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News from Sectors and Rome

Mafrwestafrica – Lettre du 5 avril 2013

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On April 19, 2013

In News, Publications

Aujourd’hui, les Missionnaires d’Afrique de l’Ouest vous proposent de visiter de nouvelles pages sur leur site www.mafrwestafrica.net :
les Missionnaires d’Afrique de l’Ouest– Dans la rubrique « Témoignages »
« Léonce Zinzere, de Tunisie », un article tiré du dernier Voix d’Afrique, où notre confrère Burkinabè parle de sa vie et de sa mission en Tunisie (lire la suite)
 – Dans la rubrique « Justice et Paix» :
« La drogue des enfants dans la rue » : article lui aussi tiré de Voix d’Afrique, et qui décrit la situation difficile vécue par les enfants dans les rues de par le monde. (lire la suite)
«  Le forum social 2013 à Tunis », écrit par le Provincial du Maghreb, et qui décrit l’importance de cette rencontre mondiale, et du fait qu’elle ait lieu en Tunisie. (lire la suite)
– Dans la rubrique « Vu au sud, vu du sud » :
« Journée mondiale de l’eau », le dernier article de Maurice Oudet sur le site SEDELAN, article qui de la nécessité de l’eau, pour avoir du bon lait… (lire la suite)
– Dans la rubrique « Actualités » :
« Le dernier numéro de Baobab Echos » le bulletin de la Province d’Afrique de l’Ouest (lire la suite)
Une bonne manière pour vous de partager notre mission est de faire connaître notre site à vos proches et vos amis, et à tous vos correspondants en leur transférant cette lettre. Ils apprécieront à leur tour ce qui se passe dans le monde de la Mission en Afrique de l’Ouest. Vous pouvez même les inscrire à partir de la rubrique “Lettre d’infos”, située à droite de l’écran.
Vous pouvez toujours nous écrire pour nous donner votre appréciation. Merci.
N.B. : Un détail technique qui a son importance : les images qui apparaissent sur le site ne s’agrandissent plus de manière automatique lorsqu’on clique dessus. Cependant, on peut les regarder à leur taille originale par un clic droit de la souris et le choix de “afficher” dans le menu qui apparaît.
Au revoir et à bientôt.
Pierre Béné, webmaster

TOGETHER LET US STOP MODERN SLAVERY

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On April 17, 2013

In Malawi Sector, News, Vocation animation

Peter Wazili Chitondo B
TOGETHER LET US STOP MODERN SLAVERY
By Peter Wazili Chitondo
 
I look up in the sky I see free birds
Flying high the horizon
While my people are weeping
Struggling to be free like a crying bird
In the hand of the oppressor
 
For by force they are smuggled
To far countries they are taken
To be used as sex workers and drug dealers
Yes both boys and girls are victims
 
For hard labour they are used with poor conditions
Yet good wages they are refused
Who is accountable for their suffering?
It’s all because of you! And me!
Who have kept our mouths shut like a door?
And have failed to be a walking stick 
In the hand of the most vulnerable
 
Yes a patient heart do we need
To listen to the voice of the voiceless
An intelligent mind we need not
That only talks without actions
Together lets fight modern slavery
VIVA! AFRICA VIVA!
 

 
Also, two articles written by M.Afr students in Balaka:
SUFFERING AND ITS LOGICALITY IN CHRISTIANITY
MODERN FORMS OF SLAVERY IN AFRICA AS A RIVAL AGAINST HUMAN NATURE

9 dead after Renamo threatens war to block elections

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On April 17, 2013

In Mozambique Sector, News, Publications

Document sent recently from Mozambique.
Nine people have been killed since Friday (first week of April 2013) in a growing confrontation between Renamo and the government in Muxúnguè, Sofala province, on the main north-south road (EN1) 100km north of the River Save. (…) Finally, on Sunday in Muxúnguè in an unexplained attack, the local Anglican pastor was killed.
Catholic bishops in a pastoral letter Sunday said that the “hypocrisy” of both Frelimo and Renamo was behind the conflict. It cited the “intense antagonism and lack of tolerance and dialogue” on both sides. It went on to blame the lack of internal democracy in the two parties. “Aren’t there many members of both parties who are afraid to express their own opinion if it differs from that of party leaders?” asked the bishops. READ MORE

Please, let us remember our confreres who are living at Dombe situated at 70km from Muxúnguè.

