Month: September 2016

By Douglas Ogato, M.Afr

My ordination to the priesthood took place on 29^th July 2016 at Holy Family church, Gekano Parish in Kisii Diocese in the western part of Kenya. I was ordained by my Bishop, Joseph Mairura. Many Christians travelled from near and far to witness my ordination and to celebrate with me and my family this joyful occasion. Among those who attended were: religious sisters and brothers from within and outside the diocese, diocesan clergy, East African Provincial and other Missionaries of Africa from the Sector of Kenya accompanied by members of Lavigerie Family (a lay associate group), a delegation from Zambia led by Mama Grace Shawa of Regiment Parish, and Nyamira County Government officials led by His Excellency the Governor, John Nyagarama.

In his homily, Bishop Mairura talked passionately about the tremendous missionary work the Missionaries of Africa have done and continue to do in the continent of Africa. He expressed his joy that one of his own sons from the diocese of Kisii has responded to the call of missionary life.

The entire ordination celebration was a very touching experience in my life, one that will remain indelible in my heart and mind. I am very much grateful to God who has called me to his vineyard, and to my family, friends and parishioners of Gekano Parish for having supported my answer to the missionary call, and above all, to the entire fraternity of the Missionaries of Africa and all those who contributed in one way or the other towards the success of my ordination. To Him be glory for ever and ever!

See Video

September 2016 Kungoni Newsletter

By Missionaries of Africa - Southern Africa Province (SAP)

On September 12, 2016

In Museum

Father Claude Boucher Chisale celebrated his 75^th birthday on August 2, 2016. A week later, the Chamare festival commemorated the 40^th anniversary of Kungoni Centre of Culture and Art. Various media houses such as TVM, Times newspaper, Zodiak radio, Luntha TV, Luso TV, were present. The theme of this year festival was the one proclaimed by Pope Francis for this year of mercy. A play was performed to emphasise that wealth is not the only value which one has to cherish. Malawi is very rich in spirituality that stress the importance of our common humanity. An incluturated Mass was celebrated where the homily was delivered by Father Kanyike, a Ugandan Comboni missionary. Other celebrants were Jos Kuppens, Claude Boucher, Kadzilawa and four diocesan priests from Dedza diocese.

See the September 2016 Kungoni Newsletter (Vol. 6, no 1) (12.3 Mo) for more news including Kungoni Artworks such as carvings for the South African embassy in Lilongwe, new fresco at Makakola retreat bar, Masanje paintings on canvas, Hippo view lodge commission carvings of Tchopa dancers. A special tribute is given too to Thomas Mpira, one of the most prominent artist of Kungoni.

Tribute to Didier Michon, M.Afr

By Missionaries of Africa - Southern Africa Province (SAP)

On September 12, 2016

In News

didier-michon-copie By Seán O’Leary, M.Afr

Didier arrived in South Africa in September 1990 in answer to a call made to the Society, to minister to the displaced Mozambicans who had sought refuge on the South African side of the border; away from a devastating and crippling civil war. The place chosen for this new missionary initiative was Lebombo; a sprawling area of tin shacks and hunger, where the Church had not been established. This was pioneering missionary work and Didier took to it with an enthusiasm that never waned in his 25 years or so in South Africa.

He was a man of deep prayer, who loved community life and above all, a pastoral agent whose love for the people and his concern to help them was deeply appreciated. Lebombo carved out a special place in his heart and, although he would work in other places, Lebombo was his true home in South Africa.

He moved onto Siyabuswa in KwaNdebele in the Pretoria Archdiocese in 2001 to a situation very similar to what he had experienced in Lebombo. He brought to the people of Siyabuswa what he had brought to the people of Lebombo and was as much admired and appreciated. Open heart surgery in 2002 slowed him up somewhat but never dampened his enthusiasm and after a further eight years in Siyabuswa he returned for another four years to Lebombo.

