News letter april 2015

APRIL, MAY 2015

SPECIAL EASTER EDITION

ANS

FREETOWN, SIERRA LEONE

World Health Day: an interview with Br. Lothar Wagner SDB On the occasion of the World Health Day (7th April) Brother Lothar Wagner, SDB, reminded of the young people in Sierra Leone who are suffering from the deaths of their parents, their own Ebola infection and from stigmatisation. A lot of the children and adolescents are in need of holistic aid. He criticises the lack of sufficient psychotherapeutic aids. Health not only means the lack of disease and infirmity but also includes social well-being. This, however, is particularly lacking in Sierra Leone at the moment and he asks the International Community to provide more adequate medium- and long-term support for kids and youngsters. “I hope that (…) we will not witness an impending failure in the psycho-therapeutic field. This would entail disastrous consequences for the reconstruction of Sierra Leone,” Brother Lothar says.

Here are some excerpts of his interview: Do people still infect themselves with Ebola?

We have two to four new infections a day. This is clearly less than a few months ago.

There is hope for a speedy end; we, the Salesians of Don Bosco in Sierra Leone, however, still see a long way to go until we have reached the end. We expect setbacks, also due to the fact that more then 20% of the new infections are not registered on any list but appear out of the blue. This is appalling after one year of Ebola.

What is the current health situation in the country?

The World Health Organisation states that health not only means the lack of diseases and infirmity, but rather stresses that the whole well-being is involved, also the social wellbeing. It is here that we have to realise that a lot of the children and adolescents have not overcome either the deaths of their parents, their own illness or the stigmatisation.

And none who has experienced this great suffering on-site may be surprised.

What must be done?

In the way doctors and nurses diagnose illnesses and their severity in the medical field, we need psychologists, therapists and social workers in the socio-therapeutic field who can offer holistic aids to the traumatised children and adolescents. It is the young people who are expected to shape Sierra Leone’s reconstruction. It is they who have to be re-erected first. And little is happening on that score in my opinion. A lot of the young people are left to their own devices with their traumata.

Regardless of the numerous aid organisations on site?

Yes. Adequate psycho-social support is definitely lacking. To my mind, it is terrifying, how many organisations offer short-term material aids instead of providing medium- or long-term psycho-therapeutic services. But this is of vital importance for the child’s full health.

What exactly do you mean by this?

The focus, however, is largely on the medical field. As soon as a child is cured of Ebola it is generally regarded as fit and healthy. Generalisation is common without recognising that a lot of the children are everything but healthy. They are then sent to their extended families who are completely overburdened with the child’s situation.

Some children end up on the streets and experience a renewed trauma. The Salesians of Don Bosco are currently accommodating 45 heavily traumatised children in their therapy centre. We require more home places countrywide.

Nnadi Kenneth SDB

ITALY

MINISTRIES AT CROCETTA Dear Frs., Seasons greetings and best wishes! Hope you had a beautiful Easter celebration. We are all keeping very well and are enjoying the last days of the Easter break before going back to classes on Monday.

I am writing to share our joys with you as we received the ministries of Acolyte (Maximus) and Lectorate (Theophilus & Kenneth) today. It was a very simple celebration but very meaningful and significant in our vocation journey as you know. A word of prayer for us please!

We keep our brothers in Rome (UPS) in prayer as they are preparing to receive theirs soon.

In union of prayers, Kenneth (for AFW in Italy)

LAGOS, NIGERIA

THE PASSION DRAMA, LAGOS

Jesus carrying the cross to mountain Calvary

AKURE, NIGERIA

AKURE LIVE STATION OF THE CROSS

Jesus carrying the cross to mountain Calvary

IBADAN, NIGERIA

PASSION OF CHRIST, IBADAN

Jesus fell with the cross

Jesus carrying the cross to mountain Calvary

ASHAIMAN, GHANA

ASHAIMAN LIVE STATION OF HOLY FRIDAY

NZELI Anthony SDB

PROVINCIAL SECRETARY

DON BOSCO TECH. HIGH RECEIVING SOME GIFTS PRESENTED BY BENSON AND MR. ANDREAS After a beautiful sharing with Fr. Provincial and animators of Matadi, ....they sung the first Ebola song that was composed by them as Fr. Provincial video taped it.

DEREKONG Victor PT

ASHAIMAN, GHANA

BR. PATRICK SOKUU'S BIRTHDAY

WOJNAROWSKI Piotr SDB

IBADAN, NIGERIA

PRO-LIFE CONFERENCE AT IBADAN

Fr. PIOTR live at the international pro-life and family conference, Ibadan, Nigeria

ILODIGWE Kenneth SDB

IBADAN

ANNUAL DEBATE AT IBADAN On 15 April 2015, while some youths were gathered at the University of Ibadan to discuss issues relating to prolife, Don Bosco Institute of Philosophy, Ibadan, was embarking on its annual debate titled, “Legalisation of Abortion is a Basic Need in Nigeria.” This topic was not only hotly debated here in the institute but also in the Village Square.

