Category: Diaconate

18 New Missionaries of Africa

On Friday 15^th December at 4:30 pm, in the beautifully decorated chapel of the Merrivale Formation House in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa, eighteen young men were officially received in the Society of the Missionaries of Africa by pronouncing their Missionary Oath. Many relatives and friends had come from near and far to pray with them and witness this serious life commitment of these generous new confreres. Their Oath was received by Fr. Didier Sawadogo, M.Afr, one of the Assistants to the Superior General. The Provincial of the Southern Africa Province, Fr. Felix Phiri, M.Afr, as well as the Provincial Delegate for South Africa, Fr. Raymond McQuarrie, M.Afr, were also present. The occasion was also enhanced by the presence of Bishop Jan De Groef, M.Afr of Bethlehem Diocese (South Africa) and Bishop Sanctus Lino of Nebbi Diocese in Uganda.

Our new confreres are: Maurice Aduol (Kenya), Jean-Pierre Badjanga Titi (DR Congo), Jean-Paul Basikaba (DR Congo), Stephen Beru (Ghana), Ryan Contamina (Philippines), Philippe Dakono (Mali), Siby Dominic (India), Francis Eze (Nigeria), Eric Kambale (DR Congo), Christopher Nkandu (Zambia), Silas Nsambimana (Burundi), Robert Ouedraogo (Burkina Faso), Justin Ramde (Burkina Faso), Elie Sango (DR Congo), Victor Sanou (Burkina Faso), Martin Somda (Burkina Faso), Jean-Baptiste Todjro (Togo) and Pierre Chanel Ulama (DR Congo).

18 New Priests for 2018!

This makes a lot of 18’s! What a wonderful gift for our jubilee year, our 150 years of foundation!

Indeed, the day after the Missionary Oath, on 16^th December, in St. Vincent Parish Kwampumuza in South Africa, we had the pleasure to celebrate the ordinations to the diaconate of the same eighteen new confreres for the Missionaries of Africa and two others for the Dominicans (O.P.).

Cardinal Wilfrid Napier, ofm, Archbishop of Durban Archdiocese, presided the celebration assisted by Bishop Jan De Groef, Bishop Sanctus Lino of Nebbi Diocese in Uganda and over fifteen priests. Everything went smoothly with the enthusiastic and brilliant participation of the local parish choir, the altar servers and all the other liturgical ministers.

After the four-hour celebration, the parishioners, under the wise leadership of their parish councillors, treated everybody to a delicious meal and to some great entertainments. This parish was recently taken by the Missionaries of Africa and we find the people very responsive and generous. They organised everything and contributed not only their time and energy but also all the food and drinks for this great occasion. Great! Siyabonga kakulu! (Thank you very much!)

God’s Family Is Expanding!

By Deacon Jean-Baptiste Todjro, M.Afr.

‘I was glad when I heard them say let us go to the house of the Lord’ Ps 122: 1. These words mark the beginning of our immediate preparation for our Missionary Oath and Diaconate Ordination. Indeed great was our joy to be accepted into the family of the Missionaries of Africa.

One word was echoed strongly throughout the celebration of our Missionary Oath and Diaconate Ordination: FAMILY. Prior to the celebration of the oath, Didier Sawadogo, representing the Superior General, presented to us the message of the General Council by giving to each of us the positive affirmation of our Society which states: ‘Filled with the joy of the Gospel and guided by the Spirit, we are an intercultural missionary society with a family spirit. Sent out to the African world and wherever our charism is needed, for a prophetic mission of encounter and of witness to the love of God’ (Capitular Acts 2016:17). It is with this sense of belonging and willingness that we responded YES to the call of God and the desire of making God’s love known and flourish in the African world. The word FAMILY was at the heart of the homily of Cardinal Wilfrid Napier who in addressing us insisted that we have to participate in the mission of the Church and identify the challenges that families are facing as our primary mission in collaboration with the universal Church. As such one can boldly say we are ordained to be APOSTLES TO FAMILIES, NOTHING BUT APOSTLES TO FAMILIES.

We wish to thank all those who made this event possible: our community, our formators and provinces of origin who believed we can contribute positively to the Mission of Jesus Christ within the Society of the Missionaries of Africa. Our gratitude also goes to you, our parents, friends and confreres who graced this event with your presence or with a thought or a prayer. Please, continue praying for us and supporting us.

Please remember us and all missionaries of Africa with this hymn that served as a procession and entrance hymn during our Missionary Oath:

À vous mes chers Missionnaires d’Afrique, l’amour est notre unique vocation. Dieu nous envoie en Afrique en mission, pour proclamer par notre vie son Amour. Aimons-nous d’un amour tendre et fidèle, soyons apôtres et rien que cela. Soyons unis pour que la vie soit plus belle, allons sans peur vers notre Dieu qui nous appelle. Nous sommes la présence, du Dieu de l’alliance. Qui nous parle dans le silence, Dieu d’amour et d’espérance. Nous sommes sa présence, ici en Afrique. Qui proclame ses merveilles, Dieu d’amour et d’un nouveau jour.

