Great joy marked the Sunday celebration (5th Oct 2014) where the Christian community of St. Gabriel’s parish, Namushakende, warmly welcomed back Christian and Alfred.
Christian is newly appointed to Namushakende after his priestly ordination on 12th July in Burundi. He had his pastoral experience (Stage) here in Namushakende from 2009/2011. And so being appointed to Namushakende was a beautiful home coming for him. The Christians greeted him with great joy amidst singing and dancing. When Christian greeted the people at the end of Mass in Silozi, which he learnt during his period of stage, the Church cheered with joy and ululation. Christian will spend a short moment of re-introduction to the Silozi language and culture in Limulunga and then take full residence in Namushakende. We wish him a very fruitful and fulfilled ministry. Alfred, on his part, returned back to Namushakende after three months of home leave in Ghana.
Fr Robert Chipumbu presided at the Mass. It was a delight to have Fr. Oswald Mallya, the Delegate Superior of Zambia with us at Mass. We are grateful to Oswald for accompanying Christian and Alfred from Lusaka to Namushakende, ‘Western Power,’ he calls us. The liturgical celebration was also coloured by the celebration of the rite of acceptance into the order of catechumen, an initial step in the RCIA journey.
Namushakende community was started in 2002. It lies at the edge of the awesome Zambezi flood plains in the Western province of Zambia in Mongu Diocese. The community at the moment is composed of Robert Lavertu, Robert Chipumbu, Christian Muhineza, Joseph Kakule and Alfred Awogya.
Written by Alfred Awogya
Author: Missionaries of Africa - Southern Africa Province (SAP) Page 60 of 113
Great joy marked the Sunday celebration (5th Oct 2014) where the Christian community of St. Gabriel’s parish, Namushakende, warmly welcomed back Christian and Alfred.
Christian is newly appointed to Namushakende after his priestly ordination on 12th July in Burundi. He had his pastoral experience (Stage) here in Namushakende from 2009/2011. And so being appointed to Namushakende was a beautiful home coming for him. The Christians greeted him with great joy amidst singing and dancing. When Christian greeted the people at the end of Mass in Silozi, which he learnt during his period of stage, the Church cheered with joy and ululation. Christian will spend a short moment of re-introduction to the Silozi language and culture in Limulunga and then take full residence in Namushakende. We wish him a very fruitful and fulfilled ministry. Alfred, on his part, returned back to Namushakende after three months of home leave in Ghana.
Fr Robert Chipumbu presided at the Mass. It was a delight to have Fr. Oswald Mallya, the Delegate Superior of Zambia with us at Mass. We are grateful to Oswald for accompanying Christian and Alfred from Lusaka to Namushakende, ‘Western Power,’ he calls us. The liturgical celebration was also coloured by the celebration of the rite of acceptance into the order of catechumen, an initial step in the RCIA journey.
Namushakende community was started in 2002. It lies at the edge of the awesome Zambezi flood plains in the Western province of Zambia in Mongu Diocese. The community at the moment is composed of Robert Lavertu, Robert Chipumbu, Christian Muhineza, Joseph Kakule and Alfred Awogya.
Written by Alfred Awogya
About 80 workers are working hard at Chipata to build the Preparatory Centre. Here some pictures showing the progress being done. Threes were also planted under the supervision of Jaya Bordhan and the amazement of Filiyanus Ekka and Richard Dery from Mzuzu, Malawi.
