extent of Don Bosco’s love, a love
that continues until today through
the Salesians. I have decided to take
up an apostle’s role amongst my
friends, as Don Bosco asked young
people to do in his own time.”


The SyM in South Korea began in
2008, on the occasion of the World
youth Day in Sydney. The young
people taking part call themselves
“Bosconians” and receive formation
and spiritual guidance in the
various local communities. They
are continuing to grow in numbers.
Before the WyD in Madrid there
were about a hundred but in
Daejeon they represented the
majority of the 300 taking part.


Following a request from the
young people, the Salesians and
the Daughters of Mary help of
Christians are now planning to
make Salesian youth Day an annual
event for the SyM in Korea.


ANS


South Korea
The Salesian Youth Movement on the increase


China - Salesian Youth Day: utilising everyone’s
strengths, responding to God’s invitation


“Responding to the Invitation of Life” was the theme
of the Salesian youth Day 2012, held on Sunday 25
February in hong Kong. Through a series of activities and
challenges based on the story of Noah’s ark those taking
part on what kind of talents that God had given them.
The closing Mass was celebrated by Cardinal joseph Zen
Ze-Kiun SDB.


The whole Day unfolded using the story of the ark.
all participants were asked to board the ark. Then
crew members and passengers to equip and prepare
themselves to face the challenges after landing. This they
did by singing, dancing and playing games with rainbow
heralding a hopeful future.


after landing, their goal was to establish a new society
on a resource-insufficient wasteland. Through the co-
operation of different teams, the five essential elements
of society - clothing, food, housing, transportation and
religion, represented by different colours of small houses,
were exchanged among them.


Their tasks were classified into ten categories, ranging
from challenges to personal ability to team co-operation.
at the end of the event, the participants found out that
it was impossible to build all five small houses with the
ability of one single team. They needed the co-operation
of other teams in order to achieve the goal of establishing


a society. This showed that apart from utilising their own
individual talents, Salesian youth need to co-operate with
others to utilise and to develop their talents.


Fr. Simon Lam, Provincial of China Province commented,
“Today we come to celebrate life, to celebrate jesus who
offers his life to influence us.” Fr. Simon invited all Salesian
youth to start with their own community, pro-actively
involve themselves and adopt the motto: “Let me do it!”
as their life style. “We should try to influence others by our
example and show others that being a Salesian youth or
being close to a Salesian youth is a good thing.”


This year, Salesian youth Day concluded with a
thanksgiving mass which was celebrated by Cardinal
joseph Zen, former Bishop of hong Kong. he commenced
his sermon by saying that responding to the invitation
of life was a very attractive theme. he said, “Life is like a
capital that needs to be managed properly. Everyone is
unique and should live his life fully. By allowing jesus to
come into our lives, we can together build a community
that belongs to the church.”


Fr. antonio Leung, Leader of Salesian youth Ministry,
invited each one to be a true Salesian young person.
“Let me become Salesian youth No. 1, and build this
world together with God,” he invited them to use as their
prayer. ANS




Don Bosco Eastern Africa, APRIL 2012 25


Opened on 22nd February by her Royal highness the
Infanta doña Elena of Spain in Madrid the International
Exhibition of Courses for Students (aULa) has over 200 firms
and educational institutes show-casing their wares. among
these is also the Salesian Family, which on a single stand is
displaying what the Salesians (SDB) and the Daughters of
Mary help of Christians (FMa) have to offer.


her Royal highness was accompanied by the National
Minister for Education and by the Councillor for Education
of the Madrid Local authorities and as they visited the SF
Stand the Infanta spoke with those in charge of it.


aula 2012 is a shop-window for education, where
the Ministry of Education, the universities, public and
private educational and training centres and scholastic
Institutions from 13 countries display what they have to
offer to thousands of potential university students and
those in the final years of high Schools. In addition many
teachers, scholastic advisers and parents visit the Exhibition
to discover the openings available to the young people
depending on their educational background.


For some ten years now the SDB and the FMa have been
displaying what they have to offer, based on Christian
humanism and an holistic view of education in three important
areas: vocational training, free time and university studies.


In the field of vocational training the Salesian Family has
been a pioneer in Spain. Concerned with the formation
of the young and preparing them for the world of work,
Salesian centres have always striven to provide a high
quality of vocational training preparing for the job market
and with strong links with firms and businesses.


