March, 2014

The feast of the Annunciation of the Lord celebrates the angel Gabriel’s appearance to the Virgin Mary (Luke 1:26-38), his announcement that the Blessed Virgin had

been chosen to be the Mother of Our Lord, and Mary’s fiat—her willing acceptance of God’s holy plan.

Originally a feast of our Lord, but now celebrated as a Marian feast, the feast of the Annunciation dates back at least to the fifth century, and the date of the feast, which is determined by the date of Christmas, was set at March 25 by the seventh century.

The Annunciation, as much as or even more so than Christmas, represents Christ’s Incarnation. When Mary signaled to Gabriel her acceptance of God’s Will, Christ was conceived in her womb through the power of the Holy Spirit. While most of the Fathers of the Church say that Mary’s fiat was essential to God’s plan of salvation, God foresaw Mary’s acceptance of His Will from all eternity.

The narrative of the Annunciation testifies powerfully to the truth of the Catholic tradition that Mary was indeed a virgin when Christ was conceived, but also that she

intended to remain one perpetually. Mary’s response to Gabriel—”How shall this be done, because I know not man?” (Luke 1:34) was universally interpreted by the Fathers of the Church as a statement of Mary’s resolution to remain a virgin forever.

THE ANNUCIATION OF THE LORD

Reaching Out To The Young

NoviceSunyani - Ghana

NII EKUEFRITZ FREDERICK

As a part of Simon Srugi Community’s answer to the education and evangelization of the Students and Oratorians of St. Vitus Technical Institute at Baakuniaba – Sunyani an oratory was opened last year 2013. It was Brother Peter Gbertyo who was the pioneer of this center.

In order to attract many more young people of this vicinity in this oratory and also to create awareness of the presence of the Salesians of Don Bosco in this part of Sunyani, novices and aspirants Elvis, Fritz and Richmond respectively were sent to organize a five weeks football gala/tournament for the youngsters. This lasted from the first weekend of February to the first weekend of March, 2014.

As the event progressed, St. Vitus Oratory experienced a tremendous increase in the numbers of the youngsters. From the forty that were constant since the time Bro. Peter arrived to about one hundred and twenty. These young people were divided into four groups namely Don Bosco FC, Dominic Savio FC, Michael Magone FC and Don Cafasso FC. The rest of the youngsters were engaged in party games.

The last day of the competition was very spectacular. The third place of the tournament was played between Michael Magone FC and Don Cafasso while the final match was played between Don Bosco FC and Dominic Savio. Meanwhile, Michael Magone FC won their counterpart with eight goals to nil and took the third position. Dominic Savio FC beat Don Bosco FC with a goal and lifted the trophy of the tournament. Various gifts were presented to the participants who merited them by Rev. Fr. Chuks Akubueze.

The team members of Dominic Savio FC would keep the trophy for two weeks and then, later return it to the novices and animators of the oratory.

MARIAN CAMP

NoviceSunyani - Ghana

NII EKUEFRITZ FREDERICK

The Marian camp is an annual event in the Diocese of Sunyani for young people to

encounter Mary. This is normally held at Our Lady of Peace Grotto, Nsoatre. This year it was scheduled from 28th February to the 2nd of March 2014.

Interestingly, the Novices partook in this annual event and contributed their quota to its success. The event was for youth of every age as the participants were divided into three groups respectively. That is, young people below thirteen years, young people between thirteen to eighteen years of age and those eighteen. Knowledge of the Bible, Sacraments of the Church and Marriage were discussed in these groups respectively. Fr. Ekezie Anthony and Fr. Chuks were the facilitators of two of these groups and the Novices helped them in its animation.

Generally, it was a good impression that we had on the young people as we used the opportunity for vocation animation.

UPDATE FROM IRELANDSDBCelbridge - Ireland

RICHARDEBEJER

Practical TraineeFreetown - Sierra Leone

LINUSONYENAGUBOR

FEBRUARY FREETOWNBo’ RetreatThe community monthly recollection of the month of February was done at Bo, where the new presence is located. It was graced by His lordship the bishop of Bo diocese. Bishop Campbell Charles spoke on the Pope’s apostolic exhortation titled Evangelii Gaudium, which encourages every Christian to rediscover the joy of a personal encounter with Jesus, and to engage with renewed vigour in the mission of spreading that joy of the Gospel and becoming spirit- filled evangelizers. He went further to add that often time we forget the Lord of the work, with the mind that we are working for the Lord.

St. Augustine Olympics

Practical TraineeMonrovia - Liberia

JAMESACHEANPONG

Don Bosco’s Preventive System Review Monrovia

In brief, this was a seminar on the educative system of Don Bosco (preventive system). Father Raphael and Father Daniel Libi

and the Rector of the house Father Nicola, together with a Parishner who works in the ministry of Education in Monrovia-Liberia, Mrs. Esther Catakwa, facilitated it. She really did well with her presentation. She was able to enlighten the youth about the importance of education from her experience as a woman who has been in the educational system of Liberia for quite a long time. Then Rector of the house gave the history of our congregation while Fr. Raphael and Fr. Daniel beautifully connected the life of Don Bosco and his pedagogy to the educational system of Liberia. With the situation we have here, we always share whatever we have with the young so after the seminar we had lunch together.

