Francis Bomasaan will be the Superior at Lua-Luo from September 2013. Paul Johnston is going to join the formation team in the Philippines.
Patrick Bataille will move to Bobo-Dioulasso SFC from the next intake.
Leonard Hategekimana and Justin Sebakunzi have been appointed to the Lua-Luo SFC.
Further, the Superior General has appointed Deogratius Ngowi to Merrivale as from February 2014 as formator and bursar.
We welcome them to the province and wish the others a good exit. To all we wish them a good ministry.
God bless.
Christopher Chileshe, SAP Provincial
Dear Confreres,
Greetings
Be informed that the Superior General has made the following appointments in the SAP.
Francis Bomasaan will be the Superior at Lua-Luo from September 2013. Paul Johnston is going to join the formation team in the Philippines.
Patrick Bataille will move to Bobo-Dioulasso SFC from the next intake.
Leonard Hategekimana and Justin Sebakunzi have been appointed to the Lua-Luo SFC.
Further, the Superior General has appointed Deogratius Ngowi to Merrivale as from February 2014 as formator and bursar.
We welcome them to the province and wish the others a good exit. To all we wish them a good ministry.
God bless.
Christopher Chileshe, SAP Provincial
Francis Bomasaan will be the Superior at Lua-Luo from September 2013. Paul Johnston is going to join the formation team in the Philippines.
Patrick Bataille will move to Bobo-Dioulasso SFC from the next intake.
Leonard Hategekimana and Justin Sebakunzi have been appointed to the Lua-Luo SFC.
Further, the Superior General has appointed Deogratius Ngowi to Merrivale as from February 2014 as formator and bursar.
We welcome them to the province and wish the others a good exit. To all we wish them a good ministry.
God bless.
Christopher Chileshe, SAP Provincial
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 » :
« Une médaille pour les M.Afr.», la reconnaissance de l’Eglise Burkinabè lors d’une célébration à Koupèla, à l’occasion du 112ème anniversaire de la création de la première école. (lire la suite) « Ressourcement pour la mission », une brève description de la première session donnée par le Père Bernard Ugeux pour 19 missionnaires de la Province d’Afrique de l’Ouest. (lire la suite) Dans la rubrique « Justice et Paix» : « Tensions et menaces à Gao au Nord-Mali », le témoignage de notre confrère Jean Jacques Mukanga, à partir de son expérience dans cette région de notre Province. (lire la suite) Dans la rubrique « Vu au sud, vu du sud » : « Un savon contre le paludisme » : comment deux étudiants, un Burkinabè et un Burundais, ont « inventé » un savon qui repousse les moustiques. (lire la suite) Dans la rubrique « Dialogue interreligieux » :
Dans la rubrique « Actualités » :« Une médaille pour les M.Afr.», la reconnaissance de l’Eglise Burkinabè lors d’une célébration à Koupèla, à l’occasion du 112ème anniversaire de la création de la première école. (lire la suite) « Ressourcement pour la mission », une brève description de la première session donnée par le Père Bernard Ugeux pour 19 missionnaires de la Province d’Afrique de l’Ouest. (lire la suite) Dans la rubrique « Justice et Paix» : « Tensions et menaces à Gao au Nord-Mali », le témoignage de notre confrère Jean Jacques Mukanga, à partir de son expérience dans cette région de notre Province. (lire la suite) Dans la rubrique « Vu au sud, vu du sud » : « Un savon contre le paludisme » : comment deux étudiants, un Burkinabè et un Burundais, ont « inventé » un savon qui repousse les moustiques. (lire la suite) Dans la rubrique « Dialogue interreligieux » :
« Jésus, l’homme de la rencontre », la présentation du livre de Mgr Claude Rault, évêque de Ghardaia, qui relie l’évangile de Jean dans cette perspective de dialogue. (lire la suite)
Planning the Antislavery Campaign in Mozambique
All the confreres working in Mozambique met in Nazaré (Beira) on March 18-25th to take stock of the situation and plan for the future, including what to do concerning the Antislavery Campaign in our Sector.
Claudio Zuccala was with us as part of his one-month-long visit to Mozambique and he was chosen as the moderator. He shared with us ideas, suggestions, material and some of the initiatives taken in the SAP, whereupon the Sector proceeded to sketch out its own plan.
Among various events which were suggested, we plan events in the different parishes where we work (Sussundenga, Dombe, possibly the future Parish in Tete and the Centre of Nazaré) and a Social Week in Nazaré with conferences, debates a photographic exhibition. Dates were put forward (September) and tasks were allotted.
