Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

Posted on by Vitus Danaa Abobo

Zephaniah 2:3, 3:12-13 / Ps 145(146) / 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 / Mt 5:1-12

There are writings, which raise the admiration of people for the depth and the beauty of the language, as they touch the depth of people’s feelings.

I would consider the page of the Gospel proclaimed today, the Beatitudes, in the way Matthew transmitted them, among the most touching texts, somehow like S. Francis’ Canticles of Creatures or – especially for those who have been in touch with Italian culture – Dante’s Hymn to Mary in the Paradise part of the Divine Comedy.

As a matter of fact, Matthew places the Beatitudes at the beginning of the first of Jesus’ teachings. We know that, as presented by commentators, Matthew builds the main body of his gospel around five sections containing a speech and a series of actions by Jesus. To this body of teachings and actions Matthew places at the beginning the narratives linked to the birth of Jesus. At the end, he places the accounts of the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus.

As we know, the opening expression gives the main idea, which the author intends to develop: ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit’.

It is an expression that includes all the people whose lives are open to the action and the promptings of the Lord. They know their dependence from God and they do not consider themselves self-sufficient in anything.

Jesus then continues with pointing out the aspects of mourning, meekness, hunger for justice, mercy and purity of heart. These attitudes in life are a consequence of being poor in spirit. They intend to show the type of relationships we ought to build up with people, as followers of Jesus.

In the tradition of spirituality, these attitudes are considered virtues in themselves. The virtue of humility sums up these attitudes as being part of the life of the follower of Jesus.

To this, we add also the situation of being persecuted for the sake of Jesus. It is, as we know, something that happens frequently in many places. It includes the situations where to believe in Jesus is outlawed by the authorities, as are the places where the fact of being a Christian believer places him outside and even, if not against the common mentality of the majority group. Consequently, the person feels excluded from the day-to-day conversation with fellow citizens and has no access to some social functions and responsibilities in society. 

The gospel text finds its roots in the words of the prophet Zephaniah, proclaimed in the first reading today. The prophet was addressing himself to the people in a time when in Israelite society prevailed a kind of ‘laziness’ in religious practices: people were celebrating a cult which had become mixed with practices imported from the religious traditions of neighbouring peoples. In addition, society was marked by a deep divide between the rich and the poor. The latter were left to fend for themselves in trying to work out a mere survival.

It was, historically, the time before the reform of king Josiah which began around 622 B.C.

The prophet indicates the presence of people who are humble, as those who will build the nations renewed, made up of people whose religion is genuine.

Humble people recognise their need of God. They accept God in their lives. Consequently, their religious practices are genuine: they stem from a heart that is open to the word of God. In other words, they accept God and obey his commandments. They do not celebrate the cult to bend God to suit their plans, as it was often the case with religious practices taken from other peoples.

The same attitude of humility appears in the second reading, taken form the first letter to the community of Corinth. Paul states that God’s project, which Jesus brought, is realised through the poor in spirit. They are the people who are mostly open to the word of God.

The gospel initially spread among the poor and the humble of the land.

It continues to be true today. The history of many churches shows that evangelization is often the result of actions carried out by simple people who become fascinated by the person of Jesus and are attracted by the message of the gospel. They are the first witnesses to Christ, who then spread the message.

The question we ask ourselves is how to put these words of Jesus in practice in our societies today. We realize that our world proposes a type of attitudes where to prevail over others and to be strong are considered the ways to success. To achieve one’s ideals in life, one needs to overcome other people, to be stronger than they and to arrive first.

Leadership in society is often achieved through strength. We know of governments that maintain power through strong means which too often lead to violence. I mean, we know of governments which maintain order and stifle opposition with violent means. They equate voicing difference of opinion with treason and consider those who voice different opinions as enemies.

In addition, in our daily actions, we realise that we do not easily give way to others when, for example, getting into a bus or queuing up in public offices. We want to prevail.

The word of God of this Sunday, instead, shows a different path.