Pastoral visit to Kataba-Dumbe Communities – Lumimba Parish

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On April 17, 2013

In News, Zambia Sector

Phelim Malumo in Lumimba 02By Phelim Malumo M.Afr
For the first time this year, because of less rain than usual, we managed to visit the three major zones of our parish for Easter celebrations. Together with Father Bwezani, I succeeded to reach Lundazi, about 120 km from Luminba, then went through Lukusuzi National Park before crossing the Mwanya River where crocodiles and beasts are common. We covered about 600 km. We slept in a small grass thatched house for 10 days. We were completely cut off but happy to be with the people.
As shown on the pictures below, I went to Kataba-Dumbe community at about 8 km from our house. We had to cross the Lumimba River by motorbikes. On that day, a Lay Missionary named Joe Venegas, linked to the Comboni Missionaries, wanted to see with his own eyes the famous valley life. He was on his way back home to the USA for holidays. I took him to visit the sick, pray for various needs, chat with people and ride along the rough terrain. He hopes to come back and help if possible. In the valley, Lay Missionaries would be very useful.
What an experience! Living here, you really see the difference compare with a town setup. Indeed one has to be happy to work in places like this. It is very demanding and yet prophetic and fulfilling. Truly, one has to be zealous like our founder Cardinal Lavigerie. This is an experience I have come to cherish. I have made friends in taking part of their lives. Hopefully, I have left a positive mark on them too. I have learnt a lot from the confreres and the people around. They have become part of my life journey. Unforgettable indeed! This experience will surely carry me along in my next mission ahead; called to become a man of hope.
Welcome to Lumimba!
Greetings to the confreres  Phelim Malumo M.Afr

Interview with Elaine Zook

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On April 17, 2013

In News

ENSLAVEMENT TO OUR WOUNDS

Elaine ZookIn this interview we explore a different way to look at slavery, this time as related to our unhealed wounds. Elaine Zook says that “sometimes individuals and groups become enslaved to their wounds and it becomes part of their identity and stuck narratives and they just keep spinning on the cycles.” In the same line Richard Rohr points out that “pain that is not transformed is transferred”. Self-awareness and embracing pain becomes fundamental for breaking the chains of the giant wound. READ MORE

Members of the Provincial Council meeting at Mua, Malawi

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On April 17, 2013

In News, Sectors

2013 Provincial Council April 06

Bottom line: Karl Kälin, Provincial Treasurer, Jos van Boxel, General Council, Antoon Oostveen, Councillor, Serge St-Arneault, Provincial Secretary

Standing: Michel Sanou, Councillor Malawi, Timothée Bationo, Sector Superior Mozambique, Bernhard Udelhoven, Substitute Councillor Zambia, Adelarde Munishi, Substitute Sector Superior Zambia, Chrispin Vungwa, Councillor South Africa, William Turnbull, Sector Superior Malawi, Christopher Chileshe, Provincial, Richard Ujwigowa, Councillor Mozambique, Philippe Docq, Sector Superior South Africa, Robert Tebri, Lechaptois First Cycle

Chirurgical operation of Father Denis Laliberté, M.Afr

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On April 17, 2013

In News

We got a brief message telling us that the thyroid gland of Father Denis Laliberté was completely removed yesterday through surgery.
We wish him good recovery. Denis_Laliberté

On the picture, from the left: Jean-Marie Béliveau, Denis Laliberté, Bernard Tremblay and Jacques Bédard.

 

Death of Anne-Marie, sister of Father Jean-Luc Gouiller

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On April 17, 2013

In News

Jean-Luc_Gouiller

Chipata 17th April 2013
 
Dear confreres, greetings.
 
This is just a few words to tell you that one of my sisters, Anne-Marie, died in France yesterday, after some ten years of Alzheimer sickness. She was 72. She suffered a lot at the end. May she rest in peace! Easter time strengthens us.
 
We are 11 children in my family. She was the fifth one. (I am the third one). She was married to Bernard Fléchon. We pray for her husband, their four children and their families. The long sickness of my sister has strengthened our family links.
 
Alzheimer is a terrible disease. As the sickness gets worse, the sick person becomes less and less able to express clearly what is in her mind. Then tears and crying come. One feels helpless when in front of it, but we learn to just stay with her and for instance hold hands.
 
When young, my sister had taken part in and learnt from the animation of sessions and camps for the Rural Movement of the Christian youth. Then she became a teacher in a basic school. For quite a time she had a class of children with learning difficulties. The patience and the calm she had with them was marvellous. During two of my leaves, she called me to meet her students. One feels proud to see that. I happen to meet one of those students later, a girl, who was extremely grateful to have been able to grow out of her difficulties and, in her turn, help others. Anne-Marie had a gift also for making songs at family celebrations, including for my 25th anniversary of missionary life in December 1989. I still go back to that song at times. She came to Zambia in May 1996 with her husband and a brother of mine and his wife.
 
