From April 22nd to 29th 2025, the General Council convened all first-phase formation houses to a pivotal meeting in Kigali, Rwanda. Each house was represented by two formators for a week of deep reflection and engagement on our mission: forming and discerning the vocation of future confreres within the Society of the Missionaries of Africa.
The gathering was animated with care and dedication by Leo Laurence Maria Joseph, Assistant General in charge of initial formation. On Tuesday evening, he opened the session by welcoming all participants and expressing a special intention for the recovery of Evariste Some, Secretary for Initial Formation, who was absent due to health reasons. He also set the tone of the meeting with his talk on formation as prophetic witness.
On the first day, we were joined virtually by our Superior General, Fr. Stanley Lubungo, who delivered a compelling opening address. He called us to participate fully and seriously in the task ahead, emphasizing two key priorities in first-phase formation.
Firstly, he reminded us that this stage lays the foundational bedrock for all subsequent phases of formation and missionary life. He insisted on the critical importance of forming our candidates with a strong missionary identity, urging us to focus on quality over quantity.
Secondly, Fr. Lubungo underscored the need to create an environment conducive to vocational growth – an atmosphere that nurtures discernment and spiritual maturity. He posed several thought-provoking questions: Why do some candidates seem to become “deformed” during or after formation? Does the dress code of our candidates reflect that of future missionaries and priests? How do our candidates view celibacy today? Is celibacy still a core value? Are all places suitable for them to visit? How are our formation program empowering candidates to embrace the charism of the Missionaries of Africa? How much of importance is given to forming missionaries over forming priests and brothers in the society?
He concluded by paying tribute to the late Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21st, 2025, summarizing his legacy as a champion of a missionary Church rooted in service, joy, and solidarity with the poor.
The next segment of our program was a sharing session, where each formation house reported its joys and challenges. Beginning with Kinshasa and Ruzizi in the DRC, we journeyed through Jinja in Uganda, Ejisu in West Africa, Bangalore in India, Balaka in Malawi – the heartbeat of Africa – Cebu in the Philippines, Guadalajara in Mexico, and finally Maison Lavigerie in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. These exchanges were profoundly enriching and filled with mutual encouragement and inspiration.
In addition to formal reports, personal testimonies deepened our sense of shared purpose and brotherhood. The mutual support among participants was palpable and deeply consoling. This personal sharing helped us to bond with one another and encourage each other as formators.
Days three and four featured inputs from Dave Sullivan, who offered vital reflections on the role of the formator and the essence of M.Afr. charismatic formation.
On the role of the formator, Dave posed two guiding questions: What spirit animates my ministry? and Am I truly dedicated and fulfilled in this mission? In group discussions, participants affirmed that despite challenges, they undertake this ministry in a spirit of service and in obedience to the Society’s call – finding deep joy in forming future missionaries.
Regarding the charism of the Missionaries of Africa, Dave emphasized that our formation must aim to produce missionaries, not merely priests or brothers. This requires an atmosphere where the charism can be lived and transmitted. He cautioned against certain pitfalls – clericalism, addiction, entitlement, excessive luxury, and a rigid fixation on liturgical rubrics – which can undermine authentic missionary formation.
A poignant midweek visit to the Genocide Memorial Center at Gisozi interrupted our sessions, offering a sobering moment of reflection. The Rwandan genocide of 1994 moved us deeply, reigniting our commitment to justice and peace wherever we serve.
Further sessions were led by Anselm Tarpaga and Philip Meraba. Tarpaga spoke on Sharing Our Charism with the Laity, urging us to embody family spirit, hospitality, and genuine friendship in our encounters. Philip Meraba, referencing the Think Tank Group on African Traditional Religion (ATR), encouraged us to train candidates to respect their cultures and to explore ATR in their academic pursuits, echoing Missio Ad Gentes (No. 12) of Vatican II.
Financial sustainability in formation was addressed by John Itaru, Treasurer General, who called for creativity and enterprise. He encouraged formation houses to seek support from international organizations and to engage local benefactors, including friends and family, in supporting our mission.
An insightful session on media use, led by Vitus Abobo, highlighted the importance of responsible and effective communication in formation.
Our intensive five-day meeting concluded on Monday, April 28th 2025. In his final remarks, Leo Laurence urged participants to carry the fruits of the meeting back to their respective houses. He called for:
- Regular evaluations of resolutions and recommendations emanating from this meeting
- The need for ongoing formation for formators
- Renewed efforts to make the Missionaries of Africa Formation Sessions (MSF) more engaging
- A stronger team spirit
- Serious attention to alcohol consumption and entitlement in our formation houses
- Greater promotion of the brother vocation
- Encouragement of mission-oriented pastoral work
- Cost sharing of candidates in their formation
- When a candidate lacks missionary aptitudes, he must be reoriented
- Need to emphasize missionary formation over priestly and brother formation
- Put into practice the proposed program of JPIC-ED/ATR during the first phase of formation
- Pay attention of homosexuality and address its dangers in the formation house
- Create an environment where candidates live and grow in intercultural communities and avoid groupism, nationalism and all kinds of clicks
- Intellectual formation is important but first phase of formation should consider human, spiritual, emotional formation equally important
Above all, he exhorted us to form missionaries who follow in the footsteps of our Founder, Cardinal Lavigerie, joyfully embracing the evangelizing mission in Africa and beyond.
The meeting officially concluded with a pilgrimage to the Marian Shrine of Kibeho on April 29th 2025 – coinciding with the eve of the Feast of Our Lady of Africa. It was a fitting spiritual close to a transformative week.
By: David Doo Songo, M.Afr., Joseph Kamwanga, M.Afr.,