Publications – Page 29 – Missionaries of Africa

In this new interview we welcome the invitation to share our Anti-Slavery campaign with people from all cultures and religions. This time we are interviewing Jennifer K. Lynne. She is a buddhist and a peace builder.

In our attempt to deconstruct today’s energies of enslavement, we shall explore with her how we can become enslaved of internalized mental constructs that keep narrowing our sense of identity; also how we risk to be enslaved of the illusion of being separated from the world. She shares with us her Engaged Identity Theory. Her theory “suggests the cultivation of the capacities for listening, patience and respect as foundations for conflict transformation and peace building. The idea is that through listening, patience and respect we expand our identities to see that ‘other’ is really a form of self in a different expression of experience and perception. (…) It is just a way of looking at our human experience that acknowledges things like change and root causes of suffering and suggests the development of three basic human capacities as foundations for engagement.” FULL INTERVIEW

Message of His Holiness Pope Francis for the Celebration of the World Day of Peace, 1st January 2014

By Missionaries of Africa - Southern Africa Province (SAP)

On December 19, 2013

In Publications

Fraternity, the Foundation and Pathway to Peace

In this, my first Message for the World Day of Peace, I wish to offer to everyone, individuals and peoples, my best wishes for a life filled with joy and hope. In the heart of every man and woman is the desire for a full life, including that irrepressible longing for fraternity which draws us to fellowship with others and enables us to see them not as enemies or rivals, but as brothers and sisters to be accepted and embraced.

Fraternity is an essential human quality, for we are relational beings. A lively awareness of our relatedness helps us to look upon and to treat each person as a true sister or brother; without fraternity it is impossible to build a just society and a solid and lasting peace. (…)

The ever-increasing number of interconnections and communications in today’s world makes us powerfully aware of the unity and common destiny of the nations. In the dynamics of history, and in the diversity of ethnic groups, societies and cultures, we see the seeds of a vocation to form a community composed of brothers and sisters who accept and care for one another. But this vocation is still frequently denied and ignored in a world marked by a “globalization of indifference” which makes us slowly inured to the suffering of others and closed in on ourselves. FULL TEXT

Address of Pope Francis to the new Ambassadors – human trafficking

By Missionaries of Africa - Southern Africa Province (SAP)

On December 18, 2013

In Publications

Human trafficking is a crime against humanity. We must unite our efforts to free the victims and stop this increasingly aggressive crime which threatens not only individuals but the basic values of society and of international security and justice, to say nothing of the economy, and the fabric of the family and our coexistence.

What is called for, then, is a shared sense of responsibility and firmer political will to gain victory on this front. Responsibility is required towards those who have fallen victim to trafficking in order to protect their rights, to guarantee their safety and that of their families, and to prevent the corrupt and criminals from escaping justice and having the last word over the lives of others. Suitable legislative intervention in the countries of origin, transit and arrival, which will also facilitate orderly migration, can diminish this grave problem. FULL TEXT

Mafrwestafrica – Lettre du 11 décembre 2013

By Missionaries of Africa - Southern Africa Province (SAP)

On December 17, 2013

In Publications

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 « En famille » :
La version internet de « En Famille – numéro 35 », cette revue qui est envoyée aux familles et amis des Missionnaires d’Afrique de la Province d’Afrique de l’Ouest (lire la suite)

Dans la rubrique « Actualités » :
« Les 50 ans d’ordination d’André Douillard à Niamey », une occasion pour notre confrère de célébrer une vie missionnaire variée, allant du Rwanda au Tchad, en France et aujourd’hui au Niger. (lire la suite)
Dans la rubrique « Maghreb » :
« L’histoire de l’Eglise d’Algérie », un article envoyé par le provincial du Maghreb, et qui s’inspire du site officiel de l’Eglise en Algérie. (lire la suite)
Dans la rubrique « Justice et Paix » :
« Rencontrer les migrants à Ghardaia », un rappel des situations bien difficiles vécues par les personnes qui viennent de l’Afrique Subsaharienne vers le Nord. (lire la suite)
Dans la rubrique « Maisons de formation » :
« 25 ans de grâces à la Maison Lavigerie de Ouagadougou », qui depuis sa fondation a accueilli 525 étudiants de différentes Congrégations ou Sociétés de vie Apostolique, dont 226 missionnaires d’Afrique. (lire la suite)

Dans la rubrique « Vu au Sud, – Vu du Sud » :
« Le SEDELAN exposant à la FILO 2013 » , ou l’importance pour les publications en langue vernaculaires d’êtres présentes à cette foire internationale du Livre de Ouagadougou. (lire la suite)

Dans la rubrique « Témoignages » :
« Philippe Dakouo, de la Zambie ». Philippe partage son expérience de trois mois de stage de langue dans le pays où il a été nommé pour vivre son stage apostolique. (lire la suite)

Nelson Mandela R.I.P

By Missionaries of Africa - Southern Africa Province (SAP)

On December 10, 2013

In News, Publications

“No one is born hating another person because of the colour of their skin, or their back ground, or their religion. People must learn to hate and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart that it’s opposite.” N.M.

