A first for PEP

A first for PEP

The treasurers were all looking forward to making the trip to Treviglio for the PEP Financial Council, but the Coronavirus pandemic decided otherwise. Another solution had to be found and the idea of a videoconference was put forward. This is new for a number of us who have already had difficulty going digital. But we took the bull by the horns and our webmaster embarked on an advertising campaign to promote the tools of the perfect Internet user and ease the skeptics’ tension. Each treasurer was contacted by Philippe Docq, assisted by Marcin Zagula, to ensure the reliability of the equipment and to teach how to pull the strings with the help of tutorials.

And that’s it! Everybody was in front of his screen on Thursday April 16th at 10:00am. All of them? Oh no, they weren’t! Missed Great Britain! Nothing to do with Brexit! It was a hardware problem. Two sessions of 2h1/2 each did the trick, and the annual balance sheet is reviewed and approved. The reactions are good. The quality of WIFI in Europe may have something to do with it. The exchanges took place to everyone’s satisfaction. Is there room for improvement? Certainly in the way documents are presented, but the technology still has untapped resources.

Here’s a picture: copyright: Frank Boomers. A Leffe beer for those who identify all the participants.

 

The ball is rolling and now it is the Provincial Council who will take the technical side of things. Rumour has it that the Society’s Finance Council will follow suit immediately.

Didier Lemaire

GhN Newsletter – Link Vol. 4

GhN Newsletter - Link Vol. 4-1

With excuses for the delay, here is the Ghana-Nigeria Link dated February this year.

 

The crisis of abuse: what conversion for the Church?

The crisis of abuse: what conversion for the Church?

Father Stéphane Joulain was to animate an evening at the Centre Sèvres on Thursday 19 March on the theme “The crisis of abuse: what conversion for the Church? “as well as a study day on Saturday 21 March, entitled “The word against abuse”. Stéphane Joulain, is a White Father, he is one of the specialists on the question of sexual abuse in the Church. He recently published Combattre l’abus sexuel des enfants (DDB, 2018). Having been unable to intervene because of the measures of confinement, he proposed a text to us; for which we thank him very warmly.

Warning : The article is in French.

Official Communication

Appointments

The Superior General, Father Stanley LUBUNGO, has with the approval of his Council appointed the following confreres for a second mandate of three years starting on 1st July 2020:

    • Father John ASERBIRE Provincial of the Province of Ghana – Nigeria;
    • Father Emmanuel NGONA NGOTSI Provincial of the Province of Central Africa;
    • Father Aloysius SSEKAMATTE Provincial of the Province of East Africa;
    • Father Anselme TARPAGA Provincial of the Province of Maghreb;
    • Father Dennis PAM Assistant Provincial of the Province of Central Africa.

Rome, 14th April 2020
André-L. Simonart,
Secretary General.

Jean-Pierre Claude, R.I.P.

Society of the Missionaries of Africa

Father Luc Putzeys, Provincial Delegate of the sector of Belgium,
informs you of the return to the Lord of Father

Jean-Pierre Claude

on Wednesday 15th April 2020 at Brugmann’s Hospital in Brussels (Belgium)
at the age of 93 years, of which 68 years of missionary life
in Burundi and Belgium.

 

Let us pray for him and for his loved ones.

(more…)

Bernard Vulkers, R.I.P.

Society of the Missionaries of Africa

Father Jozef de Bekker, Provincial Delegate of the sector of the Netherlands,
informs you of the return to the Lord of Father

Bernard Vulkers

on Tuesday 14th April 2020 at Heythuysen (Netherlands)
at the age of 96 years, of which 72 years of missionary life
in Tanzania and The Netherlands.

Let us pray for him and for his loved ones.

(more…)

Benediction Urbi et orbi

Benediction Urbi et Orbi

The Liturgy of the Easter Triduum was very strange this year in Rome, even to the smallest details. What a happy surprise for us to see the image of the Pelican feeding its little ones both on the Easter Candle and on the stole worn by the Pope during the Benediction Urbi et Orbi. 

Michel Lelong, R.I.P.

Society of the Missionaries of Africa

Father Patrick Bataille, Provincial Delegate of the sector of France,
informs you of the return to the Lord of Father

Michel Lelong

on Good Friday, 10th April 2020 at Lariboisière Hospital in Paris (France)
at the age of 95 years, of which 72 years of missionary life
in Tunisia, Algeria and France.

 

Let us pray for him and for his loved ones.

(more…)

SOA Reflection on Holy Week

SOA Reflection on Holy Week

From SOA this time, a good reflection on Holy Week by the Superior of Section, John  Gould.

20200409_SOA_John_Gould
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PAC – Meditation for Maundy Thursday

PAC - Meditation for Maundy Thursday

Here is a beautiful meditation (in French) by Peter Ekutt from the PAC for Maundy Thursday.