Category: Publications Page 5 of 41

Various publications; Bulletins, magazines

Mafrwestafrica lettre du 10 décembre 2016

By Missionaries of Africa - Southern Africa Province (SAP)

On December 11, 2016

Aujourd’hui, les Missionnaires d’Afrique de l’Ouest vous proposent de visiter de nouvelles pages sur leur site http://www.mafrwestafrica.net.

Actualités

« Procès du général Sanogo au Mali » l’ex-chef de la junte, Amadou Haya Sanogo, s’enferme dans sa stratégie de défense : le déni et les menaces. (lire la suite).

« Simone Gbagbo en procès » malgré l’absence de l’accusée le procès se poursuivra pour les crimes commis en 2010-2011 qui auraient fait plus de 3000 morts en 5 mois (lire la suite).

Témoignages

« Mon père était un imam très apprécié » le témoignage d’une musulmane lors de la rencontre islamo-chrétienne du 19-11-2016 à Louvain-la-Neuve (lire la suite).

« En Terre Sainte, héritiers de Charles de Foucauld » 25 petits frères et sœurs de Jésus vivent en Israël et Palestine (lire la suite).

Histoire
« Anniversaire de la mort du Cardinal Lavigerie » nous avons célébré le 124ème anniversaire de la mort de notre fondateur, le 26 novembre (lire la suite).

« Centenaire de la mort de Charles de Foucauld » il y a cent ans, le 1er décembre, Charles de Foucauld était assassiné à Tamanrasset (lire la suite).

Dialogue interreligieux

« Le pape s’adresse au patriarche Bartholomée » : dépasser la division par la prière, le service du bien commun et le dialogue (lire la suite).

« Promouvoir la paix par le respect des lieux saints » le résultat de la 14ème réunion des dialogues entre le Saint Siège et les délégations du grand rabbinat d’Israël (lire la suite).

Justice et Paix

« Bannir les carburants toxiques » quatre pays d’Afrique de l’Ouest s’engagent à bannir les carburants toxiques contenant trop de soufre (lire la suite).

« Quelle âme pour l’Europe ? » : valeurs de la personne humaine, liberté, créativité et invention, séparation des pouvoirs, telle est la démocratie vécue en Europe (lire la suite).

Vu au Sud – Vu du Sud

« Evasions au Mali » plusieurs dizaines de détenus ont pu s’évader de la prison de Niono (centre du pays) après qu’elle a été attaquée dans la nuit de lundi à mardi par des hommes armés (lire la suite).

« Fin d’une dictature en Gambie » : Adama Barrow a su renverser démocratiquement Yahya Jammeh, l’autocrate fantasque et inquiétant qui dirigeait la Gambie depuis vingt-deux ans (lire la suite).

« L’Algérie expulse les migrants subsahariens » Pour la première fois depuis 2012, l’Algérie rapatrie des migrants subsahariens, originaires de différents pays d’Afrique de l’ouest (lire la suite).

International Conference on Pentecostalism and the Catholic Church – Abuja, 13-17 November 2016.

By Missionaries of Africa - Southern Africa Province (SAP)

On December 5, 2016

In Publications

International Conference on Pentecostalism and the Catholic Church.

bernhard-udelhoven-03 By Bernhard Udelhoven, M.Afr

I was invited to attend the International Conference on Pentecostalism and the Catholic Church that took place in Abuja (13-17 November 2016), and that was organised jointly by the Nigerian and the German Bishops Conferences. It was a follow-up on a previous conference in Rome (which I did not attend), and it addressed questions about new trends in the Pentecostal global mission, in the ministry of deliverance and healing, oral hermeneutics and Pentecostal ways of reading the Bible (the Holy Spirit as prime agent of interpretation within a concrete community), a theology of prosperity shaped by the context of the Church’s option for the poor, and ventures of evangelisation through the social media. The conference addressed also the challenges of dialogue between the Catholic Church and Pentecostalism in its immense variety.

