Libreville (Gabon). On October 30 to November 4, 2019, the Provincial House of Libreville, Gabon, hosted the 3rd Provincial Chapter of St. Mary Dominica Mazzarello Province (AEC).
On October 30, the meeting opened with the invocation to the Holy Spirit and the presentation of the participants coming from the four Countries of the Province: Cameroun, Congo Brazzaville, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea.
The Chapter members were 31, including the 9 guests, and they focused on the challenges and dreams of the diverse realities of the Province. The Provincial, Sr. Leen Mestdagh, opened the work with these words: “Let us allow ourselves to be guided by Mary, woman and mother who invites us to understand the contemporary world. Let us learn from her to encounter Jesus in order to do what He tells us.”
On October 31, the opening Eucharist was presided by Fr. Roland Mitsa, SDB, representing the Provincial, who invited the participants to ‘listen’ and to be ‘obedient’ like the servants at the Wedding at Cana in order to be people who transform and let themselves be transformed by Christ.
On the same day, the participants followed the presentation of Professor Dany Bekale, Education Sociologist of Omar Bongo University of Libreville, who dealt with the theme, “The Young and African Society.” The Professor emphasized that education is a social act and the challenges of the young are various: sexuality, unemployment, drugs, alcoholism, crisis of identity.
The debate on these topics was followed by a theological reading of the Gospel passage from the wedding at Cana by Sr. Adriana Pertusi, FMA, moderator of the Provincial Chapter: all Christian life is Cana; Mary is there and is present to meet us. We are asked to fill our jars as educators with what Jesus tells us. The morning ended with the report on the journey of the AEC Province from 2016 presented by the Provincial: “The AEC is a Province on a journey of growth in faith and young people are at the center of our commitment. As future perspectives we have: the question of vocations (taking care of the community experience), professional training, intercultural communities, the possible foundation in Chad, … “.
The day of 1 November began with the Eucharistic celebration of the Solemnity of All Saints. In his homily, Father Roland Mintsa reminded the assembly that: “Holiness is a characteristic of the Salesian Family”. The day was devoted to the study, through workshops, of texts concerning the realities, the emerged challenges, and the paths for synodal communities.
The work of 2 November focused on voting on the texts and for the Provincial Delegate to the General Chapter XIV. Sister Michèle Nyangono was elected as delegate and Sister Lorenza Campanet is the substitute. The lay people present gave the thought for the Good Night emphasizing the family spirit, the depth of the insights, and the hard work that they experienced in these days.
The closure of this Provincial Chapter was sealed by Sidonie Oyembo, Sister of the Immaculate Conception, on the subject of management, based on the Institute’s management document. It highlighted the potential of a positive vision of the future and its actualization in reality, so that everyone can feel an integral part and treated in the same way.
The afternoon was dedicated to bringing back the reports of the formation for the Province Animators of CFP at CIOFS Piedmont, the communications of the Salesian Family, the examination of some important points such as consultations for a new foundation.
In her closing words, the Provincial, Sr. Leen Mestdagh, thanked all the participants for the work done and above all for having shared the concerns of the young people of different realities. At the end, all the chapter members gathered in the chapel for the closing Eucharistic celebration.
