Nairobi, 23 June, 2023 / 9:50 pm (ACI Africa).
The Marian Congress that members of the Salesians of Don Bosco (SDB) in the East Africa Province (AFP) are organizing is to culminate in having their Nairobi-based shrine “the heart of Marian devotion in East Africa," the Salesian Communication Delegate for the four-day has said.
In an interview with ACI Africa, Fr. Sebastian Koladiyil said that the June 28 to July 1 Marian Congress to be held at Don Bosco Upper Hill Parish of Kenya’s Archdiocese of Nairobi is part of the plan of SDB members to make Mary Help of Christians Shrine a place of reference for those devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary in the countries of East Africa.
The planned Marian Congress, Fr. Sebastian said, aims at spreading "the devotion to our Blessed Mother, for the Christians to grow more fond of the Blessed Mother and follow her vocation.”
"Mary's vocation is very similar to the vocation of every Christian," the Nairobi-based SDB members said during the Thursday, June 22 interview, and added in reference to the Blessed Virgin Mary, "She said yes and we are also invited to say yes to our own vocation."
In a statement about the Salesian spiritual initiative that Fr. Sebastian shared with ACI Africa, the Marian Congress that has been organized under the theme, “Mary’s Call and Our Christian Call” (Lk 1: 26-40) is set to “be an extraordinary time of learning and coming to love our Blessing Mother and a moment of grace.”