It may be considered foolish by public mentality. Nevertheless, it is the only way with which we may build a better society. It is important that people feel at home and feel respected and valued for what they are, that is, human persons and not just numbers.

Would not kindness towards others be equated to humility? Or to be the poor in Spirit who are called blessed by Jesus?

I think that humility, as the Gospel teaches it, is the way for us Christians, believers in Jesus, to contribute to the building up of a more just world and a peaceful coexistence.

By: Luigi Morell, M.Afr.

Bernard Lecomte R.I.P.

Posted on by Vitus Danaa Abobo

Society of the Missionaries of Africa
Father Michel Girard Provincial Delegate of the sector of France,
informs you of the return to the Lord of Father

Bernard Lecomte

on Monday, 26th January 2026 in Bry-Sur-Marne (France)
at the age of 87 years, of which 61 years of missionary life
in Mali and France.

Let us pray for him and for his loved ones.

Download here the announcement of Father Bernard Lecomte’s death

Milestones in the life of Father Bernard Lecomte

Born in:
Monterfil
on 02/02/1938		Spiritual YearMissionary OathPriestly
Ordination
Diocese:
Rennes		11/09/196126/06/196429/06/1965
Citizenship:
French		Gap
(France)		Vals, Le Puy
(France)		Rennes
(France)

Bionotes

01/01/1966Apprend LangueFalaje CELAMali
02/07/1966VicaireKati, D. BamakoMali
30/06/1970VicaireKatiMali
01/05/1971SupérieurGoualalaMali
01/01/1974VicaireBuguniMali
01/10/1974VicaireFalajeMali
20/11/1976ToulouseFrance
01/02/1978LilleFrance
01/10/1984Centre ProfessionnelNiarela,D.BamakoMali
01/08/1985Vicaire temporaireKolokaniMali
01/09/1986MigrantsVitry-sur-SeineFrance
01/10/1988ResponsableVitry-sur-SeineFrance
01/09/1989+Curé ND de NazarethVitry-sur-SeineFrance
25/04/1991Curé H.C.:BessancourtFrance
01/10/1993Curé H.C.:BessancourtFrance
01/09/1996Curé H.C.:MontlignonFrance
15/10/2002Curé H.C.:Nesles-la ValléeFrance
01/09/2016Ministère à Isle-AdamMoursFrance
01/08/2025RésidenceBry-Sur-MarneFrance
26/01/2026DCD (87)Bry-Sur-MarneFrance

Raymond Gallard R.I.P.

Posted on by Vitus Danaa Abobo

Society of the Missionaries of Africa
Father Michel Girard Provincial Delegate of the sector of France,
informs you of the return to the Lord of Father

Raymond Gallard

on Monday, 26th January 2026 in Pau (France)
at the age of 95 years, of which 69 years of missionary life
in Guinea, Burkina Faso, Mauritania and France.

Let us pray for him and for his loved ones.

Download here the announcement of Father Raymond Gallard’s death

Milestones in the life of Father Raymond Gallard

Born in:
St-Florent le Vieil
on 04/10/1930		Spiritual YearMissionary OathPriestly
Ordination
Diocese:
Angers		26/09/195226/06/195621/04/1957
Citizenship:
French		Maison-Carrée
(Algeria)		Thibar
(Tunisia)		Carthage
(Tunisia)

Bionotes

31/08/1957Arrive àKolouma, D. NzerekoreGuinée
12/01/1963SupérieurKoloumaGuinée
08/12/1968VicaireTougan, D. NounaHaute Volta
01/11/1972Stage de BambaraFalajeHaute Volta
01/04/1973ProcureNounaHaute Volta
01/09/1974EvêchéDedougouHaute Volta
01/01/1979H.C.:BordeauxFrance
01/01/1980SupérieurBordeauxFrance
01/07/1983AumônerieTounouma, Bobo-DioulassoHaute Volta O
01/09/1984VicaireToussianaHaute Volta O
15/09/1986VicaireN’Dorola, D. Bobo-DioulassoBurkina Faso
01/12/1996VicaireKonadugu, D. Bobo-DioulassoBurkina Faso
02/07/1997MinistèreMauritanieMauritanie
19/01/1999Rattaché à MaliNouakchott, MauritaniMauritanie
01/09/2003EconomeParis, VerlommeFrance
15/09/2007ServicesMoursFrance
15/09/2017RésidenceBillère, M. LavigerieFrance
26/01/2026DCD (95)PauFrance

Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

Posted on by Vitus Danaa Abobo

Isaiah 8:23-9:3 / Psalm 26 (27) / 1 Corinthians 1:10-13, 17 / Matthew 4:12-23

Brothers and sisters, on this Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, the Word of God presents us with a fundamental requirement of Christian life: conversion to Christ, light of the world, and the ecclesial communion that flows from it. Today’s liturgy is illuminated by the feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul, an exemplary figure of faith transformed by a personal encounter with Jesus Christ.

The historical and spiritual context of the texts is illuminating: the prophet Isaiah addresses a people ravaged by Assyrian domination. The regions of Zebulun and Naphtali, humiliated throughout history, become the site of a divine promise: God never abandons those areas of humanity that are afflicted. This promised light foreshadows the complete revelation of Christ, ‘light of the nations,’ as emphasised in the Dogmatic Constitution of the Second Vatican Council, Lumen gentium, no. 1. Saint Paul, in his first letter to the Corinthians, addresses a Church divided by competing allegiances. He re-centres faith on the essential: Christ crucified. The Second Vatican Council (Ad gentes, no. 2) reminds us that ‘the Church derives its origin from the mission of the Son and the mission of the Holy Spirit,’ and not from human strategies. In the Gospel according to Saint Matthew, Jesus begins his mission in Galilee with a radical call to conversion: ‘Repent.’ He calls disciples to join him in his salvific mission. This missionary dynamic remains constitutive of the Church, which is called to be ‘missionary by nature’ (Ad gentes, no. 2).

Three main messages emerge from today’s readings: the first message is that of light: God intervenes in history to free man from the darkness of sin and death. This is what Pope Benedict XVI emphasised when he said that “the Christian faith is first and foremost an encounter with an event, with a Person…” (Deus caritas est, no. 1). The second message is the constant call to conversion. The conversion of Saint Paul is the model offered to us today: it is an interior transformation that leads to a universal mission. It is to this conversion that Pope Francis invited the Church when he said that missionary conversion challenges the whole Church to go out of herself to proclaim the Gospel (Evangelii gaudium, no. 27). The third message is the demand for unity. Crisis, division, and the call to conversion are characteristics of today’s texts; they remind us that division undermines the credibility of the Christian message. I am currently working on a thesis on Malian commentators’ interpretations of the Koran, in which Christian division is very often cited as a sign of false Christian faith. We can therefore understand the urgency of the words of Saint John Paul II, who reminded us that Christian unity ‘is not an accessory, but a condition for the world to believe’ (Ut unum sint, n. 99).

These messages are relevant for our time and for our mission in Africa. Indeed, in a contemporary context marked by social and ideological fragmentation both within and outside the Church, the Church is called to be a living sign of communion. It is the new evangelisation that actualises the mystery of the Incarnation and makes it tangible. Pope Francis’s observation is worth highlighting here. While social networks offer new possibilities for evangelisation, this must not be reduced to a mere communication strategy (Evangelii gaudium, no. 34). The Church must be present in a way that transforms the world and all its structures from within. For us as Missionaries of Africa, the challenge is to bear witness to the living Christ through words rooted in the teaching of the Church and a coherent life. The mission cannot be credible without constant personal conversion, as the Directory for Catechesis (2020) reminds us in no. 5. This ongoing personal conversion is the living source of the Church’s unity in the diversity of cultures and sensibilities, a prophetic witness to the world. As affirmed in Lumen gentium, no. 1, the Church is called to be ‘a sign and instrument of intimate union with God and of the unity of the whole human race.’

