Category: News Page 12 of 79

News from Sectors and Rome

Article and photos by Fr Camille Konkobo, Vocation Promoter.

Fr Henk van Kessel has clocked 90 years old of age on the 7^th September 2016. The Missionaries of Africa in Chipata organized a celebration for him on September 11. Close to 30 people gathered around him; religious men and women and lay people.

Prayers and a meal were shared including the raising of a glass for a toast in his honor lead by Fr G. Nyoni, diocesan Pastoral Coordinator in Chipata. Being asked his secret of his longevity, he simply replied; “Do not stop breathing!” On behalf of the Missionaries, Fr Jean Luc Gouiller spoke kindly about Fr Henk who himself encouraged each one to remain disciplined and moderate in our way of life. “The secret of reaching 90 years is regularity, discipline and prayer”. He added: “I am happy to celebrate this moment with you all”.

Fr Henk took the opportunity to thank everybody who made it possible for him to be who he is today. He expressed gratitude to Fr Camille Konkobo for being instrumental in organizing and inviting all the communities within Chipata for the event.

In return Fr Camille thanked also the invited guests and all the confreres who sent a message of best wishes to Fr Henk. Those messages were read at the great amazement of each one. The day ended with the blessing of Fr Henk.

The psalmist says in Ps 90. 10: “Seventy is the sum of our years, or eighty if you are strong.” Where can we put Fr Henk? Has he not challenged the psalmist? Reverend Fr Henk, ad Multos Annos!

Henk van Kessel appointed Knight of the Order of Orange, Chipata, Zambia.

2017 calendar leading to the Jubilee celebrations of 150 years since the foundation of the Missionaries of Africa – made in South Africa

By Missionaries of Africa - Southern Africa Province (SAP)

On September 16, 2016

In Missionaries of Africa, News

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.

PDF FILE = 05-pontifical-society-sa-03-2016

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)

MIMSAF Calendar September 2016

By Missionaries of Africa - Southern Africa Province (SAP)

On August 31, 2016

In 2016 Calendar, News

Farewell Party for Christopher Chileshe, Emmanuel Mambwe and Robert Chipumbu

By Missionaries of Africa - Southern Africa Province (SAP)

On August 25, 2016

In News

Woodlands community invited the confreres and MSOLA Sisters to say goodbye to Christopher, Emmanuel and Robert on Wednesday night the 24^th August. In a simple way, a gift was offered to Christopher who is on his way to Ghana, appointed to the Formation House in Ejisu. Emmanuel and Robert are travelling tomorrow to Nigeria. We thank them for their ministry in Zambia. We are also happy with them as they are answering their call to the mission. Here are few words sent by confreres who were not physically present at the farewell party but in communion of spirit.

Some Farewell messages:

From Jean-Luc Gouiller:

Christopher, l well remember that we called you back from Ghana to come in your own country for Vocation Animation. It costed you but how could you refuse? It was a good choice for sure. Once finishing it you rushed back to Ghana. But a few years later you were remembered again and got chosen for being Assistant to the Provincial, Fr. Gotthard, for three years, starting in June 2006. But how to flee when something important was to be put in place: the new “SAP”. So you took back the yoke, as Provincial this time, in June 2009, for six years, with no Assistant but with good Provincial Secretaries (first Georges Lauzon and then Serge). Thank you very much Christopher. Our best wishes for your ministry in Ghana. May God bless your work. Greetings to Bishop Richard Baawobr.

Emmanuel, I still see you when you were enjoying your stage in the youth Centre of Kampala. I will not forget either your Ordination in Mansa. Ready to go on. Time has passed since then. Circumstances have brought you back for some years to your own country. Congratulations for taking up the Vocation work in Serenje, helping more young people to join the missionary venture. You are still young. You go to a new country, the biggest of Africa. I passed there once coming back from home leave. Nigeria is like a bee hive, full of people indeed. Our best wishes. United in the Lord.

Robert, you are ready to leave Lusaka and Zambia for a new experience, this time in Nigeria, like Emmanuel. We wish you God’s blessings. We often hear about Nigeria, a bustling country. We wish you to witness that in spite of our differences, including in religion, we can live together.

From Dave Cullen:

It would be a great joy for me to be with you but it would need a miracle of healing to arrange that. I’m due to meet the consultant on September 2^nd about what needs to be done to my fractured leg. Give my very best wishes to all those departing. My prayers and best wishes are with them all. May they find a very fulfilling apostolate where they will be and they will surely be good news for those in their care.

From Piet van Heijst:

Dear Christopher, Emmanuel and Robert, may you travel well and may the Lord bless you in starting again a new period in your lives by going back to your respective missions. Thanks for everything you have been to so many of us when here in Zambia. Remaining united.