See the link:
Ground work at the Preparatory Centre in Chipata, Zambia
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 « Actualités » :
« Nouvelle année académique à Abidjan » : c’est le 19 septembre 2014 que la Fraternité Lavigerie à Abidjan a ré-ouvert ses portes. Un texte et quelques photos ont été envoyés par le comité de communication de la communauté. Il y a maintenant 37 étudiants en 4ème étape à Abidjan. (lire la suite)
« Lettre de Ghardaia, septembre 2014,» : le message mensuel de Mgr Claude Rault, évêque de Laghouat–Ghardaia en Algérie. (lire la suite)
Dans la rubrique « Vu au sud, vu du sud » :
« Un accord de partenariat non souhaitable » un article paru sur le site http://www.abcburkina.net et qui remet en cause l’accord de « partenariat » économique entre l’Europe et l’Afrique (lire la suite)
« L’or blanc de l’Afrique », un texte extrait du dernier numéro de « Voix d’Afrique » (n° 104) qui parle du coton, une culture qui permet à beaucoup d’Africains de vivre. Mais il faut cependant faire face à un certain nombre de défis.(lire la suite)
Dans la rubrique « Dialogue interreligieux » :
« L’Etat islamique, qu’en est-il ? » cinq articles parus dans le dernier bulletin (n° 91) de l’ARCRE (Action pour la Rencontre des Cultures et des Religions en Europe) et qui fournissent des informations par rapport à ce sujet tellement préoccupant. (lire la suite)
« Programme IFIC 2014-2015 ». L’institut de Formation Islamo-Chrétienne à Bamako vient de publier le programme de l’année 2014-2015. (lire la suite)
Dans la rubrique « Justice et Paix » :
« Pape François, migrants et réfugiés » la lettre que le Pape François vient de publier en vue de la journée des migrants et réfugiés, dont la date est le 18 janvier 2015 (lire la suite)
« Relais Maghreb, octobre 2014 », un texte extrait du dernier numéro du bulletin de la Province du Maghreb, et qui décrit la situation préoccupante de jeunes filles venues de Côte d’Ivoire pour travailler comme « bonnes » en Tunisie. (lire la suite)
By Fr. Baptiste Regina Mapunda (M.Afr), Wa Diocese-Ghana
Pope Francis’ convocation of the marriage and family synod is timely as the institution of family is facing many difficulties today. The modern understanding of the Church is now described as “the first school of love and life” the source of life for every human being. Saint John Paul II in his encyclical “Consortio Familiaris” points out that “the life of every human being passes through the family.” The question at stake is how has this family today become the birthplace of every one of us?
This institution which is very fundamental to our life, Church and the society at large is facing a lot of threats for the time being from married people themselves, families, Church teaching on marriage, addictions, financial hardships and good parenting among others. The convocation of the upcoming synod on marriage and family is a clear sign for me that the Pope understands the sufferings and struggles of families today which need the attention and healing from the Church through the power of the Holy Spirit “go to every house and announce the Kingdom of God, eat and drink but don’t forget to heal the sick” (Luke 10: 1-12).
The situation of our families today is calling for great care and good pastoral ministering as well. Evangelization of families poses a huge pastoral challenge in our modern Church today all around the world. The family has become a place of “evangelization and healing” to put in the language of Jesus Christ who became flesh through Virgin Mary by the power of the Holy Spirit (John 1:14). The Church cannot afford to avoid families today, because they are the ‘domestic or first Church’ that prays and live together’ united by the love of God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Reflecting upon the challenges that face families today one cannot fail to notice the big threat that come from alcoholism. Today alcohol is found in many families as sometimes our families act as a bar, alcohol is found in our religious houses, parish houses, formation houses, in offices, in our car boots and even in our pockets. It is to say that alcohol is cunning, powerful and baffling. Alcoholism is a reality and has become normal to our life. But in truth alcoholism is an addiction better described as a sickness by the medical department and the alcoholic anonymous fellow men and women. While alcohol sounds a beautiful beverage to be consumed but experience teaches us that alcohol must be taken sensibly and without excess. Medical and recovering alcoholics have testified that ‘too much consumption of alcohol is harmful’ it actually leads into sickness and ultimately premature death.
Alcoholism becomes an addiction due to the fact that in finally analysis it becomes a physical and psychological dependence on psychoactive substance which is alcohol. When it becomes an addiction alcohol is able to alter ones brain and behavior without the awareness of the person concerned. This is where alcohol becomes a suffering to many couples and families. It brings madness and creates dysfunctional families and societies around the world.
It is important for the synod members to understand that alcoholism is the most common of all the addictions because it coexists with human beings, yet alcohol kills many family members silently. In fact alcoholism is a human sickness which has no race, religion or a continent to be referred to like Ebola or malaria. Often than not, alcoholism is described as a disease of progressive nature characterized with denial. An alcoholic denies that he drinks too much; he denies that his or her life is in a mess and so forth. Salvation comes only once one accepts his sickness.