In addition the opportunities in the field of voluntary
service and free time activities are presented especially
through the CENSa, which arranges courses for leaders,
coordinators, social workers and others.


University studies are represented by the Don Bosco
Centre of higher Studies CES, linked with the Complutense
University in Madrid and dedicated to the formation of
educators, offering a great variety of courses in the area of
infant and primary schools and in social education.


The motto on the Salesian Stand reads “your education
is our business,” to underline a key point of the Salesian
educational system: the protagonism of the young in a
family atmosphere which encourages the development of
the whole person; a project than can be summed up in the
words of Don Bosco regarding the young “good Christians
and upright citizens.”


a video is available on the channel Boscomedia24.
ANS


Abandoned Children Increase Following
Clashes


Children are orphaned, abandoned and separated
from their families’ everyday in South Sudan following
the escalation of clashes.


a statement sent to CISa by john ashworth said that
when there is a mass movement of people, unfortunately
often children lose touch with their parents.


One of the most affected villages is Likuangole, where
there is an average temperature of 40 degrees, no
drinking water and electricity is limited to three hours
a day.


For decades, the clashes between two ethnic groups
following cattle ownership have caused an escalation
of violence and now constitute a major challenge to the
stability of South Sudan.


Since last December abuse among ethnic groups
has been radicalized by stealing livestock and burning
of fields and houses, leaving the population totally
unprotected. Over 170 thousand people have seen
their homes burned.


More than 2,000 people have died and 250, 000
displaced due to the conflict between the ethnic
communities of the Lou Nuer and Murle in Likuangole
and in other regions of jonglei, in Southern Sudan.


Meanwhile around 100 former South Sudanese
soldiers at the Sudanese army demonstrated in
Khartoum for several hours on February 15 demanding
disbursement of severance pay more than six months
after the south seceded and became an independent
state.


The ex-soldiers threw rocks at cars driving down the
streets in the Sudanese capital. Police surrounded the
demonstrators but did not attempt to disperse them.


an unidentified spokesperson for the group told the
Doha-based al-jazeera TV that they want their dues
before they leave Sudan back to their homelands after
serving loyally in the army.


“We have nothing to do with the south’s separation
so that we pay the price by being denied our rights,” he
said.


There are around 10,000 southern military officers
from different ranks who were relieved following the
south’s decision to secede from the north.


CISA


Spain: Salesian
education on show


South Sudan




2ND QUARTER26


Church Affirms its Commitment to
Life


Campaign on Climate
Change for Schools


launched


In 3 Decades, 1,000
Missionaries Slain


The Catholic Church upholds human life dearly and will go to any extend to protect it, a Catholic priest has
said.


“The Church welcomes any move to promote issues pertaining to pro-life and from any quarter,” said Rev Fr
Peter Mbaro, a lecturer at the Catholic University of Eastern africa (CUEa), Nairobi.


The priest, who was representing the Vice Chancellor of the Catholic University, Rev Fr Dr Pius Rutechura at a
one day symposium on life, organized by the Kenya Christian Professionals Forum (KCPF), commended the KCPF
for embracing family, life, religious freedom and social justice in its objectives.


In his remarks, Charles Kanjama, a lawyer and Vice Chairman of KCPF observed that the new Constitution of
Kenya has various components of pro-life.


“But we must be watchful for some people might be tempted to use it for their own goals, some of which could
be quite anti life such as advocating for abortion,” he observed.


“The new Constitution means well for the nation and its people but it could be misused by some of us for some
anti-life purposes,” he further told the more than 50 participants, drawn from various churches and from various
professions.


“We must therefore guard against any misuse of this Constitution and in particular where life, family, religious
freedom and social justice are concerned,” he added.


Dr George Njenga from Strathmore Catholic University, Nairobi said abortion was more of a moral issue than
a legal one.


“We must ensure that we have morally defended life, before the law comes in to play its part,” he stressed.
Dr jean Kagia, Convener, KCPF said the organization had lined up various activities, including the official launch


of Rescue homes (Kiotas) for victims of pregnancy crisis, scheduled for Friday, March 23 at Lenana Conference
Centre, Lavington, Nairobi and a March for life, scheduled for Saturday, march 25, beginning from Nairobi’s
Uhuru Park.


CISA


a non-governmental organisation that deals with
bone health and aging research in Kenya, Osteoporosis
Prevention and age Concern (OPaC) has launched a
campaign dubbed: Climate Change, Take Action for
primary schools children.


