Father Radol Austine visits the Comboni Delegation of Eritrea

Visits by members of the General Council to Eritrea are not frequent. This is largely due to the difficulties in obtaining entry visas from the Government. For this reason, the presence of Fr. Austine was especially meaningful for the members of the Delegation.

His previous missionary experience in Eritrea, his familiarity with the country and its people, and the fact that he is a Kenyan national all contributed to his being able to enter the country without difficulty. He was granted a three-month stay.

We are very grateful to the General Council for sending us Fr. Austine, His visit has been a moment of ongoing formation, solidarity and communion with the Institute, as well as a great encouragement for the members of our Delegation.

A week of communion and fraternity

During his stay, Fr. Austine held a short Assembly with the members of the Delegation and had the opportunity to meet personally with each of the confreres: priests and scholastics.

The Eritrean Delegation comprises four communities: the Delegation Headquarters and Postulancy in Asmara; the Minor Seminary in Decamere; the community of Delle, serving the parishes of Delle and Hykota; and the Scholasticate in Asmara.

Fr. Austine visited three of the communities. The members of Delle travelled to Asmara to participate in the Assembly and to meet personally with the Assistant General.

His previous experience in Eritrea proved especially valuable. Having lived and worked in the country, Fr. Austine knows its culture, language and people well. The confreres were particularly touched that, despite having left Eritrea many years ago, he had not forgotten Tigrigna.

Encounters with the local Church

During his visit, Fr. Austine also met with the Archbishop of Asmara, Mgr. Menghesteab Tesfamariam, who invited him to dinner.

He also celebrated Holy Mass with the Comboni Sisters at their Provincial House and spent several days celebrating with the elderly sisters. His presence brought great joy to the sisters and was another expression of the fraternal communion that marked his visit.

For the missionaries of the Eritrean Delegation, Fr. Austine’s presence was much more than an official visit. His thoughtful input, animation, personal presence and brotherly encouragement were deeply appreciated.

The Delegation hopes that Fr. Austine will now share with the General Council and the wider Comboni Institute what he saw, heard and experienced during his time in Eritrea. For this small and relatively isolated Delegation, his visit was a valuable link of communion with the whole Institute.

Fr. Gaim Haileselassie, MCCJ