By our own correspondent

       Kabwe - Zambia, 9 March 2021 -- After 34 years of Salesian presence in Kabwe we can really see one of the Salesian hearts of the African continent. Former mining industry town of Kabwe is located in the Central province of Zambia. Since 1987 the Don Bosco mission has been slowly growing and putting down roots in the local Catholic community and local society. It is no coincidence that the latest development in the second community of Kabwe-Makululu is called 'Ciloto' - Dream, in the Bemba language.

       Don Bosco Dream in Kabwe is animated by two SDB communities. The mother house of St Marys (Rector Fr Ignatius Musenge) is based in the old parish given over by the Jesuits in 1987 with 4000+ Catholics. The other community of Makululu (Rector Fr Michael Wzietek) started from St John Bosco Parish established in 2015. Both international and multicultural communities are reaching out to some 10,000 Catholics and hundreds of catechumens, Primary and Secondary schools, TVET, Technical Secondary School, Oratory-Youth Centres - with a few thousand young people. The Salesian Family is at the initial stage with the first Salesian Cooperator Centre and initial stages of of the Don Bosco Past Pupils organization.

       After 9 years the ZMB vice-province novitiate was transferred back to Kabwe in 2019. At present the Novice Master, Fr Treshphord Chisanga, is accompanying 11 novices from 5 countries: South Africa, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Namibia and Zambia. Among the apostolic experience of the novices is also their exposure to the Oratory and Street Children Home of 'Ciloto 1' where they can meet the preferred beneficiaries of our mission.

       Many lay people as mission partners are highly committed to their role as teachers, educators, social workers, catechists or animators, patrons of various youth groups. The sound of the 'Preventive System' of Don Bosco is becoming more familiar to the local Catholic community.

       When the Kabwe diocese was newly established in 2011, its first bishop was a Salesian of Don Bosco: the first SDB bishop of ZMB province, Clement MULENGA, SDB. His diocese covers a vast territory of 63,000 km2 with 31 parishes and 18 diocesan and 33 religious priests and 25 major seminarians, and growing. As everywhere in Africa, the key word is 'self-sustainability' of the mission - also the bishop's residence compound looks like a Laudato Si' garden with numerous animals and large green garden.

       The most recent development in Kabwe is the street children ministry located in Makululu. Weekly outreach in the town centre or in the 100,000 population 'compound' of Makululu and the other in the smaller Katondo 'compound' is a bridge to the Don Bosco Children Home where the youth left on the streets are offered education, shelter, family spirit and possibility to transform their life. At present some 90 boys are assisted by the EPC of 'Ciloto' and in the large Salesian 25 hectare plot of land has the basic education and home facilities under construction.

       The Dream of Don Bosco in this part of Zambia continues. We pray that more young people may discover and follow Don Bosco's Salesian Consecrated Vocation to live fully for God and for the young people, especially those most in need.

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