By Amorain Wayikpo. Merrivale, on 7th December 2014.
At the beginning of this year 2014, our community was composed of 23 members coming from 13 different countries. We had 2 Burkinabe, 4 Congolese (DR Congo), 1 Ethiopian, 2 Ghanaians, 1 Indian, 1 Kenyan, 1 Mexican, 1 Polish, 3 Rwandans, 3 Tanzanians, 1 Togolese, 1 Ugandan and 1 Zambian. Br. James Calder, M. Afr. a Canadian is also a member of our community. He is a lecturer in Philosophy at Saint Joseph’s Theological Institute (SJTI). Coming from different countries and cultural backgrounds has thus kept us an international and intercultural community.
Our community is focused and well programmed. We started the year with the eight-day retreat from 27th January to 3rd February 2014. Second year students had the opportunity to do their 30 days retreat the whole of January. After coming back from our retreats, as a united community, we gathered to have our orientation session. We were inspired by Saint John 10: 10, “I have come, so that you may have life and have it to the full.” This mission statement was shared in teams, and it inspired us to live as brothers in spite of the fact that we have some challenges in our community life. For instance, we had an issue about the means of transport to the Institute which provoked a strong discussion during some of our community meetings. We have classes from Monday to Friday ending at mid-day. Most of us go to the Institute on foot and cover 8 kms per day. The use of our community bus and cars for class purpose is only reserved to when it is raining or when we have some activities in the afternoon at the Institute.
Another challenge is the departure of four candidates which is part of formation. They left their formation due to diverse reasons. The Ethiopian left during the first semester, 1 Tanzanian at the end of the first semester and 2 Congolese at the beginning of the 2nd semester. Then, at the end of the academic year, 2 deacons completed their theological studies and left for their holidays. The rector of the House finished his mandate and he has been appointed for another mission in Jerusalem.
The next academic year starts on 5th February 2015 and we are looking forward welcoming 9 new students and 2 formators. This will make our community come to a total of 28 members; 23 students, 4 formators and 1 brother.
Although theological studies are our main concern while here, we are also devoted to some pastoral activities during weekends. Some of us are doing apostolate in St. Joseph Parish which belongs to the Congregation of the Redemptorists. This parish has got two outstations; Kwa-Chief and Shiyase. Majority of our brothers do their apostolate every Sunday at St. Raphael Parish – Kwamzimba and its outstations. St. Raphael Parish belongs to the Missionaries of Africa and it is the only parish we have in the province of Kwa-Zulu Natal.
This year, two memorable events have taken place in our community; the ministry of acolyte on 17th May 2014 and the Missionary oath linking to the diaconate ordination on 28th – 29th November 2014 (see the previous article on these events).
St. Joseph Theological Institute is a property of Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI).
This Institute aims at “Empowering People through Philosophical, Developmental and Theological Learning rooted in the Catholic Tradition in Living Dialogue with Christian Communities, Religions and Cultures.” (Imbizo Magazine – www.sjti.ac.za)
STJI offers the following study programmes: Higher Certificate in General Philosophy, Advanced Certificated in General Philosophy, Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, Advanced Cert. in Human and Social Development, Higher Cert. in Human and Social Development, Bachelor of Theology, Bachelor of Arts in Theology.
Concerning our presence in Saint Joseph’s Theological institute, we are well appreciated due to our academic Excellency and full participation in different activities of the Institute. These activities include; Organizing graduations, Tuesday afternoon liturgy, ecumenism and some football competitions between different communities within the institute. About leadership at SJTI, 2 of our confreres are heading two departments: Human and Social Development Studies and Philosophy. The retired president of the students’ executive forum was a student from our community.
This academic year 2014, at SJTI, was ended with a ‘Cultural day’ colored of different cultural presentations which emphasized on our unity in diversity and a closing Mass on 24th November 2014 presided by Fr Sylvester David, OMI, Institute President. Finally, during summer or long holidays, candidates of Merrivale Formation House are allowed to go for holidays outside South Africa, but within the Southern Africa Province.
Blessed be the Lord and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Allow me to introduce myself in few lines for those who don’t know me. I am Philippe Dakono, originally from Mali. I started my formation journey in 2009 in our first cycle in Ouagadougou. After 3 years of philosophy I was then appointed in Arusha for my spiritual year. I was among the pioneers of Arusha. We basically started Arusha as a spiritual year centre. By October 2012, I was making my official entry into the society of the Missionaries of Africa by receiving the laws and constitutions of the Society. And in December 2012, I made an important step in the process of my formation by making my declaration of Intent. I was then appointed to Zambia, Lusaka for my pastoral experience of 2 years (stage).
Right now I am living in a community of four, soon five, in Kabwata Parish. So for, I have been enjoying my pastoral within and beyond the Parish. That is why after deepening my relationship with our Lord Jesus and acquiring a better knowledge of the Society of the Missionaries of Africa, I decided to renew my declaration of Intent yesterday at our Good Shepherd Parish. It was in the presence of Fr Jaya Mrutyun, Zambia sector counsellor who came to receive the declaration, of my confreres and also in the presence of my spiritual companion and of the entire people of Good Shepherd Parish.
