Later he was taken to the Salesian community where he received a ceremonial traditional welcome accompanied by a children’s cultural dance. The Rector Major spoke briefly to the gathering before retiring to the community house. He said that he has so far visited 38 countries and this was a remarkable welcome he received in Monrovia. He also said that every culture is unique but we all speak the language of the heart and he appreciated the warmth of welcome extended to him.
The Rector Major later spoke to the Salesians at the end of Evening Prayer. Some of the bishops of Liberia were also present at the time. The Rector Major underlined the fact that the Salesians are integrated into the local church just like Don Bosco who recruited numerous vocations for the dioceses of Italy during his life time. Fr Angel appreciated the presence of the bishops without any protocols as a beautiful sign of collaboration and affection. He said to the confreres that it is with great pleasure that he is here in Liberia.
Just by meeting them in the country of their work he desired to confirm the faith of the confreres and express that every Salesian community is important and no place is lost in the world. He appreciated the presence of the bishops as an expression of communion with the congregation. The ecclesial presence is the symbol of communion in faith with the whole church. He thanked the bishops for their closeness and expressed the willingness of the confreres to collaborate.
Later in the evening, over dinner, the Rector Major had the opportunity to meet and interact with Archbishop Miroslaw Adamczyk, Apostolic Nuncio to Liberia and Sierra Leone, Archbishop Lewis J. Ziegler, Archbishop of Monrovia, Bishop Anthony F. Bowah, Bishop of Gbarnga, Fr Dennis Nimene, Secretary of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Liberia and all the Salesians working in Liberia.
