I am living now over a year at the Mission in Dombe. I call it charmingly “little Brazil”. At the Mission are four different groups: Fazenda da Esperança, Obra de Maria, Pequenas Missionárias Pequenas de Maria Imaculada and the Missionários de África. We the Missionaries of Africa are the only community composed of different nationalities. The others are all from Brazil. Reflecting on the living together with these communities I started reflecting about our Identify (common vision) as the Missionaries of Africa.
Dombe-Mission is a remote and rural place about 5 km from the commercial center Dombe-Sede. It has a secondary school, a clinic, a boarding school for boys and girls and a center for alcohol and drug addicts. The Missionaries of Africa serving 26 Christian communities.
Living at the Mission you see the students, people who are consulting the clinic, but rarely Christians visiting the Fathers. It might be because of the remote location. It might be because we have not yet settled down, because the community was completed at Easter this year. How can our identity as the Missionaries of Africa be reflected in the Parish / Mission? Or does our identity have an integrative impact on the live of the people and the mission personal? If one would define the Missionaries of Africa, you would hear answers like that: they are living in international communities, working in and for the African Church, doing justice and peace and working with Islam. Our basic priority in Dombe is evangelization and building up of Christian communities. Is this part of our identity, when one looks into our priorities? How do our priorities, our identity and common vision go together, when Catechesis is almost forgotten? For me it is via catechesis that we can reach most of the people in the parish community. I digitalized a catechism for adults and a prayer book, printed it and distributed it to the communities. Until now I’m still waiting for a corrective response.
Are we here to follow the will of the people, or are we building up in a constructive process parish communities with the basic ministries functioning? In order to have a living parish we need to build up structures on the organizational level: functioning and living Christian communities, pastoral zones and finally a functioning parish council and an administrative financial body. We are far from it, but on the way to it. We are still on a long road, but we see this lamps lit up. The Christians are willing to work with us and welcomed us. There is a lot of hope among us that we will succeed. Building up of Christian communities is hard work. It is a like a field which needs to be worked in: working the field, sowing, planting and weeding. A farmer is identified as a farmer because of his work. What is our common vision in relation to the work of evangelization? Does our charisma push us to work in this direction?
A community is identified and unified by its common project based on prayer, the experiences of so many missionaries and our documents. Too many visions do not unify a community and a community will not have an integrative and challenging aspect to our surrounding, if we are not united by the common vision (identity) of the Missionaries of Africa. The search continues and thanks to our community project we will see a good united community in their apostolic approach.
A blessed Advent time.
Bernhard Wernke, M.Afr
I am living now over a year at the Mission in Dombe. I call it charmingly “little Brazil”. At the Mission are four different groups: Fazenda da Esperança, Obra de Maria, Pequenas Missionárias Pequenas de Maria Imaculada and the Missionários de África. We the Missionaries of Africa are the only community composed of different nationalities. The others are all from Brazil. Reflecting on the living together with these communities I started reflecting about our Identify (common vision) as the Missionaries of Africa.
Dombe-Mission is a remote and rural place about 5 km from the commercial center Dombe-Sede. It has a secondary school, a clinic, a boarding school for boys and girls and a center for alcohol and drug addicts. The Missionaries of Africa serving 26 Christian communities.
Living at the Mission you see the students, people who are consulting the clinic, but rarely Christians visiting the Fathers. It might be because of the remote location. It might be because we have not yet settled down, because the community was completed at Easter this year. How can our identity as the Missionaries of Africa be reflected in the Parish / Mission? Or does our identity have an integrative impact on the live of the people and the mission personal? If one would define the Missionaries of Africa, you would hear answers like that: they are living in international communities, working in and for the African Church, doing justice and peace and working with Islam. Our basic priority in Dombe is evangelization and building up of Christian communities. Is this part of our identity, when one looks into our priorities? How do our priorities, our identity and common vision go together, when Catechesis is almost forgotten? For me it is via catechesis that we can reach most of the people in the parish community. I digitalized a catechism for adults and a prayer book, printed it and distributed it to the communities. Until now I’m still waiting for a corrective response.
Are we here to follow the will of the people, or are we building up in a constructive process parish communities with the basic ministries functioning? In order to have a living parish we need to build up structures on the organizational level: functioning and living Christian communities, pastoral zones and finally a functioning parish council and an administrative financial body. We are far from it, but on the way to it. We are still on a long road, but we see this lamps lit up. The Christians are willing to work with us and welcomed us. There is a lot of hope among us that we will succeed. Building up of Christian communities is hard work. It is a like a field which needs to be worked in: working the field, sowing, planting and weeding. A farmer is identified as a farmer because of his work. What is our common vision in relation to the work of evangelization? Does our charisma push us to work in this direction?
A community is identified and unified by its common project based on prayer, the experiences of so many missionaries and our documents. Too many visions do not unify a community and a community will not have an integrative and challenging aspect to our surrounding, if we are not united by the common vision (identity) of the Missionaries of Africa. The search continues and thanks to our community project we will see a good united community in their apostolic approach.
