Missionaries of Africa – Southern Africa Province (SAP) – Page 86

Frederick Limo N’Getich (Kenya), Emmanuel Mubanga Chisanga (Zambia), His Beatitude Msgr. Fouad Twal, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Vincent Kyererezi (Uganda), Bonaventure Bwanakweri (Rwanda)

It was on the 30^th of April, Feast of Our Lady of Africa, that I found myself and my companions in the basilica of St. Anne’s well surrounded by friends who had come to witness our Missionary Oath. The Mass was presided over by the Superior General of the Society, Rev. Fr. Richard Kuuia Bawoobr who was visiting the community at that time. Such a day had always seemed to be in a far distance; a day that belonged to the future. However on 30^th April, the future and the present embraced and culminated in a ‘Yes’. It was a day full of emotions and trust in the Lord who asks us to stand in His presence and serve Him. For nine years now, I have journeyed with the Missionaries of Africa and the journey has not always been smooth and easy. Just like anywhere in life, there have been times of joy and of sorrow but in all circumstances the Lord has always stood by me. If I made my final and perpetual commitment, it is basically because of the trust I have in the Lord. My vocation story has less to do with me; rather it has more to do with the Lord.

By Emmanuel Mubanga Chisanga, M.Afr

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SAP Blog administrator apologies for being so late to publish this beautiful reports. There is a say in French which states: “Mieux vaut tard que jamais!”

: Frederick Limo N’Getich (Kenya), Emmanuel Mubanga Chisanga (Zambia), His Beatitude Msgr. Fouad Twal, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Vincent Kyererezi (Uganda), Bonaventure Bwanakweri (Rwanda)

: Signature of the Oath

: Emmanuel Mubanga Chisanga

Death of Father Gérard Lebel

By Missionaries of Africa - Southern Africa Province (SAP)

On November 10, 2013

In News

“I am the resurrection and the life.

He who believes in me will still live, even if he dies. ” John 11, 25

Father Julien Cormier, Provincial of the Americas, informs you of the death of

FATHER GÉRARD LEBEL, M.Afr.

He died on November 9, 2013, in Sherbrooke (Canada), at the age of 84 years of which 56 of missionary life in Zambia and Canada. The funeral service will take place on Tuesday, November 12, 2013 at 11h00 a.m., at 100 rue du Cardinal-Lavigerie, Sherbrooke.

LET US PRAY FOR HIM AND HIS FAMILY.

Missionary journey of Fr. Gérard Lebel:

14/12/1958 Curate at St Mary’s, Fort James Diocese, North Rhodesia
03/06/1959 Curate at Chassa
17/10/1959 Curate at Naviruli
08/05/1961 Curate at Minga
07/11/1961 Curate at Nyimba
06/12/1965 Curate at Chikungu, ChipataDiocese, Zambia
06/07/1966 Superieur at Lumimba
01/01/1973 Curate at Nyimba
01/01/1976 Curate at Minga
09/03/1980 Session and Retreat in Jerusalem
01/01/1981 Curate at Kalichero and Cikowa
01/01/1984 1^st Cycle Ottawa, Riverdale, Canada
27/10/1984 Curate at Msipazi, Chipata Diocese, Zambia
01/02/1989 Curate at Nyimba, Chipata Diocese, Zambia
01/10/1995 Curate at Minga, Chipata Diocese, Zambia
07/05/1997 Session + 60 and Sabbatical. Monte Cucco, Roma
19/04/1999 Nomination to ANA (PE.99/6), Canada
01/09/1999 Accueil Montréal, L’Acadie ANA/Canada
01/11/2005 Residence Lennoxville
09-11-2013 Back to our Father in Heaven, Sherbrooke, Canada
May his soul rest in perfect peace.

Global sisters leader: Pope calls us to move, make a difference

By Missionaries of Africa - Southern Africa Province (SAP)

On November 5, 2013

In News, Publications

Sr. Carmen Sammut, the president of the International Union of Superiors General, is seen in her office at the union’s Rome headquarters Sept. 30. (NCR photo/Joshua J. McElwee)

Pope Francis is calling on Catholics “not to remain static” and to choose how they can make a difference for others, the leader of a group of 600,000 Catholic sisters and nuns around the world said.

The pope, Sr. Carmen Sammut said recently, is giving the world “great hope.”

“It’s like a window opening toward something new, where the church is more seen as people of God, not just the hierarchy,” Sammut said. “It’s fascinating. You want to know what’s going to happen next.”

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My first experience of home leave, by Alex Manda

By Missionaries of Africa - Southern Africa Province (SAP)

On November 1, 2013

In News

“The apostles returned and reported to Jesus all they had done and taught. Then he said to them, “Go off by yourselves to a remote place and have some rest”. Mk 6, 30-31

Jesus invited his disciples to rest after days of preaching his message in Galilee. I needed the same after three years of mission in Korhogo, Ivory Coast.

I enjoy sharing news with my family members, friends and confreres after such a long time of absence including my experience in Ivory Coast. I listened to them about their own life experiences here in Zambia. My resting was not simply sleeping but meeting different people at different places. It was also very comforting.

