By Fr Vaclav Klement – The first-ever induction workshop for the leading lay mission partners of the Southern Africa Salesian Vice-province, eSwatini, Lesotho, and South Africa, was held at Booysens Salesian Provincial House for 5 days, on May 4-8, with the participation of 15 consecrated Salesians and lay people involved in their mission.
Two participants from Lesotho, three from eSwatini, one online from Cape Town, and the other 9 based in Gauteng, were guided by the dynamic interactive animation of Youth Ministry delegate, Fr Lingoane Tlaile, with the contribution of 5 consecrated Salesians – Deacon Nhlanhla Nxumalo, Fr Chege Erastus, provincial economer, Fr Bonginkosi Nhleko, rector of Bosco Youth Centre, Fr Franklin Ezema, and Fr Vaclav Klement, provincial superior.
Lay mission partners came from the Youth Centre, Schools, Administration and Finance, animation and planning (PDO and Economer office), as well as from TVET (vocational training centre background).
A great variety of backgrounds and different sectors of the mission or administration of Don Bosco Salesians made this workshop a memorable experience.
The induction programme included such topics as ‘Motivation and dynamics of life-long formation of adults, Salesian Youth Ministry, Salesian Ministry of Economy, Spirituality of Fundraising, Youth Ministry, Partners in the Mission and Salesian Family, Salesian spirituality of Don Bosco Preventive System and others.
Thanks to participants’ proactive requests, abundant digital resources are available on Google Drive – https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1D1FVx-qM71suq2LxMACXummul8vIz5hI
One of the eSwatini participants, Salesian Primary school principal, Mr Dlamini, shared: “It was a great honour to spend time with the whole group of Salesian mission partners and deeply appreciate all that was discussed. It has transformed me to another level of working as a lay servant of Don Bosco.”
The Salesian PDO (Planning and Development Office) coordinator in Lesotho, Mr Lechesa Nts’utheleng, appreciated the dynamics of the workshop, involving all present and fostering a good degree of easy interiorisation, promoting a deep grasp of the Salesian way of education and working together as one team.
Following this workshop, the Salesians would like to build up a consistent system of lay mission partners formation in each of the Salesian Southern Africa province regions (Western Cape, eSwatini, Lesotho, and Gauteng), deeply embedded in the daily work of serving the youth with the heart of Don Bosco.
