Fr Owoudou welcomed and listened to each member of the community, devoting an average of 25 minutes to each one. He attended House Council meetings and meetings of the formators, and did not forget to meet with employed staff. In addition, he was able to visit Bishop Gaston Ruvezi, SDB, bishop of Sakania-Kipushi, and the two communities of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians at the High School in Kwesu and the St Joseph novitiate, very close to Kansebula.
Many valuable lessons and recommendations were offered by Fr Owoudou throughout the week, particularly in his concluding remarks: he reminded the young Salesians in Kansebula above all to study and prepare for their mission as pastors and educators: "It is for you that I study", Don Bosco told the young people in a famous quote reported by the Councillor. For this reason, he urged the students to take advantage of these three years of formation to structure a solid Salesian identity; and the formators to let them develop their talents, remembering that Salesians in formation immediately have something to contribute to young people and communities through their energy and creativity. They can conduct retreats, prepare catechetical topics, produce articles for a magazine, etc.
The Kansebula community is made up of Salesians who are different in origin, region, language, seniority, Province... For this reason, the Councillor for the Africa-Madagascar Region also invited them to avoid these differences becoming a reason for division, but rather a reason for mutual enrichment.
Again, he recalled that Salesians in formation and formators are all in ongoing formation, and that everyone needs to be accompanied, through the talk with the Rector, the meeting with the spiritual guide, confession; and in the same way everyone must be constantly listening to the Word of God, everyone is invited to share it; and everyone also needs to explore and live the theme of General Chapter 29 "PASSIONATE ABOUT JESUS CHRIST, DEDICATED TO YOUNG PEOPLE. Living our Salesian vocation faithfully and prophetically.“
Finally, on the subject of the economy, Fr Owoudou congratulated the community on their path towards agricultural and pastoral self-sufficiency, and for continuing to equip the house so that everyone feels comfortable. "If Kansebula becomes more and more a fraternal community, it will be a prophetic sign for the whole of society and an invitation to young people to commit themselves to the Salesian vocation" was his final message.
Fr Piero Gavioli, SDB
