On the evening of October 29, Feast of Blessed Michael Rua, first successor of Don Bosco, who sent the first missionaries to Southern Africa in 1896, the Archbishop of Johannesburg, Cardinal Stephen Brislin, blessed the chapel of Salesian Provincial House in Booysens.
In the presence of 10 Salesians of Don Bosco from 3 Gauteng communities, provincial house staff and representatives of the Salesian Family (FMA sisters, Salesian Cooperators, and Don Bosco Past Pupils) the house chapel blessing was included in the evening prayer (Vespers).
During the well-animated and dynamic liturgy, Archbishop Brislin encouraged all present to have a consistent prayer life, which becomes easier in a beautiful space like this new shining chapel: “The church is the presence of God… Church reminds us of the special presence of God….church is a sanctuary. It’s a place of community…we gather as a community, strengthening our bonds with Jesus Christ…a place where we are present to God. The space we dedicate to God must be as beautiful as possible…and as clean as possible. Chapel becomes a visible symbol of what God means to us and how important prayer is to us…”.
On a personal note, Cardinal Brislin shared his own personal experience as a young priest, when he neglected prayer with the excuse that life is a prayer. He was ‘hard hit and shaken’ by a confessor during a spiritual retreat.
Exactly one year after the blessing of Booysens provincial house, the Archbishop of Johannesburg admired a beautiful space of the Jesus – Good Shepherd chapel, created by a local artist, Nicholas Shabangu, who was invited to reproduce a large chapel painting of the Salesian General House in Rome, blessed just 3 years ago. At the centre, Jesus – Good Shepherd, with a Eucharist – Tabernacle at his heart, with a Word of God in his hands. Mary, Help of Christians, and Saint Joseph are presented in a deeply mindful attitude.
With a newly blessed, beautiful chapel and a slowly growing animation team at the provincial house, the centre of Salesian presence in Eswatini, Lesotho and South Africa (7 communities and 40 Salesians belonging to this province) receives a true heart. It’s really a wonderful gift for the 130th anniversary of Don Bosco presence, which will be concluded soon with the visit of Fr Fabio Attard, SDB, Rector Major of the Salesians and 11th successor of Don Bosco, on Dec 1-4 in Cape Town and Johannesburg.
- Good Shepherd Chapel of the Salesians blessed by Cardinal Brislin - October 30, 2026
- Become the Yeast – Salesian Cooperators Congress 2026 - October 9, 2026
- Salesian Leaders Gather in Angola to Map Out Future of East-South Africa Region - October 7, 2026
