The JUBA INTERNATIONAL Airport was flooded with colourful banners, traditional Dancers, children and Youth of Don Bosco Mission, Juba to welcome the great guest of the newly born nation SOUTH SUDAN.
The Rector Major of the Salesians hit the city's streets and the neighbourhood of the Salesian Mission went wild. The activities in the Airport came to a standstill as the Parishioners and the Salesian Family stormed the Ethiopian Airways to welcome Fr Angel Fernandez Artime, the Rector Major of the Salesians of Don Bosco. As soon as he arrived he was interviewed by the National Television SSTV.
The Salesian Family was headed by Fr Gianni Rolandi, the Provincial of Eastern Africa, Sr Roberta Tomassi, the Sister Provincial of the FMA, Delegate for Sudan and South Sudan Fr Ferrington, Fr Jacob Thelekkadan, the Rector of the Community and the Salesians, Salesian Sisters, Caritas sister of Jesus, Salesian Volunteers, Youth, Children and the Christians of the Parish of St Vincent De Paul Parish, Gumbo - JUBA.
He reached the Salesian Mission accompanied by a convoy of Vehicles lead by the South Sudan Police Force with its blaring Sirens. As the convoy of vehicles passed by, the life in the city came to a standstill wondering which President was in the convoy.
The Rector Major gave a major surprise by mingling with the traditional Dancers and Children Dancers. No one could believe Fr Angel Fernandez was arriving from Cameroon. The people who gathered to welcome were astonished by the familiarity, warmth and fatherly demeanour of Fr Rector Major as he moved along and greeted everyone as he reached the Mission.
He did not need a language to communicate. He conquered the hearts with glamour and with a Salesian touch. The rousing welcome was followed by a short greeting and prayer and Blessing to the crowd that came to welcome him. His first message was the JOY that he felt being among the happy faces of a nation that had suffered long years of war and conflict. He was struck by the poverty of the neighbourhood, simplicity of the people and the joyful faces that came out of their homes to have a glimpse of Don Bosco Among Us. He was proud that the Salesian Family was very close to this vulnerable population and exclaimed more than once that Don Bosco is truly present and at home among the Poor.
The curiosity was so high that one little Girl came to me and asked:
"Is it the Don Bosco that we were talking about these days, that he would be among us? Woh!"
Two little Girls begged the driver of the RM's car:
"Please allow us to enter the car of Don Bosco".
They did make it. Great Joy, euphoria and excitement!
The day ends with a simple prayer moment and a familiar dinner with the Salesian Family. In his BUONA NOTTE Don Angel underlined:
"The Poor will save us. The Lord reaches out to us through the Poor. I am happy that the Salesian family is here - SDBs, FMAs and CARITAS Sister of Jesus".
The next Stop over is going to be TONJ on 18th Feb. He will fly into this frontier mission of South Sudan, where Fr John Lee, the great Korean Salesian Missionary spent the best part of his Salesian life with the Poor and the needy.
He will bless the Constructions of Primary School, M/P Hall and a Primary School for the Children of the Lepers in Tonj.
The third leg of the journey will be to Wau, a Catholic town where the Salesians were present since 1980. He will lay the foundation stone for the DB M/P hall.
He will finish his Visit to South Sudan again making a stop over in Juba on the 20th Feb and 21st Feb.
The Salesian family is so happy and grateful to the Rector Major for having chosen to visit South Sudan - a country so much tried by war and conflicts. The Visit is truly a strong message of the Congregation especially by the Rector Major, that he is close to the Poor and the most disadvantaged. Don Bosco is truly at home here. VIVA DON BOSCO!