The attendance of the conference proved to be an interesting mix. Apart from various scholars on Pentecostalism from around the world (among them Amos Yong, Opoku Onyinah, Kwabena Asamoah-Gyadu, Andreas Heuser, Richard Burgess and Afe Adogame), the conference was also intensely followed by thirty or so Nigerian bishops plus priests from all the fifty dioceses. Some of them were charismatics themselves, while others seemed rather sceptical about Pentecostal influences. Bishops and priests also had their own internal meetings in the evenings to discuss what the various contributions would mean to their situation and how they wanted to respond in a unified way. Apart from discussing a dialogue with Pentecostalism, the Nigerian Church was also seeking answers to the Pentecostal impact on Catholic practice. The invited Pentecostal and non-Catholic scholars were greatly outnumbered by the massive Catholic presence, but I guess that they also gained their own insights into the internal workings of the Catholic Church and how Pentecostalism is perceived by Catholics on an official level. Maybe it would have needed more time for all of us to digest better the different topics that have been presented to us.

Personally, I am very grateful for the opportunity to meet and interact with different scholars on a topic that I have been quite engaged with. The conference has made me more humble, showing me how little I know about Pentecostalism, about its enormous sense of mission, about new ways of doing theology (based on the primacy of the Holy Spirit, dynamic experience and orality over reflection and interpretation), and about a highly organised outreach, often from the grassroots. We would all profit from an informed debate on the Pentecostal challenges.

Link FENZA website: Spirits and the healing of body and spirit: pastoral challenges by Bernhard Udelhoven. A paper delivered at the Conference on Pentecostalism and the Catholic Church, Abuja, 14 – 17 November 2016. Content: Boko Haram spirits – Healing ministry in the Catholic Church – Healing linked to deliverance – Diagnosis, prophecy and exorcism – The need for a person-centred and inclusive approach in a pluralistic world -A shift in focus that our approach requires – The discernments of truth in the inner world – A boy in a mountain – Inner experiences and outer tensions – “Being attacked by the spirit of my great-grandmother” – “Dreaming of my late mother” – “Haunted by dreams of having sex with my late husband” – Our approach in a nutshell – Healing as a drama – Conclusion. Appendix: some areas of concern in the charismatic healing ministry that I encountered in some Zambian groups

Other links: Church in Nigeria discusses Pentecostalism phenomenon. Catholics, Pentecostals meet in Abuja over religious harmony

The leadership of Nigerian Catholic Church and the Pentecostals yesterday (November 15, 2016) in Abuja began an international conference on Pentecostalism, religious harmony among Christians and relationship with Muslims.

The event four-day event jointly organised by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) and the German Bishops Conference, is being attended by experts and academicians from different parts of the world to discuss the theme: “The Catholic Church and Pentecostalism: Challenges in the Nigerian Context”.

The Metropolitan Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, said the conference sponsored by Missio Aachen of Germany is a follow-up to an earlier international programme on a related matter, held in Rome in 2013. He said it became clear at the Rome event that Nigeria was the focal point of Pentecostal development in Africa due to the activities of Pentecostal Christians, hence the need to fashion out ways of harmonious relationship among Christians and other religions.

A member of the Research Group on International Church Affairs, German Episcopal Conference Andreas Hesenchever said the Pentecostals have been accused of arrogance and overconfidence that made them get into conflicts with Muslims and other Christians, thus the need for dialogue for peaceful co-existence.

The Archbishop of Jos and President of the CBCN Rev. Ignatius Kaigama, said perpetual conflicts among Christians will impact negatively on Nigeria let alone Christian-Muslim conflicts and that “The artificial barrier erected for decades should be done away with. We have to relate and live well together in the interest of our country.

A leader of the German Bishop Conference Munster, Germany Bishop Stefan Zekorn, said the Pentecostal and Charismatic movement has proved to be an important challenge for the Catholic Church not only in Nigeria but many other countries worldwide for decades.

“The German Bishop Conference conducted a research and that experts have suggested positive encouragement and personal empowerment within Pentecostal communities that help people tackle the amenities of everyday life. Strong moral rule within the Pentecostal communities might help stabilize family and community values and bring people forward in their businesses and career,” Zekorn said.