Social Week
The archdiocesan Centre on the outskirts of Beira was also the venue for a conference organized by the Mozambican Conference of Religious Men and Women (CIRM-CONFEREMO).
Fifty three people took part, representing 40 Institutes. Four of us were also present: Hugh Seenan, Timothée Bationo, Richard Ujwigowa and Florent Sawadogo.
It started on April 23rd and the main topics were: The Land issue (the question of ownership and the impact of mega-projects which cause, among others, land grabbing and summary evictions), Human Trafficking and Violence against girls.
It is worth mentioning that though the Government of Mozambique does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking, all the same it is making significant efforts to do so. Mozambique demonstrated an increased commitment to combating trafficking in 2008, particularly through the enactment of comprehensive anti-trafficking legislation, the creation of an anti-trafficking police unit, and the conviction and sentencing of two child traffickers.
The Archbishop of Beira, Mgr. Claudio Dalla Zuanna (Italian, 54, of the Priests of the Sacred Heart of Jesus) opened the Social Week explaining the role of the Centre and the necessity of holding meetings of this kind. He made it clear that Religious Men and Women in Mozambique should be the critical conscience of the local Church and of society at large.
Seven different speakers helped the participants to obtain a clearer vision and a deeper knowledge of the issues at stake and the conference ended on April 25th with a solemn declaration of commitment and engagement by CIRM-CONFEREMO in the three areas and the adoption of a plan of action for the future.
By Florent Sawadogo (translation and adaptation by Claudio Zuccala)
If interested in getting all the documentation available (in Portuguese) concerning the Social Week, please contact Claudio Zuccala through this blog or directly at c_zuccala@hotmail.com
Moved by the Love of Christ – serving the suffering Christ
Aid to the Church in Need is an international charity of and for the Catholic Church. We give a voice and render relief to Catholics persecuted and oppressed for their Faith. We firmly believe the world needs a living Faith in God. Through our work we nurture a family of benefactors and project partners united in prayer and solidarity.
Robert Lalonde, Head of information, Aid to the Church in Need
Radio Tigabane: pastoral and social programmes for northern Malawi
by Reinhard Backes, Aid to the Church in Need (CAN) International / Amanda Bridget Griffin, Canada
Malawi is one of the world’s poorest countries. On the United Nations Development Programme’s 2011 human development index, this south-east African state ranks 171 out of 187. In addition Malawi is one of Africa’s most densely populated countries. More than 80 per cent of Malawians are Christians, including about one quarter Catholics. According to statistics the proportion of Muslims is 13 per cent.
The diocese of Mzuzu in northern Malawi is the fastest growing Catholic diocese in the country, according to its own figures. A letter from the diocese to the international Catholic pastoral charity “Aid to the Church in Need” states: “Every year more than 6,000 adults are taken into the Catholic Church. Most are converts from other Christian denominations.” To reach as many of the faithful as possible, the diocese maintains its own broadcasting station, “Radio Tigabane”. The name comes from the local Tumbuka language and means “share”.
The programmes on “Radio Tigabane” are, according to the director, Father Eugene W. Ngoma, geared to the needs of the population in this rural area: “Alongside the weekly religious programmes – broadcast of the Sunday mass, prayers and the rosary – we offer programmes on health, education, justice and peace as well as on socio-economic development. In doing this we are adhering to an ecumenical principle because our listeners include not only Catholics, but also Christians of other denominations and Muslims.”
And according to Father Ngoma other beneficiaries are the Diocesan Commissions for Education, Development, Health, Justice and Peace as well as Pastoral Work, who address primarily socially disadvantaged groups through a wide range of initiatives.
Outspoken Catholic Priest Fr. Frank Bwalya who has been recently urged to stop criticizing the PF government in the media, has announced this morning that he’s serious about funding a new political party with him as its President. The name of the party should be revealed in the next few days. READ MORE
Stamattina mentre ascoltavo una trasmissione su una delle stazioni locali, Radio Phoenix, ho sentito padre Frank Bwalya annunciare pubblicamente che, oltre alla sua campagna di “cartellini gialli” al presente governo per misfatti di vario tipo, intende fondare un nuovo partito politico di cui sarà il presidente.
Frank Bwalya, il cui status clericale non è molto chiaro al sottoscritto, è senz’altro un personaggio carismatico e controverso. Dopo aver appoggiato apertamente il governo in carica contro quello uscente di Rupiah Banda, accusato di ogni forma di corruzione sotto il cielo, da qualche tempo critica apertamente alcune decisioni dell’esecutivo e ne castiga alcune derive.