I give thanks and praise to God for the gift of life and for the gift of my vocation. Thanks as well to all of you for walking on my side. May God bless You.
Philippe Dakono
Happy feast day! Mary Immaculate Conception. JPIC-ED sends to you greetings on this special day for us Missionaries of Africa. 8th December the Feast of the Mary Immaculate Conception, our Patron Feast day. We also share you very interesting news from JPIC-ED desk through the attached newsletter. May God bless your work.
Clenerius M. Chimpali
Our salvation has been written by Jesus and there is no doubt that in order to see the face of Jesus. We must turn to the one who said “yes” to receive God in her womb, his Mother. In our daily life, it is to her we look to heal our diseases, to turn our tears into prayer. To her, we offer our suffering and concern for the salvation of souls, our loneliness so that it becomes contemplation, and our fears to turn into hope, our joy that it fills the world with peace and our peace to witness to the kingdom among those we are sent to. May Mary continue praying for all of us.
As we remember the feast of the Immaculate Conception I wish you, your families, your friends, and your loved ones a Happy and Lovely Feast.
Jean-Baptiste Todjro
Greetings from Philippines,
Our area, Masbate will be terribly affected by the Typhoon. The eye will be about 2 km from Masbate City.
We are now experiencing very strong winds of about 175 km expected to increase more and more. Flights and all traveling has been cancelled. The sky is so dark, heavy rains and buildings and trees, rice, banana fields etc. are being uprooted or falling in some places. Electricity cut and water affected. Relief food, medicines are already on the way. So far we are safe here in our place. But you can’t go out, it’s bad. By 11.00 am the Typhoon is expected to fall on our place. The typhoon will only reach Masbate in 3 hours time, heading towards Manila-expecting the worst impact- but it is already bad and catastrophic, the effects. Will update you as the time goes. Many people around have been evacuated. People will have no food, shelter etc.
Please pray for the Philippines in your Masses Today.
Fraternally Yours,
Phelim Malumo, M.Afr
MISSIO Conference on Inculturation on 23/11/2014, Lilongwe, Malawi. Sharing by Fr Claude Boucher Chisale, M.Afr
“This talk is going to be more of a sharing of experiences of 48 years of practical inculturation within the Malawi context both on catechetical, liturgical and artistic inculturation.”
Those are introduction words of Father Boucher giving his talk to a group of experts convened by Missio who met recently in Lilongwe and Mua. On the eve of the meeting Claude received an honorary doctorate from Ivan Reed, the Chancellor of the Share World Open University, at the Bingu International Conference Centre, Lilongwe.
Find the content of the life story of Father Boucher in the following PDF file given at Missio Conference on Inculturation on 23rd November 2014.
Our sincere congratulation to our confrere Claude Boucher for this remarkable achievement. The following are his conclusive words: “The unfolding of the Kungoni activities as a Centre for Culture and Art followed very much my own personal growth. Though inculturation was the ultimate target right from the time of my arrival, the years 1967 to 1970 had to be spent in learning to speak. The period of 1970 to 1976 taught me to think in the culture. The period of 1977 to 2000 brought about the possibility of acting in the culture by establishing the Kungoni Centre and its various activities. The period of 2001 to 2014 was blessed with several publications and the need to reflect on the past and on the history of the Centre. Together with a team, I look forward to publishing online the summary of its activities and its major achievements. This is the database mentioned above. As an appendix to this work, the urgent need to show greater concern for Malawi’s environment that is presently at risk. I would very much like to spend my remaining years and energy on browsing over my voluminous notes and do more publishing for further generation. I am presently working on a pre-Christian spirituality of the Chewa. I would also like to spend more time at painting my inner experience of my real home, my only home, Malawi.”
Share WORLD Open University – Honorary Doctorate Award
Upon the authority of the Senatus Academicius through the University Council of Share WORLD Open University, and the nomination and recommendation thereof Fr. Claude Boucher Chisale is awarded the Degree of Doctor in Philosophy in Cultural Anthropology and Heritage Management, Honoris Causa will all honours, rights and priviledges belonging to that Degree. In witness thereof we have signed and sealed this instrument on the 22nd day of November 2014.
Chancellor Yvan Reid
Taking the lead on human trafficking: Second international conference of the Santa Marta Group
Lancaster House, London, 5-6 December 2014
Police chiefs and Church representatives from across the world are coming to London to join Home Office ministers for a Conference aimed at developing strategies to combat human trafficking. The guiding principle of the Santa Marta Group is always to keep the welfare of the trafficked victim at the heart of all law enforcement.
The conference, which will take place in London on 5-6 December, is being organised by the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) and the Home Office.
The delegates are coming at the invitation of Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster, and Met Police Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe. The conference has been organised with the full support of the Home Office, which is hosting the event at Lancaster House, and will be addressed by the Home Secretary Theresa May, and the Minister for Modern Slavery and Organised Crime, Karen Bradley.
