Missionaries of Africa – Southern Africa Province (SAP) – Page 58

Merrivale, on the 4^th December 2014

By Amorain Wayikpo

On the 28^th November 2014, in the Formation House of Missionaries of Africa – Merrivale South Africa, Serge Zihalirwa Boroto made his perpetual oath. He was born in 1981 in Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo. He started this initial formation with the Missionaries of Africa in 2005. Since January 2012, Serge Boroto has been doing his theological studies in St. Joseph Theological Institute of Cedara.

The Eucharistic celebration which was animated by the candidates of the House began at 11:00 and ended at 13:00. The presider was Fr. Christopher Chileshe, the Provincial, superior of Southern Africa Province (SAP).

Before the oath, Serge Boroto professed his faith and belief according to the Roman Catholic Church and its official teachings and Tradition. This was in view of his diaconate ordination, evidently in the presence of ocular witnesses such as Fr. Christopher Chileshe, Fr. Raphael Gasimba the former superior and rector of Merrivale community and some members of Boroto’s family.

Indeed, it was in the name of Rev. Fr. Richar Kuuia Baawobr, Superior General of the Missionaries of Africa, that Fr. Christopher received the perpetual oath of Serge Boroto which made the latter become a full member of the Society. Commenting on the readings (1 Sam 3:1-10; Psalm 103; Col 3: 12-17; John 15:9-17) chosen by the deacon to be, Fr. Christopher congratulated him for having reached that moment of responding to the Lord as Samuel: “Speak Lord your servant is listening”. He also took this opportunity to thank Serge’s family and friends because there is no doubt that a good missionary comes from a good family, in the sense of being supportive. Moreover, he especially appreciated the formators in their role, as Eli in Samuel’s call to have guided Serge toward answering the call from God. However he reminded him of the importance of being connected to Christ. Otherwise, if he misses this connection he then misses the point and everything will fall apart. On one hand to remain in Christ means that a missionary must have a restless search for God and restless love for God. On the other hand, love to others comes with its Cross. For Christ, it was manifested at Calvary, but for the disciple of Jesus, it is in sacrificial charity and in the daily activities of life. “Serge, through today’s oath you will be taking up the ‘visa for martyrdom’ which Lavigerie had pointed to. There is always a cost to love other people dearly and sincerely. It is that Cross you must be willing to take up each day for your missionary life.”

Some family members of Serge after the Mass. Brothers and sisters; daughters and brothers in law and friends of Serge came from Bukavu, France, Belgium, Canada and South Africa (Pretoria and Cape Town) to witness to this event.

The party of perpetual oath took place in the community hall called “Maison Carrée”, where the guests enjoyed themselves with a copious meal and lovely music. In the following image some people expressed their joy, one carrying the cake of the day on his head and dancing in procession.

It was really a joyful and beautiful day. The following day, on the 29^th November 2014, Serge Zihalirwa Boroto was ordained deacon at St. Raphael’s Parish, Kwamzimba, by Right Reverend Father Jan De Greef, M.Afr, Bishop of the diocese, Bethlehem in South Africa.

: Serge Zihalirwa Boroto making his solemn oath after the homily of Fr. Christopher.

: The Provincial of SAP, Fr. Christopher warmly welcomed Serge who has become a confrere by the perpetual oath in the Society of the Missionaries of Africa.

: The party of perpetual oath took place in the community hall called “Maison carree”

: Serge Zihalirwa Boroto expressing his satisfaction by a nice smile and giving thanks to the people for partaking in the celebration.

: Some family members of Serge after the Mass.

: Serge and some confreres after the ceremony: 14 Missionaries of Africa (12 priests & 2 deacons) were present at perpetual oath.