We are the presence, of God in Africa. Who speaks to us in the silence, God of love and God of hope. We are God’s presence, here in Africa. That proclaims God’s great deeds, God of love and of a new day.

Missionary and Perpetual Oath at Sainte Anne, Jerusalem, on April 29, 2017.

By Missionaries of Africa - Southern Africa Province (SAP)

On April 24, 2017

In Diaconate

On April 29, 2017, Dominic Kapatamoyo, Malawian, Patrick Sebyera Ndirenganya, Congolese, Simon Chenge Njuguma, Kenyan and Olivier Ndayikengurukiye, Burundian, are going to make their Missionary and Perpetual Oath at Sainte Anne, in the Pilgrim Welcome Centre, Jerusalem.

Oath and Diaconate Ordination in Abidjan, December 2016, Ivory Coast.

By Missionaries of Africa - Southern Africa Province (SAP)

On December 20, 2016

In Diaconate

Fredrick Mulenga, Brother Michael Mpindo, Martin Kasongo and Peter Nyirenda.

By Domingos Mirembwe, Levison Goodwell and Brian Banda.

On the 10^th December, the community of Fraternité Lavigerie witnessed the oath taking of nine confreres. Four of them are from SAP, namely Fredrick Mulenga (Zambia), Brother Michael Mpindo (Malawi), Martin Kasongo (Zambia) and Peter Nyirenda (Malawi). The oaths were pronounced at the parish of Sainte Marie d’Agouèto of Abobo in Abidjan during Mass and received by Father Stanley Lubungo, Superior General. Confreres and many other priests, religious and lay people witnessed the event.

At the same event, with the exception of Michael Mpindo who made his oath as a Brother, our new confreres were ordained deacons by Bishop Willy Ngumbi, our confrere who is also Bishop of Kindu in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

In his homily, Bishop Ngumbi urged the newly engaged confreres to place their total trust in the Lord especially while facing challenges and difficulties.

Through the singing and utumpundu (acclamations), we felt and noticed the vibrant presence of the Zambian community working in Ivory Coast. They contributed to the joy of the event.

The ceremony of Oath and Diaconate was concluded with a meal which took place in the community of Fraternité Lavigerie. The compound was full of joy which was expressed in songs and dances.

We thank the SAP Province and the Society of the Missionaries of Africa for calling these young men. We commend them to your prayerful support as we place them under the protection of Mary Immaculate, Queen of Africa. To you our beloved new confreres, may God bless you and make successful and fruitful your missionary ministry. Congratulations and all the best!

: Fredrick Mulenga, Brother Michael Mpindo, Martin Kasongo and Peter Nyirenda.

Missionary Oath and Ordination of Michael Mpindo, Peter Nyirenda, Fredrick Mulenga Chungu and Martin Kasongo in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.

By Missionaries of Africa - Southern Africa Province (SAP)

On November 27, 2016

In Diaconate, News

By Mpindo Michael, M.Afr

On behalf of all the SAP students, with praise and gratitude to Almighty God, I am writing cordially to thank you all for your generous support and would like to inform you that the fraternity Lavigérie of Abidjan invites you on Saturday December 10 to the Missionary Oath and Ordination of the following SAP students:

Michael Mpindo (Brother) Peter Nyirenda (Deacon)

Fredrick Mulenga Chungu (Deacon) Martin Kasongo (Deacon)

We are happy and consoled by the fact the Lord knows how to work and how to act even with insufficient tools and by his grace and especially through your prayers. In the joy of the resurrected Lord, trustful of his permanent help, we go ahead, sure that God will help and Mary his most beloved mother stands on our side (Pope Benedict XVI).

Link::

The beginning of the academic year 2014-2015 at Fraternité Lavigerie of Abidjan

Invitation to the Oath and Diaconate in Nairobi, Kenya.

By Missionaries of Africa - Southern Africa Province (SAP)

On March 31, 2016

In Diaconate, Publications

The Balizi Forth Phase Formation House is glad to invite you all to the Oath and Diaconate Ordination of their six brothers, which will take place on April 30^th, 2016 in Nairobi. Thank you for your prayers and support for the success of that event.

Thank you and may God bless you. Fraternally, Mugalihya Macara Fidel.

Note from the Webmaster: Fidel was a stagiaire in Kasama, Zambia. As SAP Province, we are also particularly proud of Moses Sense Simukonde. Welcome to them all into the family of the Missionaries of Africa.

