KENYA: Upcoming Marian Congress by the Don Boscos, to Honor the Role of Mother Mary
Marian congress
Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
The congregation of the Salesians of Don Bosco (SDB) for the East Africa province (AFE) have organized a four-day Marian congress in Kenya’s capital Nairobi, to honor Mother Mary for the achievements the religious congregation has realized through the intercession of Mary.
In the message shared with AMECEA Online about the upcoming congress scheduled to commence on Wednesday, June 28, the Social Communications delegate of the province Fr. Sabastian Koladiyil highlighted, “The celebration of the event is being organised to thank our Blessed Mother for all the wonderful things she did here in Eastern Africa through the congregation.”
The congress will be hosted at the Shrine of Mary Help of Christians, Don Bosco Upper Hill, Nairobi, under the theme: “Mary’s Call and Our Christian Call” which has been inspired by the gospel of St. Luke the evangelist when the birth of Jesus was foretold, (Lk 1: 26-40).
According to the message shared by Fr. Koladiyil on Tuesday, June 20, the celebration will comprise of various activities including “Talks on various topics by experts, Lectio Divina, Group Discussions, Workshops, Pilgrimage, reconciliation Holy Eucharist and Marian Serenade” among others.
Even though all the activities will take place at the Shrine of Mary Help of Christians upper Hill, the pilgrimage expected to be on the third day of the congress, will take place at the Resurrection Garden in Karen, Nairobi, a designated garden for prayer, meditation and spiritual renewal.
As he invites all the faithful including the youths from various parts of Eastern Africa to register through their parishes and participate in the program, Fr. Koladiyil notes that those from outside Kenya will have accommodation within the institutions around Nairobi.
He adds that the congress will be an opportunity “to meet and mingle with people of different nationalities in East Africa and to pray together and at the same time, it will be an extraordinary time of learning and coming to love our Blessing Mother and a moment of grace.”
Additionally, the Marian congress expecting to host 1000 participants will also be an occasion for prayer, reflection, faith-formation and spreading of the devotion to Mother Mary,” the Social Communications delegate said.
The SDB congregation whose one of the spirituality pillars is devotion to Mary Help of Christians was established in East Africa (Kenya, Tanzania, and Sudan and South Sudan) in 1980 and their presence in the region has brought “a difference in the lives of the young people through education and other forms of ministry.”
Fr. Koladiyil concludes that the founder of the Salesian congregation Saint Don Bosco, towards the end of his life appreciated all his achievement during his lifetime and exclaimed “Mary did it all.”
Due to increased vocation and growth of the congregation, the province is expected to be divided into two in the course of the year with Kenya province including Sudan and South Sudan and then Tanzania Province.
