This is the time the Lord has made, let us rejoice!
Another year gone. A new one coming!
Let us pray so as to solidify our common vision and unity within our SAP Province.
Prayer for Missionaries
Lord Jesus Christ,
Watch over your missionaries, lay people, religious Sisters and Brothers and Priests, who leave everything to give testimony to your Word and your love.
In difficult moments sustain their energies, comfort their hearts and crown their work with spiritual achievements.
Let the adorable image of you crucified on the Cross which accompanies them throughout life, speak to them of heroism, generosity, love and peace.
Happy New Year 2014
By Serge St-Arneault, M.Afr
On the 12th December 2013, I travelled to Merrivale with Michel Meunier in view of witnessing the Oath of Antony Alckias and Tomasz Podrazik and their diaconate ordination. We left after celebrating Mass at 12:30 at Radio Veritas. The journey took five hours and gave me the opportunity to see impressive mountains. On arrival at Merrivale, not far from Edendale and Pietermaritzburg, I met Raphaël Gasimba, Rector, and the students. Many more people came for the event including friends from Zambia, Tanzania and Orange Farm in South Africa. Below are some pictures of our M.Afr Merrivale Formation House newly built. Also, on the same premises of Merrivale, the Louis Blondel house where our confreres René Garand, George Okwii, James Gordon Calder and Philippe Docq live. They are engaged at Henley Parish except for James who is teaching philosophy at St. Joseph’s Theological Institute, Cedara, where our students go.
Meet the 2013 Merrivale Formation House Community members: (Front row left) Dieudonné Bulambo Amani (DRC), Ryan Lungay Contamina (Philippines), Raphaël Gasimba (DRC), Damian Ahimbisibwe (Uganda), Douglas Ogato (Kenya), (2nd row right) Antony Alckias (India), Albert Kondemodre (Tanzania), Paul Kikenge Mpombo (DRC), Serge Boroto (DRC), (3rd row left) Pierre-Claver Mutombo (DRC), Alphonse-Marie Byishimo (Rwanda), Tomasz Podrazik (Poland), Konrad Millanzi (Tanzania) and Edward Saguti (Tanzania).
Meet the 2013 Merrivale Formation House Community members: (Front row left) Dieudonné Bulambo Amani (DRC), Ryan Lungay Contamina (Philippines), Raphaël Gasimba (DRC), Damian Ahimbisibwe (Uganda), Douglas Ogato (Kenya), (2nd row right) Antony Alckias (India), Albert Kondemodre (Tanzania), Paul Kikenge Mpombo (DRC), Serge Boroto (DRC), (3rd row left) Pierre-Claver Mutombo (DRC), Alphonse-Marie Byishimo (Rwanda), Tomasz Podrazik (Poland), Konrad Millanzi (Tanzania) and Edward Saguti (Tanzania).
With some delay, we are inviting you to pray for Michel Roy, the brother of our confrere Jules, who died suddenly on the 15th December at the age of 72. Jules is very grateful to the four Missionaries of Africa in Canada who went to the funerals of his brother. This was greatly appreciated by the family.
Jules Roy is currently in Ndola, Zambia.
Chers confrères,
Le Père André Bilodeau, de Québec, vient d’annoncer le décès de son frère Marcel. Il écrit ceci :
« J’ai reçu, cette avant-midi (29 December), une mauvaise nouvelle. Mon frère Marcel qui demeurait à St-Georges (Beauce) est décédé. Il est né le 20 août 1929. Il avait donc 84 ans. Au mois d’août 2013, ils avaient souligné, sa femme Irène et lui, leur 60ième anniversaire de mariage. Ils ont quatre enfants : Yves, Doric, Serge et Danny.
Pour les funérailles, ma belle-sœur Irène a dit que la famille souhaitait quelque chose de simple et d’intime, i.e. les enfants et les petits-enfants. Pour le jour et l’endroit des funérailles, nous ne le savons pas. Prions pour Marcel et sa famille ! André »
By Camille Konkobo, M.Afr
On the 25th October, I went to Kinshasa, DRCongo, to follow a training course for formators. This training took place at CTV Mbudi Centre which is run by the Scheuts’ Fathers. Among other sessions, they also offer retreats and recollections together with many other facilities for religious and the clergy. I was impressed to see the numbers of religious Sisters, fourteen of them out of eighteen people from all over Congo except me from Zambia.
The training consisted in providing basic materiel and knowledge about the right spirit by which a formation house is led. We reflected on the life of formator or animator of community; which type of formator the candidates expect to get, what is helping us to manage adequately anger and other feelings and so on. Some practical exercises on spiritual and vocation discernment opened our minds. There was also a session about the charism of religious Congregations. To finish, we ploughed through the canonical law trying to understand few things concerning formation.
It is a good training course for those who cannot afford to attend a full year course. I don’t pretend to be a fully qualified trained formator but, at least, I have discover how to pursue my personal training.
Thank for all you who have helped me, prayed for me and encouraged me before and during my learning experience.
-
- Theme picture with a Sr Sidonie, at the end of her session on Spiritual direction and discernment.
-
- Br Melchior, Deacon Jacques, Director Fr Jos, Fr Leon, Fr Camille and Bro Eric (down).
-
- Camille chatting with the local Bursar of the centre, Sr Nathalie.