I had a chance to pay a visit to some of my confreres in Zambia. I saw their various ways of doing their ministries such as Kasama, Kitwe, Serene, Woodlands, Kabwata and Fenza. I met some of my brothers diocesan priests, very welcoming, in my Parish in Kaputa as well as the Cathedral in Kasama.

I attended the closing celebrations of the year of faith at Nakonde Parish. It was a wonderful celebration with teaching on faith and sketches about the first missionaries who came to Zambia. The video below shows in a colorful way how Father Joseph Dupont, known as Bishop Motomoto, healed the wounds of chief Makasa, event that sparkle his missionary encounter.

I praise God for guiding me during this time of resting. May the Good Lord bless me and all confreres in our places of mission!

Alex Manda, M.Afr, back to Korhogo, Ivory Coast.

See the following video on YouTube:

Play of the arrival of Motomoto in Nakonde, Zambia

SAP Financial Council in Woodlands – 29th October 2013

By Missionaries of Africa - Southern Africa Province (SAP)

On October 30, 2013

In News

SAP Financial Council gathered in Woodlands on the 29^th October to review the 2013 financial year and come up with a consolidated budget for 2014. Tremendous work professionally done with Didier Lemaire from South Africa, Jean de Dieu Bukuru from Mozambique, Paul Namono from Malawi, Jaya Brodhan from Zambia under the leadership of Karl Kälin, Provincial Treasurer.

Let us support their dedication in guiding our Province on the side of finances in order to answer the call from the Lord to be good stewards as it was pointed out in the opening prayer for the meeting; “Men of hope inspired by Christ, we pray and work in community for a better world” (from the SAP Pre-Capitular Assembly of 2010).

Bulletin JPIC-ED No 10 Oct-Nov 2013

By Missionaries of Africa - Southern Africa Province (SAP)

On October 27, 2013

In Publications

Builder of Bridges between People – Passion for dialogue

Our confrere Etienne Renaud passed away in June this year. From the many testimonies offered at his funeral, two phrases seem to summarize his missionary vision and life: Builder of bridges between people – Passion for dialogue. This is the legacy that Etienne passes on to us as we continue on our missionary journey in our stormy world.

I invite you to meditate on Etienne’s words which he pronounced in his homily, 25 years ago, when for the first time as Superior General, he received five young men – from different races and nationalities – into the Society on the day they made their Oath (Toulouse, 2^ndJanuary 1988):

“You are going to find a continent in search for unity, countries confronted with racial and tribal conflicts. The communities of the Missionaries of Africa, not only international but also inter-racial will be a sign and a call. The group you form today is a symbol of what will be our communities of tomorrow.

You are going to find a continent in search of justice, countries confronting the problems of corruption, violation of human rights, inequalities in the sharing of meagre resources. You will have to open your hearts to be in solidarity with the poor and the oppressed. The struggle for justice is not optional. The Church everywhere must be a sign of hope.

In the countries where you will be sent, you will find people marching on the way to God, using other paths different from the one that Jesus opened for us. I think, in a special way, of Islam and all types of religious movements springing up in Africa. Remember that the unique solution for a Christian is to go up to the end of the Gospel demands, to be contagious of Jesus Christ, in the respect of other religious paths.”

May his soul rest in peace.

Nnyombi Richard, M Afr.

See Video funerals of Etienne Renaud

And an article written by Fr. André Ferré

Mafrwestafrica – Lettre du 26 octobre 2013

By Missionaries of Africa - Southern Africa Province (SAP)

On October 27, 2013

In Publications

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 » :

« Ordination sacerdotale de David Gnadouwa » : notre jeune confrère a été ordonné le 28 septembre à Atakpamé et est parti en mission en Tunisie.(lire la suite)

« Merci du Père Richard Baawobr à la PAO », la lettre de remerciement de notre Supérieur général et de son conseil, suite à la tenue du conseil plénier à Ouagadougou. (lire la suite)

« Baobab Echos N° 17, octobre 2013» – le dernier bulletin de notre province d’Afrique de l’Ouest (lire la suite)

« Les statistiques de l’Eglise catholique », En vue de la Journée Mondiale des Missions, Dimanche 20 octobre, l’Agence Fides a présenté des statistiques choisies de manière à offrir un panorama de l’Église missionnaire dans le monde. (lire la suite)

Dans la rubrique « Témoignages »

« Homélie de Mgr Touabli au CFMA » Vincent Kiye, étudiant au Cenfre de Formation Missionnaire d’Abidjan, partage ses réflexions suite à l’homélie prononcée par l’évêque d’Agboville, Mgr Alexis Touabli.(lire la suite)

Dans la rubrique « Justice et paix » :

« Le centre Delwende à Ouagadougou». Ce centre, créé par les sœurs Missionnaires de ND d’Afrique en 1966, accueille des femmes qui ont été chassées de leur village et de leur famille sous prétexte de sorcellerie (lire la suite)

« L’or tue les enfants », un article du Père Maurice Oudet sur les méfaits du développement des sites aurifères au Burkina et au Mali (lire la suite)

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

« Le rôle essentiel des petits producteurs », un article paru sur le site abcburkina.net, où le Père Maurice Oudet se réjouit que la place primordiale des petits producteurs commence à être enfin reconnue.(lire la suite)