On this day, as we celebrate the conversion of Saint Paul, the Word of God invites us to focus our lives on Christ, to allow ourselves to be continually converted, and to build communion. May missionaries, especially in the digital space and in the wounded areas of our world, be faithful witnesses to the light of Christ, for the glory of God and the salvation of the world.

Our Lady of Africa, pray for us and watch over our contemporary mission! Amen.

By: Adrien Sawadogo, M.Afr.

Training session on safeguarding of minors at Ruzizi, Bukavu-D.R. Congo

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Father Arsène Somda, safeguarding delegate for the Sector of Bukavu, in collaboration with formators from our philosophy formation house, Notre-Dame-d’Afrique de la Ruzizi, in Bukavu, organised a three-day training session from 15th to 17th December 2025.

Focusing on the prevention of abuse and the protection of children and vulnerable persons, the session addressed three themes: the definition of terms specific to the Safeguarding Ministry (children, minors, abuse and others); the different categories of persons who require special attention within the Church (children/minors, vulnerable adults and persons in situations of vulnerability); the different types of abuse and their consequences for victims.

Participants also had time to share their thoughts on the questions raised during the session. The session ended with vespers, during which, in the presence of the formators, the students signed the pastoral code of conduct on safeguarding for the Central African Province (PAC).

Safeguarding is our commitment!

By: Arsène Somda, M.Afr. (Provincial Coordinator of the PAC for Safeguarding)

The Superior General Meets with New Ghanaian Ambassador to the Holy See

Posted on by Serge Zihalirwa BOROTO

On the afternoon of Friday, 16 January 2026, the Superior General, Fr. Stanley Lubungo, M.Afr., welcomed the Ambassador of the Republic of Ghana to the Holy See, H.E. Ben Batabe Assorow, to the Generalate of the Society of Missionaries of Africa in Rome.

Ambassador Assorow is a native of Navrongo, the very first place in Ghana where the Missionaries of Africa arrived in 1906. The church in Navrongo is now known as the Seven Sorrows Minor Basilica. The Missionaries of Africa are still present in the Diocese of Navrongo-Bolgatanga, serving in three places: St. Joseph Parish in Soe (Bolgatanga), Our Lady of Hope Parish in Bunkpurugu, and St. Simon Peter Rectorate in Nakpanduri. They also serve in the Archdioceses of Accra and Tamale, and in the Dioceses of Konongo-Mampong and Wa.

H.E. Assorow was received in audience by Pope Leo XIV on 13 November 2025, upon the presentation of his Letters of Credence. Confreres at the Generalate noted that upon arriving in Rome for his new mission, the Ambassador came to pray privately in one of the chapels at the Generalate of the Missionaries of Africa.

It is also worth noting that Benedict Batabe Assorow is the immediate past Communications Director of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM). In 2022, SECAM was headed by the late Cardinal Richard Bawoobr, M.Afr., a former Superior General of the Missionaries of Africa and predecessor to the current Superior General, Fr. Stanley Lubungo.

This official meeting between the Ambassador of the Republic of Ghana to the Holy See and the Superior General of the Missionaries of Africa stands as a witness to the legacy and ongoing commitment of the Apostolic Society founded by Cardinal Charles Lavigerie for the evangelization of Africa and the African world.

By: Serge Zihalirwa Boroto, M.Afr.

Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

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Our Vocation as Christians

Isaiah 49:3, 5-6 / Psalm 39(40) / 1 Corinthians 1:1-3 / John 1:29-34

In today’s Word of God, we encounter the figure of the “Servant of Yahweh” or “Servant of the Lord” (Is 49:3; Is 42:1; Is 42:19). Who is this servant? Is he a recurring character in Isa 40:55, who is sometimes described as Israel and other times as a single prophetic individual rather than Israel? In our case, the first reading identifies him (servant of Yahweh) with Israel. In this sense, the servant represents the people of God as a whole. At the time of the Babylonian exile, Israel had failed as a nation; its dreams of glory and victory had collapsed. Yet, even in this situation of defeat and despair, God chooses Israel to be a light of salvation to all nations. This may seem unbelievable, but it is precisely through this wounded servant that the Lord promises to manifest his glory (cf. Is 52:13).

