Participants and Topics

A total of 22 participants attended the seminar, including 12 Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (FMA), 9 Salesians of Don Bosco (SDB), and 1 bishop from the Consolata Missionaries, representing 17 Salesian provinces. Throughout the event, 23 topics were presented, categorized into three main areas:

1. A general presentation of the mission in the Church, based on magisterial documents.

2. An analysis of the implementation of the Africa Project across various Salesian provinces in Africa and Madagascar.

3. A presentation on ACSSA by the association’s coordinating team.

Sr. Pascaline Affognon, FMA, Secretary of the AFO Province, reflected on the event’s success: “This seminar was a success. The objective of tracing the history of the SDB and FMA Salesian missions before and after the Africa Project was achieved. Each speaker made a serious effort to study the origins of the missions in Africa and Madagascar.”

Most of the topics presented were research papers retracing the history of the Africa Project within each province. This scientific research proved valuable, especially for the authors themselves. Fr. Hermann Solonomenjanah, SDB, Councillor of the Madagascar Vice-Province, shared his experience: “At first, I was afraid I wouldn’t be up to the task since I don’t have formal training in historical research. But as I progressed, this fear turned into the joy of serving my Vice-Province with this humble contribution, helping Salesians and FMAs understand that we are not isolated—we belong to a vast continent called Africa.”

The Significance of Salesian History

The enthusiasm for this seminar was shared by all participants. Fr. Anthony Emeka Okonkwo, SDB, representing the ANN Province, remarked:“I was very happy to take part in this scientific work on the history of the Salesian presence in Africa. This was my first time participating, and the conference provided me with valuable knowledge and training.”

He also expressed deep gratitude to the pioneers of the Salesian mission in the region:“Our history is a gift from God, made possible by the first zealous and dedicated missionaries who endured many challenges for the sake of the mission.”

One of the key takeaways from this continental gathering was the collective awareness of the need for Salesian provinces in Africa and Madagascar to document their history for present and future generations. Sr. Pascaline Affognon emphasized this point: “This seminar has undoubtedly increased awareness of the history and identity of the Salesian charism. However, challenges remain, such as preserving documentation and maintaining provincial and local archives. The journey must continue. The Salesian charism, sown like a seed in Africa, is growing. May the Holy Spirit guide us towards new paths.”

Fr. Anthony Okonkwo echoed this sentiment, stressing the importance of historical awareness: “History reminds us of our identity. We must courageously share our story, appreciate our great achievements, humbly acknowledge challenges, and find ways to address them—so we can shape a stronger identity for today and tomorrow.”

The History of ACSSA in Africa-Madagascar

The ACSSA for the Africa-Madagascar region was established in 2009. Fr. Stanislaw Zimniak, SDB, ACSSA Secretary and Treasurer, highlighted the crucial support of Fr. Guillermo Basañes, then Regional Councillor for Africa, and Sr. Piera Cavaglià, FMA General Secretary.

The first seminar for the region took place in Nairobi, Kenya, from October 11-14, 2011, under the theme: “Salesian History and Identity: Production and Use of Sources, Preservation of Cultural Heritage.” This event spurred new ACSSA memberships and reinforced the importance of historical preservation.

The second continental ACSSA seminar was held again in Nairobi from March 4-9, 2019, focusing on “Following in the Footsteps of Our Pioneers in the Salesian Mission.” This meeting further strengthened the desire to continue along the path of historical research and documentation.

Now, with the third ACSSA seminar concluded, Fr. Zimniak expressed optimism for the future: “These are steps forward, and we hope for a promising future for ACSSA in this vast continent. The fact that the Salesian presence has grown to encompass two regions in Africa is clear evidence of this progress.”

The Future of ACSSA in Africa

Sr. Maria Rohrer, FMA, ACSSA Councillor for Africa-Madagascar, who has participated in all three continental seminars, observed a “remarkable maturation” in the latest event. She noted: “This seminar has become truly African—not only in the number of participants but also in the quality of research presentations, analytical depth, gratitude toward the missionaries, and motivation to preserve history.”

Despite this progress, challenges remain, such as ensuring ACSSA’s presence in every Salesian province. Sr. Inácia Chaquisse, FMA, one of the ACSSA councillors for the region, expressed her vision: “I hope that during this five-year period (2022-2027), ACSSA in Africa and Madagascar will be represented by a member in every FMA and SDB province. This would awaken a sense of history within the Salesian Family, ensuring the preservation of our cultural heritage and enabling us to write the history of our presence.”

Looking Ahead

The third ACSSA seminar in Africa marks the beginning of a series of continental seminars scheduled for this year. The next seminar will be held in Buenos Aires, Argentina, from June 3-7, 2025, focusing on the Salesian missions in the South Cone and Interamerica regions under the general theme “Salesian Missions Around the World.”

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