Author: Missionaries of Africa - Southern Africa Province (SAP) Page 76 of 113

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 « Témoignages »
« Confrères ayant travaillé dans la P.A.O. », annonce d’un décès récent, et quelques nouvelles tirées de correspondances reçues d’anciens de la Province (lire la suite)
« Etre secrétaire de la PAO », le témoignage du Père Alain Fontaine, qui occupe ce poste depuis le mois de septembre 2011. (lire la suite)

Dans la rubrique « Actualités » :
« Deux cardinaux pour notre province » quelques extraits du site « Zenit » et du site du journal « La Croix » au sujet des 19 cardinaux choisis par le Pape François, particulièrement l’archevêque de Ouagadougou et celui d’Abidjan. (lire la suite)
« Les statistiques M.Afr au 1er janvier 2014 » : une reprise des chiffres qui nous ont été fournis sur le site de notre société, www.mafrome.org, (lire la suite)
« Les M.Afr. Jubilaires en 2014 », la liste de tous les Missionnaires d’Afrique qui fêteront cette année 25 ans, 50 ans,… et jusqu’à 75 ans de leur engagement missionnaire par serment. (lire la suite)

Dans la rubrique « Vu au sud, vu du sud » :
« Les vœux du SEDELAN pour 2014 » un article paru comme d’habitude sur le site «www.abcburkina.net ». et qui engage à miser sur l’agriculture familiale. (lire la suite)

Dans la rubrique « Justice et Paix » :
« Dimanche de la migration », un texte reçu du frère Jan Heuft, qui travaille depuis de nombreuses années en Algérie afin d’aider les migrants (lire la suite)

Dans la rubrique « Maghreb » (diverses nouvelles) :
« Anniversaire à Tizi Ouzou », un article écrit par notre confrère Guy Sawadogo, originaire du Burkina et travaillant en Algérie, et qui nous parle de l’anniversaire de l’assassinat de 4 pères le 27 décembre 1994.(lire la suite)

Dans la rubrique « Dialogue interreligieux » :
« Manifestations en Mauritanie », un article paru dans le bulletin hebdomadaire de l’ARCRE (Action pour la Rencontre des Cultures et des Religions en Europe) (lire la suite)

Message from our Superior General to Bishop Sandri, South Africa

By Missionaries of Africa - Southern Africa Province (SAP)

On January 13, 2014

In Publications

To: Bishop Giuseppe Sandri, MCCJ,

Diocese of Witbank, South Africa

My Lord,

Greetings of peace for the New Year 2014!

I write on behalf of the General Council of the Missionaries of Africa, to thank you wholeheartedly for message of condolences and for the accompaniment you offered to our confrères in Lebombo as they mourned the sudden and tragic loss of our confrère, Fr. Sébastien Ndrustomi. Fr. Philippe Docq, the Delegate Superior, did keep us informed of the everything that was going on and we could see your pastoral care to them in these trying moments.

Thank you for the consoling and challenging homily you gave at the funeral of Fr Sébastien and for welcoming him to rest with his fellow pastoral workers in the diocesan cemetery. We do appreciate this final gesture that seals his belonging in a unique way.

May God continue to bless you in your ministry.

We keep you in our prayers and thank you in advance for yours for us.

Sincerely,

Fr. Richard Kuuia Baawobr, M.Afr

Superior General

Reply of the Bishop of Witbank

Sermon for the funeral of Fr. Sébastien Ndrutsomi

By Missionaries of Africa - Southern Africa Province (SAP)

On January 13, 2014

In News

Dear Fr. Philippe,

I hope you have reached Merivale safely.

Once again my condolence to Fr. Christopher, to you and all Missionaries of Africa for the passing away of Fr. Sébastien Ndrutsomi.

Thank for your presence in our Diocese. Pass my condolences also to your Fr. General and his Council.

Please find attached my Homily of the Funeral Mass.

We remain in touch and pray for each other.

