Saturday 29 September 2012
Thursday 27 September 2012
First Nigerian Salesian Missionary to Asia and our brothers serving and training abroad
this message was published on the official salesian website in Rome
The young Ogundana sets out with the conviction and deep determination aware that he cannot do it by himself, but needs the help of someone greater: “I am going because all that I have I want to share with them. I am going to learn how to be aware of life (…) in order to give myself to a Church which calls me to hand on the Gospel”; though, having recognized in an interview with the Mission Foundation – a pastoral organization set up by the Italian Bishops Conference – I had to admit also: “I need someone to take me by the hand”.
Bangladesh, the country to which he is going, is very different from Africa, from his Nigeria or from Ghana, where he was on mission. The Asian country, culturally so far removed from reality, with a difficult language, makes one a bit afraid. For this reason, a young student prior to thinking about what he can offer in his mission, needs to think about and understand the context.
“Going to Bangladesh – admittedly – is not something I would have chosen, I was being sent, but I am happy. The situation is scary because it is difficult. It is a country with a population of 40 million people. Compared to Nigeria, it is 5 times smaller but the population is similar to that in Nigeria, hence it is very hard to supply basic services. There is lots to do. I believe that my experience as a missionary could enrich me also.”
For him, the formation course for the mission has been very useful, ending with the orientation course and in these days in the places of Don Bosco. “There has been a lot of preparation. It would be difficult starting to get used to the culture. The language is very different from mine. The alphabet is different. But if God gives prepares me I shall be ready. It is easier for me to go now than when I was younger”.
However, his missionary vocation is something that the young Salesian began to become aware of right from the start, that he could not turn away from: “the mission became a calling when I started my Salesian education. I had the chance of going to Ghana for my novitiate in poor villages far from the city and had the opportunity of walking with them. (…) God has a plan for me: if he wants me to return to Africa. I am ready to follow God’s will.”
br kunle on the mic in Rome after receiving the mandate to go to Asia (Bangladesh)
Thursday 20 September 2012
formation
joint inter-formation house training programme where different religious
congregations have training together at different moments of the year
like this workshop at ibadan
Friday 14 September 2012
A HISTORY OF THE NIGERIAN SALESIAN DELEGATION
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(Ibadan) –
During the celebration of Mass on the 4th of February, the Superior of
the “Blessed Artemides Zatti” Vice Province, Fr George Crisafulli
inaugurated the new Delegation of the AFW Vice-Province for the Salesian
Houses in Nigeria, as he installed Fr Michael Karikunnel as the
Provincial Delegate.
Fr Michael Karikunnel sdb
The
confreres had arrived on the evening of 3 February and met in small
groups to share and discuss on different topics (Youth Ministry,
Economers, Formation, Education and Evangelisation.) In the morning a
general Assembly was held in which the topic of Salesian Identity was
explored and reflected upon. The Statutes of the new Delegation were
then explained by the Provincial and handed out to each confrere by the
new Delegate Fr Karikunnel.
installation ceremony
The
Mass was said in the chapel, it was a moment of faith and entrustment
into the Providence of God. Fr Michael made his profession of faith
before the Provincial as he was entrusted with his new responsibility:
“I entrust you Fr Michael and the entire Nigerian Delegation to Mary
Help of Christians. May she always be for the Nigerian Delegation what
she was for Don Bosco: a Mother, a teacher and a guide!“
In
his homily Fr George spoke about the exercise of Christian authority,
recalling that “Jesus teaches us openly that the first has to be last
and the last first; that the one who longs for power has to make himself
weaker, the one who is in authority must not make his power felt on
those he govern; on the contrary, he has to make himself a “servant”,
like becoming a slave of others. That is the logic of the Gospel, the
logic of Bethlehem, of Nazareth, the logic of the Cross. We pray that
service will be the hallmark of this Nigerian Delegation!”
some Nigerian delegation confreres
The
Salesians first came to Nigeria in 1982 when they opened the twin
foundations of Ondo and Akure in Ondo State, while in 1989 a third house
was opened in Onitisha. In 2005 a Post-novitiate was opened in Ibadan
in 2005 and in 2008 a new Salesian presence was opened in Abuja, the
political Capital of Nigeria. After the Provincial Chapter in 2011, the
time was ripe to consolidate the Salesian presence in Nigeria and a
process of consultation and discernment was set in motion. A new
Salesian presence was set up in Lagos, the commercial capital, in
September 2011.
Fr
Karikunnel is a missionary from India who first came to Ghana in 1992
where he was a pioneer of the Salesian presence in that country in
Sunyani and in Ashaiman. In 2005 he moved to Nigeria where he was Rector
and Principal in Ondo, and last September he moved to Lagos to start
our new foundation there.
The
Provincial presented his vision for the new Delegation: “I dream of a
true Salesian Nigeria, whose face is the black face of Don Bosco, the
true face of Don Bosco, always smiling, always welcoming, always kind
and inviting everybody to be part of this wonderful adventure of
becoming holy.”
ANS - Published 07/02/2012
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CULTURAL DAY AT DON BOSCO ONITSHA
Joy and Happiness is our Secret and you cannot fake it!!!
