For faith-filled young people
For faith and hope for the young in Eritrea in spite of the difficult situation in their country.
We pray for all young people, called to live life to the fullest; may they see in Mary’s life the way to listen, the depth of discernment, the courage that faith generates, and the dedication to service.
[Pope Francis’ prayer intention]
Cagliero 11!
Thank you for offering me the chance to communicate with you once again. Every month Cagliero 11 fills me with peace, light and encouragement. Even though the Cagliero initiative is getting older, it is getting younger every time. In fact, it’s already at number "161". And yet, it always remains "11". This is really beautiful! The small Society of St. Francis de Sales is also growing and aging. It is celebrating 400 years of its great patron in Heaven; the 207th anniversary of the birth of its founder and the 163rd year of the foundation of the Salesian Congregation. And yet -Cagliero always remains "11"! The memory of being born a missionary is always alive in each one of us. And woe to us if we forget it! "Woe to me if I do not proclaim the Gospel" wrote St. Paul, the saint most intimately imitated by Don Bosco. I greet and bless you, from the heart of Africa -right from where the missionary pioneers had arrived on 11-11-1911 at 11: 11!
▀ Fr. Guillermo Basañes, SDB Provincial – Province of AFC
(Congo-Lubumbashi)
I am Ollie Makota, a Salesian missionary volunteer undergoing formation, from Namibia. What is the meaning of faith? For me faith is to trust in a God who never abandons His children. I feel favoured by God. I would describe my previous life as reckless. I had lost all sense of direction and respect for my parents. I had got involved in a dishonest life of drunkenness and indulged in many other bad habits. Looking back at my life, I tremble with fear, about what would have really happened to be me, if God had not intervened in my life! Faith, hence for me is, to trust in this God who saved me from death.
My name is Bridget Ndhlovu from Malawi, born and raised catholic. I understand faith to be something that is divinely inspired and out of one’s personal conviction.it is divine because some things are too mysterious for the human mind to conceive; it takes that special grace from God to comprehend such things; personal conviction because I myself need to believe in something for it to have meaning in my life. What I believe in the heart is what I will profess. I need supporters to live well my faith life. I am inspired by St Peter, the first Pope.
I am William Mupangani, from Zimbabwe. I too am Salesian Missionary Volunteer in formation. For me faith means to be fully alive. It is trusting in the faithful presence of God in my own life situations. I see the hand of God in the events of my life, trusting that he is in perfect control of my life. I thank God because, he has endowed me with gifts of nature, inborn talents and he keeps opening up newer opportunities for my growth. Thus, for me faith is giving God -the space which is his due and trusting that I am not alone in my life’s journey.
I, Lazarous Musenge, too am Salesian Missionary Volunteer from Zambia, working in a children’s home. For me faith is to have a sense of gratitude. Listening to the stories of the children under our care, I realize how privileged I have been in my younger days. I had caring parents who loved and had sent me to school. There are children who do not have parents to take care of them or ensure their schooling! I also see some of my friends who endure very difficult situations and some have even prematurely died. I do not think that I am in anyway better than them -but it is all by grace of God that I live yet! Therefore, faith for me is to say: “thank you Lord”.
Dear Fr. Masias, it is generally known that the Eritrean Christians are deeply religious. Did the actual conflict affect this aspect of faith?
Conflict, war, hardship brings out the best and worst in people. Eritrea has been in a state of war since 1998. This has caused huge mobilization of its populace and endangered the traditional family and societal structure. This has impacted the spirituality and Christian heritage of the young negatively in that they were uprooted from the traditional Christian context of upbringing without having enough time to absorb their Christian faith. This is also further worsened by the excessive migration of the young. But God can fashion good even out of even hopeless situations. We see a resurgence of deep and pious faith among young Catholics who endured the hardship of life within and outside of Eritrea. In times of hardship they came closer to God and to their faith. They are full of vitality and faith. In this sense the conflict has helped.
What do the Salesians in Eritrea do to help the young to strengthen their hope?
Overtly religious themes and practices are prohibited in the educational policy of Eritrea. Since, however, the culture is thoroughly Christian and very religious we have several recourse to help the young. We use the Good mornings talks during flag ceremony to share short reflections on how to be good people, how to be united despite our differences, themes of Christian values… Most of our students come from small and backward villages. We try to create a family atmosphere closeness, which is welcoming and at same time enables them in their relational capacity and confidence. To enhance their hope for the future, we provide them with quality education and an ambiance where they can express themselves. We want to show them that there is a future by showing them how they can healthily confront others with difference of opinions. Our activities, however, are not limited to schools only! We run parishes, chaplaincies, catechism programmes etc. We work in collaboration with pastoral offices of the dioceses and individual parishes.
As an Eritrean, what would you like to tell us, the Salesian family?
We live in a very difficult situation, but we have always much more to be grate for! Wherever the Salesians work, there are problems. But for those who want to cooperate with God and the youth, there is always a way. The night can seem to be very long but eventually the morning does come. Let us trust in the providence of God. God has his own ways as to how we can touch the young. Let us do what we can, remembering that fruits do not depend us.