From the time both my father and mother had died, apart from staying some days in my home village at a brother’s home, I used to have a room at Anne-Marie and Bernard’s place. We felt very attuned to one another, until, in 2003, it could not be anymore.  For instance, my brother in law had to see to it that Anne-Marie would not forget to turn the gas off in the kitchen or would not get lost when walking, …walking…  That year, I moved to another sister, a widow, who makes me feel very much at home also.
 
The funeral Mass of my sister will be celebrated next Saturday in a parish where there is a great fellowship among the parishioners. The Parish Priest was one of my generation at the diocesan Major Seminary. My sister was much involved in the animation of the liturgy in that parish, including accompanying the singing with her guitar. Until, some days, she started getting lost, a little at first and then more. That was the beginning of the sickness. It was painful for her and for all. Her guitar was brought to the Home where one day she had to go and reside. But it had become useless to her. It’s hard to learn how to die that way. But the Lord had not forgotten her. On the Octave of Easter, the last 7th April, unexpectantly, she had some kind of a quick awareness, and she murmured  several times to those around “merci à tous”  (thank you to all), …an “Adieu” from her. One of her grandchildren, an 11 years old girl, was then getting ready to be baptized the next Sunday, another joy for the family. My sister died two days later.
 
Now I feel that our sister is again with us. The Communion of Saints is a reality. We can again relate with one another in another way but really, in the Spirit.
 
Thank you
 
Jean-Luc Gouiller, M.Afr

Chirurgical operation of Patrice Sawadogo in India

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On April 16, 2013

In News

Patrice_Sawadogo_Rayimwende_2Greetings from Bangalore   Message sent on Saturday, April 13, 2013
Hello,
I am very glad to inform you that I had a nice and safe trip to Bangalore. The confreres Sabu and Binu and the students are really treating me well. I feel very much at home here. There is a huge amount of people here, never seen in my lifetime. But they are friendly and welcoming. I feel very much in security…
I said mass in French on last Sunday for the African community residing here in Bangalore. They are mostly students from Ivory Coast, Cameroun, Togo, and Kenya.
I was able to meet the doctor last Monday. I completed the medical checkup yesterday. I will be admitted at the hospital next Monday in the afternoon to be operated on Tuesday. 
The doctor is confident that the surgery will go on well and that I will be able to leave the hospital the following day, Wednesday. I will be going back every day for a certain while for the rehabilitation.
I rely on your powerful prayers to pull through the ordeal.
Greetings to the confreres and greetings from the confreres here.
God bless,  Sawadogo Rayimwendé Patrice

Administrator’s Easter Message – Mansa Diocese

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On April 4, 2013

In News, Zambia Sector

“Watch for the new thing I am going to do. It is happening already. You can see it now” (Is. 43, 19; 5th Sunday of lent)
We are reminded that our God, is the God of surprises, of the unexpected as shown from recent events in the Catholic Church.
First there was the unexpected resignation of Benedict XVI. Then the unity of the Cardinals in Conclave who elected Cardinal Mario Bergoglio from Argentina. The choice of the name Francis. The humility and simplicity in the approach of Pope Francis, has raised many expectations throughout the Church.
At the same time there is continuity in the Church. We remain committed to the Year of Faith introduced by Benedict the Pope emeritus.
As a diocese are we focussed enough on the task at hand? Beliefs in witchcraft and in Satanism are weakening the faith in Zambia. What are we doing to eradicate or at least to weaken the belief in and the fear of witches and evil spirits? How can we change a culture of suspicion, fear and false accusations which are the bedrock of this belief? In the Church, the people of God, we need to promote a culture of respect, mutual trust and co-operation, which can replace one of suspicion and false accusations.
Satanism has been introduced and spread in Zambia by the Pentecostals. Unfortunately some of our charismatic members have inadvertently been stressing the presence of Satan in our world, and promoting the fear of Satanism. The exaggerated use of the Prayer of Deliverance has also contributed to this belief.  We need to closely accompany the members of the charismatic movement, to encourage them but also to intervene when and if they step out of catholic doctrine.
Do we believe that the Year of Faith can make a difference and bear fruit in our diocese?
“Watch for the new thing I am going to do” God is at work but counts on our active participation. Let us Michiel_Merizzi_01continue to recite the prayer for the Year of Faith in our parishes and in our communities.
May the Peace and Joy of the Risen Lord fill your hearts and enable you to see the grace of God at work amongst us.
Very. Rev. Fr. Mike Merizzi. M Afr
Apostolic Administrator – Mansa Diocese

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