Fr Crisafulli arrived on 30 June and was welcomed with a traditional kava ceremony, hosted by the aspiring Salesian Cooperators. Kava is a traditional non-alcoholic drink made from the pounded or ground roots of this native shrub. But in Vanuatu it is much more than just a drink: it represents a deeply rooted symbol of the local culture, an expression of community, peace, respect and hospitality.

During his stay, the General Councillor also met the Bishop of Port Vila and visited a ‘Smol Katolik Comyuniti’, that is, a base ecclesial community, established and led by the Salesians.

In his goodnight, before concluding his visit, Fr Crisafulli expressed his appreciation for the simple and unassuming life of the pioneering missionaries, for the witness they offer by living alongside the local population, and for having laid solid foundations for the Salesian presence with a clear vision for the future.

“Thank you, I felt at home here,” were in fact his words before boarding the flight that took him back to Rome on 4 July.