Jozef VAN BOXEL Provincial

Official Communication

After consultation, dialogue and with the consent of his Council, Father Stanley LUBUNGO, Superior General, has appointed Father Jozef VAN BOXEL Provincial Superior of the Province of Europe for a first mandate ending on 30th June 2026.

Rome, 8th February 2023

Fr. André-L. Simonart,
Secretary General.

Death of the brother of our Superior General

Communciation

We wish to inform you of the very sad news of the unexpected death today at noon of the brother of our Superior General. Mr Maxwell was 60 years old. We offer our condolences to Stan, his sister and to the other family members. We pray for the eternal rest of Maxwell and ask Our Lady of Lourdes to obtain the comfort of divine grace for Stan and for all those who mourn his death.

Rome, 11 February 2023

André-L. Simonart, M.Afr.
On behalf of the General Council.

Jean Florent Toro R.I.P.

Society of the Missionaries of Africa

Father Christian Mulenga, Provincial of the Province of Southern Africa,
informs you of the return to the Lord of the stagiaire

Jean Florent Toro

on Monday 6 February 2023 in Chezi, Malawi
at the age of 25 years.On pastoral stage in Chezi, Malawi.

Let us pray for him and for his loved ones.

Download here the announcement of Stagiaire Jean Florent Toro’s death

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Fernando Sanzberro Arburua R.I.P.

Society of the Missionaries of Africa

Father Jesús Zubiría O., Provincial Delegate of the sector of Spain,
informs you of the return to the Lord of Father

Fernando Sanzberro Arburua

on Thursday, 2nd February 2023 in Pamplona (Spain)
at the age of 81 years, of which 55 years of missionary life
in Mali and Spain.

Let us pray for him and for his loved ones.

Download here the announcement of Father Fernando Sanzberro Arburua’s death

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Ouagadougou Priesthood ordinations 2023

Priesthood ordinations in the Parish of Saint John XXIII

Ouagadougou 2023, Burkina Faso

Four confreres, all four from Burkina Faso, have been ordained priests: Jean-Luc Compaoré, Ephrahim Konkobo, Aimé Ouédraogo, and André Sawadogo. All finished their theological studies in Merrivale, South Africa.

The Province of West Africa (PAO) chose to assemble the four ordinations in the same place, given the socio-political situation in Burkina Faso. Two of the ordinands come from “red zones” where it is difficult, for the moment, to travel and organise such gatherings. The parish of Saint John XXIII in Ouagadougou, for which we are responsible, welcomed and well-organised the celebration.

Cardinal Philippe Ouédraogo, Archbishop of Ouagadougou, presided over the celebration, accompanied by Cardinal Laurent Dabiré, President of the Burkina/Niger Bishops’ Conference and Bishop of Dori, and Monsignor Giorgio Bernardi, Italian Bishop Emeritus who has worked in Dori for many years.

There were also around 70 priests, many religious men and women and a very large number of Christians from the parish of Saint John XXIII.

The Eucharist was very beautiful and prayerful. Considering the current situation in the country, trust, hope and fraternity have been present during the whole celebration.

 Jean-Luc Compaoré, from the parish of Our Lady of the Apostles in Ouagadougou, is going on a mission to Burundi. Ephrahim Konkobo, from the parish of Wakara in the diocese of Dédougou, is going on a mission to Ghana. Aimé Ouédraogo, from the parish of Ziniaré, near Ouagadougou, is going on a mission to Mozambique. André Sawadogo, from the parish of Dori, is going on a mission to Congo DR.

We congratulate them and wish them a fruitful missionary apostolate wherever they are sent. May the spirit of Christ always be their support.

Alain Fontaine.

Aylward Shorter R.I.P.

Society of the Missionaries of Africa

Father Hugh Seenant, Provincial Delegate of the sector of Great Britain,
informs you of the return to the Lord of Father

Aylward Shorter

on Sunday, 29th January 2023 in Southwark (Great-Britain)
at the age of 90 years, of which 61 years of missionary life
in Italy, Tanzania, Uganda,  Kenya and Great-Britain.

Let us pray for him and for his loved ones.

Download here the announcement of Father Alyward Shorter’s death

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