Oath and Diaconate in South Africa, November 27, 2015

By Missionaries of Africa - Southern Africa Province (SAP)

On December 2, 2015

In Diaconate, Missionaries of Africa, News

neral Oath Diaconate SA Nov 2015 01 By Amorain Wayikpo and Jean-Paul Basikaba, Media Committee, Merrivale.

Some of the young men in the Formation House in Merrivale, South Africa, professed their final Oath on the 27^th November 2015. They are six: Albert Kondemodre (Burkinabe); Alphonse-Marie Byishimo (Rwandese); Damian Ahimbisibwe (Ugandan); Douglas Ogato Momanyi (Kenyan); Konrad Simon Millanzi (Tanzanian) and Robbin Simbeye (Zambian). Rev. Father Jozef Van Boxel, 1^st Assistant of the General Council presided over the Eucharistic celebration and received the missionary Oath of these young confreres who have become full members of the Society of the M.Afr. After the community Morning Prayer, as it is required in view of a diaconate ordination, the candidates confessed their faith and belief in the Roman Catholic Church. They all signed the declaration of faith as their resolute will of serving and leading the people of God according to the official teaching of the Church.

In his homily, Father Jozef Van Boxel mentioned some similarities between the Prophet Samuel’s call (Sam 3:1-10) and the missionary call. This call to serve God comes from God. It is something very personal and intimate between God and those who are called. It includes listening, discerning and answering. The preacher pointed out some basis of the missionary call found in the Gospel (Matthew 11:25-30): the importance of a disciple to have a childlike trust and confidence in God that involves obedience to God and our Superiors in carrying out God’s mission and not our own; living apostolic charity in our mission and remaining celibate for the sake of God’s kingdom.

Fr. Jozef invited the new confreres to a very deep, close and personal relationship with God through a prayerful life which is a best means of fulfilling peacefully and joyfully God’s call.

The next day, on the 28^th November 2015, the six new M. Afr, joined by three other candidates namely one Dominican, Clement Mweni (Zambian) and two Sacred Heart of Jesus, Blaise Bonkondi Biane (Congolese) and Ushinde Kambale Sahani (Congolese), were ordained deacons at St. Raphael’s Parish – Kwamzimba by Most Rev. Bishop Barry Wood, Assistant Bishop of the Archdiocese of Durban.

Forthcoming Oath and Diaconate in Merrivale, South Africa

By Missionaries of Africa - Southern Africa Province (SAP)

On November 1, 2015

In Diaconate

From the Media Team of Merrivale, South Africa

Dear brothers, at the end of this missionary month, it is with great joy that as Media Team of Merrivale Formation House in South Africa, announce and invite you to the Oath and Diaconate ordination of our six brothers. Kindly join us or unite with us in prayer. Happy all Saint Day to all and the mission continue together with Jesus.

Chers frères, à la fin de ce mois missionnaire, la maison de Formation de Merrivale vous annonce et vous invite au serment missionnaire et aux ordinations diaconales de six de leurs frères. Associez-vous à nous dans la célébration de leur engagement. Bonne fête de tous les Saints et que la mission avec Jésus continue.

To be ordained: Tanzanian Milanzi Konrad Simon, Burkinabe Kondemodre Albert, Rwandese Byishimo Alphonse Marie, Zambian Simbeye Robbin, Ugandan Damian Ahimbisibwe and Kenyan Ogato Douglas Momanyi.

Dates: Oath on the 27^th November and the Diaconate on the following day at St. Raphael Catholic Church KwaMzimba

2015 Celebration of Oath and Diaconate – Jubilee and Renewal of Oath, Nairobi, Kenya

By Missionaries of Africa - Southern Africa Province (SAP)

On May 2, 2015

In Diaconate

This celebration will take place on the 16^th May 2015 at Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish, South B, Nairobi, Kenya at 9:30. Mass will be presided by Rt. Rev. Emanuel Barbara, O.F. M. Cap.

Oath: Brothers Clayb Caputolan (Filipino) and Venancio Echeverria (Spanish).

Oath and Diaconate: Bertin Bouda (Burkinabe), Sylvester Chimenge (Zambian), Maralf Jimenez (Mexican), Daniel Kabuya (Congolese DR), Toby Ndiukwu (Nigerian), Thomas Pouya (Burkinabe) and Valery Sindayigaya (Burundian).

Jubilee and Renewal: Fr. E. José Gordejuela (Spanish), Fr. Willy Schoofs (Belgium), Fr. Roger Tessier (Canadian) and Fr. Marinus Van Broekhoven (Duch).

Note: Clayb Caputolan made his stage in Malawi, Maralf Jimenez did it in Zambia and Thomas Pouya did it in South Africa. From SAP: Sylvester Chimenge from Zambia.