PAO – A matter of personal relationship with Christ Posted on 27/04/202027/04/2020 by Vitus Danaa Abobo PAO - Une histoire de relation personnelle avec le ChristWe are relaying here an article from Maison Lavigerie, the first formation cycle in Ouagadougou, where the Superior General is on an extended apostolic visit. The original article original can be found on Maison Lavigerie’s blog. Père Stanley Lubungo lors de son homélieWhat a wonder the coronavirus did for us, we were in great joy. As a Lavigerian community, we had the very great and priceless joy of welcoming and spending a few days with the Superior General of the Missionaries of Africa, the Reverend Father Stanley Lubungo. During his few days visiting Lavigerie House, Reverend Father Stanley, in order to encourage one another, first met the students of the house and then the formators. As far as the meeting with the students was concerned, several elements were very rich and helped to revive in us students the desire to continue the formation with a view to becoming missionaries of Africa.Reverend Father began by expressing his wishes for good health in view of the health situation that prevails throughout the world. He also expressed his deep joy at being with us. For the Reverend Father, the present situation is a challenge for everyone and especially for us believers. This situation is an invitation to prayer. It shows our vulnerability and challenges us in our missionary vocation because, according to the Reverend Father, “no one is at home here in his family”. He finished speaking about the health situation in relation to our formation by telling us: “I hope that you will integrate this little detail in your missionary formation. » Père Stanley lors de son discours aux étudiantsReverend Father then spoke to us about formation. He insisted a lot on the importance of the first stage of formation because it is like the foundation of our belonging or of our discovery of the Society of Missionaries of Africa. The first stage of formation is a stage of growth in all aspects of life; it is especially a stage of discernment. To encourage us and invite us to greater concentration in formation, Reverend Father said: “Your presence here [at Lavigerie House] is a matter of personal relationship with Christ. “He exhorted us to take seriously the magnitude of the call and to accept its implications because, “it is the call that sends one on mission.” And, if we miss this at the beginning of formation, we are off to a bad start. Toute la communauté avec le Père Stan LubungoFinally, the being of the missionary was one of the themes addressed by the Superior General during this meeting with the students. He took enough time to tell us and explain to us what it really means to be a missionary. To be a missionary is a call to leave a certain material life, to leave everything. One must not leave for the sake of leaving, but one must leave in order to become attached to Christ in intense personal prayer and in listening to the Word of God. For Rev. Father Stanley, “attachment to Jesus is a sine qua non condition for becoming an apostle [for becoming a missionary in Africa].” The missionary is one who goes not only to proclaim Christ but also to be evangelized by those to whom he is sent. The authentic missionary is one who sets out to meet the other in his difference, whoever he may be. In making the link between missionary life and formation, the Reverend Father said: “You have all the years of formation to know Jesus better in order to follow and serve him better. “He reminded us that the missionaries of Africa who were beatified did nothing special. For him, “they only loved with all their heart the peoples to whom they were sent, they remained faithful to the call they received.” The Reverend Father concluded this theme with the words: “Prepare yourself for this life [this type of missionary life] and do not allow yourselves to be diverted; always know where you are going.” We express our sincere thanks to the Superior General for the many encouragements and for all these comforting words. We thank the Risen Lord for this beautiful opportunity he has given us. May he himself come to the aid of our world in distress. May he bless the life and ministry of Rev. Father Stanley and grant him a strong health so that he may always carry out his task. Amen!Serge Sawadogo
PEP EUR ECHO Spring special edition #2 Posted on 27/04/202027/04/2020 by Vitus Danaa Abobo PEP EUR ECHO Spring Special Edition #2Eur-Echo Special edition Spring 2020-2 E
AMS – The Link #77 Posted on 27/04/202027/04/2020 by Vitus Danaa AboboAMS - The Link #77THE LINK APRIL 2020 #77-1 English
Karel Louwen, R.I.P. Posted on 22/04/202024/04/2020 by Vitus Danaa Abobo Society of the Missionaries of AfricaFather Jozef de Bekker, Provincial Delegate of the sector of the Netherlands,informs you of the return to the Lord of BrotherKarel Louwen on Wednesday 22nd April 2020 at Roermond Hospital (Netherlands)at the age of 87 years, of which 61 years of missionary life in DR Congo and in the Netherlands. Let us pray for him and for his loved ones.Download here the announcement of Brother Karel Louwen’s death (more…)
Be inspired by Laudato sì Posted on 22/04/202022/04/2020 by Vitus Danaa Abobo Be inspired by Laudato sì We are all living in a time of crisis caused by the coronavirus. This might be an opportunity to let ourselves be challenged by the content of the encyclical letter LAUDATO SI’ which was published 5 years ago.We are concerned about our Common Home. We hear both the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor (LS 49). We experience in our own body that everything is linked and interconnected.We are affected, questioned, challenged, and at the same time, we are called, enlivened and sent out to be witnesses of hope and joy because of the good news of the Risen Christ. We are all called to build a better future in solidarity and fraternity.In this particular time, I suggest three steps that we can take together:Getting inspiredPlease consult the following website : https://www.sowinghopefortheplanet.org/Religious congregations and missionary societies around the world have provided resources to spread and share the seeds that are being planted for the hope of our Common Home.In the section “RESOURCES”, you will find many tools for your inspiration. If you, your community, parish, centre, … have already developed resources, you can share and download them on the same website. How to do it? Click on “UPLOAD new resource” and fill out the form.If you want to know more about it, watch the following video:Going furtherPlease consult the following website: https://catholicclimatemovement.global/laudatosi/You will find additional information and ways to deepen several aspects mentioned in the LAUDATO SI’ document.ActingAt present, we read daily a passage from the Acts of the Apostles. We see the Holy Spirit at work among the early Christians. This same Spirit guides us today and inspires us with creative love so that we care responsibly for our Common Home. You might be able to plan and realise an activity, an event, a special moment around May 24th or after, depending on the circumstances!May the Holy Spirit show us the way to go!Fraternally,Andreas Göpfert, JPIC-ED Coordination
A first for PEP Posted on 20/04/202020/04/2020 by Vitus Danaa Abobo A first for PEPThe 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 Posted on 19/04/202019/04/2020 by Vitus Danaa AboboGhN Newsletter - Link Vol. 4-1With excuses for the delay, here is the Ghana-Nigeria Link dated February this year. Ghana-Nigeria Link Special Issue, Vol. 4, issue 1 – February 2020
The crisis of abuse: what conversion for the Church? Posted on 17/04/202017/04/2020 by Vitus Danaa Abobo 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.la-crise-des-abus-centre-sevres-p-stphane-joulain-avril-2020 Published on the SJ website of the Sèvres Centre on 09/04/2020
Official Communication Posted on 17/04/202017/04/2020 by Vitus Danaa AboboAppointmentsThe 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 2020André-L. Simonart, Secretary General.
Jean-Pierre Claude, R.I.P. Posted on 16/04/202016/04/2020 by Vitus Danaa Abobo Society of the Missionaries of AfricaFather Luc Putzeys, Provincial Delegate of the sector of Belgium,informs you of the return to the Lord of FatherJean-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.Download here the announcement of Father Jean-Pierre Claude’s death (more…)