To most families very often when faced with an alcoholic family member the question is always ‘what can we do’ to help him or her? What can the Church do to help addicted Christians today? The first thing is to get proper information about the alcoholism as a sickness. As a communicator I think that through advocacy and effective communication only can this demon called alcohol we have to live with can be efficiently caged. Without accurate information of this killer disease of alcoholism and the inherent dangers of alcohol will continue to violently rape and destroy our families which is the foundation of our Church and the society at large.
It is in this sense that alcohol has become the worst enemy of our families today, the Church and the world at large. Alcohol is causing suffering, pain, family stress, crime, marriage breakups (divorce), incest, rape in families and society, violence, fatal accidents, dysfunctional families, bad parenting and breeds immoral behavior in the society. Finally alcoholism creates irresponsible and alcoholic citizens who will die prematurely.
All in all, the question is what can the Church do to save the deteriorating situation before it is too late. It is here that the notion of ‘smelling the sheep’ notion of Pope Francis must be put into reality.
This upcoming synod on marriage and family is the proper place to look critically into this problem of alcoholism. What are the felt effects of alcoholism in our families and the Church of today? Is the Church close enough to the people (families) to be able to discuss, give advice and render help to the suffering members? Are the Bishops and priests well informed about this acute problem that eats up their Church members? I believe that the Church can be of great help to render help and treatment to the suffering family members today if it takes seriously these issues.
Catholic Church can wisely adapt the (AA) Alcoholic Anonymous program in parishes as a pastoral method to help the addicted Christians. In Europe and America the presence of AA is already there it is a matter of finding the healthy way of integrating it into our family healing ministry in a parish. I would like to believe that Jesus’ ministry is basically of healing as he put it rightly himself that “the Spirit of the Lord is upon me, and that he has anointed me to preach the good news to the poor and healing the broken hearted” (Luke 4:18-19). I believe that among the broken hearted are the suffering alcoholics.
It is my belief that if Catholic Church will advocate the use of the 12 steps of the Alcoholic Anonymous as the recovery program for suffering family members it will be of great advantage. This program is a spiritual program that believes in higher power which is God in finally analysis but as you understand Him in your heart. Alcoholics Anonymous is described as a” fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength, and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to overcome their alcoholism.”
Finally let us continue to pray with the Holy Father and the whole Church for the success of this upcoming synod on marriage and family in October 2014. In a more practical way the Catholic Church needs to establish what I call ‘family healing ministry’ and apply as a pastoral tool in the evangelization of the families today. In a special way let us pray for the flourishing of the healing ministry in our Church today as the focal point in the ministry of Jesus Christ using the serenity prayer:
“Oh Lord grant me the Serenity to accept the Things I cannot Change, Courage to change the things I can, and Wisdom to Know the Difference, Amen.”
Click here for the PDF file of this article.
The small Christian community of Woodlands gathered after Mass on the 29th September to mark the 45th Wedding anniversary of our choir master Mr Bernard Kunda. He is well known by confreres as he has been leading hymns faithfully for many years. Former stagiaires like Alain-Christian Muhineza remember him when he came back to Zambia recently, being appointed to Namushakende Parish. Alain-Christian was ordained priest on the 12th July 2014.
A cake was shared to celebrate the weeding anniversary of Mr Kunda and to share our joy to see Alain-Christian among us once again.
Woodlands recently welcomed visitors from Malawi. Two of them are our confreres from Mzuzu; Filiyanus Ekka and the stagiaire Richard Dery. But two more have been sent by our Friend of Kungoni member Richard L. Hewitt. They are Samson Phiri and Chikondi Medson. The latest is a student of Richard L. Hewitt who is teaching at Kamuzu Academy in Malawi for the past ten years. Chikondi got a scholarship to perfect his knowledge in Latin and Greek languages at the Accademia Vivarium Novium in Rome for one year. Brilliant student originally from Tcheu in the central region of Malawi, Chikondi is only twenty years old. We wish him good luck in his first experience abroad. His got his visa in Lusaka on Monday 29th September and flying to Rome on Friday 3rd October. Have a nice journey dear Chikondi.
