Salesians Build Pope Francis Arena in Liberia Prison

Salesians Build Pope Francis Arena 
in Liberia State Prison

(ANS – Monrovia, Liberia – Feb. 1, 2024) – The starting signal for the construction of a multifunctional sports arena has been given. After a long planning and approval process, the groundbreaking ceremony took place at this year’s Don Bosco Feast on January 31. The Salesians of Don Bosco together with Don Bosco Mondo (Bonn, Germany) are building a sports arena in Liberia’s Central Prison in the capital city Monrovia, which they are dedicating to Pope Francis.

As part of a small “Evangelii Gaudium Celebration,” the various actors came together: representatives of the Liberian Government and the Salesians, constructors, engineers, and prisoners. “It is a very significant step forward in our educational-pastoral work with prisoners, especially with young offenders,” said the director of the Salesian community of Monrovia-Matadi, Fr. Augustine Okeke (on the right of the photo).

The head of the Central Prison, Superintendent Varney Lake (on the left), expressed his gratitude to the Salesians and to those who provided ideas and financial support. “It is only through this initiative that sport activities will soon return after so many years. That’s what I call a real Don Bosco celebration.” He emphasized the great importance of sports as a therapeutic measure in the prison system. With this statement, he met open ears from the Salesians. The inauguration of the sports facility is planned for Pentecost Sunday this year as part of a Eucharistic celebration and a Sports Week.

The Salesian community is equally pleased with the new, attractive sports offering and pointed out another important new direction in the project: the donor was involved from the very first moment of planning. “It is important to us that the donor is also involved during and after the project implementation, even if he lives far away,” commented Fr. Augustin. A high identification of the donor with the project is important. “He should know that he can make a difference with his own resources in this crisis-ridden world.”

In this case, the financier Peter Friemel from Germany initially moved himself: for years he has been getting on his bicycle and collecting money from sponsors and donors on his tours. The 85-year-old has already racked up a whopping €200,000. Finally, the director gave appraisal to the provincial of SDB Nigeria Province, Fr. Denis Soro, for the great support and encouragement that he gave to the Salesians working inside the prison.

The Monrovia Central Prison is constantly overcrowded due to the slow and sluggish work of the judiciary. While the prison was built for 325 inmates, today there are over 1,500 prisoners crammed into the narrow cells. Overcrowding in the central prison leads to a lack of food and water, a lack of hygienic standards and a lack of psycho-social support. These in turn lead to increased aggression and frustration among prisoners, resulting in physical and mental illnesses and injuries (skin diseases, malnutrition, depression, etc.). There are no opportunities to do sports in the narrow area. The new arena is primarily intended to promote team sports.

The Salesians have been working in the social-pastoral area in prison since they arrived in the West African country in 1979. Today, they work in the prison every day from morning to evening with a diverse program. The malnourished receive a warm and nutritious meal, the sick receive medical assistance, children and young prisoners receive psycho-social care in a specially built living area, and those wrongly held prisoner receive free legal assistance from lawyers. What is particularly important, however, is the pastoral offering, which is strongly geared to the situation and needs of the prisoners: individual and group discussions, Bible lessons, the Sacraments of the Eucharist and confession as well as ecumenical prayer times.