+ Giuseppe (Joe) Sandri MCCJ

SERMON FOR THE FUNERAL OF FR. SÉBASTIEN NDRUTSOMI

Maria Trost 11^th January 2014-01-09

We are gathered here before the altar of Christ to entrust to his Father’s love and mercy our brother and fellow priest Fr. Sébastien Ndrutsomi, so suddenly and tragically taken from us.

Brothers and sisters I warmly welcome all of you to this sad, painful and yet hopeful celebration. I welcome in a special way Fr. Christopher Chileshe, Provincial of The Missionaries of Africa of Malawi, Zambia, Mozambique and South Africa, Fr. Philippe Docq, the Delegate Superior of the Missionaries of Africa in South Africa, Fr. Crispin Vungwa and Fr. Jean Pierre Le Scour who lived together with Fr. Sébastien and all the Missionaries of Africa present and the Catholics of Lebombo Parish. You and all of us in the Diocese of Witbank share in the same shock, sadness and grief as we look at the body of Fr. Sébastien in front of us.

We come to this church from many parts of South Africa and beyond, because, in spite of such a painful experience of death, we believe in life and in the life of Jesus Christ. To him we offer Fr. Sébastien and ourselves. We ask the Lord to welcome Fr. Sébastien in his kingdom. We ask the Lord to console us and all the bereaved. FULL TEXT

A lot of emotion but dignified and well prepared ceremonies. Warm support from the Bishop and the Comboni. The whole presbyterium of the Diocese was present at Maria Trost and a sizable congolese community: there are four congolese priests in the diocese and three communities of sisters originating from Congo.
Seba will have a nice resting place but what a gaping hole is left in the Sector!
Thanks for uniting and crying with us, let us pray and hope that there will be somebody to pick up his spear and continue the fight!

Didier Lemaire

Brother Karl Kälin

By Missionaries of Africa - Southern Africa Province (SAP)

On January 13, 2014

In News

Karl Kälin in 1985 in a printing press,

Dedicated, patient, joking.

Karl nearly 30 years later,

As dedicated as before, patient, joking.

Thank you Brother Karl for who you are.

Your faithfulness is an example to follow.

Like so many of us,

You went through tough time.

Today, you have grey hair,

And your belly has ‘slightly’ increase,

But your spirit remains sharp.

Wishing you strength and happiness for years to come.

The spirit of Creativity remains

By Missionaries of Africa - Southern Africa Province (SAP)

On January 12, 2014

In Publications

The Spirit of Creativity remains

By Serge St-Arneault, M.Afr from the Petit Écho, January 2014, No 1947.

I came to Zambia in January 2012, after spending about ten years in Malawi. In June of the same year, I took over the job of Provincial Secretary from Georges Lauzon. I have also lived for ten years in the Congo before going to Malawi but coming to the capital of Zambia has proved to be a joyful and beneficial change for me. I still think of my first missionary experience in the Congo as being my closest ever experience with people. This sort of encounter is not thinkable in an office like mine today. However, as much effort and dedication was needed in learning languages or customs and moving around visiting Christian communities in villages, I feel the same spirit of creativity at work today. FULL TEXT

L’esprit de créativité persiste

Par Serge St-Arneault, M.Afr, extrait du Petit Écho, Janvier 2014, No 1947.

Du Malawi, je suis arrivé en Zambie en 2012 et, au mois de juin, j’ai repris la tâche de secrétaire provincial assumée jusqu’alors par Georges Lauzon. Venir dans la capitale de la Zambie après dix années de mission au Congo, et autant d’années au Malawi, s’est révélé pour moi un changement heureux et bénéfique. Je me rappelle encore mes premières années missionnaires au Congo. Ce fut pour moi l’expérience de la plus grande proximité jamais vécue avec une population. Aujourd’hui, ce genre de rencontre n’est plus réalisable dans mon service. De même que l’étude de la langue, des coutumes et les visites dans les communautés chrétiennes villageoises demandaient alors un effort et un engagement, je sens que ce même esprit de créativité est à l’œuvre aussi maintenant. TEXTE COMPLET