Newsletter South Africa No 69 – 29th November 2016

By Missionaries of Africa - Southern Africa Province (SAP)

On November 29, 2016

In Publications

Greetings! I hope you are well and that you have fully entered into the beautiful time of Advent! Yes, this is an occasion for each Christian to prepare to receive the Lord in a missionary way. Which means to involve others in this great hope and expectation of Jesus who is coming at Christmas. On the first Sunday of Advent, Pope Francis reminded us that “The Gospel is not trying to frighten us, but to open our horizons to further dimensions, giving meaning even to everyday events.” This is an invitation to open our hearts and minds to others, thus to live as missionaries wherever we are. The Pope adds: “we are called to enlarge the horizons of our hearts, to be surprised by the life that is presented each day with its newness. In order to do this we need to learn to not depend on our own securities, our own established plans, because the Lord comes at the hour which we don’t expect.” He concludes by saying that this time is “an invitation to vigilance, because, not knowing when He will come, we must always be ready…” On 14^th November, I went to Malawi. The first night, I stayed at Mua Parish where I started as a young missionary in 1970; a long time ago! As part of the Parish life, Fr. Claude Boucher, M.Afr, from my home diocese in Canada has established an art school and a museum to help keep the Malawian culture. I suggest you visit their website at kungoni.org. You can see the museum and different aspects of his work with his team of artists. Then, from 15^th to 21^st, I was in Salima, on the shore of Lake Malawi. There, I did my yearly retreat in the house of retired bishop Rémi Sainte-Marie, bishop emeritus of Dedza Diocese and archbishop emeritus of Lilongwe arch-diocese. He welcomed me warmly and respected my times of prayer and silence. It was a good spiritual experience.

From the 22^nd to the 26^th in Chipata Pre-Formation Centre (Zambia), we held our meeting of Vocation Directors of the Southern African Province. We were from the four Sectors of Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia and South Africa.

This new Centre in Chipata currently has its second intake of 18 aspirants from Mozambique, Malawi and Zambia (nobody from South Africa!). From October to May, they are spending time discerning their vocation, exploring their self-knowledge with psychological assessments, in order to understand better their deepest aspirations and desires in the light of God’s call. They also study the Bible, Church history, liturgy, the missionary dimension of our lives as Christians, and how to reach out to people, especially the poor, and how to share with them the Good News. They also have activities such as manual work, sports, etc. After this intense period, if they are still decided and if they are accepted, they will be called to go to the First Phase of their formal training: three years of philosophy in Balaka, Malawi.

This month, our aspirant Patrick Kadima wrote an article for our Provincial blog. To read it, go to our blog at mafrsaprovince.com.

Wishing you all the best for a blessed Christmas! Fr. Michel Meunier, M.Afr

Mafrwestafrica lettre du 22 novembre 2016

By Missionaries of Africa - Southern Africa Province (SAP)

On November 22, 2016

In News, Publications

Aujourd’hui, les Missionnaires d’Afrique de l’Ouest vous proposent de visiter de nouvelles pages sur leur site http://www.mafrwestafrica.net.

Actualités

« Statistiques de l’Église 2016 » des chiffres pris sur le site du Vatican (lire la suite)

« Visite de Francis Barnes à Bobo-Dioulasso » au sujet de cette visite du premier assistant général, un texte et des photos envoyés par Manolo Gallego (lire la suite)

« Trump et l’immigration » des informations prises sur le site de Radio France Internationale (lire la suite)

« Ordination Albert Kondemodre à Kaya » notre jeune confrère qui a terminé ses études en Afrique du Sud sera ordonné prêtre le 17 décembre (lire la suite)

Témoignages

« Récollection pour l’Avent 2016 » une proposition faite par le père Herman Bastijns (lire la suite)
« Les membres du Conseil Général » une brève présentation de chacun des cinq membres du conseil élu lors du dernier chapitre (lire la suite)

Dialogue interreligieux

« Rencontre interreligieuse à Paris » entre juifs, chrétiens, musulmans et bouddhistes (lire la suite)
« Un même Dieu, oui mais… » sur le site de l’ARCRE, un article reçu (lire la suite)

« Marie dans la Coran » : accès à un article de Aicha Landhiri du Groupe de recherche islamo-chrétienne (lire la suite)

