Category: Publications Page 11 of 41
Various publications; Bulletins, magazines
My dear Friends, Compliments of the season (as people say)! Happy New Year! Until the end of this month, I always take the liberty to wish people a Happy New Year; after all, there are still eleven months of it!
I hope you have entered gracefully (or in a grace-filled way) in this Jubilee Year of Mercy! Yes, as you know, Pope Francis has declared this year, starting on 8th December last year until the 20th November this year (Feast of Christ the King), a special time to live by and with the mercy of God. “Jesus Christ is the face of the Father’s mercy”, says the Pope. The theme he gives to this yearlong celebration is “Merciful like the Father” (see Luke 6: 36). Very interestingly for us on the African continent is that on 29th November – 9 days before the official opening in Rome – Pope Francis opened the Holy Door of Mercy in the Central African Republic’s capital before the beginning of Sunday Mass. He decided to open the Holy Door in the cathedral of Bangui as a sign of prayer and solidarity with the country and the rest of the continent. This is the first time in history that a Jubilee year is opened outside of Rome! This gave a lot of courage to the people of the Central African Republic – not only Catholics – to go and vote in the presidential elections, in spite of the threats received from militias telling them not to vote!
The people just ignored their bullets and these terrorists felt powerless in front of God’s power: this was a miracle, a sign from God brought through Pope Francis!
From 4th to 7th January, we had our Sector Meeting in Haartbeesport Dam, at the Good Shepherd Centre. We had a good time of reflection, prayer, discussion and planning for our work in South Africa.
Our new deacons who went to Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia during their Christmas holidays (see last month’s Newsletter), came back on different days around mid-January. You should have seen the joy beaming from their eyes as they explained all what they had been doing during this short pastoral experience in their respective parishes. It reminded us of the return of the seventy disciples after Jesus had sent them on their first mission (See Luke 10: 17-20). They were really thrilled to have been able to proclaim the word of God in their own way. This was surely a great experience for them, awaiting their priestly ordination after this last year of theological studies.
On 16th January, in Pretoria Cathedral, with two of our deacons, we took part in the closing Mass of the Year of Consecrated Life. The Cathedral was full and the choir helped us wonderfully to sing the praises of God who has chosen so many Religious Sisters, Brothers and Priests to work in his vineyard. As this event took place just before the annual Episcopal Conference meeting, thirty one bishops from South Africa and as far as Botswana and Swaziland were present. Many lay people also joined in the celebration.
As you see, this month, this Newsletter comes to you a few days late. The main reason is that I was busy conducting the annual retreat for some of our seminarians of Merrivale. Indeed, from 21st to 27th January our five new deacons – the sixth one, Douglas, is already home in Kenya awaiting his priestly ordination -, plus eleven of the students and two of their formators (Fr. Réal, the rector, and Fr. Luigi) were with me in John Paul II Pastoral Centre of Bethlehem Diocese (Free State). For six full days, they were really praying and meditating on God’s word and sharing the daily Eucharist in an atmosphere of silence and reverence, listening to the Holy Spirit speaking in their hearts.
On 10th February, Ash Wednesday will launch us in the wonderful time of Lent. I therefore wish you a very good and fruitful time of following the Lord through his Passion, Death and Resurrection.
God bless you!
Fr. Michael Meunier, M.Afr
My dear Friends, Christmas Greetings to you all! It is with joy that I write to you on this day after Christmas, which is celebrated here in South Africa as the “DAY OF GOOD WILL”. Consider the message of the angels on Christmas night: “…Peace to people of good will”!
As mentioned in the last Newsletter, on 27th November six of our candidates became officially Missionaries of Africa by taking their missionary oath. The next day, they were ordained deacons. Now they are all gone to different M.Afr parishes in Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique to help out during their Christmas holidays. They will be back by mid-January for their annual retreat and their last academic year in Cedara.
From 3rd to 6th December, there was the mini World Youth Day in Bosco Centre near Walkerville. Over two thousand youths came from all over, including Botswana and Lesotho! On Saturday 5th, with two youth interested in the M.Afr, we put up our exhibition; many visited it and asked questions. We hope and pray for vocations.
On December 8, Patrick and his co-novices received the M.Afr habit and rosary in the noviciate in Zambia. From 11th to 14th I took part in the Xaveri Camp in Rustenburg: 85 youths and adults were present. Nice occasion to introduce them to a possible vocation as missionary priest, brother and sister!
Fr. Jean-Pierre Le Scour, M.Afr who works to combat human trafficking in the Mozambique-South Africa border had a serious heart operation and is now resting here. Your prayers for him, please.