On Saturday 19th July 2014 Rev. Africano Mucunguzi and his “twin” brother Rev. Vincent Kyererezi of the Society of Missionaries of Africa were ordained to priesthood. The celebration was presided over by His Grace the Archbishop Paul K. Bakyenga of Mbarara Archdiocese at Nyamitanga Cathedral. It was a double celebration for relatives and friends of Africano and Vincent, who referred to themselves as ‘twins’ not only due to their identical vocational history in the Society of Missionaries of Africa, but mainly because of their long distinct and outstanding friendship. The ordination was attended by Bishop John Baptist Kakubi the Bishop Emeritus of Mbarara diocese, Fr. Charles Obanya the Provincial Superior of the East African province of Missionaries of Africa and his assistant Fr. John Asebire, numerous priests, religious men and women, and many other guests some from all over East and Central Africa.
The Archbishop reminded the ordinands of their task as priests to proclaim by word and deed the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and to fashion their lives in accordance with its precepts.The “twins” Africano and Vincent celebrated their thanksgiving Masses on July 20th and 21st respectively. The main preachers at the thanksgiving Masses of Africano and Vincent were Fr. Godwin Muhangi and Fr. Savernus Ndugwa respectively.
Africano is appointed to Malawi and Vincent to Algeria for mission. We wish them both many blessed happy and healthy priestly years.
By Nuwagaba Justus (Student of Theology in Nairobi)
Source: Flashes, Magazine of EAP Province, Missionaries of Africa, Volume 12, September 2014
Link: Oath and diaconate in South B Formation House
Sadly, we heard this morning about the death of Richard Niyomwungere, age 23, younger brother of our stagiaire Audace Niyonsaba who is currently learning Chibemba at FENZA. We know little apart that his brother died in a car accident in Kigali, Rwanda. Originally from Burundi, the family is still trying to find out how to attend the funerals which will take place in Rwanda.
Let us pray for Audace and his entire family in this painful moment. May the soul of Richard rests in peace.
This academic year at Fraternité Lavigerie announces itself with a blessing of thirteen new community members. Among the thirteen, two of our brothers are originally from our province (SAP). These are: Michael Mpindo (Malawi) and Moses Simukonde (Zambia). We are very happy of their being part of our community. For this reason, we wish them a warm welcome at Fraternité Lavigerie. Akwaba to you our brothers! Our community consists of 37 members, 33 candidates and 4 formators.
The official opening of the academic year 2014-2015 for our community took place on Friday 19th of September 2014. In order to mark our Eucharistic celebration with the event of the day, it was presided by Fr Jean Bipendo who was celebrating his birthday. In addition, we were equally happy to witness to the declaration of intent of nine second year brothers. For this reason, we address our congratulations to Martin Kasongo (Zambia), Fredrick Mulenga (Zambia) and Peter Nyirenda (Malawi). We wish them all the best of luck and may the good Lord continue nourishing their intelligence in their Theological studies so that they become his true servants tomorrow.
This year’s uniqueness presented itself in the way our community project was formulated. With the help of the image of a tree, we formulated it. In fact, as compared to previous years, this approach was new and was equally appreciated by a good number of community members. In this case, we officially inaugurated our theme for the year. Here it is: “Vivons Notre Arbre” which literally means “Let us live our tree”. To symbolize our theme in a special way, we planted a mango tree just after the Eucharistic celebration. This was done in our community compound. It was after this symbolic action that we continued with our celebration outside the dining hall. We wish our community of Fraternité Lavigerie a happy and successful academic year 2014-2015. We pray that the Lord helps us build a community worth of its name: Fraternité Lavigerie.
Humphrey Mukuka
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- Traditionally, we give drinking water to our visitors as a sign of welcome.
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- The whole community of the Fraternité Lavigerie of Abidjan 2014-2015.
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- Moses Sense Simukonde and Michael Mpindo
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- The group of the first year candidates at Fraternité Lavigerie 2014-2015.
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- Martin Kasongo, Fredrick Mulenga and Peter Nyirenda.
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- After the Eucharistic celebration the second year candidates take a promotion photo around the just planted community mango tree.
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- Nine second year candidates pronounce their declaration of intent.