By Paschal Norbert
NAIROBI, JUNE 20, 2023 (CISA)- The Salesians of Don Bosco Province of Eastern Africa (AFE) have organized a Marian Congress under the theme, “Mary’s Call and Our Christian Call” (Lk 1: 26-40), from June 28 to July 1, 2023, to thank Mother Mary “for all the wonderful things she did here in Eastern Africa through them.”
In a letter sent to CISA by the Social Communications Delegate of the province, Fr Sebastian Koladiyil, the Marian Congress will be held at The Shrine of Mary Help of Christians, Upper Hill-Nairobi, and will have talks on various topics by experts, Lectio Divina, Group Discussions, Workshops, Pilgrimage, reconciliation service, Holy Eucharist, and Marian Serenade.
Fr Koladiyil explains, the auspicious event “will also give an opportunity to meet and mingle with people of different nationalities in East Africa and to pray together. Certainly, this event will be an extraordinary time of learning and coming to love our Blessed Mother and a moment of grace. The Congress is seen as an occasion for prayer, reflection, faith-formation and spreading of the devotion to Mother Mary.”
Owing to the growth of the Eastern Province, the congress comes a time when the Salesians are preparing to expand and divide the Eastern Africa Province: Kenya, Tanzania, Sudan and South Sudan, into two provinces; Kenya, which will include Sudan and South Sudan and Tanzania, which will be a lone province covering the entire country.
It is, for this reason, the Salesians are thanking and honouring the Blessed Mother “of whom Don Bosco, towards the end of his life, looking back to all he achieved during his lifetime, said, ‘Mary did it all.’”
According to Fr Koladiyil, the Marian Congress scheduled to start on June 28 is open to all faithful from all walks of life and registration is currently ongoing.
“From every Salesian institution across East Africa, groups of youth and faithful are already registered for the event. We are inviting and encouraging all faithful to participate in the programme. Only group registration is welcomed. Those interested in participating are encouraged to register through their parish. Those from other countries will be accommodated in various families and institutions around Nairobi. Around 1000 people are expected to participate in the celebrations,” he stated.
Adding that “All the celebrations will be held at the Shrine of Mary Help of Christians, Upper Hill, except the Pilgrimage to the Resurrection Garden on the third day of the Congress.”
The Salesians of Don Bosco from India and Italy came to East Africa in 1980, and today, the religious congregation of men has grown to be a powerful presence across the Eastern Africa region, making a difference in the lives of young people through education and other forms of youth ministry.
