July 2013 – Missionaries of Africa – Southern Africa Province (SAP)

Chers confrères,

Le Père Julien Cormier me demande de vous faire parvenir un texte du Pape François qui nous aidera à réfléchir sur la mission, notre mission et la vie de l’Église.

Vous trouverez ce texte en pièce jointe (en français et en anglais).

Merci !

Marc Beaudry, M.Afr

Le pape François et la mission aujourd’hui

“Although Pope Francis was speaking about the situation in Latin America, Catholics in other parts of the world may well find much of what Francis had to say recognizable in their contexts, too.”

A. Introduction de Julien Cormier : Le pape, la mission et les M.Afr (en français)

B. Présentation (in English) de John Allen du National Catholic Reporter

C. Présentation (en français) d’Anita Bourdin, Agence Zenit

D. Discours du Pape aux évêques du CELAM à Rio (en français)

E. Address from the Pope to the CELAM Bishops in Rio (in English)

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Address of Pope Francis to Ambassadors on the world of finance and economics – 16th May 2013

Priestly Ordination of Simeon Kalore M.Afr

By Missionaries of Africa - Southern Africa Province (SAP)

On July 31, 2013

In News

Saturday 20^th July 2013
Dear brothers,

We have just coming back from the ordination of Simeon Kalore by Right Rev. Mgr Woldeghorgis Matheos, bishop of Hosana Vicariate in Ethiopia. Abune Weldegiorgis Matheos ordained him on 20th of July and his thanksgiving mass was on the following day. The ordination day was not as full as was Simeon thanksgiving mass. Though all his brothers and sisters have converted to Evangelical church, we had a beautiful celebration with all of them. So it was an ecumenical celebration. We were five confreres, students and the FROMA (friends of the missionaries of Africa) who accompanied him from Tigray. Despite the fact that it is rainy season, the Lord of rain protected us from disruption. We had beautiful weather and it was only the day we were leaving Taza that we got a shower that lasted till 10am. Indeed the Lord provided us with all the reason to celebrate our brothers’ priestly ministry. Now we need to continue accompanying him differently.

Bonaventure Mashata, M.Afr

Delegate Superior Ethiopia- Proche-Orient

: Abraha Yohannes Fitiwi and Lemma Belete Fanta

Mafrwestafrica – Lettre du 30 juillet 2013

By Missionaries of Africa - Southern Africa Province (SAP)

On July 30, 2013

In News, Publications

Aujourd’hui, les Missionnaires d’Afrique de l’Ouest vous proposent de visiter de nouvelles pages sur leur site www.mafrwestafrica.net :

Dans la rubrique « Diverses nouvelles du Maghreb» (ou « Dialogue interreligieux »)

Nouvelles du frère Jan Heuft, qui aide les jeunes ouest-africains à retourner vers leur pays d’origine et organise également beaucoup de rencontres avec les musulmans d’Alger.(lire la suite)

Dans la rubrique « vu au sud,, vu du sud » :

Un rappel de ce que fut l’histoire du président Guinéen Ahmed Sekou Touré. (Merci à « Voix d’Afrique » du mois de juin 2013) (lire la suite)

Dans la rubrique « Actualités » :

« Rencontres des familles à Bobo-Dioulasso » : à savoir les familles de nos confrères originaires de le région ouest du Burkina Faso (lire la suite )

« Lettre pastorale des Évêques du Burkina » : cette lettre qui date du 15 juillet dernier s’insurge à propos du fait que bien peu de choses sont faites dans le pays pour aider les plus démunis, alors que la création du Sénat va coûter des milliards à l’Etat. (lire la suite)

Dans la rubrique « Justice et Paix » :

« Réguler le commerce des armes », un article pris dans la revue « Voix d’Afrique »du mois de juin dernier, qui fait état des progrès accomplis dans ce domaine. (lire la suite)

Dans la rubrique « En famille » :

le « dernier numéro de ce bulletin » qui donne des nouvelles aux amis et familles des Missionnaires originaires de la Province d’Afrique de l’Ouest (lire la suite)

So called Zone of Primary Evangelization!

By Missionaries of Africa - Southern Africa Province (SAP)

On July 29, 2013

In News, South Africa Sector

The first missionaries of Africa arrived in South Africa in 1972 in view of ministering to Malawian mineworkers who needed pastoral and spiritual care. Over time, our missionary vision developed into parishes and a formation house in theology.

I consider myself working in a zone of primary evangelization. Many friends of mine think that I am sent to people who do not know Jesus yet, thus to people whose beliefs do not reflect Christian faith or in the midst of non-Christian believers. To make clear, I am sent amongst people who, in large majority, are Christian believers.

Those Christians belong to many hundreds of different churches whereby Roman Catholic Christians are a little minority. Even 80 % of our Catholics come from these other Christian Churches. Some of them belonged to one, two or three other churches before discovery the Catholic Church.

Many women become members of our Church by joining the religion of their husband. This is underpinned by cultural rule. Some who feel cheated, disappointed and confused by the leaders of their former Church also decide to join us seeking hope and newness. A good number is helped by friends to find their way to our Church.

Therefore, it is difficult to assess the knowledge or understanding of the Catholic faith of our followers. It is quite common to see young people coming to join our Church being the only member of their family to do so. I baptize many children without considering the faith and Christian life of their biological parents, but rather the faith of their grand-mothers who belong to our Church. Paradoxically, I am surprised with the pride of some catholic families. Though they may not practice their faith, they strongly affirm that they are Catholics. We also see children who were baptized in our Church going to pray elsewhere. Few old and young men are found in our Church. Finally, many of our families are made up of single mothers and children. I also see some lapsed members coming back to be reintegrated. Who is supposed to receive Holy Communion and who is not? Only God knows!

