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Month: December 2013 Page 3 of 4

Address of Pope Francis to the new Ambassadors – human trafficking

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On December 18, 2013

In Publications

papa-francescoHuman trafficking is a crime against humanity. We must unite our efforts to free the victims and stop this increasingly aggressive crime which threatens not only individuals but the basic values of society and of international security and justice, to say nothing of the economy, and the fabric of the family and our coexistence.

What is called for, then, is a shared sense of responsibility and firmer political will to gain victory on this front. Responsibility is required towards those who have fallen victim to trafficking in order to protect their rights, to guarantee their safety and that of their families, and to prevent the corrupt and criminals from escaping justice and having the last word over the lives of others. Suitable legislative intervention in the countries of origin, transit and arrival, which will also facilitate orderly migration, can diminish this grave problem.  FULL TEXT 

The Missionary Oath and the Diaconate Ordination in Abidjan

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On December 17, 2013

In News

Abidjan 01Our community “ Fraternité Lavigerie” of Abidjan was so privileged to have two major events during the early days of the month of December 2013. Five of our confreres had the opportunity of professing their missionary oath definitively in the Society of the Missionaries of Africa. This occurred on the sixth of December 2013 during the liturgical celebration which was presided by Ignatius Anipu (the provincial of the West Africa Province, P.A.O). Our community was equally happy to receive a good number of visitors for the event, especially the confreres within and outside West Africa. The Diaconate Ordination took place on the seventh of December 2013 at St. John the Baptist parish which is located near our community. This year’s Diaconate Ordination was unique because it was presided by one of the Missionaries’ of Africa bishops by the name of Mgr Claude Raul who is actually serving as a bishop of Laghouat in Algeria. Among the five newly ordained as deacons were Christian Muhineza (Burundian) and Remacle Lamec Ciza (Burundian) who did their apostolic stage in Southern Africa Province (SAP). Christian did his stage in Namushakende, Zambia while Lamec in Lebombo parish in South Africa. We are very glad to have them as confreres and we wish them good luck in their theological studies before they go for the mission.     By Mukuka Humphrey
PDF file:   Missionary Oath Diaconate Abidjan
 
 

Mafrwestafrica – Lettre du 11 décembre 2013

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On December 17, 2013

In Publications

Mafrwestafrica 02Aujourd’hui, les Missionnaires d’Afrique de l’Ouest vous proposent de visiter de nouvelles pages sur leur site www.mafrwestafrica.net :
Dans la rubrique « En famille » :
La version internet de « En Famille – numéro 35 », cette revue qui est envoyée aux familles et amis des Missionnaires d’Afrique de la Province d’Afrique de l’Ouest (lire la suite)
Dans la rubrique « Actualités » :
« Les 50 ans d’ordination d’André Douillard à Niamey », une occasion pour notre confrère de célébrer une vie missionnaire variée, allant du Rwanda au Tchad, en France et aujourd’hui au Niger. (lire la suite)
Dans la rubrique « Maghreb » :
« L’histoire de l’Eglise d’Algérie », un article envoyé par le provincial du Maghreb, et qui s’inspire du site officiel de l’Eglise en Algérie. (lire la suite)
Dans la rubrique « Justice et Paix » :
« Rencontrer les migrants à Ghardaia », un rappel des situations bien difficiles vécues par les personnes qui viennent de l’Afrique Subsaharienne vers le Nord. (lire la suite)
Dans la rubrique « Maisons de formation » :
« 25 ans de grâces à la Maison Lavigerie de Ouagadougou », qui depuis sa fondation a accueilli 525 étudiants de différentes Congrégations ou Sociétés de vie Apostolique, dont 226 missionnaires d’Afrique. (lire la suite)
Dans la rubrique « Vu au Sud, – Vu du Sud » :
« Le SEDELAN exposant à la FILO 2013 » , ou l’importance pour les publications en langue vernaculaires d’êtres présentes à cette foire internationale du Livre de Ouagadougou. (lire la suite)
Dans la rubrique « Témoignages » :
« Philippe Dakouo, de la Zambie ». Philippe partage son expérience de trois mois de stage de langue dans le pays où il a été nommé pour vivre son stage apostolique. (lire la suite)

