News from Sectors and Rome
Father Julien Cormier, Provincial of the Americas, informs you of the death of Father Oswald Payant, M. Afr. He died on January 15, 2015, in Sherbrooke (Canada), at the age of 100 years of which 74 of missionary life in Zambia and Canada.
Let us pray for the repose of his soul.
Thursday, 15 January 2015
Greetings from South-Africa! Hoping you have all entered very well in the New Year. I am Martin Somda stagiaire in Henley parish, South Africa. I would like to let you know that I will be doing the renewal of my declaration of intent on the coming Sunday the 18th January. It will be done at the parish in the presence of the confrères around and parishioners. Phillipe Docq, Delegate Superior of South Africa Sector, will be the one receiving my renewal of declaration of intent. I recommend myself to your prayers as elders in the M.Afr Society and support for a fruitful time of formation.
Martin Somda, Stagiaire, Henley parish, South Africa
By Theresa Sikateyo
Families of the Lay Association of the Missionaries of Africa in Zambia, MIMSAF, came together to celebrate their annual event “Family Day” on 3rd January 2015 at St Lawrence Parish, Lusaka where Fr. Toon van Kessel is Parish Priest. The occasion was prayerful and educative. Day activities included Mass which was celebrated by the Provincial, Fr. Christopher Chileshe and concelebrated by Fr. Mark Nsanzurwimo and MIMSAF Chaplain Fr. Owino D. Vitalis.
Input on the mission of the Missionaries of Africa facilitated by the Provincial Fr. Christopher Chileshe. “In 2010, he said, we described ourselves as “Men of hope”; we meditate on Christ’s incarnation and are inspired by Him to proclaim and promote a better world”. He described the mission around two themes. Encounter / Dialogue with cultures different from Christianity (ED) and Justice and Peace, Integrity of Creation (JPIC). The input was described as being very informative and gave a better understanding of what the Missionaries of Africa are involved in”.
The provincial also reminded and invited the MIMSAF Family to join the Religious in celebrating the year of Consecrated life which has been declared by Pope Francis. The Launch for Lusaka Archdiocese is scheduled for 7th February, 2015 at the Marian Shrine and MIMSAF was encouraged to take part.
Rt. Rev. Martin Mtumbuka and Rt. Rev. Joseph Mkasa Zuza
Dear All,
I just received the sad news from Filiyanus Ekka that Bishop Zuza died earlier this afternoon.
Filiyanus, one of our confrères, was travelling back to Mzuzu from Lilongwe by bus when he saw the bishop’s car by the side of the road. He got the driver to stop. Found that the bishop had had some sort of accident and was thrown out of the car. It appears the car had rolled and was in the ditch.
Filiyanus managed to phone Richard Dery, our stagiaire in Mzuzu, and somehow arranged transport to take him to St John’s Hospital Mzuzu. The bishop was conscious all the way and was talking. From what said he died in his arms in the hospital.
The details of what happened are not clear. Filiyanus is still in shock and is at the hospital.
Let us keep Bishop Zuza in our prayers. He was a great friend of the White Fathers and will be sadly missed by everyone. May he rest in peace.
Will keep you updated on what happens.
Yours, William Turnbull, Delegate Superior, Malawi
Heavy flooding has killed scores of people in the east African country of Malawi, where nearly a third of the country was declared to be in a state of disaster.
Malawi’s President Peter Mutharika said on Tuesday that at least 48 people were killed and 23,000 others displaced in flash floods that have wreaked havoc in 10 out of 23 districts in his country.
Some of the victims died when villages were flooded in Malawi’s southern Mangoche district, about 100 kilometres south of the commercial capital, Blantyre, according to Grey Mkwanda, a district planning officer. Livestock, crops and homes were swept away by floodwaters, with some homes completely submerged.
“People have fled into schools and churches on the higher ground, others are in the open because there is not enough space,” Mkwanda said.
Others died in Blantyre when their homes collapsed, according to Mkwanda. “In some cases you cannot believe there was a house here,” said Allan Ngumya, a member of parliament who represents the area. Police are also looking for two children who went missing in Blantyre, police spokesman Elizabeth Divala said.
International aid appeal
Mutharika has appealed to the international community for assistance for the impoverished country. “Government alone cannot afford to help so I appeal to the international community for urgent assistance,” he said.
Flooding began last month and heavy rain is expected to continue, especially in the north and central parts of the country, according to Elina Kululanga, Malawi’s director of meteorological services and climate change.
