At 6 a.m. the Cardinal, together with the delegation accompanying him, left Lubumbashi for Sakania. The first stop was Kasumbalesa, a place where he stopped to meet the local Bishop, Bishop Gaston Ruwezi, SDB. The latter, assisted by some priests, welcomed the Cardinal and his entourage in St Paul's Parish in Kasumbalesa, presenting to him in a friendly and fraternal way the history and future projects of the Diocese, in a speech read by the Vicar General, Msgr. Gaston Kibilo.
From 9:00 to 10:15, the Cardinal and his entourage travelled to Mokambo, the second and final stop before reaching their destination. Here he met for 15 minutes with Christians and members of the Salesian Family in the large parish church of St Joseph, offering them some words of comfort, prayers and a solemn blessing.
Finally, around 11:20, the Rector Major entered Sakania, welcomed by a large crowd of faithful. The face and gestures of the Rector Major faced with the great assembly showed how excited and truly impressed he was in his heart by this spontaneous welcome by the people of Sakania – within which there were also several local political and administrative authorities and the Rector of the University of Lubumbashi.
Then, during the Mass he presided over in the square of the parish of St Dominic Savio, the Rector Major celebrated the liturgy of the day, focusing on three key words of the Gospel proposed for the feast of St Matthias: love, joy and choice.
"Love one another as I have loved you", said Card. Fernández Artime, quoting one of the most well-known sayings of Jesus. Then, on joy, he added:“Africa is joyful. When we visit Africa, and today Lubumbashi and Sakania, the songs and dances that are part of the program are a clear expression of this joy. May this joy be born of faith as disciples of the Lord Jesus.”
Finally, on the third word, he said, “We are all chosen and called by God to carry out the mission. Let us remember the words of the Lord Jesus, "You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last" (John 15:16).
