The meeting of the Council of the Delegation, the second held since the creation of the Delegation, took place at the "Don Bosco" house in Nyakadaka, an agro-pastoral center of 115 hectares under the management of the Salesians of Don Bosco, and began seven years ago. It allowed the members of the Delegation to get to know more closely the opportunities and challenges of this young Salesian presence, located about forty kilometers north-east of the city of Bukavu. The upcoming similar meetings will take place in rotary basis in the other houses of the Delegation in order to promote a closer knowledge of local realities of each presence.
The ongoing formation of the Salesian Rectors and Economers of AFC-EST took place at the Jesuit “Amani” Spiritual Center in Bukavu, and was led by the Superior of the Delegation, Fr Aurélien Mukangwa, SDB. Four important themes were addressed during the meetings: The sessions on “Spiritual conversion as a method of community discernment” and “Spiritual leadership”, were addressed by Fr José Minaku, SJ. The theme of “The Salesian Rector as the leader of his community”, was well illustrated by Fr Mukangwa. "The Salesian Rector, first person responsible for the administration of the goods of the local community according to the Salesian Constitutions", was presented by Fr Carlos Balezi, the Economer of the AFC-EST Delegation. In joyful atmosphere of fraternal communion and shared experiences, the participants were instructed on the importance of teamwork for the good of the young people and the salvation of their souls.
The members of the Council of the Delegation then accompanied the Provincial Delegate, Fr Mukangwa, on a courtesy visit to the Metropolitan Archbishop of Bukavu, Most Rev. François-Xavier Maroy, as a manifestation of closeness and availability to the mission of the universal Church and in a spirit of synodality.
Finally, to disseminate the guidelines on the protection of minors and vulnerable people in Salesian houses, Fr Jean-Pierre Muhima Mutaka, the Councilor of the Delegation and in charge of Salesian Youth Ministry, led a training session for 25 lay collaborators of the Salesian houses in Nyakadaka and Bukavu. He invited all the participants to love and get to know the young people who are the privileged beneficiaries of the Salesian mission, and observed: "To work with and for the young people, especially the most vulnerable, we must also defend their rights, which we must therefore know well."
https://www.infoans.org/en/sections/news/item/13924-democratic-republic-of-congo-a-week-of-formation-and-sharing-in-the-st-joseph-delegation-of-afc-est#sigProId14cdee375e