Two important elements stand out in the vocation of this servant. First, the call comes from God. Second, the one who is called is sent on a mission that is meant to benefit others. This call is not limited to Israel alone; it is a call addressed to all of us.

The call comes from God

In the second reading, Saint Paul introduces himself as “called to be an apostle” (cf. 1 Cor 1:1; Rom 1:1; 1 Tim 1:1; Col 1:1; Eph 1:1). His authority does not come from human qualification but from a vocation received from God. An apostle is one who is sent (cf, Jn 13:16; Lk 6:13) to proclaim the Gospel, especially to those who have not yet heard it. Paul reminds the Corinthians that his message does not rely on human wisdom but on the authority of God who has sent him.

Paul also calls the Corinthians “holy people.” In that context, holiness meant being “set apart” or “consecrated” for God. They were holy not because they were perfect, but because they had chosen a way of life distinct from pagan practices. In the same way, our holiness today is rooted in our belonging to God and in the life we choose to live according to His will.

The one who is called is sent for others

We have seen how the early Christians courageously defended their faith in Jesus Christ. Today, we must ask ourselves: what do we defend, and whom do we proclaim? Our mission is not merely to imitate Jesus externally or remain at the level of imitation, but to welcome Him into our hearts and then lead others to Him. Having received the Holy Spirit, we are sent to bear witness so that others may encounter Jesus Christ, who saves us through His life-giving love.

My dear brothers and sisters, each one of us has a vocation. And this vocation continues the mission of Jesus Himself, whom John the Baptist proclaims as the Lamb of God that is the one who offers Himself in sacrifice so that all may have life (cf. Jn 1:29; Is 53:7). Through catechesis and faith formation, our eyes have been opened to recognize the true identity of Jesus. Therefore, we must remember that our lives have a mission beyond ourselves. As Isaiah reminds us, the servant is called not only to restore Israel but also to be “a light to the nations” (Is 49:6; Is 42:6) and the fulfilment will be in Jesus (Lk 2:32).

What do we learn from today’s Word of God?

First, God does not call us only for personal holiness or private success. Every Christian vocation: whether marriage, priesthood, religious life, or professional work; is meant to serve others and bring God’s light into the world. A faith that turns inward misses its true purpose.

Second, our true identity is found in God’s call. Isaiah speaks of being formed in the womb, and Paul describes himself as “called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus” (1 Cor 1:1). Our deepest identity does not come from our achievements, titles, or failures, but from God who calls us. When we know who we are in God, we live with humility, hope, and confidence.

Third, Jesus is the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world. John the Baptist points clearly to Him and not to himself. Our salvation is not achieved by human effort alone, but through Jesus who offers Himself for the forgiveness of sins. Every Eucharistic celebration and every confession we attend, invites us to encounter this Lamb who heals, frees, and reconciles us to God. Our responsibility then is to make others great just as Christ has made us great and not to undermine or pray for the failure of others.

Finally, we are called to be witnesses, not replacements, for Christ. John the Baptist humbly declares: I did not know him, but I came baptizing so that he might be made known (cf. Jn 1:31; Jn 1:33). He steps aside so that Christ may be revealed. Like John, our role is not to draw attention to ourselves, but to point others to Christ through our words, integrity, love, and service.

We all desire holiness and so, this is our common vocation. Our presence at prayer, especially in the Eucharistic celebration and our works of mercy, places us among those who seek the face of the living God. In the Eucharist, we celebrate our faith in Jesus Christ, whom we encounter in the Word, in the breaking of the Bread, and in the community of believers to whom we are sent to serve.

Let us therefore, celebrate the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ each day, and then go forth to enrich the lives of others with the light we have received through a smile, acts of love, charity, joy, peace, and harmony.