La Radio Chrétienne Francophone R.C.F. Decembre 2013

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On December 10, 2013

In News

RCF Bruxelles“Rencontrer l’Afrique” – RCF Bruxelles: FM 107.6  sous la direction du P. Jan Lenssen M.Afr en collaboration avec l’équipe du Centre Amani, Pastorale Africaine.
Horaire des émissions
Mercredi : à 19h30 – Jeudi : à 4h30  et a 16h00 – Samedi: à 19h30 – Dimanche: à 17h00 
– Pour écouter RCF Bruxelles partout dans le monde, a l’heure même de l’émission:
www.rcfbruxelles.be
Les prochaines Émissions : mois de Décembre 2013
04.12.2013. (sem. 49-13)  Abbe Jose Nzazi. Prêtre de la RDC Congo (Idiofa)
 « L’abbé. Dominique Kahanga témoin et prophète des droits de l’homme ».
Secrétaire de la commission Justice et Paix de la conférence épiscopale du Congo Kinshasa de 1995 a 2003, l’Abbe Nzazi a travaillé à la mise en place de la formation de la population a l’éducation civique pour un comportement a la citoyenneté. Il a vécu et œuvré selon l’adage des Béatitudes : « Heureux les persécutés pour la justice, le Royaume des cieux est à eux (aujourd’hui !) »
11.12.2013. (sem. 50-13) Caritas International, Asile et Migration:
 « Le trajet de la Réintégration : aussi vital que l’intégration »
La réintégration après le retour volontaire dans le pays d’origine est très importante. « Les personnes retournées doivent pouvoir bénéficier d’un accompagnement sur mesure », conclue la Conférence de la Caritas International.
Souvent (et de plus en plus …) les autorités décident que certains demandeurs d’asile ne peuvent pas rester en Europe. Comment respecter et accompagner ces personnes. L’aide a la réintégration est, en Belgique, octroyée aux demandeurs d’asile (déboutées) et aux migrants en situation irrégulière. La conférence  de Caritas International traitait de ce qui se passe pour les personnes retournées après leur retour dans le pays d’origine et le travail des partenaires dans 5 pays de l’Afrique (de l’Ouest) dans l’accompagnement  de ces personnes. Rapport de conférence
18.12.2013. (sem. 51-13) Henri Muhiya, Secrétaire de la Commission épiscopale nationale du Congo pour les ressources naturelles (CERN)
Les ressources naturelles au Congo RDC : Richesse ou malédiction ?
«  La commission européenne va prochainement proposer une initiative législative concernant l’approvisionnement responsable de minerais provenant des zones en conflit à haut risque » tel était la conclusion de la mission parlementaire européenne qui revenait de  la Région des grands Lacs.
Un titre de journal qui cache les souffrances et la guerre qui sévit depuis des années dans la République du Congo, Kinshasa. Il s’agit des ressources naturelles énormes de ce pays et de la Région : ces richesses naturelles sont-elles une vraie richesse ou bien sont-elles une malédiction pour le pays et sa population ? « La gestion des richesses naturelles au service du développement de l’ensemble du peuple «. Interview d’Henri Muhiya de la commission épiscopale pour les ressources naturelle.
25.12.2013. (sem. 52-13) l’équipe du Centre « Amani », ‘lieu d’accueil, de solidarité et de promotion culturelle des Africains et leurs amis’.                                         
Célébrons Noël !
“La joie chrétienne se partage! “
Partageons la musique, les souvenirs et la solidarité fraternelle de notre terre ancestrale.