At the launch of the Santa Marta Group, named after the Papal residence where the participants stayed, in April 2014 Pope Francis described human trafficking as “an open wound on the body of contemporary society; a crime against humanity”.
The Santa Marta Group, led by Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe and Cardinal Nichols is an alliance of international police chiefs and Bishops from around the world, working together with civil society to eradicate human trafficking and provide pastoral care to victims. It seeks to develop strategies in prevention, pastoral care and re-integration by working together internationally.
At its launch, the police chiefs signed a declaration of commitment in which they stated: “As senior law enforcement officials within the international community, we commit to eradicate the scourge of this serious criminal activity, which abuses vulnerable people.”
The conference at Lancaster House will also showcase and build on the joint police and church initiative in London that has been running for the past three years; a collaboration that is to be copied and adapted around the world.
Training modules and good practice will be shared and developed. Closer collaboration will also enable joint investigations between law enforcement agencies enabling a more co-ordinated international approach to rid the world from the scourge of the world’s second most profitable crime: estimated by the International Labour Organisation to generate $32bn annual profits for criminals, with 2.4 million people trafficked globally at any given time.
Home Secretary Theresa May said: “I am delighted to be hosting the Santa Marta Conference, a forum dedicated to the eradication of Modern Slavery which brings together police chiefs and bishops from across the globe.
“This government has taken great strides to tackle this abhorrent crime. The publication of the Modern Slavery Bill is the first of its kind in Europe and gives law enforcement the tools they need to target slave drivers, ensuring their prosecution as well as the protection of their victims.
“But this is a problem that cannot be addressed through legislation alone. It requires action at all levels of society. That is why, last week, we published the Modern Slavery Strategy which makes it clear we must work together to tackle exploitation both here and overseas.”
Cardinal Nichols said: “The Santa Marta Group is not about theory; it is focused on rescuing people who have become victims of trafficking and find themselves in an impossible situation.
“We meet again in London to continue this important collaboration between Church, police, government and civil society, reporting on the progress made this year and planning future area of work. Since April, The Church has launched the Bakhita Initiative, comprising a refuge for victims and a hub where good practice on prevention, pastoral care and reintegration will be developed and disseminated nationally and internationally, in addition to the ongoing work of the Santa Marta Group.
“The work against trafficking lies at the heart of the Church’s pastoral concern and ministry. There is much to be done, but the emergence of the Santa Marta Group’s international network is an important step towards helping the victims and fighting this crime.”
Metropolitan Police Service Commissioner, Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe said: “I am proud that London is hosting the second Santa Marta Conference. It allows us to highlight human trafficking on an international platform and demonstrate the determination of church leaders, communities and our policing colleagues worldwide to combat these horrendous crimes.
“Knowing the full scale of the problem is an almost impossible task as those most vulnerable to exploitation often live at the margins of our society and the criminals hide in the shadows.
“However, this must not stop those who can help, from all nations, making the commitment to do everything they can to enable trafficking victims to escape the clutches of their captors and bring the criminals involved to justice.
“We know our collective efforts are not adequate to end this modern form of slavery and therefore we must all do more.”
Launching of St. Bakhita Day 2015, A day of prayer for an end to human trafficking around the world.
By Fr. Raymond McQuarrie, M.Afr., Episcopal Vicar for Justice & Peace
Following the first planning meeting for the launching of St. Bakhita Day 2015, and the Renew Africa 2015 Planning meeting this morning, I will like to inform you of the following event being planned by the Anti-Trafficking Department of the SACBC, under the care of Sr. Melanie O’Connor: Event:Launching of the Feast of St. Bakhita (Actual Feast Day on 8th Feb). As Human Trafficking Awareness Day for South Africa
Date: Sunday 15th February 2015. Venue: Regina Mundi Catholic Church, Soweto. Time of Procession: 08:00am – To Moroka Police Station. Time of Mass: 09:00am – At Regina Mundi. Please put this date in your diaries and inform your colleagues, parishioner and friends.
As the Department of Justice and Peace, in collaboration with the SACBC Trafficking Department, we appeal to other Archdiocesan Departments, and all parishes and parishioners, to join our Bishops in making our voices heard, and taking a public stand against trafficking of human beings.
Join us in our procession from Regina Mundi Church to the Moroka Police station to deliver a memorandum on Trafficking. Join us as we celebrate the Holy Mass, honouring St. Bakhita, imploring her intercession, guidance, protection and inspiration, especially for the many millions of men, women & children trafficked around the world, in Africa, and especially in South Africa.
In the spirit of Renew Africa, which we have just celebrated in our Archdiocese, let us work together and collaborate as diocesan departments, in serving our people – whether we serve with Health/HIV-AIDS, Youth, SPRED, Evangelisation, Liturgy, Communications, Vocations, Catechesis, etc, for His greater glory and the coming of His Kingdom. More information will be made available in early January, or please contact Sr. Melanie (SACBC) directly or the Dept. of Justice & Peace at the Chancery.
With every good wish and God bless.