In order to strengthen the communion within the worldwide Congregation and with the Rector Major, the Extraordinary Visitor had a personal talk with more than 300 Salesian confreres, novices, and pre-novices. At present, 73% of the confreres are born in the 4 countries of Kenya, South Sudan, Sudan, and Tanzania (Kenya 86, Tanzania 87, South Sudan and Sudan 19), while the province has a large number of 77 missionaries from 18 countries.

Fr. Klement was able to visit all 30 religious communities in 4 countries, met more than 1,600 lay mission partners in more than 100 group meetings, and give thanks to all Salesians and Lay people for their daily commitment to the Salesian mission. Indeed there are 9,300 Don Bosco students in the 16 primary schools, 3,052 in 7 secondary schools and 7,163 students in 12 Don Bosco Vocational Training Centers (TVET) as well as 2,054 boarding students and 146,000+ Catholic faithful in the 13 Salesian parishes between Khartoum (Sudan) and Mafinga (Tanzania).

The extraordinary visitation was also a fruitful time of Salesian family animation that is present with 11 different groups (SDB, FMA, SMI, MSMHC, CSJ, VSDB, VDB, ADMA, Don Bosco Past Pupils, MHC Past Pupils, Salesian Cooperators). Special attention was dedicated to the relaunching of the DB Past Pupils, a true “sleeping giant” at this present time. The Prayer & Promise of the Past Pupils and other animation materials were translated into Swahili and Arabic languages.

Visitation also brought attention to the challenges of charismatic growth, the need to qualify more confreres as formators, promote wholeheartedly the Salesian Brother vocation, and build a solid culture of lifelong formation in the ordinary community life. The challenges of provincial animation and governance structures (commissions) and religious discipline were tackled in different encounters. The main challenge to the charismatic growth is the need for more consistent welcoming, involvement, and formation of lay people as Salesian partners in the mission.

The four countries of AFE are blessed with many Salesian consecrated vocations, at present with 126 confreres in different stages of initial formation from all 4 countries.  Two large inter-provincial houses of formation (Kenya, Nairobi-Utume and Tanzania - Moshi) welcome young Salesians from 10 different provinces of Africa and the Madagascar region

The main attention of the AFE province confreres is however the reshaping (or multiplication) of the provincial community, at present with 11 communities in Tanzania, 11 in Kenya, and 8 communities in Sudan-South Sudan Delegation. A response to the multiple challenges to animation and governance in this large province is expected from the creation of future independent circumscriptions.

A healthy and strong charismatic future also depends on good qualifications of the confreres; at present, there are more than 20 young Salesians in formation houses of specialization studies abroad and a good number are attending Catholic universities in Eastern Africa. Indeed, the last meeting of the visitation was held on June 12 in the Salesian Pontifical University with 12 confreres studying in Italy.

The 246-strong SDB provincial community of AFE province is grateful for the time of listening, sharing, animation and accompaniment through the Extraordinary Visitor and asks for prayers in this special period of provincial history.

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