Justice et Paix

« Festival ciné droit libre » à Ouagadougou, du 10 au 17 décembre 2016. Ce sera la douzième édition de cet événement. (lire la suite)

« Le pape s’adresse aux responsables de Caritas » à sa manière, c’est à dire très librement, mais la retransmission de son discours a été brutalement coupée (lire la suite)

Vu au Sud – Vu du Sud

« Résultats du referendum en Côte d’Ivoire ». Le vote avait lieu le 30 octobre, les résultats ont été connus le 4 novembre (lire la suite)

« Elections municipales au Mali » certains bureaux de vote n’ont pas pu ouvrir, article pris sur le site de RFI. (lire la suite)

Chakwela makumbi rainmaking ceremony of the Soli: A faith event.

By Missionaries of Africa - Southern Africa Province (SAP)

On October 31, 2016

In Publications

By Patrick Mumbi, M.Afr (FENZA)

The literal translation of chakwela makumbi is ‘pulling down the clouds’. At this time of the year in Zambia, the earth is dry parched, people are thirsty and therefore hankering for rain. In some places, animals have begun to die. It is why Chieftainess Nkomeshya Mukamambo II, through the ancestors, intercedes to God for a good rainfall. The seeds of sorghum, maize and other ones are brought to her. While at prayer, she shells maize, pumpkin seeds and squeezes sorghum into the gourd and mixes them. She raises eyes to heaven and cries to God.

I heard her prayer; “God of my ancestors, of heaven and earth, open your heavens and pour down rain to us. To whom can we go except to you our Father? I am your creature and you created me and you can take my life if you want.” After a lengthy prayer and while kneeling, she begins to sob and threw herself prostrate to the ground. This is a reminiscence of the psalmist distress; “I cry aloud, I cry aloud to God that he may hear me,” Psalm77, 142.

Women worshippers began to wipe away her tears. This was a moving prayer and I felt tears in my eyes too. I then saw some dark clouds forming in the sky. I could not help but think that God has definitely listened to such powerful prayers. I sensed a deep concentration on the side of the people as they implored God. I also could not help but notice the humility of people as they clapped their hands to God.

Also, prominent among the people, were a group of women worshippers, whom some people may call babinde, dressed in black symbolising the dark rain clouds. I was told that, in former times, the people chosen to go and pray were erecting some shelters in the forest. These were special people like diviner rain makers or cousin clan members (abena mfula na bena bowa). While they were in the forest, they would pray for rain and it would immediately pour down. During yesterday’s prayers, I saw some herbs and a black chicken placed on a black cloth within the same area of prayer. In the background, there was a chanting invocation song; “Twakabomba kuli mwami, mukamambo, katiye tulumbe,” meaning “we are saying thank you to the Chieftainess Mukamambo II. Let us go and say thank you.”

A woman worshipper dressed in black came and snatched away the black chicken, swung it and threw it at the other women seated nearby. This act was a symbolic gesture showing that our ancestor did not go empty-handed when approaching God. They would offer sacrifices to God in their supplication.

As Clifford Geertz said, the power of symbols lies in the ability to transform experiences by constructing a sacred reality upon which everyday events of life are grounded. Symbolic gestures reflect unconscious wishes, longing desires and even desperation. When people communicate through their ancestors with symbols, their prayers are addressed to God. They are speaking to God and not to a mountain, a big tree or the waterfalls. These are just spiritual symbols to solicit God’s power and benevolence.

The second part of chakwela makumbi ceremony was the planting of seeds by the Chieftainess. At this time, she lights the fire within the cleared bush and burns a heap of stalks of maize. She then plants sorghum, maize, pumpkin seeds, etc. while people were again imploring God in a solemn song; “ilaloko, ilaloko kuli babinde, twebene mandondo, twebene imfula ilaloko ilaloko katuna tubyala. The language of this song is quite ancient. But the literal translation could mean; “it has rained, the raindrops are there, the rainmakers are praying the owners before the planting season.” This song implies that it would even rain at time before the planting season. But it could also mean that before the chief plants crops no one is supposed to do it.

