EVBUARHUE, BENIN CITY – On Friday, January 9, the Salesian community of St. Charles Lwanga and Companions celebrated a significant moment of fraternity, marking exactly four months and one day since the arrival of the Salesian pioneers to the Archdiocese of Benin.
The community had the distinct privilege of hosting Rev. Fr. Daniel Omatu, the Province Prenovitiate Director, along with a delegation of prenovices.
The visit occurred as Fr. Omatu and the prenovices were in transit to the Akure community. The stopover in Evbuarhue served a dual purpose: to foster fraternal bonding and to collect Bro. Charles, a prenovice who had spent his Christmas break residing with the community in Benin.
During their stay, the hosts took the visitors on a guided tour of the facilities. This allowed the Prenovitiate Director and the students to become acquainted with the various sectors of this burgeoning Salesian presence and witness the progress made over the last four months.
Following the tour, the community shared a sumptuous breakfast, celebrating the bond between the new mission in Benin and the wider province. Following the meal and fellowship, the visitors departed to continue their journey to Akure.
The Social Communication Department of ANN recently made a documentary on behalf of the Mission Department to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the missionary expedition of the first Salesians. This documentary-style interview, “Matriarchs Of The Mission: Becoming Catechists in the Spirit of Don Bosco,” follows the formation and commissioning of the first female catechists at the Marian Shrine, Akure: Catechist Victoria Oloba, Catechist Comfort Falusi, and Catechist Janet Kuduyo.
The video highlights their journey:
Early Beginnings and Inspiration
The catechists share how their Catholic upbringing and involvement in church activities, like being legionaries and Catholic teachers, inspired their path. They emphasize the impact of the Salesian style of teaching, especially its focus on young people, and their admiration for the Salesian priests, particularly the late Father Denso Marini.
Call to Catechesis and Training
The women recount how they were called to formalize their teaching roles by their parish priests, specifically late Father Vincenzo. They initially collaborated with the Salesians and were later sent for formal training at Okitupa training center, a process that involved learning church doctrine, sacraments, and general teachings.
Commissioning and Initial Reactions
Their commissioning as catechists was a significant day, described as a “graduation” and “convocation ceremony.” However, their new roles were met with mixed reactions, with some parishioners questioning if it was a suitable role for women.
Challenges Faced
They discuss the challenges, including a lack of acceptance from some male catechists and the surprise of many parishioners who were unaccustomed to female catechists. Some even mistook them for priests. They also mention dealing with envy and ignorance from others.
Impact and Balancing Life
Despite the challenges, they express joy in inspiring others, including priests, through their teachings. They discuss how they successfully balance their roles as catechists, mothers, and wives, ensuring their family responsibilities are met while serving the church. They also highlight their impact on resolving marital issues and fostering moral and cultural growth among both children and adults.
Vision for the Future and Challenges in Recruitment
The catechists emphasize their love for the youth and recount memorable experiences, such as a bicycle pilgrimage. They advise young people to view catechesis as a lifelong vocation and a calling to spread the gospel, much like Mother Mary. They express the challenge of recruiting younger women, who often cite issues like uniforms and time constraints. They are actively working to bring in new, younger faces, including young men and women, into the catechetical mission.