Nelson Mandela R.I.P

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On December 10, 2013

In News, Publications

cropped-nelson-mandela-day-child.jpg“No one is born hating another person because of the colour of their skin, or their back ground, or their religion. People must learn to hate and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart that it’s opposite.” N.M.
The names South Africa and Nelson Mandela are synonymous. In the eyes of the world Nelson Mandela is the human face of South Africa. In fact, Nelson Mandela epitomizes all that is good about South Africa. His reputation grew in proportion to the number of years he was hidden from the world; 27 in all. The name alone became a living legend long before he walked out of Victor Verster prison in Cape Town on February 11th 1990. But perhaps more extraordinary is the fact that the legend continued to grow worldwide, as the man measured up to the legend and in essence exceeded it. Everyone it seemed wanted to be in the presence of this icon of humanity in a time where few world leaders of stature are to be found.
In a lonely prison cell on Robbin Island in the deep Atlantic Ocean he came to the conclusion that there could be no winners or losers in the South African struggle for recognition of the dignity of the black people to be equal in the land of their birth. Somehow all the people who make up South Africa would have to be seen as winners. He learnt the language of his oppressor the Afrikaners, a language derived from Dutch and to their amazement when they eventually turned to him, in the late 1980s, to save South Africa, he insisted to address them in their language. At huge personal cost coming from his own political party, the African National Congress (ANC) he preached a message of reconciliation and not revenge, unity and not diversity, together and not apart. It was the shear stature of the man that converted an entire nation. South Africa owes this one man a huge debt.
He followed his dream that denied him 27 years of his adulthood and deprived him an opportunity and ability to be a husband, father and grandfather. He cherished this dream amid cynicism and despondency, as when he embraced his jailers and racists, and preached reconciliation instead of victors’ justice. His critics argued that reconciliation came at the expense of justice. We forget that to Mandela and his comrades, who suffered dearly, forgiveness was never intended to supplant justice and the truth. It was a national therapeutic, cathartic process to heal a wounded nation and exorcise its demons.
He is gone now but the legacy will live on and indeed he will continue to inspire the nation for generations to come. Those that had the joy of meeting him were truly blessed as he is revered by many as having been the icon of the 20th century. His resting place in a remote corner of the Eastern Cape will become a national shrine; uniting a divers nation learning to live with one another. The loss to the nation is immense but the memories will inspire the nation not to lose sight of the values and direction he gave the country in his long walk to freedom.
We can continue the long walk by simply living by his principles and ideals. His wear like the deep footprint on clear beach sand. We can preserve them before they are erased by the high tides of moral decay bedevilling South Africa today.
What is certain is that with the loss of Nelson Mandela the country is no longer the same. His moral authority that bound the nation together is no longer there. Though his memory will live on and inspire generations to come it will not stop a substantial sector of the population claiming a more equitable and just participation in what is referred to as the new South Africa.

Seán_O'Leary

He has left an indelible mark on the psyche of the nation, a mark that allows all South Africans to say we lived in his time. 95 years is a long time but all South Africans believe it is not long enough and mourn in a special way the parting of this truly one great individual. God blessed South Africa but giving them a person such as Nelson Mandela.
Sean O’Leary M.Afr
December 9th 2013