-
- Another group picture with the director in the middle.
We share with you a message addressed to Felix Kamunenge, Parish Priest in Kitwe.
Dear Felix,
As you know, by the SMS I send you, my sister passed away very quietly this morning (27th December) at 6.00hrs (in Zambia 7.00hrs). On Sunday, when I arrived, was the last day that she was still conscious enough to know who were there. On Monday, we are not sure if she really recognized me. Since that day she has been unconscious but quiet. Her youngest daughter and husband were there this morning when she died.
I have been with her every day for a few hours and the last time was yesterday afternoon. It has been good so but it remains painful to miss my sister who has been so good to me where I spend the most of my home leaves.
About the funeral arrangements I will hear this afternoon. I thank all of you for the support you gave me when to decide to go or not. Remaining united and greetings to all parishioners.
Piet van Heijst, M.Afr
Let us pray for Piets’ sister and her family.
Dear Felix,
As you know, by the SMS I send you, my sister passed away very quietly this morning (27th December) at 6.00hrs (in Zambia 7.00hrs). On Sunday, when I arrived, was the last day that she was still conscious enough to know who were there. On Monday, we are not sure if she really recognized me. Since that day she has been unconscious but quiet. Her youngest daughter and husband were there this morning when she died.
I have been with her every day for a few hours and the last time was yesterday afternoon. It has been good so but it remains painful to miss my sister who has been so good to me where I spend the most of my home leaves.
About the funeral arrangements I will hear this afternoon. I thank all of you for the support you gave me when to decide to go or not. Remaining united and greetings to all parishioners.
Piet van Heijst, M.Afr
Let us pray for Piets’ sister and her family.
By Serge St-Arneault, M.Afr
I was privileged to spent few days in South Africa and be welcomed at our house in Johannesburg, South Africa. Better known as Edenglen house, every confrere is warmly received by Didier Lemaine, Michel Meunier, Didier Michon and Seán O’Leary.
I enjoyed to accompany Michel to Radio Veritas where he is celebrating Mass from time to time at exactly 12:30. This Catholic radio station is quite close to Edenglen house.
Many thanks for helping all of us to feel at home. The following pictures give a glance of the outside building while, in the kitchen, you can recognised Jos Van Boxel cooking and serving wine alongside with Seán. Jos attended the ordination to the diaconate of Antony Alckias and Tomasz Podrazik in Merrivale. Norbert Angibaud was also there coming from Mozambique on his way back home to France for good after forty years of missionary life in Malawi and Mozambique. Norbert was welcomed by Didier Michon at O.R. Tembo International Airport which is at ten minutes’ drive from Edenglen.
In the chapel of Edenglen House, a special corner is dedicated to the confreres who worked in South Africa but died, two of them in brutal circumstances: Georges Bodinier (24th Sept. 1941 – 3rd Feb. 1985), Francis Carey (20th Sept. 1938 – 5th May 2010), Josef Stumpf (29th Nov. 1930 – 19th August 2006), Raymond Bourque (6th Jan. 1931 – 30th June 1978) and Louis Blondel (14th June 1939 – 7th Dec. 2009). May they rest in peace!
The ordination of Antony and Tomasz took place on the 14th December 2013 at Saint Raphael Parish, Kwa Mzimba, Archdiocese of Durban, South Africa. His Eminence Wilfrid Cardinal Napier OFM, Archbishop of Durban confer the diaconate to our new confreres. The location of the church is also known as Henley where our confreres are ministering, Philippe Docq being the Parish Priest.
The liturgy was well prepared with songs mainly in isiZulu but also in English, Kiswahili and Lingala. Many confreres were present including Fr. Jos Van Boxel from Rome and Bishop Jan De Groef of Bethlelem Diocese in South Africa.
The Christian Communities of KwaMzimba – St. Raphael, Enthembeni – St. Pius, KwaDeda – Our Lady of Fatima, KwaGezubuso – St. Veronica, and KwaNgubeni – St. Joseph congratulate the new Deacons.
The Missionaries of Africa, Merrivale Formation House Community, thank wholeheartedly also all those who responded to the invitation to this ordination and in a special way those who have contributed to prepare this celebration.
Our Lady, Queen of Africa
Pray for us!
Second Video
Also:
Missionary Oath of Antony Alckias and Tomasz Podrazik in Merrivale, South Africa
Dear friends,
Another Christmas. What is the difference with last year’s? Is there more peace and happiness in the world and in South Africa? I would say ‘not’, looking at the present situation: civil war in Syria, ongoing turmoil in Libya and Egypt, no real peace yet in Soudan even after the division …. And so on. Also South Africa is still plagued with the same evil of bad governance resulting in many service delivery protests and corruption highlighted by an ecumenical campaign in which also the Catholic Church in South Africa joined. The second African Synod came out with a strong invitation for justice, peace and reconciliation but it seemed to have fallen on deaf ears. In former president Nelson Mandela, who passed away just recently, we had an icon of leadership – together with some of his other companions in the struggle against apartheid – and a beacon of light, but, unfortunately many of the present leaders do not follow suit.
What is then the good news about this Christmas? It is about the Christ-child born in Bethlehem lovingly received by Mary and Joseph, opening his arms to embrace the whole world. FULL LETTER