On the first day, after reading the messages of Rector Major Fr Ángel Fernandez Artime, of FMA Mother General Yvonne Reungoat, and the introductory greetings from ACSSA leaders and SDB and FMA host provinces, there were two presentations, one dedicated to commemorating Fr Antonio César Fernandez, SDB, the Salesian assassinated on February 15 in Burkina Faso.
In the afternoon, Fr Francesco Motto, ACSSA President, illustrated the Acts of the First Seminar in the region, also in Nairobi, in 2011, before continuing with the presentation of the biographies of distinguished Salesians and FMAs.
The second day opened in the morning with a presentation by Mr Richard Wato, on the theme "Archives, Cataloging and Digitization". Subsequently, other prominent figures were presented, Salesians who through their works planted the seed of the Salesian charism in African land. The day then concluded with an overall discussion of Salesian figures who worked in Zambia; then a presentation on the contribution of young Africans to the growth of the Salesian charism in West Africa; and finally, reference to the use of a critical approach and of diversified sources in the historical treatment of biographical profiles.
On a day marked by the liturgy and the penitential climate of Ash Wednesday, work continued yesterday, 6 March. In the morning, the presentation of Salesian profiles of particular importance was presented, while in the afternoon various reports were presented by Fr Motto, Fr Stanislaw Zimniak, Fr Thomas Anchukandam and Sr. Grazia Loparco (all with roles of responsibility within ACSSA), concerning the meaning of preserving and passing on historical research, the critical approach to Salesian sources and the different literary genres and the contribution of the ACSSA to the historical knowledge of Salesian activity in the world.
In this way everyone was made aware of the individual responsibility for the documents produced today, in view of the work of the historians of tomorrow.