Christmas is still here. May it last the whole year: “It is Christmas every time you let God love others through you… yes, it is Christmas every time you smile at your brother and offer him your hand.” (Mother Teresa)
Fr. Michael Meunier, M.Afr
Please find a report from OXFAM on the growing and worrying inequality in Malawi. This was published in November and give a very good picture of the divide between the rich and poor. Bill Turnbull, M.Afr
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By Oxfam in Malawi’s Country Director, John Makina
Economic inequality has worsened significantly in Malawi in recent years. In 2004, the richest 10 percent of Malawians consumed 22 times more than the poorest 10 percent. By 2011 this had risen to see the richest 10 percent spending 34 times more than the poorest. Yet even this shocking statistic is likely to be a significant underestimate1. Anyone who has seen the many large mansions springing up on the edges of Lilongwe and Blantyre, and the plethora of new shopping malls being opened, knows that conspicuous consumption amongst the richest is dramatically growing. Malawi’s Gini coefficient, the key measure of inequality, also shows the extent to which robust economic growth is benefiting the rich whilst leaving the poor behind. In seven years of impressive growth, the Gini has leapt up from 0.39, on a par with Cameroon, to 0.45, on a par with the Democratic Republic of Congo.
This study modelled the link between inequality, growth and poverty in Malawi over the next five years. In 2015, 8 million people – 50 percent of the country’s population – live in poverty. Yet if inequality continues to rise as it has in recent years, by 2020 1.5 million more Malawians will be poor3. Even if inequality stays broadly at the level it is now, there will still be 400,000 additional people living in poverty in Malawi by 20204. Unless Malawi acts now to reduce inequality, even rapid economic growth will fail to reduce poverty in the country.
Conclusion
Inequality is not an accident, nor is it inevitable; it originates from policy choices. Consequently, some policy choices can worsen inequality while others reduce it. As is aptly pointed out by UNRISD, ‘Without deliberate policy interventions, high levels of inequality tend to be self-perpetuating. They lead to the development of political and economic institutions that work to maintain the political, economic and social privileges of the elite.
This study has identified a number of factors driving inequality in Malawi, and made clear that poverty reduction in Malawi will be faster if inequality decreases. But reducing inequality will not be a benign by-product of growth under trickle down assumptions. It will only happen as a result of deliberate joint policy efforts, which all Malawi’s government and civil society must unify behind.
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 « Actualités » :
« Textes du Pape, voyage en Afrique » toute une série de textes en français prononcés par le pape à l’occasion de son périple africain. (lire la suite)
« Confrères décédés en 2015 » au jour de publication de cette lettre, ils sont 14 confrères ayant servi dans la PAO et à nous avoir quittés en 2015 (lire la suite)
« Lettre de Laghouat Ghardaia, décembre 2015 » texte envoyé par Mgr Claude Rault, Missionnaire d’Afrique. (lire la suite)
« 50 ans d’existence pour Tema Bokin » : cette paroisse vient d’engager son année jubilaire. Elle a été fondée en 1966 (lire la suite)
Dans la rubrique « Témoignages »:
« Le Pape François en Ouganda » quelques photos prises par notre supérieur général à l’occasion de la visite du Pape dans ce pays. (lire la suite)
« 2015-2016 à Kasama ». comment les étudiants qui vivent l’Année spirituelle ont commencé cette expérience fondamentale. (lire la suite)
« Récollection pour l’Avent », un texte du Père Herman Bastijns, Missionnaire d’Afrique belge, pour se préparer à Noël. (lire la suite)
Dans la rubrique « Dialogue interreligieux » :
« Espoirs de dialogue » : quelques témoignages qui nous sortent du pessimiste et de la terreur qui ont gagné beaucoup de terrain un peu partout dans le monde (lire la suite)
« Pourquoi devenir terroriste ? » quelques réflexions à ce propos qui donnent un éclairage intéressant. (lire la suite)
Dans la rubrique « Justice et Paix » :
Où en est le Burkina Faso ? » suite aux élections présidentielles et législatives, un bref rappel de l’histoire de ce pays et l’état actuel de la situation (lire la suite)
Dans la rubrique « Vu au sud, vu du sud » :
« Koudougou, rebelle ou belle ?» un article du Père Maurice Oudet, qui introduit au nouveau site qui vient d’être créé. (lire la suite)
« La COP 21 vue du Burkina » : deux articles parus sur le site du SEDELAN à ce propos (lire la suite)
The greatest gift of God to us is Jesus Christ himself—the Emmanuel—God with us. The celebration of Christmas is all about God’s love and mercy towards us as human beings. Jesus came to show us the merciful and loving face of the Father, in order that we might come to understand our dignity as sons and daughters and so recognize in each person—our brother or sister.
