Kenya – The Missionary Quinquennium Meeting for Africa Concludes: “Thank You, Nairobi, from the Young Missionaries!”

A Unique Opportunity for Encounter and Sharing

The meeting, held from February 22 to 28, was above all a unique occasion for encounter and sharing, strongly desired by the Missions Sector as a tangible sign of accompaniment and formation for Salesian ad gentes missionaries. Missionaries serving in seven different Provinces and Vice-Provinces across the continent, and originating from ten different countries, shared numerous challenges, experiences, and both light and shadow from their missionary journeys. The goal was to foster mutual exchange in order to grow in awareness of the Salesian identity of the ad gentes missionary, gathering useful elements to improve the Congregation’s overall process of discernment, formation, and accompaniment.

Presence of the General Councillor for the Missions

The General Councillor for the Missions, Fr. Jorge Mario Crisfaullli, who was present, offered many profound reflections and participated in both community and personal encounters during the event. He was joined by three Salesian members of the Missions Sector: Fr. Eric Marirura, originally from Kenya and coordinator of the meeting; Fr. Pavel Ženíšek; and Fr. Reginaldo Cordeiro.

Among the other participants were also Fr. Privat-Ignace Fouda Bieme of Cameroon, Regional Coordinator for Missionary Animation (CORAM) for the Central-West Africa Region and formerly for the entire Africa-Madagascar Region; and Fr. Joseph Padinjareparampil, Provincial Delegate for Missionary Animation of the host East Africa Province (AFE) and recently appointed CORAM for the Eastern and Southern Africa Region.

Reflection on Pastoral and Cultural Challenges

Salesian Brother Raymond Callo, a member of the Formation Sector, guided the missionaries in reflecting on pastoral discernment in mission territories. Beyond the “cultural shock” experienced when immersing oneself in a culture with completely different customs and traditions—leading to a renewed way of interpreting reality, a theme addressed by Fr. Richard Ebejer, a Salesian from Malta who lived eight years in West Africa—there is also a “pastoral shock” in discovering different ways of living the Salesian charism in diverse pastoral contexts. It is important to be prepared for this as well.

Fr. Joseph Kunle, a Nigerian Salesian currently serving in the Philippines, spoke about Salesian missionaries as “agents of intercultural dialogue,” starting from the foundations of missiology and the identity of the Salesian missionary.

Looking Ahead with Missionary Enthusiasm

Filled with enthusiasm, the participants returned to their communities, ready to journey toward missionary holiness. The Missions Sector will continue organizing meetings dedicated to the formation, sharing, and accompaniment of ad gentes missionaries during the quinquennium phase, with two further gatherings scheduled: in Genzano of Rome, Italy, from April 20 to 26, 2026, for those sent to Europe; and in Montevideo, Uruguay, from May 3 to 10, 2026, for those sent to the Americas.