Read this article in French at : « Serment missionnaire à Merrivale». Amorain Wayikpo, originaire du Togo et étudiant dans ce centre de formation en Afrique du Sud partage la joie de l’engagement définitif d’un congolais dans la Société des M.Afr. (lire la suite)

JPIC-ED Bulletin December 2014 – January 2015

By Missionaries of Africa - Southern Africa Province (SAP)

On December 5, 2014

In Publications

All things to all. By Richard Nnyombi, M.Afr

Christmas is already looming on the horizon! A joyful feast indeed not only for Christians but also for others who are not adherents to the Christian faith. According to one of the websites, Christmas is the second most popular annual feasts worldwide after New Year, followed by Eid al-Fitr, Eid-al-Adha, Valentine, Diwali, etc. Surprisingly, different people have different reasons for celebrating this day and not all Christians celebrate it because of its Christian understanding of ‘God’s incarnation in Jesus-Christ’. The key message that seems to be appealing to many in this feast is that of peace and good-will echoed in the message of the angels to the shepherds: “…….and peace on earth to all people of good will.” (Lk. 2: 14). Wouldn’t this feast, therefore, in a way be an expression of humanity’s longing for the incarnation of peace and good-will on the earth?

The Christian understanding of Christmas was the foundation of Cardinal Lavigerie’s preference for and recommendation of the tout-à-tous (making ourselves all things to all) to his missionaries as the apostolic method par excellence of witnessing to the Gospel and Kingdom values. Inspired by St. Paul (cf. 1 Cor. 9: 22; also Phil. 2: 1-11), he sees in the tout-à-tous “God’s way of doing things, the divine way.” How relevant but also how demanding is this instruction of our Founder in the multi-cultural and multi-faith globalised world of today? And to what extent does it urge us to purify our intentions so that we do not use it as a tactic to convert others to our faith community! How are we transmitting this divine way of doing things to our spiritual sons and daughters who are members of the Christian communities of which we are so proud to be the spiritual parents and founders through our predecessors?

When our spiritual sons and daughters in the local churches show hatred and aversion to the ‘different-others’ especially those of different faith communities, e.g. Islam and ATR, is it not a sign of failure on our side for not having passed on to them this spiritual and apostolic divine way essentially enshrined in the Christmas message? A Luganda proverb says that: “Ennyonyi enkulu y’eyigiriza ento okwonoona mu kisulo.” (The old bird teaches the young ones to foul the nest). Would this mean that we ourselves have fallen short of living out the depth and breadth of this divine method?

May this Christmas season be yet another privileged moment of prayer and reflection and may it help us to rediscover the divine wisdom hidden in this instruction of our Founder, a tradition which we are so proud to name as a constitutive element of our missionary identity and our way of doing mission.

I wish each and everybody a very Happy Christmas and a blessed and fruitful new year.

FULL TEXT IN PDF FILE

Prayers for Justice, Peace, Integrity of Creation and Encounter and Dialogue

By Missionaries of Africa - Southern Africa Province (SAP)

On December 4, 2014

In News, Publications

In prayer, we seek Divine intervention: “If the Lord does not build the house, in vain do its builders labour; if the Lord does not watch over the city, in vain does the watchman keep vigil.” (Ps. 126 [127]: 1)

“While some are enrolled under the flag of mercy and fraternal solidarity, taking the arms and ready to go for the battle, we who are staying behind must call on the name of the Lord (cf. Ps 20: 7), and go up to the mountain to raise up our hands together towards heaven.” (Card. Lavigerie)

Let our prayer for JPIC-ED be a continuous reminder of the urgency of our commitment as individuals, communities, and of the Lavigerie Family wherever we are.

Missionaries of Africa and Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Africa

Nature and God’s Creation

Loving Father and Creator of all we come to you today deeply grateful for your creation. As we look around us, we are amazed at the greatness and majesty of all that you have made. Nature around us speaks of your greatness – the vast expanse of the sky, the mountains, trees, lakes and streams speak of your great design. You have given us such beauty in the colours of the rainbow, the beauty of flowers and fields. Words cannot adequately express the magnificence of all you have created. We join in praise with the writer of the psalms when he says, “O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth.” May we show our love and reverence to you, our Lord, by caring for all that you have created. We humbly give you praise and thanks. Amen

Lettre aux sœurs et amis du monastère de Sainte Claire, Lusaka

By Missionaries of Africa - Southern Africa Province (SAP)

On December 3, 2014

In Publications

Chères sœurs et chers amis,

Au sein du puissant battement mondial de cette année,

le cœur de notre communauté fait écho à l’inimitable battement de gratitude pour chacun de vous, très chères sœurs et chers amis, pour votre présence dans nos vies, pour la beauté et la bonté du Seigneur qui nous sont parvenues grâce à vous.