The campaign was launched on February 15, 2012 at
Consolata Primary School in Westlands, Nairobi.


The climate change campaign aims to instill climate
change and green house farming knowledge to the
children and the elderly in the country in order to counter
the eminent danger of global warming.


The programs plan to plant at least one million trees
in the country by the end of the year. Currently, the
organization is encouraging the elderly persons to
develop tree nurseries in their locality.


During the launch, the Country Program Director,
joseph Gichuki called on all to take action in nature
preservation and conservation. “Enough of talk shows,
let’s move out and take action,” Gichuki urged.


“…The destruction of humanity by nature will not be
irreversible. It is the responsibility of humanity to reverse the
adverse effects of industrialization on nature,” said Gichuki.


OPaC plans to extend the campaign to arid and semi-arid
areas in the country and is seeking partners and donors to
advance these programs in Kenya and East africa.


CISA


according to a report published Wednesday by
the Rome-based Fides news agency, at least 1,000
missionaries were killed in the period from 1980 to
2011.


In the years 1980-89 there are 115 deaths among
missionaries recorded. This number is below the
true total, Fides said, as it only refers to confirmed
cases.


In the following decade there was a sharp increase
in deaths, for a total of 604. among the causes for the
much higher number was a widening of the criteria
for counting deaths. Instead of just being deaths
due to direct religious persecution the number now
includes all those killed in a violent manner in the
course of their pastoral duties.


as well, the Rwanda conflict in 1994 caused at
least 248 victims among missionary workers. Fides
also mentioned improvements in the mass media,
with news being spread from even isolated places,
as another reason for the higher total.


In the period 2001-11 there were 255 recorded
deaths among missionaries. In the most recent year,
2011 there were 26 missionaries killed: 18 priests, 4
women religious, and 4 laypeople.


Zenit


News from the Church




Don Bosco Eastern Africa, APRIL 2012 27


as we approach the 50th
anniversary of the Second Vatican
Council, a South american
theologian wonders if another
Council could havx e the same
reviving effect on the Church.


Those who lived the ecclesial
atmosphere of the mid 20th century
(prior to the Second Vatican
Council) closely, can’t prevent
feeling the current situation as
similar. Then, as now, a mixture of


International Organization for
Migration (IOM) Uganda is concerned
about an increase in the number
of Ugandan women trafficked
abroad, particularly to asia. Victims
of trafficking whom IOM has helped
to return to Uganda have reported
being subjected to sexual slavery,
rape and torture.


In the past four months alone,
thirteen victims of trafficking were
rescued in Malaysia and referred to
IOM for assistance to return home.
Ugandan sources suggest that there
may be as many as 600 trafficked
Ugandan women currently in
Malaysia, with between 10 and 20
more arriving each week.


“Prevention offers much more
positive outcomes if all stakeholders,
government and civil society
take timely action against human
trafficking” says IOM Uganda’s Chief of
Mission Gerard Waite. “IOM has been
working with the government to help
victims of trafficking to rebuild their
lives, but once the damage is done, it
is hard to reverse,” he adds.


perplexity and hope was a concern
for many Christians. Only those
who lived completely in another
world didn’t sense that something
big was about to happen.


The announcement of the
Ecumenical Council was received
with a combination of surprise
and fear. Surprise because of the
announcement of something the
Church wasn’t used to. Fear that
an authoritarian gesture of the
hierarchy could lead to the end of
reflection and search.


In time, the fear was overcome,
all the more so facing the
conciliar texts, especially the
four big constitutions and the
contemporary papal encyclicals:
john XXIII’s Mater et Magistra and
Pacem in Terris, and the subsequent
election of Paul VI. The Council was
greeted positively and it developed
a process of reflection in Latin
america.


Predominantly young women have
been trafficked either by individuals
or employment agencies, typically
lured by promises of lucrative
business, job, or study opportunities
abroad.


“Someone promised me a job in a
Ugandan restaurant in Malaysia. I was
taken to Bangkok for two days and
then on to Malaysia. The place I was
taken to in Bangkok was very terrible;
it was like a mad house. There were
about 20 Ugandan girls, very young
girls of 20, 19, and 17 years old. They
were taking weed, cocaine, smoking
pipe in the corridors. I managed to
keep my cool because I thought if I
would react badly I would be put in
trouble or beaten or even killed,” said
a 22 year old victim who recently
returned home with IOM’s help.