Kings, Chiefs and Chieftainesses possess sacred powers over the land and there are the ones to sanction the planting season. This also corresponds to the sanctioning of gathering caterpillars among the Bemba people of Northern Province. Before the Paramount chief of the Bemba offers sacrifice to God, no one is allowed to gather caterpillars or else something worse will befall him or her. If this order is ignored, these are times when we hear that someone has been swallowed up by a python.

Chieftainess Nkomeshya Mukamambo II herself is a Catholic Christian. For that reason, the ceremony begins with a solemn inculturated Mass. People know that she goes to sweep and clean the premises around the church. According to them, this should not what a Chieftainess should do. When people try to stop her sweeping and taking away weeds around the church, she answers them saying; “in heaven, there are no Kings or Chiefs. We are all the same!”

Venue of the event: Chongwe

Newsletter South Africa No 68 – 27th October 2016

By Missionaries of Africa - Southern Africa Province (SAP)

On October 28, 2016

In Publications, Vocation animation

Greetings! Surely, a very important event which took place on 1^st October is the ordination to the diaconate of 6 of our students in Merrivale. Being at the end of their third year of theology in Cedara, they were ordained deacons. They are Alfred and Daniel (both Rwandese), Amorain (Togolese), Anthony (Ghanaian), Eric, (Mexican) and Theophile (Burkinabe). On the same day, eleven candidates of second year received the order of acolyte, their first step toward priesthood. They are Philippe (Malian), Christopher (Zambian), Martin, Robert and Victor (all Burkinabe), Éric and Pierre (both Congolese), Ryan (Filipino), Silas (Burundian), Dominic (Indian), and Francis (Nigerian).

Our deacons ordained last year – now in their fourth and last year of theology – will, in the coming weeks, go to their respective home-countries to be ordained priests and take a well-deserved holiday with their families. After two or three months’ rest, they will go to the missions where they have been appointed. They are Robin (Zambian, appointed to Tunisia), Damian (Ugandan, appointed to DR Congo), Alphonse (Rwandese, appointed to Burkina Faso), Albert (Burkinabe, appointed to Tunisia) and Konrad (Tanzanian, appointed to South Africa). CONGRATULATIONS to all! We place you all in our prayers that you may be good and faithful missionaries. These are really good news to celebrate Mission Month!

As we prepare to celebrate the 150^th anniversary of our foundation (1868-2018), we rejoice in having so many young Africans joining our ranks! At present there are 492 students in our formation programme (all in different African countries); 90% of them come from within Africa. During the first hundred years of our existence, our candidates came from Europe and North America. In Africa, our priority was to promote the diocesan clergy, and not our own missionary Society; we wanted first to establish a strong local Church. Only in the last 30 to 40 years have we started to recruit in Africa for our own. At present, 284 of our members are African. Our new Superior General and 2 of his 4 assistants are from Africa. Thus, we are starting to fulfil the wish of our founder: the initial work of evangelisation would be done by European and North American M.Afr., but it would be continued by the Africans themselves! Yet, we are still waiting and hoping for some South Africans to join us!

This month, Patrick, our only candidate, wrote from Ghana. Here is a short excerpt from his email (in the box to the right). As you can see, we put a lot of emphasis on the learning of the local language, so we may be closer to the heart of the people we work with. Also, I had a chance to visit Pascal (see last month’s Newsletter) on 13^th October in Assisi; he is really working hard on learning Zulu! Keep it up, Pascal! In Henley, they are waiting for you!

God bless you as his missionary. Fr. Michel Meunier, M.Afr

Interviewed (in French) on KTOTV in France about the cult of ancestors with the participation of Norbert Mwashibongo, M.Afr

By Missionaries of Africa - Southern Africa Province (SAP)

On October 21, 2016

In Publications

Norbert Mwashibongo was in Edenglen, South Africa, for some months. He has been interviewed on KTOTV in France about the cult of ancestors.

