Vocation animation – Page 2 – Missionaries of Africa

By Michel Meunier, M.Afr

25^th – 26^th October 2014

On Saturday and Sunday, from 9am to 4pm, around 250 people came from fifty (50) different parishes (out of 120 parishes in the whole archdiocese). Not bad, for a first time! But we got the quality, if not the expected quantity: we had aimed at five delegates from each parish, which would have amounted to 600! The M.Afr who took part were Jan DeGroef (Bishop), Didier Michon, Christophe Boyer, Martin Somda (stagiaire), Seán O’Leary and Michel Meunier.

The AIMS of the Congress were:

to explore ways for us, the Church, to fulfil our vocation of proclaiming the Gospel / Mission
to move from maintenance to being on mission (enlarge our tent)
to celebrate our baptismal call together
to take back to our parishes the motivation to move forward on mission

FULL TEXT PDF FILE

Link: Missionary Congress in October 2014 in South Africa

Newsletter South Africa no 44 – October 2014

By Missionaries of Africa - Southern Africa Province (SAP)

On October 27, 2014

In Publications

Ongoing construction at the Preparatory Centre in Chipata, Zambia

By Missionaries of Africa - Southern Africa Province (SAP)

On October 6, 2014

In News

About 80 workers are working hard at Chipata to build the Preparatory Centre. Here some pictures showing the progress being done. Threes were also planted under the supervision of Jaya Bordhan and the amazement of Filiyanus Ekka and Richard Dery from Mzuzu, Malawi.

See the link:

Ground work at the Preparatory Centre in Chipata, Zambia

Missionary Congress in October 2014 in South Africa

By Missionaries of Africa - Southern Africa Province (SAP)

On September 21, 2014

In News, South Africa Sector

Greetings in our Lord!

“The pilgrim Church is missionary by her very nature” (Vatican II)

Indeed, this striking statement is found in the Decree on the Mission Activity of the Church, Ad Gentes, N^o 2. This should propel us into action with the realisation that such is our Mission in the Church: to go out of our sacristies and our rectories together with our parishioners and reach out to those at the peripheries, to use a favourite expression of Pope Francis.

About two years ago, a group of Missionary Congregations/Institutes started to meet together in order to prepare the annual Mission Month (October). This year, with the approbation of his Grace Archbishop Buti Tlhagale, we have started planning for a Missionary Congress to take place on the last weekend of Mission Month, (Saturday & Sunday, 25^th & 26^th October). It will take place at St. Benedict’s School in Bedfordview.

We have decided to use the theme of this year’s Lenten Season: “Belonging to Christ Committed for Mission”

Our confrere Bishop Jan DeGroef has been a real source of inspiration for many aspects of the Congress (he is the Bishop in charge of the Department of Evangelisation for the Bishops’ Conference). Seán O’Leary will also give a conference on the situation of South Sudan.

“Enlarge the space of your tent” (Isaiah 54:2) will be our main sub-theme. We shall base our presentations (talks, group discussions, liturgies, testimonies, PowerPoint/films, etc.) on Pope Francis’ Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium. We will have very interesting and fiery testimonies by Missionaries (religious and lay) who are already very committed in their parishes here in South Africa or outside (ad extra).

For the time being, I think these few pieces of info will give you an idea of what we are planning. I will write more later on.

Michel Meunier, M.Afr

Ground work at the Preparatory Centre in Chipata, Zambia

By Missionaries of Africa - Southern Africa Province (SAP)

On September 17, 2014

In News

At about 600 km from Lusaka to the east of Zambia and 20 km or so from the Zambia-Malawi border, is situated “one of Zambia’s most beautiful towns”, Chipata, ‘decorated’ with escarpments and mountains.

And it’s in this beautiful, quiet and prayerful environment, and at the foot of one of its mountains, that the Southern Africa Province has thought it right to put up the Preparatory Centre with a view, as its name indicates, to welcoming and preparing our missionary candidates for the first phase of formation, philosophy.

It’s a big project! The Centre, being built on the plot of about 18 hectares and currently monitored by Father Jaya, the assistant provincial bursar, has just seen its foundations being put up not more than two weeks ago. The Centre will comprise, at its completion, the house for Formators, two dormitories endowed with 10 rooms each for the total number of 20 candidates, a dining hall, two conference rooms, a chapel, a playground, and of course a garden and an orchard. The Centre is expected to be operational by September next year, with the enrolment of the first in-take.

Maybe the question that may come to one’s mind is: why in Chipata, a town so far away from the Capital city, Lusaka? The reason is that the Centre is meant to welcome all the candidates originating from the Province, meaning candidates coming from Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique and South Africa. In this case, Chipata qualifies as the best location, for it is the centre.

We wish courage and God’s blessings to the Province of SAP in this and many other projects for Mission’s sake!

See PDF file

By Albert Chilufya, M.Afr

Newsletter South Africa no 39 – May 2014

By Missionaries of Africa - Southern Africa Province (SAP)

On May 31, 2014

In News, Publications, South Africa Sector

Present Magazine Christmas 2013

By Missionaries of Africa - Southern Africa Province (SAP)

On December 23, 2013

In Publications

Christmas greetings from the Southern, I hope and trust that all is well with you and that you are eagerly waiting to welcome the Light of the world, Christ, our King and Saviour.

At Christmas, Christ brings us the blessings of great joy, a message of peace and the immense love of God, his Father. It is no doubt that our Holy Father’s message in his Apostolic Exhortation, “Evangelii Gaudium”, echoes this fact and invites us to be messengers of Joy and Hope in our changing world today.

I invite you all to find a copy of this captivating, challenging and converting message from our Holy Father. Believe me that, after you have read his message, you will never be the same, change will definitely be felt and seen in you. Indeed, there will surely be some transformation in your life. I have read it and it has made me reflect and let myself be challenged by its richness and depth.

May you experience the Joy of Christmas and be compelled to radiate it to all you meet, especially the little ones and the marginalised of our society.

God bless and may the King who brings us Peace, Joy and Love, be your guide and strength. I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Full magazine

Fr. Kangwa Francis, M.Afr – Vocation Director

From Left: Julius Musonda, Fr. Kangwa, Rogers Mwansa and Peter Mutasha

Present Magazine November 2013

By Missionaries of Africa - Southern Africa Province (SAP)

On November 19, 2013

In Publications

I hope and trust that you are all fine. This year has been quiet busy for me with Fr. Mambwe leaving Kolibo Center for his new appointment. My life will now be more than ever before between Serenje and anywhere else. At present I am in Serenje with ten young men for a “Come and See” after which I shall be headed to Chipata next week 25^th November to 29th for another “Come and See” with six young men.

It is good to note that the East has continued to grow as regards the number of aspirants; we can only thank the Lord and also appreciate the efforts of our confrères there, who have been so motivating and instrumental in this ministry. FULL TEXT