The enhancement of the quality of the Salesian mission in the Region was the focal point of the meeting. Strengthening the formation team both qualitatively and quantitatively in accordance with the guidelines of Ratio and reviewing various Curatoriums formed the crux of the meeting. The Superiors committed themselves to fostering the talents of every confrere. They would achieve this by equipping confreres with different specializations to promote different aspects of Salesian mission following the footsteps of Don Bosco.
The issue of solidarity between the provinces was also discussed, given the fact that some (provinces) were strong while the others were weaker. It was agreed that going forward, the region will depend not only on the provinces that were stronger but base themselves more on a greater spirit of solidarity, in the line of the missionary generosity called for by the Rector Major’s priorities.
As per the deliberations of the plenary, for the first time, there will be a full-time permanent Secretary who will be supported by a secretariat. The mandate of the secretary will include among other things, communication, coordinating different commissions, taking care of the archives, and helping the Regional councillor in his plenary session with the Rector major and the general council. Nairobi was voted to be the principal headquarters of CIVAM.
While the CIVAM conference remains unique in the region, the provinces will start to slowly organize themselves according to pastoral zones, in view of the future creation of provincial Conferences by the Rector major.
A day before concluding the meeting, the Superiors had the opportunity to visit some Salesian missions in Nairobi, and among them, Don Bosco Boys Town (a technical school), Don Bosco Utume Theological center and Bosco Boys (a project for street children that also houses pre-novitiate).
In the theologate, the Superiors had the opportunity to interact with young confreres from different provinces. In his good night message to Bosco Boys, Fr. Alphonse Owoudou, challenged the boys to believe in themselves. He advised them to have a dream and nourish it, following the example of John Bosco, a boy like them, who had a dream and with the help of God and Mary, fought his way to make it come true.
https://www.infoans.org/en/sections/news/item/14083-kenya-salesian-provincials-conference-of-africa-and-madagascar-civam-meeting-2021#sigProIdeb39496788