It was in the Edenglen community in Johannesburg that he would see out his remaining years in South Africa; where he took on a shared responsibility of Guest-Master. The warmth of his welcome and the willingness to go the extra mile for guests became a hallmark of his caring nature. The choice to return to France in 2014 was his, aware as he was, that the weight of missionary life was slowly taking its toll. The man is gone but his memory will live on and be cherished by many in South Africa. We say ‘Hamba Kahle’ Didier, a Zulu phrase that simply means ‘Go Well’.

Link: Death of father Didier Michon, M.Afr

Death of father Didier Michon, M.Afr

By Missionaries of Africa - Southern Africa Province (SAP)

On September 11, 2016

In News

On the 5^th September, Didier was at the reception hall, Friant Street. As Mass was starting at 11:30, the main celebrant, looking for the key of the tabernacle, went to see Didier but found him lying unconscious on the floor. He was brought to a nearby hospital and died at 1:30 on the 6th September.

Didier spent many years as a missionary in Zambia and South Africa. He was 81 years old, 55 as a missionary. The funerals took place in Paris on the 9^th September. May his soul rest in peace.

Picture of the funerals of Didier Michon in France

Our Mission Newsletter Edition No 9 – South Africa

By Missionaries of Africa - Southern Africa Province (SAP)

On September 9, 2016

In News

October is the month that the Church dedicates specifically to the Missions. We begin the month celebrating the feast of St Thérèse of the Child Jesus (1 Oct), she along with St Francis Xavier are patrons of the Missions.

During this month the faithful in all parishes should be informed about the realities of the Church’s mission activities throughout the world. It is the responsibility of each and every priest and pastoral agent to explain to their parishioners the immense needs and poverty, both physical and spiritual, of so many Catholic communities throughout the world, particularly in so called “Mission Countries”.

Every Catholic should be well informed as to the tremendous necessity that remains for the missionary activity of the Church in so many parts of the world. Billions of people still have not received the Good News of Jesus Christ. In too many countries small Christian minorities live in situations of poverty, alienation and even persecution. This past year we have experienced the abduction and/or killing of numerous missionaries — priests, religious and laity. This past week a Spanish missionary, Sr Isabele Sola Matas was shot dead in Haiti.

There are over 7 billion people living in the world, about 2,2bn are Christians, of which, just over half are Catholics meaning that only about 16% of the world’s population are Catholic. Sadly 1,1 bn people claim to have no religion whatsoever. If we are committed Catholics then we have to be Missionary Disciples and these statistics should move us to action. A true Christian cannot be indifferent to the plight of billions who live without the liberating message of Jesus Christ.

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Bishop Valentine takes canonical possession of Livingstone Diocese

By Missionaries of Africa - Southern Africa Province (SAP)

On September 6, 2016

In News

By Catholic Media Service.

Bishop Valentine Kalumba, OMI has taken over canonical possession of Livingstone Diocese today Saturday 3^rd September 2016 just after being consecrated Bishop.

The consecrating Bishop, who is the outgoing ordinary, Rt. Rev. Raymond Mpezele urged the new bishop to lead the people of the Diocese by being a good shepherd following the example of Jesus Christ who remains a good shepherd. “Jesus was a good shepherd who loved his sheep both in word and action; and as a bishop, Bishop Valentine has to love Jesus and it is only by so doing that he will be able to feed the sheep of Jesus Christ,” Bishop Mpezele said.

And speaking on behalf of the Conference of the Catholic Bishops in Zambia (CCBZ), Archbishop Ignatius Chama, Archbishop of Kasama, urged the priests, religious and the lay faithful of Livingstone Diocese to cooperate with their new shepherd by supporting him both spiritually and materially.
Representing the Universal Church, was the Nuncio to Zambia and Malawi, H.E. Julio Murat who thanked Bishop Mpezele now emeritus for the general pastoral ministry he has rendered to Livingstone Diocese for the last 31 years.

