The Regional Coordinator for mission Animation (RCMA) Fr Privat Fouda in collaboration with the representative of the Missions Sector for the region, Fr Eric Mairura and the CIVAM provincial responsible for the sector Fr.Vaclav Klement (who himself was a General Councillor for the Missions on a previous assignment) organized the meeting.  We were blessed too with the presence of the General Councillor for the Missions, Fr Alfred Maravilla, who offered various appropriate interventions which greatly enriched the meeting.  Our Regional Councillor, Fr. Alphonse Owoudou, interacted with the meeting through his carefully prepared talk. There was an input from Fr. Sahaya G. Selvam (the AFE Provincial Delegate for Youth Ministry) on the Salesian Charismatic Identity in the light of Project Africa.

Much stress has been placed on the fact that the missionary spirit is the fundamental element of the charism (charisma fundationis) passed on by our founder Don Bosco to the Salesians and to the Salesian Family.  The responsibility is on us to make sure that genuine Salesian mission animation has kept Don Bosco's missionary spirit alive in every Salesian and educative and pastoral community.  There is an urgent need to foster in every Salesian the willingness to discern if God calls him to commit himself throughout his life as a missionary.  The meeting conveyed to all participants the importance of working together and sharing information of the activities from the sector in the region.

The Councillor for the Missions, Fr.Alfred Maravilla, emphasized that Missionary Animation is not limited to occasional celebrations or activities, but rather a continuous process of creating awareness in every Province and Educative Pastoral Community of our call to be missionaries.  Emphasis was also placed on the need for missionaries to be totally and stably available to the mission, dedicating themselves to learn the language and culture of the people among whom they live. This would give them a sense of belonging to the Salesian world in solidarity with the poor and marginalized in whichever community or peoples they serve in total availability.  The participants were given an overview of the mission department and its various functions.  The need for synergy in the work of PDMA with all the departments of the Province like Youth Ministry, Formation, Social communication, Salesian family and Finance was also emphasized.

The Province Delegates had an opportunity to enrich themselves through group discussions, informal moments, coming to know each other and giving a sense of solidarity for all those working in various challenging circumstances.  Much emphasis has been put on plans for a worthy celebration of the 150th anniversary of the first missionary expedition.  Each province was encouraged to make plans for different moments and ways of celebrating this event and share with others to enrich their own planning.  During the meeting Fr. Eric Mairura helped the participants to understand the involvement of the PDMA in promoting and accompanying Salesian Missionary Volunteers in the province.

There was great appreciation expressed regarding the hospitality offered by AFE (Eastern Africa Province) which hosted this meeting at the provincial house in Nairobi, Kenya.  The participants thanked the provincial of AFE, Fr George Tharaniyil, the Rector and community members of Don Bosco Upper Hill, Nairobi and the local PDMA Fr. Jose Padinjareparampil, who facilitated different logistical aspects of the meeting.

By Fr. Padinjareparampil Jose, PDMA – AFE, Nairobi

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