Missionaries of Africa – Southern Africa Province (SAP) – Page 106 – Missionaries of Africa

No discussion about the abolition of the African Slave Trade in the 19th century can make much sense without recalling the entire four or five hundred year history of the phenomenon itself. What seems to be a widespread, deliberate, though subtle, effort towards collective amnesia in this matter – the inclination to erase out of consciousness

and from common memory the experience of slavery, particularly in Africa – makes the obligation to remember a fundamental one. Given the extent and depth of the experience and its consequences on the African continent and its peoples right up to the present, and definitely, as evidence seems to indicate, for the future as well, it baffles the mind, and is actually immoral, that people would suggest that the Slave Trade was merely as “an incident in history,” and that the quicker it is forgotten the better it will be for the continent. On the contrary, it appears much more logical and ethical to insist that the reality of the slave trade and slavery be accorded a more prominent part than has been the case so far, not only in the African civic education system, but also in the process of Christian evangelization and catechesis. READ MORE

by Laurenti Magesa, Hekima College Jesuit School of Theology

Interview with Sarah Augustine

By Missionaries of Africa - Southern Africa Province (SAP)

On March 29, 2013

In News, Publications

This new interview with Sarah Augustine opens our eyes to the current and historical harms fueled by the “Doctrine of Discovery”. We are invited to break the chains of all the oppressed, in this case the Indigenous Peoples. Sarah unveils with profound honesty how the Church, perhaps inadvertently, paved the way for the creation of unjust social structures still very much active in today’s world.

Just one month ago, African theologian Laurenti Magesa gave a prophetic conference at Tangaza College (Nairobi) on the occasion of the 125th anniversary of Charles Lavigerie’s anti-Slavery Campaign. In his speech Magesa said that “except for rare cases such as Cardinal Lavigerie, much of Christian evangelization within Africa itself was reluctant to pronounce and declare unequivocally that the Slave Trade and slavery were “intrinsically evil.” Magesa documents the words of Pope John Paul II recognizing and acknowledging this historical oversight in the history of the Church. In John Paul II’s Apostolic Letter of 1994, Tertio Millenio Adveniente (TMA), he openly apologized for what he describes as the “sinfulness” of the Church’s children on this matter. The Pope further noted that “acknowledging the weaknesses of the past is an act of honesty and courage which helps us to strengthen our faith, which alerts us to face today’s temptations and challenges and prepares us to meet them” (TMA 33). It is in this spirit that this interview takes place. We are invited to strengthen our faith as we openly name the “force without a face” behind the “Doctrine of Discovery.”

Sarah invites us to choose life. She says: “To choose Life is to decide with one’s whole being to work on the side of Life, promoting human dignity over financial gain, standing in the way of a juggernaut of endless growth at any cost that Western society defines as mundane, conventional, necessary. To choose life is to stand on the side of the oppressed day after day, even if it means becoming oppressed, because this is what will enable us to retain our humanity, or perhaps experience it for the first time, since all of us are dehumanized by the machines of death.” READ MORE

Holy Thursday in pictures at St. Lawrence Parish, Lusaka

By Missionaries of Africa - Southern Africa Province (SAP)

On March 29, 2013

In News, Zambia Sector

: Getting ready for Mass.

: Sunset at 18 hours

: Opening prayer

: First reading: Exodus 12.1-8, 11-14

: Father Toon van Kessel, Parish Priest presiding Mass

: The washing of feet

: Proclamation of the Gospel by Deacon Constantino Mulenga, Mansa Diocese

: Acting the Gospel of John 13, 1-15

: Preparation of the gifts

: Offerings

: Blessing of bread and wine

: Beginning of the procession of the Blessed Sacrament

: Reading of the Word of God using a candle – meditation and prayer

: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament – prayer and blessing

Short presentation of Kasamba Community, Zambia

By Missionaries of Africa - Southern Africa Province (SAP)

On March 27, 2013

In News, Zambia Sector

Being part of Mansa diocese, Kasamba was started as a parish in April 1997 with 28 outstations. Before it, Kasamba was periodically visited by three confreres who resided temporarily in Lubwe: Jean-Louis Godinot, Bernhard Udelhoven and Martin Grenier. Between 2001 and 2009, pastoral life saw ups and downs due to the lack of personnel. This is the reason why Father Nicolas Mumbi, diocesan priest, was appointed to Kasamba to boost the pastoral team from September 2009 to January 2011. The Missionaries of Africa arrived in Kasamba in 2010.