Peace in the Great Lakes

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On December 10, 2013

In News

Peace in the Great LakesPeace in the Great Lakes
 
By Evans K. Chama, M.Afr
Peace in the Great Lakes is the name of the Ecumenical campaign for Justice, peace and reconciliation by the Catholic and Anglican bishops from Burundi, Congo and Rwanda.
The campaign aims at building peace by conversion of heart, consolidation of the peace acquired by recent cessation of war, and promoting reconciliation and fraternity. These will be achieved through concerted effort between Anglicans and Catholics in spearheading peace initiatives, lobbying, sensitization, and joint social, cultural and productive activities.
The Campaign was launched in Goma on Sunday, 1st December 2013, during an ecumenical prayer of Catholics and Anglicans from the three countries.
The ceremony began at Congo-Rwanda border of Gisenyi, where delegates from Burundi and Rwanda were welcomed as sign of brotherhood without barrier. From there the procession traversed the town of Goma to John Paul II Grounds where the prayer took place. At each of the three stations a prayer was pronounced for a specific intention.
At the first station, at the border, Theophile Kaboy, bishop of Goma, prayed: “Lord God you people start a walk towards the project of peace for the Great Lakes, we ask you to bless this walk and be accompanied by you.” Second station: another Congolese catholic bishop prayed: “Lord God, your people are ready to be protagonists of your project of love and fraternity. We pray that we offer no resistance especially by not giving room to divisive ideologies.” And at the third station an Anglican bishop from Burundi prayed: “Lord we acknowledge that you have created us different but we are all your children. We pray that these differences do not become a point of division but mutual enrichment, so that this region becomes an expression of a floral arrangement of your wisdom.”
Indeed, such floral beauty manifested itself when double files of both Anglican and Catholic priests and bishops, in their proper robes but same stoles, ascended to the podium.
The prayer started with a song Veni Creator Spiritus (Come O Creator Spirit …) thereafter Fridolin Ambogo, bishop of Bokungu-Ikela and Coordinator of the Campaign, presented the project. The penitential rite was followed by the word of God: the First Reading was taken by an Anglican priest from Rwanda in Kinyarwanda (Is 2:1-5), the Second reading in French by a Catholic from Burundi, and the gospel by a Catholic deacon of Goma.  Then followed the joint message of the bishops read in four parts by Anglican and Catholic bishops, one after the other. Here are some elements of the message:
By this peace initiative the bishops responded to the people longing for peace after traversing the horrors of the genocide of over a million persons in Rwanda, the murders in Burundi, and the massacres of over six millions Congolese. Thus, Advent is the ideal occasion, a period of awaiting the prince of peace who comes to inaugurate the new social order where instruments of war are transformed into instruments of production (cf. Is 2:4) and the people invited to abandon totally the acts of darkness (cf. Rm 13:12).
The bishops call the perpetrators of conflict to cease evil (cf.Is1:16-17) and the entire population to move ahead despite their situation as inspired by Africae Munus: “Rise up, take your mat and walk” (Jn 5:8). The people are tired of the recurring violence and bloodshed, fuelled by manipulation of tribal and national identities for selfish motives. They are tired also of the paradox of their lives; in the midst of abundant riches they live in abject poverty.
Hence, there is need for conversion of heart, especially in naming things as they really are instead of settling on systematic deceit. The bishops sound the warning: “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil….” (Is 5:20).  And they remarked also that on the interpersonal relations between ordinary people of the three countries there is no enmity as such; the problem lies on the level of politicians and the elite who profit from the conflict. Hence, the heads of states are invited to commit themselves honestly in the pursuit for peace.
By this campaign the bishops hope for a new generation of Burundians, Congolese and Rwandese, not opposed as enemies, but who look in the same direction as brothers and sisters despite their different ethnic identities.
After this message of the bishops the apostolic creed was recited, then the prayer of peace: Make me an instrument of peace. The intercession took the form of a message of one country to another, exposing the situation as it is, then concluding into prayer of hope for new relationship. First, it was the message and prayer by Congo for Burundi, Burundi for Congo; Rwanda for Burundi and vice versa; Rwanda for Congo and vice versa. Then, the sign of peace.
The campaign was launched with a release of six doves, then the final blessing was given by all bishops together. The next rendezvous is December 2014, in Goma, to close this year-long campaign. 
Lord, consolidate peace in our land is a catch phrase of this ecumenical prayer. Indeed, wherever we are, let us pray for peace in this region.

Protected: Motomoto Echo magazine – December 2013

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On December 10, 2013

In News, Publications

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Searching for the identity of the Missionaries of Africa in Dombe