In neighbouring Mozambique, where some waters have risen to over double flood thresholds, a group of 25 school children was swept away by torrents on Monday, and 18 others have been reported missing.
Flooding in the two east African neighbours has left much of Malawi’s centre and western border region under water, and large eastern swathes of neighbouring Mozambique swamped.
The region is likely to face at least two more days of torrential rain carried by late summer storms, according to meteorologists. Heavy flooding has killed scores of people in the east African country of Malawi, where nearly a third of the country was declared to be in a state of disaster.
Malawi’s President Peter Mutharika said on Tuesday that at least 48 people were killed and 23,000 others displaced in flash floods that have wreaked havoc in 10 out of 23 districts in his country.
Some of the victims died when villages were flooded in Malawi’s southern Mangoche district, about 100 kilometres south of the commercial capital, Blantyre, according to Grey Mkwanda, a district planning officer.
Livestock, crops and homes were swept away by floodwaters, with some homes completely submerged. “People have fled into schools and churches on the higher ground, others are in the open because there is not enough space,” Mkwanda said. Others died in Blantyre when their homes collapsed, according to Mkwanda.
“In some cases you cannot believe there was a house here,” said Allan Ngumya, a member of parliament who represents the area. Police are also looking for two children who went missing in Blantyre, police spokesman Elizabeth Divala said.
International aid appeal
Mutharika has appealed to the international community for assistance for the impoverished country. “Government alone cannot afford to help so I appeal to the international community for urgent assistance,” he said.
Flooding began last month and heavy rain is expected to continue, especially in the north and central parts of the country, according to Elina Kululanga, Malawi’s director of meteorological services and climate change.
In neighbouring Mozambique, where some waters have risen to over double flood thresholds, a group of 25 school children was swept away by torrents on Monday, and 18 others have been reported missing.
Flooding in the two east African neighbours has left much of Malawi’s centre and western border region under water, and large eastern swathes of neighbouring Mozambique swamped. The region is likely to face at least two more days of torrential rain carried by late summer storms, according to meteorologists.
Every country has its own traditions and ways of celebrating the feast of Christmas, and in Catholic Churches all over the world the very same readings will be read at the Christmas Masses. However, the way the liturgy is celebrated will vary from culture to culture.
In Malawi, for example, the liturgy may include an imaginative combination of dance, songs and drumbeat with diverse and creative costumes and structures build in the sanctuary. Mua is a parish located in the Central Region of Malawi, the first mission established by the Missionaries of Africa in the country just over 100 years ago.
CLICK HERE OF THE FULL ARTICLE IN PDF FILE.
The author of the article, Richard Hewitt, is a classic teacher and he sits on the advisory board of Kungoni Centre of Culture and Art, which aim to celebrate the wealth of Malawi’s culture and artistic inheritance.
75 years of Oath 
1990-12-07 Fr. Kasiya Julian, Malawi/SAP/Mwi/Mua – is moving to Mozambique.
It was our hope last year to see an increase in terms of visitors for 2014. This has been achieved with an increase of 97% from 1391 nights in 2013 to 2751 nights this year. Woodlands welcomed many confreres in January though we have not seen so many visitors so far in 2015. We also welcomed quite a few visitors between August and November 2014. A significant number of Stagiaires and students came in July and August. As you can see, Woodlands, Lusaka, is your home.
Link: 2013 Woodlands’ visitors
The five communities of Missionaries of Africa in Lusaka, including the M.S.O.L.A. Sisters, gathered on Sunday 28th December 2014 for a Christmas and Farewell Party to Father Jaya Bordhan who is leaving Zambia on the 2nd January for a new appointment in India. Jaya invited also some friends for the occasion. Fortunately, it was not raining like the previous day and the barbecue was much appreciated. The Provincial gave a small gift to Jaya who cut the cake for the occasion.
We wish Father Jaya a good and fruitful ministry in India. He warmly invited any of us who wish to visit him in his home country. Have a nice journey dear Jaya. We will miss you!
A South African Hail Mary
Hail Mary,
Pregnant with the aspirations of our people;
The Lord is with you.
Blessed are you among the oppressed,
And blessed is the fruit of liberation of your womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of South Africa,
Pray for us who hope in the Spirit of God,
Now when our people take up the struggle for justice,
And at the hour of our freedom.
Amen!
This prayer was written by a young South African Sister and given to Michel Meunier at the end of a retreat in Maria Trost on 21st December 2014.
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