The first two Salesians arrived in Namibia in October 1997. They were Fr CL Thomas (India) and Fr Thomas Grzegorzewsky (Poland). Both spent their first year with local missionaries learning the local language and customs.

In July 1998 the Salesians formally accepted responsibility for the Mission in Shambyu situated on the banks of the Kavango River 20 miles east of Rundu – and our Namibian presence became part of what is now a Vice Province combining Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Malawi. In July 1999 they were joined by Fr Dennis Higgins from GBR Province.

In October 2000 the Salesians, at the request of the local Bishop, accepted responsibility for the Mission in Rundu which had been without a priest for ten months. Fr. Dennis moved the 20 miles or so along the Kavango River from Shambyu to take over as parish priest in Rundu and was joined a few months later by Fr Josef Skowron (Poland) who had been working in Zambia. With the arrival in Shambyu of Fr Andrew Daniluk (Poland) and Fr George Szurgot (Poland), there are now five Salesians working in two missions in Namibia.

The nearest Salesian community to us is the Provincial House in Lusaka – almost 1,000 miles away! Namibia offers great opportunities for the Salesian Charism – it is estimated that two thirds of Namibians are under the age of 30. And with the opening of the Don Bosco Hall in Shambyu in November 2004 and the Don Bosco Youth Centre here in Rundu in February 2005, our work with young people is well under way.