More than two-thousand years after the coming of our Saviour, it is plain to see from the violence, war, hate, corruption and exploitation present in our society, that we didn’t get the message that we failed to understand the Kingdom of God and its benefits for all humanity. Christmas is about celebrating our new life in Christ—it is really not about expensive gifts, scrumptious feasts and wild parties—it is all about understanding our own dignity and that of others and so begin living in an attitude of mutual respect. To live the golden rule “do unto others as you would have them do unto you” (Lk 6:31). We need to see the world through the merciful eyes of Jesus and like Him, be people who go about doing good, bringing hope, peace, joy and life to all who we meet on our earthly pilgrimage.
Jesus still offers himself as a constant and eternal gift of mercy, healing, hope and new-life for all of us that open our hearts and minds to Him.
He desires that we have the fullness and abundance of life (Jn 10:10) and offers Himself as the Way, Truth and Life (Jn 14:6) to all who seek Him with sincerity and humility. Once we accept to follow Him and become missionary disciples, then automatically we are called and sent to be “other Christs” (anointed) people who are the gift of Christ to all whom we meet.
Our mission on this earth is to be the hands, feet, mouth, mind and heart of Jesus so as to bring about transformation and the coming of the Kingdom in our society.
We are in this Jubilee Year of Mercy
Let us open ourselves and invite others to this life changing experience! A very blessed Christmas and a New Year filled with the joy of being missionaries of God’s mercy!
Fr. Gordon Rees mccj. National PMS Director – SA, Botswana & Swaziland
My dear Friends, Greetings! I hope you are well. Today, as you receive this NEWSLETTER, most of us M.Afr are travelling to Merrivale, our house of formation, for two great celebrations. Indeed, six of our candidates will take their Missionary Oath tomorrow, Friday, and thus become fully fledged Missionaries of Africa. The following day, they will be ordained deacons! After their last year of theology, sometime toward the end of next year, they shall be ordained priests in their respective parishes of origin. But this being such an important occasion, some of their relatives have travelled to attend these two great events. Already yesterday, the parents and a nephew of our Tanzanian deacon-to-be, Konrad, arrived from Dar-es-Salaam. This afternoon, I will be driving with them to Merrivale. The others are Albert from Burkina Faso, Alphonse from Rwanda, Robin from Zambia, Damian from Uganda and Douglas from Kenya. I hope that we will have one or two good photos of them in the next Newsletter. You may be asking yourself “What is a missionary oath?” Well, here is a short explanation. We, Missionaries of Africa, are not a “religious congregation” as such. We are a “society of apostolic life” and we also live the three evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity and obedience; but we do not take vows. We promise to live a simple life style (poverty, or freedom from things), obedience to our superiors (freedom to serve), and chastity (freedom to love) in our missionary oath – which is a solemn promise on the Bible. Here is an extract of the text of our missionary oath: “… I promise and swear to the Superior General of the Society fidelity and obedience… to observe celibacy for the sake of the Kingdom.” I therefore ask you to keep in your prayers these six new Missionaries of Africa.
I hope this month has been a blessed one for each of you. In spite of all the upheavals happening in the world, the students’ strikes and violent demonstrations, we can see some positive signs of life here and there in our society and throughout the world. Pope Francis is now in Kenya since yesterday. His coming to Africa – his first one – is under the sign of hope and peace to our broken world. Everywhere he goes, he brings a refreshing touch of joy, the joy of the Gospel. Let us pray that his visit in Kenya, then in Uganda and finally in the Central African Republic will sow seeds of peace among these nations of Africa and at the same time, be an inspiration to the rest of the world.
Today is “Lavigerie Day”: yes, for us Missionaries of Africa and Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Africa (MSOLA), we celebrate this as our FOUNDER’S DAY. Please, pray for us and for vocations. Thank you!
In a few days, we shall start a new liturgical year, the year of the Church. The time of Advent is really an occasion for opening up to Jesus and our neighbours. Many people nowadays like to wish us “happy holiday” and they have forgotten the reason for the season: Jesus! When they greet you like this, be proud to answer firmly and proudly: HAPPY CHRISTMAS!
Wishing you all a prayerful Advent and a very HAPPY CHRISTMAS!
Fr. Michael Meunier, M.Afr