By: John C. Mubanga, M.Afr.

When Unity in Diversity Becomes a Mission

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Since I started my vocational journey with the Missionaries of Africa, I have always been touched by the role community life and relationships play in all our places of insertion. This has always been a source of inspiration for me. Personal experience in the various communities where I lived has shown me that community life is an integral part of the identity of the Missionaries of Africa. In our shared goal of proclaiming the Gospel, we form a family bound by brotherhood despite our cultural differences and diverse origins. It is a spiritual and missionary heritage that our founder passed on to us. I will share my daily experience of this missionary heritage in this article. I will begin by highlighting the foundation values of community life as intended by our founder, and then describe how we live these values in my community, without forgetting the challenges of community life. I will conclude with some suggestions on strengthening fraternal bonds in our communities.

The core values of community life, according to our founder

‘My last recommendation, my dear Sons, is the most important: Remain united in heart and thought. Form truly one family, have a strong spirit of community in the Christian and apostolic sense of the word,’ Cardinal Lavigerie. ‘We celebrate and share the life manifested in the Incarnate Word when we form a family with deeply human and evangelical relationships among ourselves, helping each other to feel valued and affirmed, bearing one another’s burdens and weaknesses, and appreciating the rich diversity of our personalities, cultures and ages.’ (General Chapter of 1998)

From these two quotations, I identify some of the fundamental values of community life:

  • Living under the same roof and making our communities places where we can live well as brothers. It is a life-giving community.
  • Cultural diversity: since we come from different countries and cultures, each of us brings something unique and irreplaceable. We are an international and intercultural community.
  • Prayer life: we structure our days around times of community prayers. Here, we are a community that prays.
  • Community project: to have a community and pastoral project that considers each person’s abilities. A community of work.
  • Sharing and discernment: organising fixed times to discuss community life and thus form a sharing and discerning community.
  • Openness and welcome: fostering an attitude of openness to others and welcoming them warmly. A welcoming community.

How do these values come to life in my community?

I’m currently at Saint John XXIII Parish in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. In our community, the rule of three (always three, rarely two, never one) is well respected, because we’re four confreres from different nationalities and cultures.

Our cultural differences are a source of human and spiritual enrichment. Whether generational or personality-related, they are an asset to our apostolic life. Speaking several languages and having had missionary experiences in different places and at various times enrich the faithful, who feel listened to and valued. We also seek to learn more about each other’s culture, country and missionary experiences through formal and informal exchanges. In this way, our community life reflects the richness of our diverse origins. The gifts we have received are not a source of pride that leads us to criticise others, but rather a source of joy and shared success.

For our mission to bear fruit, we develop a community and pastoral project that considers each person’s skills and abilities. We have weekly meetings where we share our personal and community experiences, plan and evaluate our activities. These moments are also an opportunity to share our joys and sorrows and to discern together for the good of the community.

We strive to make our community a place where it is good to live, where everyone feels listened to and welcomed. This is an ongoing task and a collective responsibility. Our community is also a place of celebration: we celebrate liturgical feasts, birthdays and other significant events together. We are open to welcoming visitors and regularly visit our faithful in their families.

The place of prayer in community and relational life

In addition to community prayers, personal prayers, and monthly recollections, help to strengthen our unity. We also remember Jesus and his great desire for unity, since the foundation of our fraternity is our attachment to him: ‘Love one another as I have loved you.’

The challenges of community life: Individualism and new technologies

As human beings, we are not immune to this phenomenon of individualism that is eroding our society. Personal fulfilment often takes precedence over community fulfilment. To remedy this, our community rejects any personal project that escapes community discernment. We develop a sense of community in three ways during our weekly meetings: we share what we have (material goods, a book we are reading, etc.); we share what we do (work, hobbies, apostolate); and above all, we share who we are: our joys, sorrows, hopes, desires, etc.

