Ethiopia – Comboni Youth Center officially inaugurated in Hawassa

The Comboni Youth Center (CYC) was planned to become a place of youth empowerment, spiritual renewal and Comboni animation. It is a space for reflection, community gathering and a spiritual renewal where users will have the opportunity to deepen their faith, strengthen their relationship with God and grow together in unity and peace.

The two buildings have one chapel, one refectory and one kitchen, one big and two small meeting rooms, one library, one computer room and digital library, 28 self-contained rooms and two bank bed rooms, a grotto and a multipurpose sports ground.

The inauguration started with the celebration of the Eucharist presided by the Apostolic Vicar of Hawassa.

Mgr Merhakristos, in his homily, congratulated the Comboni Family in Ethiopia and worldwide, who participated in the accomplishment of such a noble project.

The Bishop emphasized that the ceremony was to bless the buildings and also those who will come to look for and to hear the Good Shepherd’s voice.

The prelate underlined that the center is dedicated to the animation of the youth. “Therefore, he said, the different groups of the youth who will come in this center, will hear the true voice of Jesus Christ, then will go back as being shepherds for others.”

Mgr Merhakristos recalled the moto of Saint Daniel Comboni “Save Africa with Africans”. He concluded his homily saying that the center will be a place of attraction, and “more places like this one are needed, to pray and to meet Jesus.”

The provincial superior of the Comboni Missionaries in Ethiopia, Abba Asfaha Yohannes, voiced his gratitude to the different donors who made the CYC a reality.

“I would like to extend my sincerest thanks to our generous donors who have made this dream a reality: CEI (the Italian Bishops’ Conference), the Papal Foundation, Fondazione Nigrizia, the last two general councils of the Comboni Missionaries and some of its provinces. Their financial contributions and invaluable ideas have been instrumental in shaping this space into what it is today”, he said.

Fr Asfaha offered a heartfelt gratitude to all Comboni Missionaries and to the Comboni Family in Ethiopia and abroad, including the two former provincial superiors, alongside with their councils, for their tireless work in carrying out the vision of the CYC.

He finally underlined the particular remarkable contribution of the late Fr Nicolino Di Iorio, whose dedication to the project during its construction phase was notable.

“His spirit lives on in the walls of this Comboni Youth Centre, disclosed by the beautiful statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary that adorns the compound. It was a gift from his parish community of Celenza, in Italy, and from his family. They continue to support the centre and the mission of Daye”, he explained.

After the Eucharist, Bishop Merhakristos blessed the two buildings, the grotto and the grounds.

The ceremony concluded with an agape meal shared by all who were present at the inauguration event.

Fr. Hippolyte Awoumessi APEDOVI, MCCJ