Our challenge is to find the proper way to teach the Catholic Faith to Christians who are coming from other Christian doctrines. How do you ensure that the catechesis offered to them is carried throughout the life of a single Catholic member in the midst of other church goers? How can you expect to have catechists and community leaders to remain faithful to the teaching of the Gospel as presented by our Church taking into account their very shallow and mixed knowledge from previous churches? In our parish context, the primary evangelization is foremost a process of teaching and empowering the Catholic little minority in order to be loyal to Jesus Christ through a life of faith, hope and love.

Various seminars are organized for this purpose to enable the members of our Church to deepen their relationship with Christ, gain confidence and a sound sense of belonging. These formation days are strengthened by regular visits of communities and individuals. The aim is to cultivate a pedagogy that allows dialogue through sharing and debate with previous faiths in order to guide it through the clear doctrine of the Catholic Church. We are glad to see that the local Church is following this approach.

This has less to do with going to convert non-Christian believers, but it is positively to preach Jesus by revealing and professing the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church of Christ. Primary evangelization becomes a ministry to encounter the members of many Christian churches who want to believe in Jesus Christ, to celebrate and live his Gospel in the way our Church believes, celebrates and lives it. It is an internal dialogue between a Christian with a Catholic Christian. You may better think that the one who wants to embark on a catechetical journey with you is not a full Christian, but you may not change his mind; he knows that he is a Christian.

And what if he repeats: There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all… (Eph.4:5-6)

Sébastien Ndrutsomi, M.Afr

Jones Kawisha

By Missionaries of Africa - Southern Africa Province (SAP)

On July 29, 2013

In News

I am Jones Kawisha from Kabwe, Zambia. I was ordained priest in 2008 and appointed to the Maghreb province. I am in the community of Tizi Ouzou in Algeria since 2009. Encounter has been my priority and my main apostolate. My experience has been positive and rich. In September this year, I will be going to Paris to study Theology of Religions in order to have a broader understanding of different religions to enrich my encounter apostolate. I am currently in Zambia for my holiday.

Speech on the human trafficking and forced labour choral competition

By Missionaries of Africa - Southern Africa Province (SAP)

On July 29, 2013

In News, Zambia Sector

A pre-UNWTO event awareness raising on human trafficking and forced labour in Livingstone, southern province of Zambia

Livingstone, 20^th July 2013

Speech by Pastor Francis Chivuta, National Coordinator, National Freedom Network – ZAMBIA (NFN)

CEO, ZCRC

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is an honor to be here amongst you today to speak on such a delicate issue as Human Trafficking and Forced labour. I would also like to thank the St Andrews Anglican Church of Livingstone through Father Emmanuel Chikoya, the Coordinator of this Programme for inviting me to be the guest of honor and give a key note speech in such an esteemed setting.

Human Trafficking

Of all the global resources, human life is the most significant. The bible in Gen 1:27 say “so God created human beings, making them to be like himself. He created them male and female” This shows how valuable we human beings are special in the eyes of the creator. No diamond can mine itself and no gold has the capacity to be refined without manpower; without human life, all the weapons, food and oil in the world would mean nothing. READ MORE

When Charity Kills

By Missionaries of Africa - Southern Africa Province (SAP)

On July 28, 2013

In Justice and Peace, News, Publications, Zambia Sector

By Jacek Rakowdki, M.Afr

Published in the Saturday Post, Saturday 27 July 2013

Most people remember very well a moment or an episode in their lives, which was a turning point. (…) It happened (to me) 10 years ago. I had just arrived in the country, form my native Poland, to continue my training with the Missionaries of Africa in Kasama. I was in Cairo Road, looking for an Internet Café from where I could call my family to tell them I had arrived safely. I found one but at the door, lying on the pavement, there was a child. The only way for me to enter into the shop would have been to step over his body. But I couldn’t. I froze and I moved to the other side of the street and went back home. That night the vision of that boy came back to haunt me time and again. On the following morning, I went back to the shop and the child was awake, standing and begging. Unable to communicate, I just took him by the hand, led him to a fast food and bought him something to eat.

Today I would not encourage anyone to do that but that’s what happened to me on that fateful encounter which threw open a door on a world I only knew through readings and movies.

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Death of Françoise Godinot, mother of our confrere Jean-Louis Godinot

By Missionaries of Africa - Southern Africa Province (SAP)

On July 27, 2013

In News

The Mother of Jean-Louis Godinot, Françoise, died at the age of 91 on the 26^th July in the morning. She will be buried next to her husband, Jean Godinot, leaving behind seven children. She was a catechist for many years at home. She also visited Zambia three times with her husband and three times alone. She knew many Missionaries of Africa, some are still alive, and quite a few people of Kasamba. The burial will take place on Tuesday the 30^th July. Jean-Louis is flying tonight the 27^th July and will be back to Zambia on the 6^th August.

Let us pray for her.

Pastoral visitation within Lumimba Parish

By Missionaries of Africa - Southern Africa Province (SAP)

On July 25, 2013

In News

Our visit to the outstations during the dry season normally begins on Thursday and ends on Sunday. Besides visiting families, we pray with the sick, hear pastoral issues and give various courses to catechumens and Christian leaders.

In this Year of Faith, we are also adding activities such as sports challenging even Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) camps. Moreover, we pay a visit to Chiefs or join in community funerals. At times, we sing and chat in the evenings around fire. The youth usually prepare songs for Sunday celebrations from Friday till Sunday and camp at the outstation.