A blessed Advent time.
Bernhard Wernke, M.Afr
Date: 6 December 2013
The Apostolic Nunciature (Vatican Embassy) in Malawi is pleased to announce that His Holiness Pope Francis has appointed Right Reverend Montfort Stima, hitherto Auxiliary Bishop of Blantyre, to Mangochi Diocese.
The Right Reverend Montfort Stima, currently Diocesan Administrator of the Archdiocese of Blantyre, remains in charge of the Archdiocese up until Rt. Rev. Thomas Msusa will take possession of the Archiepiscopal See of Blantyre.
Rt. Reverend Montfort Stima hails from Khomera Village, TA Dambe, Mwanza, Neno. He was born on 27th December 1957; ordained a priest on 3rd August 1986 at Limbe Cathedral; appointed auxiliary bishop of the archdiocese of Blantyre on 24 January 2010.
Fr. Lungu with other CSO members during the press briefing at Golden bridge hotel
Tuesday, 03 December
Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) consortium has today, 3rd December 2013 held a press briefing demanding the release of the final draft constitution. Reading a unified statement from across the church, the opposition political parties, civil society and the youth movement in particular on the subject of the release of the Final Draft Constitution, Zambia Episcopal Conference Secretary General Fr. Cleophas Lungu said the reported statement by the President of the Republic of Zambia on 30th November 2013 in Mansa that ‘‘we do not need a new constitution, the current constitution only needs to be amended’’ makes very sad reading. Fr. Lungu said the statement has confused all well-meaning Zambians. PRESS STATEMENT
GETTING TO ZERO: Let there be zero new HIV Infections-zero HIV/AIDS related deaths-zero stigma and discrimination
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ.
Today, the first Sunday of Advent, receive our greetings as the Church begins a new Liturgical Year, a journey of faith that, on one hand prepares us of for Christmas and, on the other hand, directs our minds and hearts to Christ’s Second Coming. Today we also join the rest of the world to commemorate the World AIDS Day, which is observed on annually on 1st December. The World AIDS Day is an important occasion when governments, national AIDS programs, faith and community organizations, and individuals around the world bring their attention to the global AIDS pandemic. This message aims at inviting all the Catholic faithful to join hands in emphasizing the critical need for a committed, meaningful and sustained response to the pandemic.
FULL TEXT IN ENGLISH
FULL TEXT IN CHICHEWA
We, Catholic Bishops of Malawi have followed with great concern events surrounding the revelations of what appears to be massive looting of public resources dubbed as “Capital Hill Cash gate”. We have taken time to understand what is happening, to ponder and pray over these revelations and we are still shocked that such things could happen in this God fearing country. This scandal is an embarrassment to the country and an indication of serious moral decadence and dwindling levels of patriotism in our country. We are dismayed that materialism, corruption and get rich quick syndrome seem to be on the rise at the expense of truth, honesty and hard working. It is in this context, that we your pastors humbly but truthfully propose a critical reflection on the issues relating to this scandal, the impact of the looting , and call for appropriate, proportionate and timely actions .
We note in this scandal the following:
• Huge sums of public resources have been swindled for purely selfish gains at the expense of service delivery;
• A syndicate organized and cooperated to loot public resources pointing to a structural and entrenched way in which evil has taken root in our midst;
• The financial management structures and systems have been rendered powerless largely because of human machinations and lack of human integrity.
FULL TEXT IN ENGLISH
FULL TEXT IN CHICHEWA
Also:
Pastoral Letter of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi:
In English
In Chichewa
In Chitumbuka
Dear Confrere,
This morning I accompanied our Theology students (10) to the University. The University-Studium Theologicum Salesianum- is run by Salesians. It is a Pontifical University affiliated to Rome. Presently it has 62 students in total. A few lay students also. The M.Afr have ten Theology students, 4 in the first year, 1 in the second yr, 1 also in the third year and 4 Deacons in the fourth year. Our students come from various countries-Zambia, Burkina Faso, Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda and Ghana. The Rector at St Anne, Dominique teaches Church History. I had also the opportunity to following the morning’s lectures including, Trinity class, taught by Bill, our confrere. The College Principal is from India-Salesian and the Administrator is a Kenyan. Our Theologians go for classes from Monday till Saturday, and they have to walk a distance of about 45min from St Anne (East Jerusalem-Old City-Arab & Palestinian area) to West Jerusalem (New City-Jewish area). Today, at 11.00, we took a short break from a lecture in Spiritual Theological to bid farewell to the Ghanaian Cardinal-Peter Turkson, who had come for a visit. It was a good to see where our students learn, the environment and to follow a few lectures with them. Our Deacon, and Zambian confere, Emmanuel Mubanga is studying at the college. He is appearing in a few pictures I have attached.
God Bless and May the Souls of all the Faithful departed, through the Mercy of God, Rest in Eternal Peace.