Una storia da seguire con interesse e attenzione.
READ ALSO:
The Sata we supported died long time ago, but Kambwili says Fr. Bwalya is getting mad
Fr Bwalya, Kambwili in bitter exchange
Bwalya no longer priest – Fr Mpasa
Dear confreres,
One thing that the new Pope feels he is called upon to do as Bishop of Rome is to bring hope to the world. “Let the star of hope shine out”, he says. We all need hope, and we should all bring hope. Speaking at his inaugural Mass on the 19th of March, Pope Francis explains how this can be done: by becoming guardians of Creation and by seeing every man and every woman with an eye of goodness and tenderness. Yes, he says, with tenderness and we ought not to be afraid of tenderness. Far from being an attitude of weakness, tenderness denotes strength of soul and the capacity for attention, compassion, and a true openness to one another. READ MORE
Dear all,
Kindly receive a timely Press Statement issued by Caritas Zambia on the continued, wasteful and unwarranted by-elections being caused by MPs who are behaving like political prostitutes.
Fraternally Yours in Christ,
Fr. Cleophas
… As we have already done on many occasions, we appeal to government to stop encouraging MP resignations through promises of jobs and other privileges. Where is the lean government the people of Zambia were promised if ministerial jobs are open for purchasing political patronage? It is shameful to see very high ranking government officials dancing and jubilating at MP resignation forums with full knowledge of the harm by-elections are causing on the weakest of our society. This is immoral and an act of inconsistency for a government that has proclaimed an option for the poor as a cornerstone of its governance values. The Zambian society must treat this behaviour with scorn and strong condemnation. READ MORE
Chers confrères,
Le Pape François, dans son homélie du 19 mars, parle d’un service qu’il se sent appelé à rendre en tant qu’évêque de Rome et auquel, dit-il, nous sommes tous appelés : faire resplendir l’étoile de l’espérance. Nous avons besoin, dit-il, de voir la lumière de l’espérance et de donner nous-mêmes espérance. Il indique comment nous pouvons nous y prendre en parlant d’être gardiens de la création, en posant sur tout homme et toute femme un regard de bonté et de tendresse. Oui, dit le Pape, n’ayons pas peur de la tendresse. La tendresse n’est pas la vertu du faible mais dénote une force d’âme et de capacité d’attention, de compassion, de vraie ouverture à l’autre, d’amour. SUITE
I am Martin Kasongo from Chingola, Zambia. I have been a student in the Society of the Missionaries of Africa since 2006. I started my formation with the candidacy course in Kolibo, Serenje. I did my philosophy in Arusha and my novitiate in Bobo-Dioulasso. Thereafter, I was sent for my stage to Aru, north-eastern part of DRCongo in the diocese of Mahagi-Nioka.
My pastoral experience in a multi-cultural area like Aru was very enriching with its openness to all people coming from every corner of Congo and other countries. Bordering Uganda and South Sudan, it makes the Lugbaras culturally dynamic and special. They speak the Lugbarati.
Despite being introverts, the Lugbaras are welcoming and peaceful. One great thing that struck me is the way they have welcomed the Good News of Jesus. Evangelisation continues but I observed that these people are really doing their best for their spiritual and moral growth. They give themselves in taking care of their churches and the parish at large. This attitude shows their interest in the Word of God.
The Lugbaras are also hard workers. They take the education of their children in their own hands instead of counting on the government. But, they have difficulties sometimes to work in a spirit of collaboration or partnership because of lack of experience. I used to go to out-stations from Friday to Sunday. This experience was always very instructive for me. I was interested to understand how the catechists care for their Christians communities. During my visit in villages, I used to talk to the youth on issues of life, to all Christians on faith, and to catechists on perseverance. I visited the sick and the poor, encouraging them to hope in life in the face of hardships.
Being with people in these villages made me understand what Lavigerie meant by “being all things to all people.” The first step in any apostolate is our presence. So, let us be the instruments of the Lord who knows best how to guide us the way He wants.
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- Day of prayer for vocation 21/04/2013
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- Last Sunday in Aru. Women saying goodbye.
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- Youth group: Kisito and Anuarite
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- Youth group: Kisito and Anuarite
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- Youth group: young adults preparing their marriage
Press Release, 5th April 2013
The affordability and accessibility of mealie-meal has been a topical issue for sometime. This is not surprising given that mealie-meal is a staple food for the majority Zambians. It is therefore not surprising that the commodity of such strategic importance continues to attract attention from various stakeholders. READ MORE