The names South Africa and Nelson Mandela are synonymous. In the eyes of the world Nelson Mandela is the human face of South Africa. In fact, Nelson Mandela epitomizes all that is good about South Africa. His reputation grew in proportion to the number of years he was hidden from the world; 27 in all. The name alone became a living legend long before he walked out of Victor Verster prison in Cape Town on February 11^th 1990. But perhaps more extraordinary is the fact that the legend continued to grow worldwide, as the man measured up to the legend and in essence exceeded it. Everyone it seemed wanted to be in the presence of this icon of humanity in a time where few world leaders of stature are to be found.

In a lonely prison cell on Robbin Island in the deep Atlantic Ocean he came to the conclusion that there could be no winners or losers in the South African struggle for recognition of the dignity of the black people to be equal in the land of their birth. Somehow all the people who make up South Africa would have to be seen as winners. He learnt the language of his oppressor the Afrikaners, a language derived from Dutch and to their amazement when they eventually turned to him, in the late 1980s, to save South Africa, he insisted to address them in their language. At huge personal cost coming from his own political party, the African National Congress (ANC) he preached a message of reconciliation and not revenge, unity and not diversity, together and not apart. It was the shear stature of the man that converted an entire nation. South Africa owes this one man a huge debt.

He followed his dream that denied him 27 years of his adulthood and deprived him an opportunity and ability to be a husband, father and grandfather. He cherished this dream amid cynicism and despondency, as when he embraced his jailers and racists, and preached reconciliation instead of victors’ justice. His critics argued that reconciliation came at the expense of justice. We forget that to Mandela and his comrades, who suffered dearly, forgiveness was never intended to supplant justice and the truth. It was a national therapeutic, cathartic process to heal a wounded nation and exorcise its demons.

He is gone now but the legacy will live on and indeed he will continue to inspire the nation for generations to come. Those that had the joy of meeting him were truly blessed as he is revered by many as having been the icon of the 20^th century. His resting place in a remote corner of the Eastern Cape will become a national shrine; uniting a divers nation learning to live with one another. The loss to the nation is immense but the memories will inspire the nation not to lose sight of the values and direction he gave the country in his long walk to freedom.

We can continue the long walk by simply living by his principles and ideals. His wear like the deep footprint on clear beach sand. We can preserve them before they are erased by the high tides of moral decay bedevilling South Africa today.

What is certain is that with the loss of Nelson Mandela the country is no longer the same. His moral authority that bound the nation together is no longer there. Though his memory will live on and inspire generations to come it will not stop a substantial sector of the population claiming a more equitable and just participation in what is referred to as the new South Africa.

Seán_O'Leary

He has left an indelible mark on the psyche of the nation, a mark that allows all South Africans to say we lived in his time. 95 years is a long time but all South Africans believe it is not long enough and mourn in a special way the parting of this truly one great individual. God blessed South Africa but giving them a person such as Nelson Mandela.

Sean O’Leary M.Afr

December 9^th 2013

Protected: Motomoto Echo magazine – December 2013

By Missionaries of Africa - Southern Africa Province (SAP)

On December 10, 2013

In News, Publications

CSOs call for immediate release of final draft Constitution in Zambia

By Missionaries of Africa - Southern Africa Province (SAP)

On December 7, 2013

In News, Publications

Fr. Lungu with other CSO members during the press briefing at Golden bridge hotel

Tuesday, 03 December

Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) consortium has today, 3rd December 2013 held a press briefing demanding the release of the final draft constitution.

Reading a unified statement from across the church, the opposition political parties, civil society and the youth movement in particular on the subject of the release of the Final Draft Constitution, Zambia Episcopal Conference Secretary General Fr. Cleophas Lungu said the reported statement by the President of the Republic of Zambia on 30th November 2013 in Mansa that ‘‘we do not need a new constitution, the current constitution only needs to be amended’’ makes very sad reading.

Fr. Lungu said the statement has confused all well-meaning Zambians.

PRESS STATEMENT

CfSC Press Review November 2013, Malawi

By Missionaries of Africa - Southern Africa Province (SAP)

On December 6, 2013

In Malawi Sector, Publications

Press Review – November 2013

Message from the Catholic Health Commission of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi on HIV/AIDS

By Missionaries of Africa - Southern Africa Province (SAP)

On December 2, 2013

In Malawi Sector, News, Publications

GETTING TO ZERO: Let there be zero new HIV Infections-zero HIV/AIDS related deaths-zero stigma and discrimination

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ.

Today, the first Sunday of Advent, receive our greetings as the Church begins a new Liturgical Year, a journey of faith that, on one hand prepares us of for Christmas and, on the other hand, directs our minds and hearts to Christ’s Second Coming. Today we also join the rest of the world to commemorate the World AIDS Day, which is observed on annually on 1^st December. The World AIDS Day is an important occasion when governments, national AIDS programs, faith and community organizations, and individuals around the world bring their attention to the global AIDS pandemic. This message aims at inviting all the Catholic faithful to join hands in emphasizing the critical need for a committed, meaningful and sustained response to the pandemic.

FULL TEXT IN ENGLISH

FULL TEXT IN CHICHEWA