Erik van Pottelsberghe R.I.P.

Posted on by Vitus Danaa Abobo

Society of the Missionaries of Africa
Father Yvo Wellens, Provincial Delegate of the sector of Belgium,
informs you of the return to the Lord of Father

Erik van Pottelsberghe

on Saturday, 22nd February 2025 in Bruxelles (Belgium)
at the age of 100 years, of which 64 years of missionary life
in Niger, Burkina Faso, Guinea and Belgium.

Let us pray for him and for his loved ones.

Download here the announcement of Father Erik van Pottelsberghe’s death

Milestones in the life of Father Erik van Pottelsberghe

Born in :
Woluwé
on : 14/10/1924		Spiritual YearMissionary OathPriesthood
Ordination
Diocese :
Mechelen-Brussel		07/09/195602/07/196002/02/1961
Citizenship :
Belgian		Varsenare
(Belgium)		Heverlee
(Belgium)		Heverlee
(Belgium)

Bionotes

24/04/1962Gouecke, D. NzérékoréGuinée
01/09/1967D. KoudougouHaute Volta
01/07/1968Koudougou, Paroisse
01/04/1969Econome SéminaireKoudougou
01/10/1981VicaireKoudougou, Cathédrale
01/06/1987ArlitNiger
07/08/1987Econome localOuagadougou, Mais.Rg.Burkina Faso
01/01/1988Adm.”Vivant Univers”NamurBelgique
10/07/2000RésidenceBruxelles, TombeurBelgique
07/02/2017RésidenceBruxelles, EvereBelgique
22/02/2025DCD (100)BruxellesBelgique

Father Ignatius ANIPU appointed Bishop of the Diocese of Maradi in Niger

Posted on by Vitus Danaa Abobo

As officially announced at noon today, the Holy Father has appointed our confrere Father
Ignatius ANIPU Bishop of the Diocese of Maradi in Niger.  

On behalf of the Superior General, the General Council and all the confreres, our sincere congratulations to Ignatius and the assurance of our prayers and of our fraternal support in his new service of the Church.

Rome, 22 February 2025  

P. André-Léon SIMONART,
General Secretary.

22nd February in the life of Charles Cardinal Lavigerie

Posted on by Vitus Danaa Abobo

Session on the protection of minors in Bujumbura, day 5

Posted on by Vitus Danaa Abobo

Session on the protection of minors and of persons in situations of vulnerability for the Central Africa Province-PAC (Bujumbura- Burundi, February 15-26, 2025)

Friday February 21, 2025

We began this day with the continuation of the work we had started yesterday in the teams. This work consisted of drawing up the constituent parts of our province’s safeguarding policy-PAC.

Under the orientation of Stéphane JOULAIN, the rest of the day was devoted to editing and correcting the various texts drawn up by the different groups.

Father Alex MANDA, who presided at today’s Eucharist, exhorted us in these words: ‘As delegates for the protection of minors, let us be humble, with a compassionate and loving eye for our brothers and sisters, especially the little ones and the most vulnerable’.

Safeguarding is our commitment

By: Alex Manda, M.Afr., Jean de Dieu Meda, M.Afr., Anthony Nahabwe, M.Afr., Edmond Ouedraogo, M.Afr., Lowrent Kamwaza, M.Afr.

21st February in the life of Charles Cardinal Lavigerie

Posted on by Vitus Danaa Abobo

Session on the protection of minors in Bujumbura, day 4

Posted on by Vitus Danaa Abobo

Session on the protection of minors and of persons in situations of vulnerability for the Central Africa Province-PAC (Bujumbura- Burundi, February 15-26, 2025)

Thursday February 20, 2025

To kick off the work of this 4th day, the Coordinator for Integrity in ministry (CIM), Lowrent Kamwaza, reminded us of the Kigali Declaration, which is the backbone/guide of our safeguarding commitment. He also presented the key tools and steps to help us create safe environments in our mission areas. These steps are useful for developing a safeguarding policy.
A safeguarding policy is a document that sets out the philosophy of an institution, which contains procedures and a code of conduct for preventing and responding to abuse.
The rest of the morning and afternoon was devoted to working in the teams to draw up the constituent parts of the safeguarding policy for our PAC province.
During the Eucharistic celebration presided over by Father Richard B. UJWIGOWA, we were reminded that the power we have been given is not to dominate others but to protect and care for them especially the smallest and little ones of this world.

Safeguarding is our commitment

By: Alex Manda, M.Afr., Jean de Dieu Meda, M.Afr., Anthony Nahabwe, M.Afr., Edmond Ouedraogo, M.Afr., Lowrent Kamwaza, M.Afr.