Ajoutée le 9 oct. 2016

Dans la Collection Vie de l´Église. Vous avez été nombreux, lors d´une précédente émission, il y a un an, à vous interroger sur les cultes traditionnels et le regard que porte sur eux l´Église. Une interrogation qui concerne certes les continents africains et sud-américains, mais pas uniquement : avec les échanges, les diasporas africaines et américaines sont venues aussi en Europe et ce sont des questions qui concernent tous les continents, tous les pays. Qu´est-ce donc que ce culte des ancêtres ? Est-ce uniquement du paganisme ou de l´animisme, comme on le disait naguère ? Quel regard l´Église doit-elle porter sur ces religions traditionnelles ? Pour en parler, Pierre Diarra, responsable formation aux Œuvres pontificales missionnaires et auteur du document épiscopal sur le culte des ancêtres et père Norbert Mwishabongo, Missionnaire d´Afrique de la congrégation des Pères Blancs.
La Foi prise au Mot du 09/10/2016.

Durée de 52 minutes.

Mafrwestafrica lettre du 18 octobre 2016

By Missionaries of Africa - Southern Africa Province (SAP)

On October 18, 2016

In News, Publications

Aujourd’hui, les Missionnaires d’Afrique de l’Ouest vous proposent de visiter de nouvelles pages sur leur site http://www.mafrwestafrica.net.

Actualités

« Décès de Mr Francis Konkobo », père du Père Camille Konkobo, Burkinabè et Missionnaire d’Afrique en Zambie (lire la suite)

Témoignages

« Serment et diaconat à Merrivale » maison de formation des Missionnaires d’Afrique en Afrique du sud (lire la suite)

« Le Frère Jan Heuft témoigne » : ce frère Néerlandais a passé de très nombreuses années en Algérie (lire la suite)

Dialogue interreligieux

« Un conte Bambara » mis à notre disposition par le père Charles Bailleul qui a passé de très nombreuses années au Mali (lire la suite)

« Norbert Mwishabongo sur KTO » le chemin d’accès à une émission sur les religions traditionnelles africaines (lire la suite)

« Mgr B. Auza à l’ONU » Aucune raison de peut justifier le terrorisme, dit cet évêque Philippin à l’ONU le 5 octobre passé (lire la suite)

Justice et Paix

« Le Pape François à Bakou, Azerbaidjan » avec le texte de son discours à cette occasion (lire la suite)

Vu au Sud – Vu du Sud

« Burkina Faso, coalition de l’opposition » tout ne va pas pour le mieux pour Mr Roch Marc Christian Kabore (lire la suite)

« Côte d’Ivoire, référendum à venir » à la fin de ce mois d’octobre 2016, au sujet de la nouvelle constitution (lire la suite)

« Au Mali, rentrée des classes difficile à Kidal » avec un retard de près de trois de semaines (lire la suite)

« Niger, attaque contre une prison repoussée » sans doute la prison la plus sûre du pays. (lire la suite)

Southern Deanery monthly Jubilee Year of Mercy Mass – Catholic Archdiocese of Johannesburg, South Africa

By Missionaries of Africa - Southern Africa Province (SAP)

On October 6, 2016

In Publications

By Mark Kisogloo

The Southern Deanery’s monthly Mass for the Jubilee of Mercy produced an enthusiastic turnout as it so happened to fall on the nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

It was hosted by the parishes of St Thomas, Lenasia and St Joseph, Mayfair. Mass was celebrated by Fr Raymond McQuarrie, assisted by Fr Mathieu van Vlierden, as well as Fr Laszlo Kapati, Fr John Thompson and various other priests.

The evening began with adoration, benediction, reciting of the Rosary and litany of the saints and Mass. It was extremely special since parishioners of St Thomas presented candles to the statue of Our Lady after every reading from the Rosary, as well as offering, before Mass, a garland for all the priests in attendance.

Before the reading from the Gospel took place, it was presented to the community and accompanied by a liturgical dance performed by parishioners of St Thomas in traditional dress. It was a holy, but joyous, occasion.

A birthday cake was served to all in attendance at the end of the evening to commemorate the birth of Our Lady.

AD News – A publication of the Catholic Archdiocese of Johannesburg,

October 2016, volume 31 No 6 – adnews@catholicjhb.org.za

We need to listen to Pope Francis’ appeal.