Que les ondes de notre battement zambien vous apportent toute bénédiction!

Venant de loin, un son de flûte solennel franchit la lumière du crépuscule. Au loin, avec nos yeux intérieurs, nous voyons de jeunes garçons dans les rues jouer au football, prétendant être Messi, Ronaldo, Katongo, les grands footballeurs. Au loin nous voyons avec nos yeux de l’esprit, les petites filles suivre leur mère pour aller chercher de l’eau et du bois pour la fabrication de la munkoyo (bière douce). Les hommes, jeunes et vieux, nettoient leurs filets après une capture dans le Luapula. Le grand poisson aigle glisse au-dessus du majestueux fleuve Zambèze, attentif au moindre mouvement de l’eau, et après une plongée éclair, il plonge à nouveau, s’élevant dans le ciel chaud africain louant le Créateur pour un double cadeau : son dîner et une douche rafraîchissante bienvenue, car, c’est vrai, il a fait très chaud cette année.

FULL TEXT ON PDF FILE

To all SAP confreres, Happy Christmas and wonderful New Year 2014 from Phelim Malumo, M.Afr

By Missionaries of Africa - Southern Africa Province (SAP)

On December 3, 2014

In Publications

By Phelim Malumo, M.Afr

Dear Confrere,

Greetings from the Philippines. I received your email with pleasure and wonderful memories. I took a few moment of recollection remembering God’s Love for me and the rest of Humanity as we prepare to celebrate the mystery of God’s Incarnation. I felt encouraged, and indeed, strengthened after repeatedly going through your short, deep and touching letter.

Yes, I am settling well here in Masbate: living, listening, sharing and discovering so many things each day: one -day -at- a- time. Today afternoon I am giving formation class on the Holy Spirit for those preparing to become Lay Missionaries/Volunteers in the Future. Next week I shall teach about Mission to the Boys/Girls. This evening I shall have confessions and another Mass at the girl’s farm. A mission/task requiring compassion, Reaching out and listening and giving direction/guidance to so many boys and girls, some under aged and too young to understand and discern about their lives and what to do. They have so many unanswered questions. My presence is seen and experienced, by most of them, as God’s will and intervention in their life “…The Lord has visited his people”; the troubled, downtrodden, suffering and addicted and those who have lost HOPE in life’s purpose.

FULL TEXT IN PDF FILE

Merry Christmas from Sébastien Kalengwe

By Missionaries of Africa - Southern Africa Province (SAP)

On December 2, 2014

In News

Our dear confrere Sébastien Kalengwe learned computer design recently in Kampala. He is sending to us all two beautiful Christmas Cards. His health is improving by the day. We wish him good recovering hoping to see him soon again in our SAP Province.

Please, feel free to send us your own Christmas Cards.

Bishop Patrick Chisanga: Year of Consecrated Life is a call for introspection

By Missionaries of Africa - Southern Africa Province (SAP)

On December 1, 2014

In Publications

30/11/2014

The declaration by Pope Francis that a Year of Consecrated Life be celebrated throughout the world starting today, the first Sunday of advent, has been described as “timely and important” by Zambia’s Bishop Patrick Chisanga. Bishop Chisanga is the Bishop of Mansa Diocese. Before becoming a Bishop, early this year, he was a formator in his congregation, the Order of Friars Minor Conventuals.

The Year of Consecrated Life will close on 2 February 2016, the World Day of Consecrated Life.

In an exclusive interview with Vatican Radio’s English Service for Africa, Bishop Chisanga said the declaration of a Year of Consecrated Life coincides with the fiftieth anniversary of the promulgation of the Second Vatican Council document, Perfectæ Caritatis. This document promulgated by Pope Paul VI in 1965 is the “Decree on the Adaptation and Renewal of Religious Life.” It deals with institutes of consecrated life in Church.

