by Fr Sebastian Koladiyil, SDB
After a quick breakfast the Rector Major and his team consisting of his secretary, the provincial, vice-provincial and the Social Communication Delegate left for the airport with a police escort. The youth lined up on the grounds to wish “Don Bosco” good bye.
The next destination was Don Bosco Seminary, Mafinga. The flight landed in Iringa, about 80 kilometres from Mafinga where Salesians from Don Bosco Iringa and Mafinga came with some youth to the airport to welcome the Rector Major.
The convoy reached the Seminary just in time for lunch. After lunch, it was time for the official welcoming with cultural programmes and speeches. After that the Rector Major had some time to talk to the students and the youth and answer their questions. In the evening the tenth successor of Don Bosco had an opportunity to spend two hours giving a talk and answering question from the Salesians of four communities (Mafinga seminary, Mafinga Parish, Makalala Catechist Training Centre and Don Bosco Iringa).
In his talk the Rector Major said, “We have a beautiful congregation. We have plenty of vocations and wherever Youth Ministry is mentioned we are the ones to look up to”. He also added “But we have many challenges too, the main one being lack of fraternity in community life.”
For supper, nearby religious communities were invited. It was a day well spent.