Phelim Malumo, M.Afr
Additional news: Warm greetings from the Holy Land
Dear All,
Good news!
We have a new Bishop for Mansa.
Fr. Patrick Chisanga OFM Conventual. He was the provincial of the Conventuals between 2008 and 2012 in Zambia.
While we wish him a fruitful episcopate we also welcome back our Mike with warm hands. It has been a long road! Welcome back Mike and congratulations!
Christopher Chileshe, SAP Provincial
Pope appoints Fr Chisanga Mansa bishop
By Masuzyo Chakwe, The Post Newspaper Sun 01 Dec. 2013
POPE Francis has appointed Fr Patrick Chisanga as the new bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Mansa.According to Zambia Episcopal Conference spokesperson Fr Paul Samasumo, Fr Chisanga was a Franciscan priest of a religious congregation within the Catholic Church known as the Order of Friars Minor Conventual. “Fr Chisanga is currently a lecturer of Psychology at St Bonaventure College in Lusaka’s Makeni township. The Diocese of Mansa has had no substantive Bishop since the retirement of Bishop Aaron Chisha on 15 January 2009. Fr Michael Merizzi, a missionary priest of the White Fathers, has been the Apostolic Administrator. Fr Merizzi will continue to be in charge of the Diocese of Mansa until the Bishop-elect, Fr Chisanga, is ordained as Bishop of Mansa, on a date to be announced,” he stated. He stated that Fr Chisanga was born on the Copperbelt in Kamuchanga, Mufulira on May 16, 1971 and completed his secondary school education at the minor seminary of Ndola Diocese in 1990.
After school, he joined the Order of Friars Minor Conventual and upon completion of training as a Franciscan student studying philosophy and theology, Fr Chisanga was ordained a priest on June 27, 1999 in Ndola. In 2006, Fr Chisanga obtained a doctoral degree in clinical psychology at the Gregorian University in Rome, Italy. Since his ordination as a priest, Fr Chisanga has served the Church in various capacities as a parish priest, director of formation for the Franciscans, in charge of the Franciscans here in Zambia and as a senior lecturer of Psychology at St Bonaventure College. ZAMBIE – Nomination de l’Évêque de Mansa Cité du Vatican (Agence Fides) – Le Saint-Père François, en date du 30 novembre 2013, a nommé Evêque du Diocèse de Mansa, en Zambie, le Père Patrick Chisanga, O.F.M. Conv., ancien Ministre provincial de l’Ordre des Frères mineurs conventuels en Zambie. Le nouvel Evêque est né le 16 mai 1971 à Kamuchanga, dans le Diocèse de Ndola. Une fois achevés l’école primaire à Buyantanshi et le collège, à Mufulira – Ndola, il a été admis au Petit Séminaire de Ndola. En 1990, il est entré comme Postulant au sein de l’Ordre des Frères mineurs conventuels. Il a effectué son Noviciat à Solwezi et a émis ses vœux temporaires en 1992. Après avoir achevé ses études de Philosophie et de Théologie, il a émis ses voeux perpétuels à Nairobi en 1998. Il a été ordonné prêtre le 27 juin 1999. Après son ordination sacerdotale, il a exercé les ministères suivants : 1999-2001 : Curé de Saints Michel et Noé à Kitwe, 2001-2002 : Vice-gardien et formateur au Collège Bonaventure de Regina Pacis à Chawama-Lusaka, 2002-2006 : Etudes supérieures en Psychologie à Rome près l’Université pontificale grégorienne, 2006-2008 : Gardien et Directeur de la formation des étudiants en Théologie près le Makeny Friary de Lusaka, simultanément, enseignant de Psychologie au Collège Bonaventure de Lusaka, 2008-2012 : Ministre provincial des Frères mineurs conventuels de la Province de Zambie et Malawi. Il est actuellement professeur au Collège Bonaventure de Lusaka. (SL) (Agence Fides 30/11/2013)
125th Anniversary of Cardinal Lavigerie’s Anti-Slavery campaign.
Many events and initiatives at the level of SAP during the year
As I am writing these lines, one of the major events organised at the level of SAP to mark the 125th anniversary of Lavigerie’s Anti-Slavery campaign, has just come to an end. Initially, it had been envisaged that a bus highlighting the Anti-Slavery campaign would tour through all the sectors of the Province picking up and dropping off people as it went along. As it was, the Mozambique sector was the only one able to organise this aspect of the campaign. A minibus set off from Beira on 29th August and travelled to Tete, the boom town along the Zambezi River, picking up some people from our parishes of Dombe and Sussundenga. A two day awareness event was organised in Tete and the same happened in Chimoio a week later. Hundreds of people took part. The final event took place in Beira, at the Nazaré centre, from 12th to 15th September 2013. Conferences, debates, drama, radio and television interviews took place and there was a 4-day-long continuous and interested involvement of some 80 participants. This was a considerable achievement for our confreres in Mozambique.
By Claudio Zuccala, M.Afr
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TEXTE COMPLET EN FRANÇAIS