Zambian Bishops: Patrick Chisanga, OFM Conv. (R) with Evans Chinyemba OMI (l)

According to Bishop Chisanga, this period should be used by the religious to revisit their call to religious life. ”It is an important moment of introspection. Every religious institution in Africa needs to re-examine and ask itself where they are as an institution, where they are coming from and where they are going. In other words, in this moment in time, what is their place and role in the Church?” asks Bishop Chisanga.

The Bishop was however keen to underline the fact that the year is not exclusively for the religious. “It is not exclusively a year for the religious only. It is a year in which the Church as a whole reflects on the charisms of the religious in the context of new evangelization and in the context of the importance of the family in Africa and in the Church. We must never forget that the men and women in religious life come from families.” Bishop Chisanga emphasised.

Asked about what he sees as the contribution of the religious to the Church in Zambia, Bishop Chisanga says, “The religious and the history of the Church in Zambia are intertwined. We cannot talk about the establishment of the Catholic Church in Zambia without thinking of the religious.” The Bishop says, the religious in Zambia continue to play a significant role in the life of the Church. He adds, “When you talk about quality health care and education in Zambia, you will find that these are always associated with the Church. In great part, we thank the religious sisters and brothers for this. This is the richness of the Church in Zambia and in Africa.” Bishop Chisanga said.

“While all these apostolates are important, we cannot reduce the value of religious life to these external apostolic ministries. More importantly, this special year gives to the religious institution an opportunity to bring out that which prompts them to give quality health care to remote outposts in rural areas. What motivates them as religious people to go to these places? In order to make this introspection, the religious need to go back to their spiritual foundations.” Said Bishop Chisanga.

Bishop Chisanga is also aware of the many challenges facing religious life today in Africa. He is convinced that religious life cannot pretend to be spared of these challenges. He cites the changing times and the consequent secularisation of society as a big challenge. He says, “In a world where faith is pushed aside and spiritual matters are pushed aside, people today are looking for solutions everywhere else other than in the spiritual realm.”

Other challenges he notes, include a Church in Africa which now has to look to itself for both material and human resources. Further still there is the ever-present danger of individualism. “While religious men and women vow to live in poverty or without property, there is a huge temptation that a religious person could easily fall into: This is the world of materialism.” Bishop Chisanga underlines.

In the end, what is really essential is that during this year, the religious continue to witness to that spirit which prompted most of their founders to “leave everything in order to gain everything.” The Bishop concludes.

(Fr. Paul Samasumo)

Community project in the Democratic Republic of Congo, second report

By Missionaries of Africa - Southern Africa Province (SAP)

On December 1, 2014

In News

You may remember the first report put on SAP Blog on March 19 about the construction of a health centre in DRCongo supported by our confreres Faustin who has moved from Zambia to South Africa. See today few pictures showing the progress made. This is remarkable. But, much needs to be done. See also below the new report written in French and the call for help.

Par le Père Faustin Kerumbe, M.Afr

Mon cher Serge, je prends le courage de t’envoyer les dernières photos que j’ai reçues hier d’un des membres du comité. Petit à petit, on dirait que l’oiseau est en train de faire son nid. Je continue toujours à apprécier les efforts de la communauté locale. Sur une des photos tu trouveras un groupe de mamans. Elles venaient de faire leur réunion qui a pour but de voir à quel niveau et peuvent contribuer pour que commence aussi, dans leur langage, la construction de leur maternité. Les étapes qui suivent sont plus éxigeantes d’autant plus qu’elles dépassent largement nos capacités financières.

Il nous faut au moins 300 sacs de ciment pour le crépissage et le pavement. À part ceci, il nous faut y mettre du plafond et fixer les portes et les fenêtres. Nous restons à l’éveil de ce que Washington Developpment Office va décider. A part cela, j’essaie de frapper aux portes des confrères pour demander assistance, de quelle nature et quantité qu’elle puisse être, pour nous faire avancer dans la réalisation dudit projet. Nous avons reçu il y a quelques jours 200£ d’un confrère pour acheter 10 sacs de ciment. Pour l’heure j’essaie de faire, sans pour autant forcer, appel à la générosité des confrères, amis et de toute personne de bonne volonté en vue de faire aboutir notre projet. Nous espérons toujours que Dieu bénira nos efforts et notre projet.

