A morning at child’s pace

The day began at the Don Bosco primary school with the traditional ‘good morning’ greeting offered by Fr Bejarano. In a familiar and joyful atmosphere, he expressed his gratitude for the warm welcome given to the visiting delegation. Then, addressing the children with simplicity and affection, he wished them a fruitful beginning to Lent, inviting them to grow in goodness, in attention to others and in love for God.

This moment of spontaneous exchange illustrated the spirit of the Preventive System: presence, kind words and constant encouragement.

Ash Wednesday: an invitation to conversion and peace

The Eucharistic celebration for Ash Wednesday, organised for the students of the Salesian institute and the Don Bosco Ngangi Vocational Training Centre, was presided over by Fr Owoudou, assisted by eleven Salesian priests, including Fr Bejarano.

In his homily, the celebrant recalled the biblical and spiritual significance of the number forty, the symbolic foundation of Lent: forty days of conversion, purification and inner preparation. He urged young people, their educators and lay collaborators to live intensely the three traditional pillars of Lent – prayer, almsgiving and penance – adding a concrete and urgent commitment: to become artisans of peace.

Indeed, in a regional context characterised by tensions and humanitarian challenges, the call to promote peace resonated with particular force. After the homily, the imposition of ashes sealed this moment of spiritual commitment.

Speaking in turn, the General Councillor for Youth Ministry expressed his deep joy at meeting the young people of Goma. He emphasised that Salesian pastoral ministry is fundamentally missionary: it involves going out to meet young people all over the world, listening to their aspirations and walking with them. In this sense, he clarified, his presence in Ngangi is part of this dynamic of universal communion.

A pastoral ministry that becomes concrete charity

After the Eucharistic celebration, the delegation visited the USHINDI orphanage, located within the Salesian work in Ngangi. This visit was an opportunity to encourage the children living there and to appreciate the educational and social work carried out daily with them and for them by the Salesians and their collaborators.

The day continued with the distribution of gifts to internally displaced persons supported by the Salesians of Don Bosco. This gesture of concrete solidarity was a reminder that youth ministry is not limited to spiritual accompaniment but extends to the integral promotion of the human person, especially the most vulnerable.

A living work at the service of young people

Through the school, the Centre for Vocational Formation, the orphanage and solidarity initiatives, the Salesian work in Ngangi manifests the vitality of Don Bosco’s charism in the heart of Goma. The visit of the two Councillors was therefore more than a formal event: it was a visible sign of the Congregation’s communion with its works and, above all, with young people.

At the beginning of Lent, the presence of Fr Bejarano and Fr Owoudou was an invitation to the entire educational community of Ngangi to renew the Salesian commitment to form ‘good Christians and honest citizens’ and, in particular, in Goma, also builders of peace and bearers of hope.

Jambo Vijana,

Magazine of the AFC-EST Delegation

{gallery}AFC – Bejarano e Owoudou a Ngangi 2026{/gallery}