The consecration was attended by various bishops from within Zambia and abroad, various priests, including Father Camille Konkobo, M.Afr, and religious brothers and sisters, traditional chiefs, civic leaders and lay faithful.

Livingstone Diocese covers the southern part of Zambia approximately 58,200 sq kms. Bishop Raymond Mpezele now emeritus has been the ordinary since 1985.

Mafrwestafrica lettre du 4 septembre 2016

By Missionaries of Africa - Southern Africa Province (SAP)

On September 4, 2016

In News

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

Actualités

« Mémorial pour Thomas Sankara » le projet de construction d’un mémorial a été dévoilé récemment. Mais les choses ne sont pas évidentes (lire la suite)

« Côte d’Ivoire, toujours problèmes d’électricité » Un imbroglio juridique entoure le projet de construction de centrale thermique de Songon, près d’Abidjan. (lire la suite)

« Revue de presse au Mali », texte pris sur « MaliActu.net » publié ce jour du 2 septembre 2016. (lire la suite)

Témoignages

« Autres saints d’Afrique » : dans le numéro 111 de Voix d’Afrique, 4 autres « bienheureux » cités. (lire la suite)

« Canonisation de Mère Teresa » le 4 septembre 2016, fête à Rome et en Inde (lire la suite)

Dialogue interreligieux

« Dialogue à Ouaga, problèmes d’envol vers la Mecque à Niamey » plus de 240 jeunes musulmans se sont réunis à Ouagadougou pour contre la radicalisation. Au Niger retard pour le pèlerinage. (lire la suite)

« Quelques livres sur le dialogue », des ouvrages recensés par GIlles Mathorel sur le site de l’ARCRE (lire la suite)

« La fête du sacrifice » – Aïd al Adha – qui sera célébrée cette année le 12 septembre (lire la suite)

Justice et Paix

« Burkina, quelques questions non résolues », en particulier celle des salariés des médias publics, et la loi sur les partis politiques. (lire la suite)

« Savoir écouter ceux qui ne s’expriment pas » : ceux qui sont invisibles, musulmans sou autres, n’en existent pas moins (lire la suite)

Vu au Sud – Vu du Sud

« Législatives à venir en Côte d’Ivoire » : C’est en novembre 2016 qu’auront lieu les élections législatives en Côte d’Ivoire. Texte pris dans Jeune Afrique, 11 août 2016. (lire la suite)

« Politique au Niger » remaniement attendu après le ralliement du MNSD à la majorité présidentielle. (lire la suite)

« Le boom des hubs technologiques en Afrique » de quoi s’agit-il ? Service en ligne, e-commerce, économie de partage, marketing digital, technologies vertes … Les entreprises innovantes fleurissent en Afrique, au sein de nouveaux hubs technologiques (lire la suite)

« Kidal symbole de la fragilité de la paix au Mali » article paru dans le journal « Le Monde » du 26 août 2016 (lire la suite)

New SAP Provincial

By Missionaries of Africa - Southern Africa Province (SAP)

On September 1, 2016

In News

Felix Phiri 03 Greetings from Rome.

I am delighted to announce that SAP has a new Provincial Superior! Fr Felix Phiri has been appointed as the new Provincial of SAP from 1^st September 2016 to 30^th June 2019.

Congratulations to all of you for your voice and participation in this appointment. I would also like to congratulate Felix and especially thank him for accepting the appointment.

Many thanks to all for your collaboration and dedication to the mission entrusted to our Society in Southern Africa. It had taken me time to move to the Provincial House and I had to go out as soon as I moved there! But mission continued thanks to the commitment of each one of you. I take this opportunity to thank all the Provincial Delegates for their leadership. I pray that the same spirit of mutual support, collaboration and oneness continues as the new Provincial who is presently in Nairobi prepares to join the Province.

Congratulations to all and God bless you.

Fraternally,

Stanley Lubungo (Outgoing Provincial)