These are pictures from the feast of our father and founder Saint John Bosco. It is unfortunate that all what took place was not photographed. The youth center dedicated the whole month to talk about Saint John Bosco. It started with a seminar on his educative system, then inter-communities football tournaments while the Parish and the school had novena to Don Bosco as well as a Quiz competition. On the feast proper, we had the privilege of hosting the Apostolic Nuncio who opened the celebration of the feast with a Mass in the morning, which was attended by the Parishners, students and young people. It was very beautiful to see how

the Apostolic

Nuncio was very happy to honour such invitation from us. One of the beautiful moments also was when the entire community animated the youth on the knowledge of Don Bosco. During the quiz competition, the entire community was present as different Catholic schools came to take part in the Quiz competition on Knowledge of Don Bosco. Party games followed immediately, it was really good seeing the young people mixed among themselves from different places in the

name of the feast of Don Bosco to share their time together.

Practical TraineeIbadan - Nigeria

CHARLESIKE Rectors’ Day

Ibadan25th February 2014, the feast of our Patron Saints, Aloysius Versiglia and Callistus Caravario

Versiglia and Caravario are Salesian Martyrs of China. They both bore witness to God’s love to the extent of losing their lives. In view of marking this feast as a very special one, we confreres of Ibadan community celebrated our Rector as the father of the house. In other words, today is our rector’s day which also applies to us a community.

The joy of having a father is one of the things that mark the beauty of every family life. In fact, as a community we are also seen as a family headed by a father. Celebrating him was a vital sigh of love among us his children.

The day was marked with series of programs which were both at community level and youth center level. In the community, we had Ubi Caritas in the morning

around 9am. This was a moment of getting to know ourselves deeply as confreres living together as a family. It was more of a one on one sharing of personal life. This was followed by treasure hunt.

At the youth centre, a volley ball competition between the Salesians and the Youths was organized at 3: 30 pm

in which Salesians won. This was followed by a drama presentation by the youth centre cultural group. After the presentation, the Rector gave a fatherly goodnight to the youngsters.

Finally, the program was crowned with holy Mass presided by the rector at about 6:15 pm. After all these, we had a get-together and birthday celebration of confrere born in the Month of February.

The long awaited day is now at hand! Sts. Callistus and Versiglia community Ibadan, for some period of days, was in a state, which for the Church is nothing but ‘Seddae Vacante’;

but today, 30th of January 2014, our voices are echoing vociferously and ecstatically thus: we have a Father! We have Don Bosco among us: Fr Ricardo Castellino has been installed as the new rector of the community.

It was an august occasion that fulfills the canonical and our constitutional jurisdictions that qualifies a community. Fr. Michael Karikukunnel, who took the place of the AFW provincial, presided over the Installation Mass. In his homily during the mass, he emphasized that the role of Rector is nothing else but that of a servant. As such he has entrust with particular re-sponsibilities of preserving unity of spirit, fostering dialogue and fraternal collaboration (Cf. Art 5 of the Salesian Constitutions). In order to carry out effectively this great responsibility, he beckoned on the Conference to cooperate and collaborate with the new Rector of the com-munity.

The installation took place at about 7:46am. Indeed a light has been lit in our community, it is already shinning. We therefore pray for the guidance of the Holy spirit to keep this light always burning zealously in accordance with the spirit of the founder.

Father, as you chose to celebrate this great installment in a humble and unheralded manner; we love you, and we wish you happy and fruitful years of office as the visible Don Bosco of Ibadan community.

Habemus Patrian!Ibadan - Nigeria

BERNARDADOMA

The 27th General Chapter has elected Fr Ángel Fernández Artime, former Provincial of Southern Argentina, as tenth Successor of Don Bosco.

The election took place at 10.20 on the first ballot.

The official announcement was welcomed with long and warm applause.

Fr Ángel Fernández Artime, 53 years of age was born 21 August 1960 at Gozón-Luanco, Spain; he made his first profession on 3 September 1978, his perpetual profession on 17 June 1984 and was ordained priest on 4 July 1987. Originally from León Province, he has been Youth Ministry Delegate, Rector of the school at Ourense, member of the Council and Vice Provincial and, from 2000 to2006, Provincial of León.

He was a member of the technical commission in preparation for General Chapter 26. In 2009 he was appointed Provincial in Argentine South, a task he has carried out until now.In this capacity he got to know the then Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Cardinal Jorge Mario Ber-goglio, now Pope Francis, and to work with him.

He has a Doctorate in Pastoral Theology and a Licence in Philosophy and Pedagogy.

On 23 December last he was appointed Provincial of the new province of Mary Help of Chris-tians in Spain, an office which Fr Angel will obviously not now be able to take on, since he will exercise his ministry as Father of the whole Salesian Family.

The Entire Salesians and Staff of The Anglophone West Africa

ProvinceWishesFr George CrisafulliFr George Crisafulli

a Happy Birthday

AGUDOSISamuel

02 March

WojnaroskiPeter

03 March

OKOLIKenneth C.

05 March

BERISIEFrancis

08 March

OKOH Issac

03 March

ANENEAmbrose

14 March

AMANDIEphraim

14 March

ORAEGBUNAMJoseph

17 March

MBAYOEdison

19 March

EBORMichael

20 March

ODIORAnthony

21 March

CHIBUEZENicholas

21 March

SOKUUPatrick

23 March

IKEJEKingsly

25 March

XAVIERLionel

25 March

OGUOCHAJustin

26 March

ADETILOYEMatthew

27 March

KPOGOHKillean

27 March

EKEZIEAnthony

29 March

UZOETOCharles

3 April

OKAFORCosmas

08 April

OKPALAMark Anthony

09 April

ANDRADEUbaldino

19 April

AKINYELESunday

20 April