Every year, on the 25th of February the Salesian Family celebrates our proto-martyrs, Luigi Versiglia and Callixto Caravario The latter is the patron of the prenovitiate at Gatenga, Kigali-Rwanda. Under normal circumstances we would have celebrated this feast with the novices, of whom Luigi Versiglia is the patron saint. Alas, the pandemic Covid-19 does not allow for travel. That day was “ordinary” in the sense that we had classes in the morning and in the afternoon, with Father Augustin Caesar Habanabakize, who had come from Kabgayi to teach us about of the two forms of one Salesian consecrated vocation : priestly and lay. The actual feast therefore began with the celebration of the Eucharist in the evening presided over by the Vice Provincial Fr. Raymond Bavumiragiye, then the extended celebration in the dining-room. Despite the fact that we are currently in the holy season of Lent, I’m sure saint Callixte Caravario gave in a small word for us to Jesus in order that we could celebrate his birthday in heaven in one way or another. As a family, we shared something small in honor of this great saint, together with the community of Gatenga and, of course, I can’t forget to mention the presence of Father Leon Panhuysen, who indeed warmed up the whole event. Presentations from aspirants and prenovices were like the golden rays of the sun just after a heavy downpour, illuminating and also altogether delightful. We are all grateful for the gift of this saint and we ask him to keep on interceding for us so that we may also join him in the heavenly choir to praise our Father in heaven in the life to come.
Solomon Balikuddembe, prenovice.