Giovanni Castagna R.I.P.

Posted on by Vitus Danaa Abobo

Society of the Missionaries of Africa
Father Giovanni Marchetti, Provincial Delegate of the sector of Italy,
informs you of the return to the Lord of Father

Giovanni Castagna

on Wednesday, 19th February 2025 in Urgnano (Italy)
at the age of 88 years, of which 64 years of missionary life
in Burundi, Tanzania, Kenya and Italy.

Let us pray for him and for his loved ones.

Download here the announcement of Father Giovanni Castagna’s death

Milestones in the life of Father Giovanni Castagna

Born in :
Civate
on : 26/03/1936		Spiritual YearMissionary OathPriesthood
Ordination
Diocese :
Milano		27/09/195627/06/196028/01/1961
Citizenship :
Italian		Maison-Carrée
(Algeria)		Carthage
(Tunisia)		Como
(Italy)

Bionotes

01/08/1961ProfesseurTreviglioItalia
01/09/1965ProfesseurGargagnagoItalia
30/06/1966SupérieurGargagnagoItalia
01/01/1969Conseiller Provinc.Italia
01/10/1970DoctoratMilanoItalia
31/03/1971VicaireMukenke, D. MuyingaBurundi
26/03/1972SupérieurMukenkeBurundi
01/09/1972Conseiller RégionalBurundi
01/01/1974VicaireKibumbu, D. GitegaBurundi
01/06/1975Conseiller RégionalBurundi
01/01/1976Curé: MushashaGitega, AnnexeBurundi
01/09/1979Rédaction “Africa”MilanoItalia
01/01/1981SupérieurMilanoItalia
03/08/1983Nommé+arrive: PE.83/7Giheta, D. GitegaBurundi
01/01/1985Anim. CatéchèseGiheta, D. GitegaBurundi
18/09/1985Supérieur localRoma, M. G.Italia
29/12/1988Arrive àDar-es-SalaamTanzania
01/01/1989Cours de SwahiliKipalapalaTanzania
01/04/1989CurateSengerema, D. GeitaTanzania
04/10/1989CurateNzera, D. GeitaTanzania
01/10/1993Parish PriestNzera, D. GeitaTanzania
01/07/1994Prov.Italia(PE.94/6)Italia
01/07/1997Prov.Italia 2e mand.Italia
12/10/2000Nommé Tnz.Tanzania
01/01/2001Prévu BenacoTanzania
11/01/2002MinistryNairobi, South BKenya
01/02/2002MinistryBukumbi D. MwanzaTanzania
28/10/2002Par.PriestNairobi, EastleighKenya
08/11/2004Islam EncounterWete, D. ZanzibarTanzania
15/10/2005SuperieurTreviglio, MerisioItalia
25/10/2005Nommé (PE 05/10)Italia
05/11/2006Elu ConseillerItalia
01/10/2021Résidence (Soins)Hôpital d’UrgnanoItalia
19/02/2025DCD (88)UrgnanoItalia

20th February in the life of Charles Cardinal Lavigerie

Posted on by Vitus Danaa Abobo

Session on the protection of minors in Bujumbura, day 3

Posted on by Vitus Danaa Abobo

Session on the protection of minors and of persons in situations of vulnerability for the Central Africa Province-PAC (Bujumbura- Burundi, February 15-26, 2025)

Wednesday February 19, 2025

To conclude the first part in understanding the laws on the protection of minors in the three countries of the PAC Province, today we had a presentation by Maitre Arsène LUMPALI on the protection of children according to the Congolese law.

The Congolese Constitution has a provision for the protection of minors from the levels of the family, society and the State. Negligence and mistreatment of children, and in particular paedophilia, sexual abuse as well as accusing children as witches is punishable by law. There are several categories of well-organised laws for the protection of children and people in vulnerable situations. As pastoral workers, he reminded us of our evangelical and prophetic mission, which consists in drawing up a safeguarding policy and providing ongoing training for all.

After these presentations, Stéphane Joulain guided us through the practical guidelines for developing a safeguarding policy. We did this work in teams, where in-depth discussions were conducted.

All this was enriched by the Eucharistic celebration where the celebrant, Father Geoffrey MUGENI, invited us, like the blind man, to gradually see/discover the importance of the ministry of safeguarding.

Safeguarding is our commitment

By: Alex Manda, M.Afr., Jean de Dieu Meda, M.Afr., Anthony Nahabwe, M.Afr., Edmond Ouedraogo, M.Afr., Lowrent Kamwaza, M.Afr.

19th February in the life of Charles Cardinal Lavigerie

Posted on by Vitus Danaa Abobo