Those who argued for the motion based their arguments not on morality but on the fact that abortion is an existential problem in Nigeria today and they put it thus, “we are faced with the epidemics of abortion in Nigeria today; what is the way forward?” They also raised concerns that if abortion is legalised and facilities are put in place, those whose chances of survival are slim during pregnancy can opt for abortion from a professional centre. This would reduce the rate of death due to unsafe abortion procedures.

On the other hand, those who argued against the motion based their argument on morality. They were of the view that abortion should not be legalised in Nigeria due to the fact that it does not promote life and also because of its moral implications. They also argued that legalization of abortion is not necessary because every human person has the right to life and thatlegalizing abortion can also lead to irresponsibility and promiscuity which also has its moral implications.

However, some students from the audienceargued that this topic should not be debated in our institute because of the value we place on life. In addition, in Africa, one of our values is respect for life due to the fact that we see life as the highest gift from God and debating such a topic seems contradictory to that our value system. It also seems to be a contradiction to Nigeria which is a notoriously religious country that holds life as one of its values.

However, statistics according to the world health organization (WHO) have recorded that in Nigeria, out of the 178.5 million population estimate, 760,000 abortions take place annually outside legal parameters. They also recorded that 34,000 women die of unsafe abortion annually. This occurs because abortion providers in Nigeria are poorly trained and the market is unregulated because of restrictive laws.

At the end, those who argued that abortion should not be legalised in Nigeria won with 64 points, while those who argued that abortion should be legalised in Nigeria got 62 points.

NZELI Anthony SDB

PROVINCIAL SECRETARY

DON BOSCO UTUME DIACONATE ORDINATION 2015 Greetings from the ISTITVO SALESIANO TERESA, GERINI-ROME. This is the official invitation card for the Diaconate ordination of our confreres from Don Bosco Utume theological college. May we accompany them with our prayers that the good Lord who has started this good work in them may bring it to completion, Amen.

All are cordially invited!

DBYES

NAIROBI, KENYA

DIACONATE ORDINATION, NAIROBI Today was a great day for the Salesians of Don Bosco community of Utume as they held a deaconate ordination of eleven young Salesians from various provinces across Africa. The Mass begun at 10 AM and it was celebrated by Rt. Rev. Alfred Rotich, the Military Ordinariate, who ordained confreres to the order of Diaconate.

Hundreds of People attended the event both religious and lay, including friends and families of the newly ordained deacons. The newly ordained deacons are; Ekugbah Chikezi Godwin, Koroma Augustine Fomba, Onwuzulu Ephraim Chibuzo, Oraegbunam Joseph and Utazi Chiemeka Matthew of AFW Province; Hei Abeje Zewede of AET province; Mathagu Henry Mwaniki, Omborwo Nicodemus and Owuor Eric Onyango of AFE Province and MuZa Simbarashe, John Musonda and Martin Nguyen of ZMB Province.

During the Mass, His Lordship Alfred Rotich advised the deacons to be men of service both to the Church and to the mission that will be entrusted to them while taking Moses of the old testament and Jesus as true models of service and unquestionable obedience to God. He thanked the Parents, the community and the

NAIROBI, KENYA

Salesians of Don Bosco for the immense work of formation they have imparted to the deacons.

After the Mass there was meal and recreation.

The Provincial and the Rector of the community gave vote of thanks to all those who attended the ceremony.

Evening the Salesians were invited to dinner at Utume.

DEREKONG Victor PT

ASHAiMAN, GHANA

DON BOSCO BICENTENARY MARATHON ASHAIMAN

LAGOS, NIGERIA

UPDATE ON NIGERIA DELEGATE HOUSE

SUNYANI, GHANA

SUNYANI TRACTOR

ONDO, NIGERIA

RIP MR AGBARA We commiserate with Fr. Fidelis on the passing away of his dear uncle

ONDO, NIGERIA

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE SIERRA LEONE!

ROME_TURIN_MILANO, ITALY

BiCENTENARY PILGRIMAGE 2015

to those born in April & May

April 03

April 08

Uzoeto Charles

Okafor Cosmas

April 09

April 18

Okpala Mark Anthony

Pottenplackal Sony

April 19

April 20

Andrade Ubaldino

Akinyele Sunday

April 23

April 24

Acquaye A. Dela

Esuk Steve

April 25

April 30 02 February

Eshun Mark

Gilmore Larry Thodukulam Thomas

April 30

May 03

Agbara Fidelis

Racca Ricky

May 05

May 05

Bello Kingsley

Mayer Gunter

May 06

May 06

Okoli Lawrence

Ebejer Richard

May 07

May 09

Agbo Alpheus

Okon Cornelius

May 11

May 13

Aneke John Paul

Ailen James

May 16

May 23

Spagnolo Italo

Airoboman Raphael

May 26

May 29

Pessima John

Boadi Isaac

May 30

Akinboboye Eric

May 31

Olamide Felix

May 30

Ilodigwe Emmanuel