I want to tell you that …, by Agnieszka Liberacka

By Missionaries of Africa - Southern Africa Province (SAP)

On January 12, 2014

In News, Zambia Sector

Agnes, as usually known at Home of Hope, spent some months at the Centre but went back to Poland just after the New Year. She is sending touching words about her experience with the street children of Lusaka. We wish her to enjoy her new life back home hoping to see her again among us, here in her second home…of hope.

From Agnes:

Kitek is gazing suspiciously all the time, as if with disbelief – she’s back. He’s sniffing, observing, recognizing. He’s spending all his time sitting on a suitcase abandoned in the middle of the room, in case of another sudden departure into the unknown.

My Zambian life came to an end. One hundred and fifty days of incredible wandering – with people, with culture, with my own head – all of it over once I got on the board of a plane. It was my second encounter with Home of Hope. I went back there after a year out of longing and out of conviction that this is the way it is supposed to be. I roamed with them regardless of my mood. I roamed my new world with curiosity, fear, anger and fascination. I learnt a lot even though I’d gone to teach there.

It was a wise encounter. I didn’t live a sheltered life. I lived next to, close, within reach. This astonishment and irritation of mine. Meeting another culture, colour, and other people – always a challenge for them and for you… I didn’t hide under a blanket of romantic Africa-in-the-sunset illusions. I saw a lot, heard a lot, experienced a lot. I came up against my own wall along the way, right next to my head… It’s a price and gain at the same time. I found balance between something beautiful, ephemeral, good and something dirty, pissed-on and bad. I experienced openness, love, care and unconditional being.

Quotidian life, built of ordinary getting-ups and ordinary falling-asleeps. The stories of children, of the street… this wandering never seemed to end. All I had to do was wait, and sit; a man and man meet.

But everything times two. This adventure is like that – two-sided.

I experienced being the other one, the one from the West or the East? Never mind, a stranger. Being not at home, not in my right place, being only an unintelligible White. I experienced what it’s like when everyone wants a bit of you and you’re falling apart into small pieces, only making sure that the head is where it should be. You’re looking for legs and arms – check, shaking a bit but they are still there. You’re making sure once again – yep, they are there. I was looking for my own boundaries, whether they weren’t full of holes, whether, by chance, they didn’t need mending… where was this crack which fear and sadness were leaking through?

But you keep on wandering, as the inner compass points at your direction and goal. It makes sense, this wandering, this step-taking, this building……

What’s good and what’s bad always forms us, only if we want to give it a chance.

Agnieszka Liberacka

Final note from the author:

Those were good 150 days. I thank the people who took me in, my White Fathers for faith and the joy of shared lives. The boys for the fun of passing time together. I thank Jacek for being, for standing by and for constant help in unravelling the tangle of my own misunderstandings and questions. I thank the people who met me halfway through this little journey and struggle of mine.

See other link:

Interview with Marina Amalia Zuccala

Wining prize for Dieudonné Rizinde, Zambia

By Missionaries of Africa - Southern Africa Province (SAP)

On January 11, 2014

In News, Publications

Our confrere Dieudonné took part in a competition organised by the magazine The Tablet in UK presented in the edition of June 2013, 01. He wrote an essay on the theme; Protecting Creation Means ‘Respecting Each of God’s Creature’ (Pope Francis) Why and How?

We congratulate him for this second win as he won a similar competition few years ago hoping that he will do it again. The essay is to be published in a near future. We give you in exclusivity the privilege to read his essay by clicking on the following PDF file.

