What is about to start now is the second visit of Fr Á.F. Artime to the "Mary Help of Christians" Vice-Province of Zambia-Zimbabwe-Malawi-Namibia (ZMB). He had already been there, in fact, during his first term as Rector Major, in September 2016, making stops, however, only in Malawi and Zambia.
The ZMB Vice-Province was erected in 1994, although the first arrival of the Salesians in the countries of this circumscription dates back to 1983, in Zambia, the country that hosts the headquarters of the VP; there are 14 houses canonically erected, of these most (9) are in Zambia, and the others divided between Zimbabwe (2), Malawi (2) and Namibia (1); the Sons of Don Bosco who animate them are 127 and 15 novices.
On the first day of the Visit, once he arrives in Hwange, Zimbabwe, the Rector Major will receive a festive welcome and have his first quick meetings with the Salesians and the young people of that work.
On Friday 22, the Rector Major presides over Mass with the young people, as well as a ceremony to lay the foundation stone of the workshop to be built at the work. In the afternoon, he will also open and preside over the sports tournaments and visit the local bishop, Msgr. Raphael Ncube.
On Saturday 23rd, after the concelebrated Mass with the bishop at the local youth center, he will meet the Salesian Family and the Salesian Youth Movement, to whom he shall illustrate the Strenna 2022. The day will conclude with a cultural and festive evening.
On Sunday 24 he will travel from Zimbabwe to Zambia. After landing at Lusaka airport, where he will also arrive with the Regional Councilor for Africa-Madagascar, Fr Alphonse Owoudou, he will move to the Salesian post-novitiate work for a first moment of exchange and prayer with the members of the community.
The Salesian presence in the outskirts of Kabwe, in Makululu, will be the Rector Major’s destination on Monday 25. On this occasion, in the presence of Salesian Clement Mulenga, Bishop of Kabwe, he will bless the workshops and then interact with the children who attend Salesian activities. In the afternoon, he will visit the Salesian novitiate in that city.
On Tuesday 26th, also in Kabwe, a meeting with the Salesian Youth Movement, the formation team, and the novices of the work is scheduled, as well as a private conversation with Msgr. Mulenga. This day will also conclude with a festive and cultural moment.
On April 27, in the morning, the Rector Major will celebrate a solemn Mass and in the afternoon he will animate meetings with the Salesian Family and his Salesian confreres.
On Thursday 28, he returns to Lusaka for a program that includes visits to the "City of Hope" work of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians and the Salesian Provincial House in Lusaka, and meetings with the city's archbishop, Msgr. Alick Banda and the Salesian Family.
On the last day of his visit to ZMB, Fr. Á.F. Artime will meet with the Councilors of the Vice-Province just before taking the plane for his return trip.