Jules Roy was Parish Priest up to recently when he moved to Ndola. At the moment, we have two confreres ministering in Kasamba; Dieudonné Rizinde and Patrice Sawadogo. Two stagiaires are also helping the community; Emmanuel Rulinyuma, who is ending his second year, and Jean-Paul Basikaba Evi. All of them are Congolese except Patrice who is from Burkina Faso.

: Kasamba community house

: Church of Kasamba

: Father Jules Roy

: Inside the church of Kasamba

Ecumenical Palm Sunday 2013 – Misisi compound, Lusaka

By Missionaries of Africa - Southern Africa Province (SAP)

On March 25, 2013

In News, Zambia Sector

The procession of Palm Sunday started from the UCZ Church within Misisi compound to end at St. Lawrence Parish. Thousands of Christians from eight Churches attended the prayer and followed the procession moving through the main but narrow street of the slum of Misisi. The final blessing ended an improvised choir festival from various choirs, some of which gathered 30 singers.

Easter and the Holy Week in the swamp – Zambia

By Missionaries of Africa - Southern Africa Province (SAP)

On March 25, 2013

In News, Publications, Zambia Sector

This article is dedicated to the pastoral work of Father Bernhard Udelhoven when celebrating Easter and the Holy Week at the village of Malawi in Zambia in 2012 (not to be mistaken with the country of Malawi). See the text written in German published by the magazine Kontinente, March/April 2013, in the supplement section devoted to the Missionaries of Africa, pages IV-V. READ MORE

Beware of the elephant in Pilanesberg National Park, South Africa

By Missionaries of Africa - Southern Africa Province (SAP)

On March 23, 2013

In News

Balaka Drama Group – Antislavery

By Missionaries of Africa - Southern Africa Province (SAP)

On March 23, 2013

In Malawi Sector, News

Lechaptois (Balaka) Drama Group – 125 Anniversary of Cardinal Lavigerie’s Antislavery Campaign

As part of the Malawi Sector’s commemoration of the Cardinal’s Antislavery Campaign the M.Afr students in the SAP First Cycle will come to Lilongwe on Monday on 25^th March to perform two short plays and a poem at two venues: St Francis Parish and Crossroads Hotel.

Luntha TV will be there to film the plays and discussion on Tuesday. They will air it and we hope to have a DVD that can be circulated.

Everyone is welcome both at St Francis and Crossroads.

The events will take place as follows:

Date: Monday 25^th March 2013

Time: 3-5.30 p.m.

Venue: New Hall, St Francis, Kanengo, Lilongwe (A25).

Programme: 1. Play 1 – “Cheap Labour”- slavery in the past. 2. Poem – Africa, where are you? 3. Play 2 – “The Changed Identity of Slavery” – slavery / human trafficking in the present. 4. Discussion.

Date: Tuesday 26^th March 2013
Time: 6-8.30 p.m.
Venu: The Auditorium, Crossroads Hotel, Lilongwe (A3)
Programme: 1. Welcome – by MC Wisdom Chimgwede. 2. Opening Prayer. 3. Introduction – Bill Turnbull. 4. Play 1 – “Cheap Labour”- slavery in the past. 5. Poem – Africa, where are you? 6. Play 2 – “The Changed Identity of Slavery” – slavery / human trafficking in the present. 7. Link – just a few words. 8. Panel and open discussion. 9. Closing remarks. 10. Closing prayer. 11. Drinks and snacks.

Partage Trentaprile Sharing – March 2013

By Missionaries of Africa - Southern Africa Province (SAP)

On March 22, 2013

In Justice and Peace, MSOLA, News, Publications

Sharing Trentaprile is published 4 times a year by the Missionaries of Our Lady of Africa.

Simply click on the picture to read the content.

In this issue, special article on human trafficking – the Silent Epidemic. Interview with Sister Maggi Kennedy.

CfSC Basic Needs Basket Analytical report for January 2013 – Malawi

By Missionaries of Africa - Southern Africa Province (SAP)

On March 21, 2013

In Justice and Peace, Malawi Sector, News, Publications

Rural Basic Needs Basket Analytical report for January 2013 in Malawi shows that the majority of rural households are poor since they are living below a dollar a day.

During the month of February, CfSC’s Rural BNB project conducted a Rapid Rural Appraisal in its operation areas to assess the availability and prices of maize. It was found out that maize prices ranged between MK 7000 and MK 10,000 a bag of 50 kg. This was too much expensive for a rural household. Those who had no or too little maize and money resorted into consuming maize bran. Those who had completely nothing, slept on an empty stomach or could even consume leafy vegetables only. READ MORE