“When I reached Malaysia, I was
taken to this Ugandan woman who
was supposed to give me a job. This
lady told me: ‘Shower, then eat, then
sleep. you start work tomorrow.’
The next day she told me there was
no restaurant work and I had to
prostitute myself. Every day I should


In Brazil as in other countries, the
first ones to promote the reception
were the bishops, strongly inspired
by the constant and updated
reflection of theologians and
pastoralists. It was the generation
f the “conciliar bishops”, and those
that came immediately after, who
promoted walking the roads that
the Council had opened.


The Brazilian bishops that
returned from the Council were
very different from the ones
that had arrived in Rome. all the
bishops stayed in the same house,
where the most skilled theologians
and also people linked to the
pastoral area were invited to give
conferences. This turned out to
be a kind of updating course that
enabled a huge renovation within
the episcopate.


UCA News


give her US$ 200. She showed me a
metallic heater and said if I did not do
everything she said, she would hurt
me with it.”


In 2009, the Government of Uganda
enacted the Uganda Prevention of
Trafficking in Persons act. however,
the growing number of trafficked
persons over the last two years calls
for coordinated efforts in properly
understanding the problem, while
investigating and prosecuting human
traffickers.


IOM recently received support from
the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign
affairs to develop a coordinated
response to human trafficking in
Uganda.


Globally IOM is the leading agency
in counter trafficking and prevention
of human slavery. Since 1994 the
organisation has implemented almost
500 projects in 85 countries, and
provided assistance to approximately
15,000 trafficked persons.


CISA


Could a new Vatican Council inspire
a new dawn for the Church?


UGANDA: Trafficking Women to Asia
Increasing says IOM




2ND QUARTER28


the convent, to raise awareness for
peripheral idiopathic neuropathy
disorder, a neurological disorder
which she now suffers from. In april
2006, she testified at a Washington
congressional hearing on the need
for research on the painful and
crippling disease.


Reverend Mother Dolores hart
became Prioress of the abbey in
2001, but she remains a member
of the academy of Motion Picture
arts and Sciences, having in recent
years become the only nun to be an
Oscar-voting member.


This year, she will be attending the
Oscars herself, because she is the
subject of the short documentary:
God is Bigger Than Elvis, which is
up for an academy award.


ICN


Somalia (37), India (27), Mexico (27),
and afghanistan (24).


The country also ranks 3rd in
the organization’s Impunity Index,
a ranking of countries based on
unsolved journalist murder cases.


at least 56 journalist’s murders
have gone unsolved over the past
decade.


The report also observed that
nearly two years after the killing
of 57 people, 32 of whom were
journalists, in the southern
Philippines, “the fight for justice
has simultaneously intensified
in rhetoric and bogged down in
technicalities.”


“Legal stalling tactics, a fractured
prosecution, and slow-moving
courts have conspired against a
speedy trial,” the report added.


ICN


a hollywood star who became a
nun, is the subject of a documentary
film up for an Oscar this week.
Dolores hart was the first film star
to kiss Elvis Presley. She went on to
perform in several more films in the
late 1950s and early 1960s.


In 1961 she played St Clare in
Francis of assisi. That year she met
Pope john XXIII. She told him: “I’m
Dolores hart, the actress playing
Clare.” The Pope said: “No, you are
Clare!” Those words were prophetic,
as a few years later Dolores entered
the Regina Laudis Benedictine
abbey in Connecticut, and took her
final vows there in 1970.


Manila:
The Philippines has been ranked


the second deadliest country
for journalists as of 2011 due to
“persistent violence” confronting
media personnel, especially those
working in the provinces.


“Despite high levels of press
and internet freedom, provincial
journalists worked under the
constant threat of reprisal,” said


as a Benedictine Sister she has
lived a very quiet, structured life,
praying the Office every day. The
community is very self-sufficient
and has its own 400 acre farm,
pottery and foundry. Through
the years, Mother Dolores has
been instrumental in developing
the abbey’s connection with the
community through the arts. Paul
Newman helped her with funding
for a lighting grid, when she decided
to start a year-round arts school and
a better-equipped stage.


another friend, the academy
award winning actress Patricia Neal
also helped support the abbey’s
open-air theatre and arts program.