By Missionaries of Africa - Southern Africa Province (SAP)

On October 4, 2016

In Publications

Venerato Babaine 2016_JPEG By Venerato Deus Babaine, M.Afr

“I urgently appeal, then, for a new dialogue about how we are shaping the future of our planet. We need a conversation, which includes everyone, since the environmental challenge we are undergoing, and its human roots, concern and affect us all. The worldwide ecological movement has already made considerable progress and led to the establishment of numerous organizations committed to raising awareness of these challenges… All of us can cooperate as instruments of God for the care of creation, each according to his or her own culture, experience, involvement and talents” (n°14).

The earth is “our common home” is a beautiful statement. The word home, simple as it is, tells a great story about the life of any living creature. It provokes the sentiments of belonging, tranquillity and joyfulness revealed in Sacred Scripture in the book of Genesis “Then the Lord God planted a garden in Eden…. and he placed there the man whom he had formed. Out of the ground the Lord God made various trees grow that were delightful to look at and good for food, with the tree of life in the middle of the garden and the tree of the knowledge of good and bad (Gen. 2:8-9, The African Bible). The themes in this short text are clear: the presence of a person on earth endowed with dignity, the soils that sustain vegetation, plenty of food and trees that provide an aesthetic milieu, abundance of life and possibility to discern the authenticity of life.

When the Pope makes this appeal, he is deeply aware of some of the debates at various conventions held since the 1970s that have led to declarations and policies. These debates have seen shifts in the emphasis laid on certain topics. At the beginning, the stress was on development and its sustainability. The stress has now come to be on the earth itself and the impact that human action has had in these last centuries of industrialised development. This shift has forced a number of states to formulate polices regarding the environment and ecology and some have enshrined them in their national constitutions. Techno-science has given us more information. Religions are more aware of the material world. Inevitably, this has affected human consciousness and made it reflect seriously on the issues and to take action without exclusively basing themselves on faith or scientific grounds. Occurrences of floods, the melting of polar-ice or snow on some mountain tops in Africa, expansion of desserts, air and water pollution, rapid extinction of some fauna and flora species, depletion of bog-lands and wetlands, irregular seasons, all trigger despair and debate among housewives, herd boys , sailors, policy makers and techno-scientists. These events affect the safety, security and happiness of humanity.

It is said that our common home has enough for everybody’s need but not everybody’s greed. The Pope calls for a conversion to be more responsible and concerned about others. The encyclical mentions that the resources of the earth has been exploited to satisfy the greedy at the expense of the needy. It calls for a balanced life-style and moderation of human passions, which Hippocrates had mentioned before the era of Jesus. One important point, does not feature strongly; the population explosion. There are too many feet treading the earth and too many stomachs to fill. There is a remarkable population increase in every country. The more population grows the more facilities we need; more food and space are required. The animal population has also multiplied and they need more space and feedstuffs. Consequently, lamentations rise instead of praises. We need more space for living as well as for more food and water. In a long run, more rubbish will be generated leading to more pollution. The human population seems to claim more rights over the other members on the block.

If we are still inspired by the ‘Genesis concept’ of Eden, where it was all good, we have to design policies, adapt our catechesis and change our habits and create awareness among the earth’s inhabitants.

“This basic awareness would enable the development of new convictions, attitudes and forms of life. A great cultural, spiritual and educational challenge stands before us, and it will demand that we set-out on the long path of renewal (n°202) Commitment to ecological concerns without the promotion of the human dignity is futile. The earth needs to be a home for all creatures.

We have to engage in matters of justice, advocacy for equal opportunities, provide a home for refugees and migrants. We need to respect and appreciate people’s cultures and traditions. We need to promote basic rights such as food, shelter and gender equality. Among us there should not be any segregation based on anything.

We need to cultivate a fascination for landscapes, vegetation, water, animals and fish. We have to contribute towards harmony in “our common home” by conserving or planting trees, cleaning our streets, or closing a water-tap. We have to engage neighbourhood communities in biodiversity protection campaigns by using modern media. We need to know more about the natural sciences to be able to pass it on to others and get a better understanding about the natural world.

See: Pope Francis’ encyclical on the environment and human ecology.