Mon cher Serge, pense à nous dans tes prières! Je prie sans cesse pour la réussite de ce projet à caractère communautaire et sanitaire! Et si tu connais quelques amis qui peuvent aider, prière aussi de parler de notre projet auprès d’eux! Dieu peut toujours nous bénir à travers la bienveillance et la générosité de nos frères et soeurs! Merci infiniment pour tout ce que nous apporte comme attention et conseil!

Bonne nuit! Je te souhaite un bon et fructueux temps de l’Avent! Union de prière!

Mafrwestafrica – Lettre du 30 novembre 2014

By Missionaries of Africa - Southern Africa Province (SAP)

On December 1, 2014

In News

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 » :

« Anniversaire de la mort du Cardinal Lavigerie » : c’est le 26 novembre 1892 que le cardinal Lavigerie, fondateur de la Société des Missionnaires d’Afrique, s’éteignait à Alger. (lire la suite )

« Statistiques de l’Eglise catholique » telles qu’elles ont été publiées le 19 octobre 2014, qui était aussi le « dimanche des missions ». (lire la suite)

« Le Pape François et l’Europe », un article publié sur le site de l’ARCRE suite à la visite du pape à Strasbourg auprès du Parlement européen et du Conseil de l’Europe, le 25 novembre 2014 (lire la suite)

Dans la rubrique « Vu au sud, vu du sud » :

« Quel avenir pour le Nigéria ? » ce pays qui a de grandes possibilités, mais qui est soumis à une grande instabilité du fait des exactions de Boko Haram. (lire la suite)

Dans la rubrique « Dialogue interreligieux » :

« Conférence au CFR » le Père Adrien Sawadogo, originaire du Burkina, a donné une conférence au Centre Foi et Rencontre sur l’apport des religions traditionnelles à la foi chrétienne, où il partage sa propre expérience de converti de l’Islam (lire la suite)

« Identité, conversion, laïcité » ces termes sont d’une brûlante actualité dans notre monde où la tolérance, l’acceptation de l’autre et la connaissance de soi-même sont de moins en moins évidentes (lire la suite)

Dans la rubrique « Témoignages » :

« Le charisme des Missionnaires d’Afrique » un texte du père Francis Nolan, texte d’une conférence donnée en février 2014 en Ouganda et traduite récemment en français. (lire la suite)
« Mon ami de Jéricho », c’est en ces termes que le Père Marcel Boivin partage ce que l’épisode de l’aveugle guéri par Jésus dans cette ville signifie pour lui (lire la suite)

« Les Missionnaires d’Afrique au Niger » : un grand merci au Père Josep Frigola qui retrace l’histoire de notre Société Missionnaire depuis ses débuts dans ce pays, et donnant les noms de tous ceux qui y ont participé (lire la suite)

If I forget SAP, let my right hand wither!!!

By Missionaries of Africa - Southern Africa Province (SAP)

On November 30, 2014

In News

Just to thanks you for your great job. Here in Jerusalem, life is fine. I am still trying to enjoy as much as possible my stay in the Holy Land. As you already know, this week with God’s grace, my two classmates and I received the ministry of Acolytat and also renewed our Declaration of Intent to continue our formation within the Society of the Missionaries of Africa in view of the Oath and the priesthood at the service of our brothers and sisters in the African world. We had the chance to be with Fr Peter Welsh who came for a visit from Rome.

If I forget SAP, let my right hand wither!!! After spending three years in that province, I am still in touch with all the messages and news sent to all including me. Thanks indeed for your great job as Secretary with the creation of the SAP blog. My regards to all the confreres in Woodlands with a special greeting to our zealous and dedicated Provincial Fr Christopher Chileshe.

Find attached a picture of the memorable day!!!

Yours ever,

Hervé Tougma, Second Year student in Jerusalem