If misused, new technologies can lead to people withdrawing into themselves, harming community life. We are conscious that with a phone, we can be close to those who are far away, but far from those who are near. We therefore learn to use them in moderation. We have set up a community platform to share news, especially when one of us is on a mission outside the community.

What can we do to strengthen fraternal bonds in our communities?

  • Avoid prejudice: this requires getting to know ourselves, our character, limitations, qualities, and even behaviours that may irritate others. It helps us to understand better, appreciate and love others.
  • Maintain a balance between the four dimensions of missionary life: prayer, work (apostolate), relationships and relaxation. This helps form a close-knit community, where collective needs precede personal desires.

If the whole world aspires to unity, we, the Missionaries of Africa, who God has chosen and consecrated by oath, must be the first to achieve it! Our mission is to show that unity is possible and that we can live together happily despite our different tribes, cultures, nationalities, ages, and personalities.

The root of all evil in a community is the lack of unity.

By: Innocent Habimana, M.Afr.

Closing of the Bicentennary Celebration of the Birth of Charles Cardinal Lavigerie in Kasongo, DR Congo

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On 26 November 2025, the Maniema sector (dioceses of Kindu and Kasongo) in the Central African Province gathered in Kasongo in joy, thanksgiving, and living memory to solemnly mark the end of the bicentennial of the birth of its founder, Cardinal Charles Lavigerie (1825-2025),. These moments of faith, history, and gratitude mark not only the end of a jubilee year, but,more importantly, the deep roots of his legacy in our land, our communities, and our missionary commitment. This memorable event brought together several people: lay people, priests, religious men and women, and the Missionaries of Africa working in this area.

Born on 31 October 1825 in France, Charles Lavigerie was a visionary pastor, a bold bishop and an apostle to the peoples of Africa. Founder of the Society of the Missionaries of Africa (White Fathers) in 1868 and of the Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Africa (White Sisters) in 1869, he recognised early in his life that the Gospel could not take root in a lasting way without respect for culture, the promotion of human dignity and the fight against slavery. A man of faith and courage, he planted the first seeds of the Catholic Church in Central and East Africa with an apostolic zeal that continues to inspire.

Thanks to the work of his missionaries, the light of Christ reached the Maniema region. They established the first missions, schools, hospitals, seminaries and catechetical centres, shaping a more humane and evangelical society. Kasongo is a living fruit of this. Today, as priests, religious, catechists and committed lay people, we are the heirs and witnesses of this work.

Closing this bicentennial marks the start of a new chapter of fidelity to our mission in Africa. Cardinal Lavigerie said, ‘You are Africans, be apostles for Africa.’ This call still resonates in our parishes, our families, our schools, and our social projects: are we missionaries, as he would have wished? Are we defenders of justice, bearers of peace, builders of a mature and responsible local Church?

May this bicentenary not be just a memory, but a seed for the future. May the flame of mission continue to burn in the hearts of our young people, in our vocations, in our service to the poor and in our unwavering attachment to Jesus Christ.

By: Patrick Dwomoah Adu, M.Afr.

The Baptism of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Year A

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We must follow the baptized Jesus, not this discordant world

Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7 / Ps 28(29) / Acts of Apostles 10:34-38 / Matthew 3:13-17

Brothers and sisters in Christ, today we celebrate the Baptism of the Lord, a key moment in the history of salvation. Imagine the scene at the Jordan: Jesus descends into the muddy waters, and suddenly, the heavens open. God the Father declares with a thundering voice: “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased!” (Mt 3:17).

This word is not only for Jesus; it resounds for each one of us. But in our world so noisy, filled with voices that call to us, seduce us, and lead us astray, and sometimes even the voice of our own heart deceives us, how can we discern and truly follow the baptized Jesus?

Think of our daily lives all over the world. We are surrounded by so many influences that promise happiness but lead us away from the truth. There are politicians with their empty speeches, like those who, before elections, hand out promises in exchange for our votes, making us forget that true justice comes from God, not from fragile alliances. There are our friends who drag us down, like that young man who, to follow the crowd, abandoned his studies and sank into alcohol or drugs, dreaming of an easy life that brought only sickness and regret.

