CELEBRATING 25 YEARS OF DEDICATION IN ETHIOPIA
'I have become all things to all"
Preparation for the Silver Jubilee of the FMA began in April with the theme of Mother General’s Feast “I have become all things to all” stressing aspects of being converted to love being missionary disciples of the Word. The four communities of the FMA focused on a theme each week and prayed for the community according to the chronological founding of the house. The themes included: unconditional love for all; a love stronger than death; a love that recognizes the richness of diversity and promotes unity; the greatest of all is love. Community initiatives involved the entire Educating Community of Sisters, students, parents, oratorians, teachers, past pupils, workers, volunteers, and benefactors.
In the community of Addis Abeba we had a prayer moment together with the pupils and our collaborators to introduce the theme and to explain our presences and the activities of each community .
The Jubilee Celebration and the Feast of St. Mary Mazzarello was celebrated on the 30th May 2009 in Addis. In attendance were a number of Salesians six religious Communities, pupils, collaborators and the committee of the technical students. For the occasion, we had a solemn Mass animated with song and dance by the oratorians, literacy children and technical students. The main celebrant,
Fr. Irsusria Gebere,sdb said in his homily that “these 25 years of the FMA in Ethiopia have born fruit because of great love for God and the young people after the example of St. Mary Mazzarello.” A delicious Lunch for 300 people. was prepared by Sr. Aberhet Tesfaye A.A of the Catholic Archdiocese Women’s Promotion Center (C.A.W.P.C). At the end of the celebration there was an additional celebration with everyone present – Sr. Mary Riva’s 82nd Birthday. Sr. Mary is a veteran missionary have worked in India for 32 years and 25 in East Africa. She was also a pioneer in Kenya. There are four communities in Ethiopia in
Dilla, Zway, Addis Abeba and Adua, but none of these were the original presence of the FMA. The Sisters began their mission working in the Papal Nuciature in Addis for a number of years before opening the community of Dilla.
