Manzini (Swaziland). From 3 to 6 October 2024 in Manzini, Swaziland (Eswatini), Mary Help of Christians House of the Salesians of Don Bosco of Blessed Michael Rua Preprovince (AFM), hosted the 7th Salesian Cooperators Congress of the AFM Region of Southern Africa, including South Africa, Lesotho, and Swaziland.
In South Africa there are three local Centers: Ennerdale – Gauteng, started in 2008 by Sister Margaret Sweeny, Daughter of Mary Help of Christians of Our Lady of Peace Province (AFM); Cape Town, started in 2013 by Fr. Eoin Farrelly, SDB and Sister Ana Maria Mainero, FMA; and Malamulele – Limpopo, started in 2022 by Sister Consuelo Aguirre, FMA.
In Lesotho, There are two local centers: Maputsoe, started in 2016 by Sister Consuelo Aguirre, FMA, who was replaced by Sister Cecilia Motanya in 2017; and Maseru.
In Swaziland, There are 6 potential candidates, who started to meet in 2024 with the Salesians.
On 30 April 2018, the Salesian Cooperators established themselves as AFM Province (South Africa and Lesotho) in Ennerdale, at the FMA House of Gauteng. The provincial coordinator is Chester Brown and the provincial delegate is Sister Giovanna Pesenti, FMA.
The 2024 Congress was attended by 50 Salesian Cooperators, accompanied by the Provincial Delegates: Fr. Alberto Villalba, SDB and Sister Giovanna Pesenti, FMA. Fr. Vaclav Klement, AFM Provincial, and Mr. Clarence Watts, SDB, Delegate for the Salesian Family were also present.
The Congress began on 4 October with greetings and presentations from the Countries belonging to the South Africa Province. The first topic was the dream of Johnny Bosco at nine years of age, starting with the Strenna of the Rector Major. Based on the current scenario, both international and youth, they tried to identify the challenges for the Salesian Cooperators and how to face them through the Preventive System of Don Bosco and the example of Mamma Margherita, first cooperator and inspiration for the Association.
Another point of reflection was offered by Sister Giovanna Pesenti, through the sharing of Salesian apostolic spirituality starting from the “Letter from Rome” of Don Bosco (1884). As Provincial Coordinator, Mr. Chester Brown presented the 2023 Annual Report.
Every day, the Eucharist was animated by a local Center. Each Center also presented and shared its mission carried out daily in the local realities in the family, workplace, and parishes.
On 5 October the participants had an online meeting with Mr. Antonio Boccia, ASSCC World Coordinator, who offered a reading of the dream at nine years of age, emphasizing that it contains everything that the Salesian Cooperators are and must be and that it is necessary to deepen reflection and find the way to live “the dream now”, in 2024.
The group had a special visit from Msgr. Jose Luis de Ponce, Bishop of Manzini, who animated the participants with his speech focused on the vocation of the laity and, specifically, of the Salesian Cooperators. As a Consolata Missionary, he recounted that their founder, Blessed Giuseppe Allamano – who will soon be proclaimed Saint – met Don Bosco, but abandoned him to become a diocesan priest and finally founder of the Fathers and Sisters of the Consolata.
In the afternoon, the group visited the Swazi candle factory, the Malkern External Mission, and the Manzini market.
The Congress ended on Sunday, 6 October with a Eucharistic Thanksgiving Celebration presided by Fr. Vaclav Klement and concelebrated by Fr. Alberto Villalba, SDB Delegate, and Fr. Jacob Mbongiseni, Director of the SDB Community in Manzini.
A Salesian Cooperator shared her reflection: “My starting point from this Congress is: how can I make a difference as a Salesian Cooperator? 1. Making my talents available for the needs of my community, my parish, and larger areas where help is needed. 2. Not only as lay people, but also with the respective religious orders entrusted to our communities, in roles of responsibility at local and national level. 3. Making ourselves available to the community at a broader level, without isolating ourselves for fear of making mistakes when and in times of need, we will need to be of service wherever God needs us.”
During the Congress, the two Countries present shared on how to continue the associative journey, what to transmit to the communities, and how to put into practice what they learned about the formation of young aspirants, with the guidance of the SDB and FMA Salesian Cooperators in their respective parish communities, schools, and training centers. And above all, always trusting, like the Founder Don Bosco, in the guidance and assistance of Mary Help of Christians, through prayer and offering their own work.
