Salesian Aspirantate for Kenya
Don Bosco Embu has become the Salesian aspirantate for Kenya from August 2022. Earlier, the aspirants of Kenya were staying in different communities. The Rectors of Kenya and the Provincial Formation Commission found it very important to have a common formation. Today we have 12 aspirants in the community hailing from different parts of Kenya.
The Vocation Director for Kenya also resides at Don Bosco Embu. We are happy to welcome Roman Catholic young men who completed KCSE (Form IV) with at least a mean grade of C+ to join us to become Salesian Brothers or Priests. The age of those who would like to join us should be around 20. The mission of the Salesian Society is to educate young people to become lovers of God and good citizens. The Salesian Society have a preferential option for the poor and abandoned young people.
The Salesian Society was founded by the world renowned educator, St. John Bosco (Don Bosco) in 1859 in Italy but today the Salesian Society serves the young people in 133 countries of the world. The first Salesians to Kenya arrived from Italy and India in 1980 and today there are 11 Salesian communities in different parts of Kenya.
Who is Don Bosco?
St. John Bosco also known as Don Bosco, was born on August 16th, 1815 in a farm located in the hills of Becchi, at the bottom of the Italian Alps, The young Don Bosco was born into a poor humble family that depended on farming, his parents were Francis Bosco and Margaret Occhiena and his 2 brothers Joseph and Anthony. Just two years after his birth the tragic death of his father left Margaret in charge of raising the three boys by herself. Since a very young age, he and his brothers experienced the hardships of poverty after losing their father. Margaret a woman of courage and faith taught the boys that work was a privilege and so they had to take responsibility and carry out chores such as firewood to cut and collect, fields to work on, sacrifices that had to be made in order to keep their home and farm.
THE FORMATION PROGRAMME
1 year of Pre-Novitiate at Bosco Boys, Nairobi.
1 year of Novitiate at Morogoro, Tanzania.
3 years of Philosophy with Education at
Moshi, Tanzania.
2 years of Practical Training (Pastoral years)
4 years of Theology at Nairobi (for priest candidates
only) Brother candidates have 2 years
of specific Formation.
You may be sent for other specialization
according to the need and will be decided by
the Superior.
THE FORMATION PROGRAMME FOR THE ASPIRANTS
A major activity of Don Bosco Embu from 2022 is the Formation Programme for the Aspirants of Kenya.
The young men from Kenya who wish to join the Salesians of Don Bosco are selected from the various
vocation camps. Those selected are called “Aspirants”. These aspirants undergo a formation programme
lasting about a year. This programme is co-ordinated by Fr. James Njoroge SDB, the Director of the
Aspirants.
Every day the aspirants are given lessens in Scripture and Salesian values. Then they have time for
manual work, games with the students and a taste of Salesian Assistance.
The aspirants have the opportunity for personal chat with the Director and the Rector frequently. The
aspirants join the Salesians for the Morning and Evening Prayers and for two meals per week.
Those who complete the formation programme successfully proceed to the next stage of formation
called “Pre-Novitiate” at Bosco Boys, Nairobi.
Contact Us
The Director
Don Bosco Embu
P.O. Box 1121
60100 Embu, Kenya.
Email: rector@donboscoembu.org
Tel: 0700 - 305991
