Last Friday, January 24, in the city of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, Fr. Pedro Aguado, General Father, was welcomed by the educational community to bless the building and facilities of the “San José de Calasanz” School, where many boys and girls now enjoy an integral education in Piety and Letters.
Among those present were: the Itaka Escolapios Foundation, representing Mr. Igor Irigoyen; the General Assistants of the four circumscriptions; the General Secretary, Fr. Alex Dejouseé; the demarcational superiors, Fr. Pierre Diatta (Vicar in Congo), Fr. Moses Kongmi (Provincial Father of Central Africa), and Fr. Samson Ehemba (Provincial Father of West Africa); as well as the Piarist fathers of the Kinshasa communities, the Piarist fathers and juniors who represented their demarcations at the Piarist Days in Africa, the junior formandi of the Vicariate, and many lay guests who witnessed the blessing of this educational work for the good of Congolese society.
The program was presented by Junior Christian Kileke and included words of gratitude from Fr. Pedro Aguado and Fr. Adalbert Fouda to all the hands and hearts that helped bring the school project to life and make it a visible reality. The national anthem was sung, and a reenactment was performed with the help of the General Father and some children to recall the moment when Calasanz, together with the children, first opened the school that would change their lives forever. The event concluded with the cutting of the inauguration ribbon, the unveiling of the commemorative plaque, and the prayer of blessing for the facilities, followed by a thanksgiving snack for all attendees.
Congratulations on the opening of this school in Kinshasa! A great piece of news and a prophetic sign of change and commitment to the care of people and society. May Calasanz continue to strengthen the Piarist presence in Congo, and may the Order of the Pious Schools continue to be a means of mediation and a light of hope, in the simple and humble way of the yeast that blends into the dough.