Or Internet link:

Competition The Tablet

Message sent from England; “Dear Fr Dieudonné, thank you for your email, and particularly the letter which I received this week with the photographs and news. It was such a good idea to send it via someone returning to the UK. Now I have some good news for you! You have once again done well in the essay competition, coming joint first, and while we would normally split the prize 50/50, the other recipient is

happy that we split it 40/60. I know you will find good uses for your prize! With all good wishes, Debora.”

Venerato Deus Babaine, M.Afr

By Missionaries of Africa - Southern Africa Province (SAP)

On January 9, 2014

In News

I am a Ugandan from Mbarara Archdiocese of the Western Uganda. I was born on January 12, 1966. After my Secondary Education I joined the formation of the Missionaries of Africa in 1988. I spent the study of the philosophical studies at Kahangala in Magu, Tanzania (1988-91), spiritual Year at Kasama (1991-92), apostolic training at St. Peter’s parish – Serenje, Zambia (1992-94). I did theological studies in Nairobi (Tangaza College). I made the oath and diaconate in 1997. My ordination was at my home parish of Ibanda, in 1998. Then I was appointed to the then Province of Zambia.

I started my missionary life after ordination at Lubwe Mission of Mansa diocese (1998-2001). I was the last of the M.Afr community to hand-over Lubwe to the Diocesan Priests. After my maiden home leave I was appointed to a new parish of St. Anne’s New Town-Kasama as a Parish Priest (2001-2005). My experience as a missionary in Zambia was parish pastoral ministry. It was also marked by the video production of the documentaries about the missionary work of the Missionaries of Africa which was concluded in 2005. From 2005 to 2010 I did my home-service in Uganda and worked as vocation promoter and missionary awareness animator. From 2010 to 2012 I did some on-going formation and followed some renewal programmes including spirituality and languages. During that time I had missionary encounters in Ireland, France, the DRC and Burundi. I have also been on the team of the on-going formators for M.Afr. English speaking young confreres. Since April 2013 I have been at the M.Afr house in Nyegezi, Mwanza in Tanzania doing some chaplaincy and followed a course of Clinical Pastoral Education at Buganda Medical University Teaching Hospital. While following treatment for my back in 2012 and 2013 in Nairobi I also helped to handle some assignments in the EAP Provincial’s office at occasions I was requested to do so.

Years from 2005 to 2013 were full of exposures, discoveries, ventures and deep reflection for me in areas of spirituality and academics. I shared ecological spirituality in retreats and seminars. I read an M.A in Human Rights & Governance and got involved in advocacy and a social education for development. I did a research in Field Ecological conservation to improve the livelihoods of less privileged communities and promoted tree planting and water conservation. I developed my hobbies for nature and integrity of creation. He is a full member of NatureUganda organisation that has a mandated in East Africa to promote environmental sustainability.

In a short time I move to SAP for another missionary experience.

Obituary – Sébastien Ndrutsomi

By Missionaries of Africa - Southern Africa Province (SAP)

On January 9, 2014

In News

Very early on Sunday 5^th of January, Father Sébastien left the parish station of Kamhlushwa – a huge location situated in the triangle between Swaziland, Mozambique and the Kruger Park – to assist a friend who was in trouble with his own car. Normally, Father Sébastien would have gone from there to serve the Christian Communities that he had been assigned to for that day. But somewhere along the way and for a reason that is not known, Father Sébastien lost control of his car, which rolled over several times outside the road. It took some time for the police to be alerted and for an ambulance to reach the scene. Father Sébastien was eventually taken to Tonga Hospital but passed away on arrival. His two companions, back in the parish station, Father Chrispin Vungwa and Brother Samuel Affoumane, had a very stressful morning as the first news they got let them believe that Father Sébastien had only been hurt, and when they did not meet him at the emergency ward, they wanted to verify at the mortuary, but nobody was there to let them in.