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On December 7, 2013

In Mozambique Sector

Bernhard WernkeI am living now over a year at the Mission in Dombe. I call it charmingly “little Brazil”. At the Mission are four different groups: Fazenda da Esperança, Obra de Maria, Pequenas Missionárias Pequenas de Maria Imaculada and the Missionários de África. We the Missionaries of Africa are the only community composed of different nationalities. The others are all from Brazil. Reflecting on the living together with these communities I started reflecting about our Identify (common vision) as the Missionaries of Africa.
Dombe-Mission is a remote and rural place about 5 km from the commercial center Dombe-Sede. It has a secondary school, a clinic, a boarding school for boys and girls and a center for alcohol and drug addicts. The Missionaries of Africa serving 26 Christian communities.
Living at the Mission you see the students, people who are consulting the clinic, but rarely Christians visiting the Fathers. It might be because of the remote location. It might be because we have not yet settled down, because the community was completed at Easter this year. How can our identity as the Missionaries of Africa be reflected in the Parish / Mission? Or does our identity have an integrative impact on the live of the people and the mission personal? If one would define the Missionaries of Africa, you would hear answers like that: they are living in international communities, working in and for the African Church, doing justice and peace and working with Islam. Our basic priority in Dombe is evangelization and building up of Christian communities. Is this part of our identity, when one looks into our priorities? How do our priorities, our identity and common vision go together, when Catechesis is almost forgotten? For me it is via catechesis that we can reach most of the people in the parish community. I digitalized a catechism for adults and a prayer book, printed it and distributed it to the communities. Until now I’m still waiting for a corrective response.
Are we here to follow the will of the people, or are we building up in a constructive process parish communities with the basic ministries functioning? In order to have a living parish we need to build up structures on the organizational level: functioning and living Christian communities, pastoral zones and finally a functioning parish council and an administrative financial body. We are far from it, but on the way to it. We are still on a long road, but we see this lamps lit up. The Christians are willing to work with us and welcomed us. There is a lot of hope among us that we will succeed. Building up of Christian communities is hard work. It is a like a field which needs to be worked in: working the field, sowing, planting and weeding. A farmer is identified as a farmer because of his work. What is our common vision in relation to the work of evangelization? Does our charisma push us to work in this direction?
A community is identified and unified by its common project based on prayer, the experiences of so many missionaries and our documents. Too many visions do not unify a community and a community will not have an integrative and challenging aspect to our surrounding, if we are not united by the common vision (identity) of the Missionaries of Africa. The search continues and thanks to our community project we will see a good united community in their apostolic approach.
A blessed Advent time.
Bernhard Wernke, M.Afr

New Catholic Bishop for Mangochi Diocese

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On December 7, 2013

In Malawi Sector, News

Rev. Montfort Stima jpegDate: 6 December 2013
The Apostolic Nunciature (Vatican Embassy) in Malawi is pleased to announce that His Holiness Pope Francis has appointed Right Reverend Montfort Stima, hitherto Auxiliary Bishop of Blantyre, to Mangochi Diocese.
The Right Reverend Montfort Stima, currently Diocesan Administrator of the Archdiocese of Blantyre, remains in charge of the Archdiocese up until Rt. Rev. Thomas Msusa will take possession of the Archiepiscopal See of Blantyre.
Rt. Reverend Montfort Stima hails from Khomera Village, TA Dambe, Mwanza, Neno. He was born on 27th December 1957; ordained a priest on 3rd August 1986 at Limbe Cathedral; appointed auxiliary bishop of the archdiocese of Blantyre on 24 January 2010.

CSOs call for immediate release of final draft Constitution in Zambia

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On December 7, 2013

In News, Publications

Fr. Lungu with other CSO members during the press briefing at Golden bridge hotel

Fr. Lungu with other CSO members during the press briefing at Golden bridge hotel

Tuesday, 03 December

Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) consortium has today, 3rd December 2013 held a press briefing demanding the release of the final draft constitution.
Reading a unified statement from across the church, the opposition political parties, civil society and the youth movement in particular on the subject of the release of the Final Draft Constitution, Zambia Episcopal Conference Secretary General Fr. Cleophas Lungu said the reported statement by the President of the Republic of Zambia on 30th November 2013 in Mansa that ‘‘we do not need a new constitution, the current constitution only needs to be amended’’ makes very sad reading.
Fr. Lungu said the statement has confused all well-meaning Zambians.
PRESS STATEMENT

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