Leadership of the Salesians of Don Bosco across the East-South Africa region convened in Luanda from October 2 to 6 for their annual provincial meeting, charting a strategic course for youth ministry, education, and institutional growth across 21 African nations.
Led by Fr Innocent Bizimana, General Councillor for the region, the five-day assembly brought together eight provincial superiors representing approximately 1,100 Salesian priests, consecrated brothers, and candidates in formation. The conference marked the first major gathering of the region following its structural reorganization at the Salesian General Chapter (GC29) in 2025, which split the continent’s governance into two main administrative hubs: the West-Central and East-South regions.
Throughout 11 intensive working sessions, participants finalized the statutes for the Regional Interprovincial Conference (CIVAES) and detailed action plans for the congregation’s 2025–2031 six-year strategic vision. Key focus areas included youth ministry, technical education, formation, missionary animation, and social communication across English, French, and Portuguese-speaking provinces.
A centerpiece of the meeting was the strategic planning for the upcoming Golden Jubilee of “Project Africa” (1980–2030), an initiative that fundamentally reshaped the global footprint of the Salesian congregation. Prior to 1980, fewer than 300 Salesians served on the continent; today, more than 2,200 Salesians operate in 46 African countries, driven largely by native vocations.
To commemorate the milestone, leaders outlined a three-phase preparation framework:
- 2027 (“Remember with Gratitude”): Honoring the legacy of nearly 1,000 foreign missionaries sent to Africa since 1980.
- 2028 (“Renew with Hope”): Focusing on vocational formation and expanding outreach to youth in need.
- 2029 (“Forward with Courage”): Drafting the “Salesian Africa 2050 Vision.”
Delegates also addressed pressing infrastructure challenges, particularly the need to expand regional capacity for religious formation. Fr. Victor Sequeira, Provincial Superior of Angola and Namibia and host of the event, highlighted the urgent requirement for new regional novitiates and expanded theological training centers alongside existing institutes in Nairobi, Lubumbashi, Yaoundé, and Lagos.
The gathering featured key contributions from Nairobi-based continental bodies, including Don Bosco SAFCAM (Salesian Formation Centre) and Don Bosco Tech Africa (DBTA), which coordinate technical education and ongoing formation across the continent.
Fr. George TJ, Provincial Superior of Eastern Africa, expressed satisfaction with the growing sense of regional unity, citing concrete progress in joint planning. Closing the assembly, Fr. Bizimana commended the host province for its hospitality and urged provincials to foster continuous collaboration, practice sharing, and personnel exchange.