Father Sébastien Ndrutsomi was a Missionary of Africa, a Catholic Missionary Society that has been very active in planting the Church in many countries of Africa. He was born in North East Congo (DRC) some 37 years ago. He had done his pastoral training in the region of Siyabuswa (Pretoria) before finishing his 4 years of theological training and being ordained a priest some three and a half years ago. After his ordination, he came back to South Africa and was appointed as curate in the area of Kamhlushwa, known in the Diocese of Witbank as Lebombo Parish.

Sébastien was a very dynamic, convinced, bold missionary, who was very fluent in the Zulu / Swathi language. He obviously had the fire – like the one of Pentecost – in his heart and in his life. He always said the truth with a smile, but never compromised. He was loved by the people he served and will be dearly missed. On Friday evening the 10^th, the parishioners will spend the night in a vigil of thanksgiving and prayer for our brother Sébastien and, early on Saturday morning the 11^th, they will accompany his body to Lydenburg where a solemn mass of funeral will be presided by Right Reverend Bishop Giuseppe (Joe) Sandri MCCJ assisted by Father Christopher Chileshe M.Afr, Provincial Superior of the Missionaries of Africa. Father Sébastien will be laid to rest in the cemetery of Maria Trost, where many priests and religious of Witbank Diocese were buried. We are expecting many priests and religious from the diocese who had come to know and appreciate Father Sébastien. Together with his brothers from the Missionaries of Africa and the parishioners of Lebombo Parish, they will thank God for the short but intensive missionary life of Father Sébastien.

Go well my brother, hamba kahle.

Philippe Docq, M.Afr

Delegate Superior for South Africa

Photos de l’ordination Sacerdotale de Sébastien Ndrutsomi le 21 septembre 2010 à Bunia, en République Démocratique du Congo. Il a été ordonné par Mgr Dieudonné Uringi, évêque du diocèse de Bunia.

See the Profile of Father Sébastien on this PDF file

Voir la note nécrologique du Père Sébastien sur ce fichier PDF

What is so “golden” about Zambia’s jubilee? Asks Oasis Forum!

By Missionaries of Africa - Southern Africa Province (SAP)

On January 9, 2014

In News, Publications

Over 70 people from various Churches, NGO’s and the media responded to the invitation of Oasis Forum for a Press Conference which took place at the Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia (EFZ) in Lusaka on the 8^th January 2014 at 9:30 hours. The theme of the conference was about the kind of political leadership Zambia needs in the coming Year of its Golden Jubilee, 50^th year of independence.

The panellists did not hesitate to use straight forward words: “poor political governance”, “we need a clear vision”, “we expect changes in governance”, “we are experiencing a leadership of abuse aiming at personal interests”, “we need now a people driven constitution”, “mediocrity will not be accepted”, “we want to celebrate a Jubilee without fear”, “the new constitution has to be brought to a referendum in 2014”, “the actual constitutional review is not transparent”, “time has come to unite”, “we need to strategize peacefully the best way to force the Government to take up its promises to come out with a new constitution”, “we are determined to fight and get what we want”, “we are at a crossroad”, “the new constitution is a moral issue to be preached from the pulpit in all our churches”, “let’s arise!”.

Reporter: Serge St-Arneault, M.Afr

As we soldier on in this Golden Jubilee Year in Zambia, kindly find herewith attached a Press Statement from the Oasis Forum with regard to the constitution making process in Zambia and lack of true leadership by successive regimes.

Wishing you God’s continued guidance and many blessings in the New Year 2014.

Fr. Cleophas Lungu

PRESS STATEMENT

WHAT IS SO “GOLDEN” ABOUT ZAMBIA’S JUBILEE? ASKS OASIS FORUM!

The year 2014 marks Zambia’s Golden Jubilee having attained independence in 1964. Reflections on the quality of political governance experienced throughout this period clearly shows that this country’s development has been consistently undermined by a self-centred political leadership. The current PF government has not been any different and has gone further to exhibit a less than high calibre of leadership. For this reason, the Oasis Forum would like to state the following and urges all Zambians, especially the political elite, to seriously ponder on these messages: … FULL TEXT