Session on Safeguarding of Minors for the Missionaries of Africa of the Southern Africa Province (Lusaka, Zambia: 13-30 June 2025)

Friday, June 20^th 2025

In today’s morning session, we learned about the Memorare Initiative, a Church-wide effort to strengthen safeguarding, especially in places with fewer resources. This was presented by Ms. Augusta Muthigani, Africa Regional Expert from the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors. She emphasised that the Memorare Initiative helps local churches grow stronger in protecting the vulnerable and responding with compassion and integrity. The initiative rests on four pillars: creating safe spaces for victims to be heard and supported, building skills in safeguarding across all Church roles, working with professionals to strengthen protection efforts and creating clear and accessible ways to share safeguarding information.

After this, the Coordinator for Integrity in Ministry Fr. Lowrent Kamwaza took us through the key parts of the Safeguarding Policy of our Society of the Missionaries of Africa. This presentation enabled us to familiarize ourselves with this important document of our Society which binds all as members.

In the afternoon session, our confreres Bill Turnbull, Timothée Bationo and Lowrent Kamwaza took us through a review of the Safeguarding Guidelines of the SAP Province. These guidelines contain seven standards; child safeguarding policy statement, procedures, preventing harm to children, training and education, communication, advice and support, implementation and monitoring. In the coming sessions, we will be working towards reviewing these guidelines.

The day concluded with a Eucharistic celebration presided by Fr. Marcellin Mubalama, who reminded us to imitate Saint Paul who boasts of his sufferings for Christ. Ministry of Safeguarding may have its challenges, and yet it is the mission of Christ and the Church.

Safeguarding is our commitment

By: Okunola Michael, M.Afr., Claude Nsengiyuva, M.Afr., Eric Kambale, M.Afr., Lowrent Kamwaza, M.Afr.

Session on Safeguarding of Minors for the Missionaries of Africa of the Southern Africa Province (Lusaka, Zambia: 13-30 June 2025)

Thursday, June 19^th 2025

In today’s morning session, Ms. Augusta Muthigani, Africa Regional Expert from the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, gave a presentation on the Universal Guidelines Framework of The Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors. Her presentation was quite enriching and revealing. She highlighted the complexity and magnitude of various forms of abuse that occur in homes, schools, communities and places of worship. In response to the above, she explained the Universal Church’s guidelines on safeguarding. This translates the Church’s commitment to addressing the abuse crisis. In implementing these guidelines in our various mission contexts, the cultures and laws of our countries of mission must be taken into consideration with the sensitivity and respect they deserve.

In the afternoon, our confrere Lamec Ciza, Safeguarding Delegate for South Africa, gave a presentation on assessing the safety of our mission places. Fr. Lamec presented to us concrete tools that we need to implement in our places of mission such as codes of conduct, safeguarding statements, declaration forms, reporting procedures and contacts as means of safeguarding the people of God entrusted to us.

The day ended with the Holy Mass presided over by Fr. Gilles Efiyo. In his homily drawn from the readings of the day, he reminded us that we are all children of the same Father and that we have been betrothed to God through our baptism and ministerial calling. If we internalise this, then safeguarding should truly be our commitment.

Safeguarding is our commitment

By: Okunola Michael, M.Afr., Claude Nsengiyuva, M.Afr., Eric Kambale, M.Afr., Lowrent Kamwaza, M.Afr.

Session on Safeguarding of Minors for the Missionaries of Africa of the Southern Africa Province (Lusaka, Zambia: 13-30 June 2025)

Wednesday, June 18^th 2025

In today’s morning session, the Coordinator for Integrity in Ministry gave a short presentation on the concept of vulnerability. He highlighted that depending on the situation, we can all be vulnerable. He then proceeded to clarify some key tools used in safeguarding ministry such as Safeguarding Policy, Procedures, Code of conduct, Procedures and protocols, Standards and Guidelines.

Our confrere Bill Turnbull, SAP Safeguarding Coordinator shared with us the fruits of the safeguarding session held in Kigali in June 2024. From which a document titled the “Kigali statement” was born. He iterated that the document is a helpful safeguarding tool that can be adapted to our mission places. It is a simple and workable instrument in safeguarding for our sectors.

In the afternoon session, our confrere Olivier Soma gave a presentation on the importance of screening of our priest candidates and brother candidates in our initial Formation Houses. He clarified some of the myths attached to psychological evaluations and went on to highlight the purposes and aims of this important exercise during formation. More importantly, psychological assessments / screening is an important process that equally helps in holistic formation of the candidate. Screening of candidates during their initial formation programme is an important component of safeguarding.

This day was concluded with a Eucharistic celebration during which the main celebrant, Fr. Claude Nsengiyuva, making reference to the gospel of the day invited us to live out our mission with integrity where our good intentions are congruent with our pastoral actions.

Safeguarding is our commitment

By: Okunola Michael, M.Afr., Claude Nsengiyuva, M.Afr., Eric Kambale, M.Afr., Lowrent Kamwaza, M.Afr.

Session on Safeguarding of Minors for the Missionaries of Africa of the Southern Africa Province (Lusaka, Zambia: 13-30 June 2025)

Tuesday, June 17^th 2025

In today’s morning session, the Coordinator for Integrity in Ministry, gave a presentation, on key terms commonly used in the ministry of safeguarding. This was followed by group discussions and exchange. To conclude the morning session, we shared our experiences on various forms of abuse that do take place in our mission settings.

In the afternoon, our confrere Stephane Joulain spoke to us on the pastoral care for victims and survivors of abuse. He highlighted the importance of journeying with victims in the spirit of Christ, by listening to them with empathy and compassion. Aware that for too long, the voices of victims and survivors have been ignored, we now need to shift our attention from defending the institution to standing with the wounded.

He invited us to appreciate the courage and mental energy that victims need to speak out about their experience of abuse. Victims need to overcome many barriers, such as emotional, cultural, familial, institutional and legal challenges in order to disclose an abuse. Additionally, he shared with us the necessary skills and competences to acquire in order to adequately accompany victims and survivors of abuse.

The day was climaxed by a eucharistic celebration in which the main celebrant Fr. Martin Onyango reminded us that the principal pastoral tool needed for our ministry on safeguarding is love.

Safeguarding is our commitment

By: Okunola Michael, M.Afr., Claude Nsengiyuva, M.Afr., Eric Kambale, M.Afr., Lowrent Kamwaza, M.Afr.