Every summer, the abbey’s 38
nuns help the community stage a
musical - shows have included West
Side Story, Fiddler on the Roof, The
Music Man and My Fair Lady.


In 2006, Mother Dolores visited
hollywood again after 43 years in


the New york-based Committee
to Protect journalists (CPj) in its
annual report released today.


at least 72 journalists have been
killed for their work since 1992,
making the Philippines the second
deadliest country in the world for
journalists, the report said.


Iraq tops the 2011 list, with 151
cases, followed by the Philippines
(72), algeria (60 ), Russia (53),
Colombia (43), Pakistan (42),


Star who became nun to attend
Oscars


Country second deadliest for
journalists




Don Bosco Eastern Africa, APRIL 2012 29


Baptism leads mother to find
new life of service.


For Kanako Ota, a resident of
Sakai City in Osaka, this year’s Easter
Vigil on april 7 will be a uniquely
momentous occasion. For that is
the date when she will receive the
sacrament of Baptism.


“My parents are professed
Buddhists, but I had a feeling I
would end up being baptized. I
even told my husband before we
were married,” she says.


Baptism, of course, marks a
person’s spiritual birth. For Kanako,
it will also mark the culmination of a
long and often painful journey.


She attended Catholic schools
from kindergarten through high
school. as she puts it herself, her
family life was “complicated.” just
six months after she was born, her
mother tried to kill herself.


The attempt failed but she injured
herself so badly, she was left with
an artificial arm and leg. Following
that, she became mentally unstable
and repeatedly attacked her own
hand with a carving knife.


Kanako went to Catholic schools
throughout her childhood. “In the
middle of all the troubles with my
mother,” she says, “I sometimes
went to the chapel at school, as if to
seek counsel.


“I turned to the statue of the
Blessed Mother and the crucifix and
pleaded, ‘help me!’ Sometimes I just
let out a scream inside my heart.”


Looking back on it now she
sometimes feels that, in a strange
way, her move towards Catholicism
was influenced by her family’s
Buddhist devotions. “Maybe I
learned something, seeing my
mother go before the family altar
every day,” she says. “Maybe even
with the differences of religion
notwithstanding, you sort of pick
up the way you are supposed to
relate to God.”


When she was 26, her mother
died. Some of her last words were,
“my life was all for nothing.” Kanako,
who had a one-year-old child of her
own by then, says she felt “relief”
more than sadness after the event.


“Because I had a mother, a family
like that, I really contemplated
human pain and sadness, and the
way to live a happy life; I learned to
feel,” she says.


“I realized, ‘I was born to learn
this lesson.’ and I decided I wanted
to become the sort of person who
could walk alongside the weak –
people like my mother – on their
journey.”


The years went by and she and her
husband produced four children.
But when the children grew older
and her household duties began
to grow lighter, she began to think
about what to do with the next
phase of her life. She found herself
suspecting strongly that she “might
find my allotted role at a church.”


She began to go to Mass at Sakai
Church, which was where the
religious sisters she had met during
her days in Catholic school went.
Then she decided to take courses
to learn more about the faith.


What fascinated her most during
her courses were those moments
when, during discussion with fellow
participants, it became clear that the
world of the Bible and her own life
overlapped. People and situations
from her past kept coming to mind.
She reflected most often on her
mother, thinking, “That person in
the Bible—that’s my mom.”


Now, Kanako is helping out at a
public kindergarten for children
with special needs. There are times
when communicating with them is
difficult, but a relationship of trust
does grow as she searches for a way
to work with each individual child.


“I feel so happy when I realize that
I have developed deeper bonds
with them through a meeting of
hearts,” she says.


a statue of the Blessed Mother
that she received while in school
still stands in her home. When her
children were studying for exams
at school, she gave them rosaries as
an o-mamori, or a sort of mystical
protection. They, in turn, are united
in their support of her religious
pursuit.


“how do they feel about my
baptism? They’re probably thinking
to themselves, ‘So, she’s finally
getting around to it?’ ” she says.


“I’ve certainly never encountered
any resistance from them. On
the contrary, they often ask me
with concern if I’ve left my Bible
somewhere safe.”


ucanews


One woman’s inspiring journey to
Catholicism


“Maybe even with
the differences


of religion
notwithstanding,


you sort of pick up
the way you are


supposed to relate to
God.”




2ND QUARTER30