Social media intoxicates us: how many of our youth spend hours on TikTok or Instagram, comparing their lives to illusory villas and star-studded lives, ending up in despair instead of cultivating the gifts God has entrusted to them? Modern music distracts us from what is essential, with its rhythms celebrating money, pleasure, and violence, rather than the praise of Psalm 29 that makes the cedars tremble. And let’s not forget our own ego, that inner liar that whispers to us: “You deserve more; take what you want without caring for others.” These voices promise mountains and wonders, but they pull us away from Jesus, leaving us empty and discordant like an out-of-tune orchestra.

This is where the true challenge of discernment arises, brothers and sisters, a discernment that must become our daily compass.

First, external influences question us harshly: who truly speaks through them? Is it the voice of God calling for justice and love, or the world shouting “every man for himself”? I remember a parish sister tempted by a well-paid night job, where money flowed freely but the soul was drowning in sin; she discerned, prayed, and chose instead to teach catechism to children, finding true wealth.

Next, our daily choices challenge us: do they reflect the humble love of Jesus, or our selfish ambitions? When a husband mistreats his wife after an argument, is it Jesus he is following or listening to? Our deep fears and desires also prompt us to ask: are they aligned with the gospel, or dictated by the fear of lack that drives us to corruption?

Finally, the incessant noise of the world (horns, bars, music, political speeches, and even gossip), does it push us toward God or toward spiritual emptiness? Brothers and sisters, let us dare to ask ourselves these questions today: what noise dominates your heart?

The baptism of Jesus precisely offers us the strength to answer this call, by rekindling the flame of our own baptism. It first reminds us that God loves us infinitely, as He loves Jesus: “You are my beloved child, in you I am well pleased!” Imagine a father, after years of toil, looking at his son with pride; multiply that by God’s eternal love for you! This truth transformed the life of a catechumen I baptized in Malawi: an orphan, abandoned, he heard this word and stood tall, becoming a peacemaker in his community, no longer even counting the wrongs of his enemies.

The baptism of Jesus then encourages us to remain faithful to our own: are we truly disciples of Jesus Christ, or of the discordant world? It also tells us: as I am anointed by the Spirit to serve the poor and oppressed, you too, be anointed to love and serve without counting the cost! Jesus even identified with us, sinners, by descending into the waters of the Jordan; faced with this mad love, how do we respond? Finally, the Holy Spirit who descends like a dove upon Jesus also descends upon us at baptism: are we open to His gentle but firm guidance, or do we repel it through our lukewarmness?

And so, our own baptism is revealed as a burning call to mission, a daily sending into our world. We are all children of God, called to reflect Jesus in our families, our communities, and our workplaces, whether in the city or the countryside. I met another widow: after her husband’s death, she was tempted by the fathers in her neighborhood because she was so beautiful and attractive; she told me herself that she slept with 10 of the 12 who wanted her and was even tempted to abort twins. Her baptism compelled her to forgive the person responsible for the accident that took her husband’s life and to completely change her life; today she prays for him, transforming hatred into light; she changed in a radical way.

Every day, our baptism launches this divine order at us: “Go, love, forgive, serve like Jesus!” Do we truly do it, or do we remain seated in our churches as mere spectators? Our baptism is a missionary sending to share God’s love in a thirsty world, where hunger is not only physical but spiritual. Let us live it as a blazing fire burning within us, ready to illuminate the darkness of despair, to warm hearts hardened by selfishness, and to transform our fractured societies. Are we ready to let Jesus shape us, like clay in the potter’s hands, so that He may act powerfully through us?

Brothers and sisters, the baptized Jesus must be our unique reference, the voice that surpasses all others without exception. May the Lord help us to discern His gentle voice amidst the clamor, to live our baptism fully, and to walk behind Him toward eternal life! Amen.

By: Marcellin Mubalama, M.Afr.

Missionaries of Africa
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