Missionaries of Africa

PEP/Fra – Sector France: News from Marseille Community

Posted on 05/06/201905/06/2019 by Vitus Danaa Abobo

From the Mini-Lien of the France Sector, here is a look back at the month of May experienced by our confreres in Marseille.

Community of Marseille:

After the celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the Church of Our Lady of the Limits and the 150th anniversary of our Missionary Institutes “White Fathers” and “White Sisters”, May was a special month. Henri Blanchard joined the community of Sainte Foy-lès-Lyon on April 29th and Moses, having completed his internship (stage), went on a family vacation in Uganda on May 4th. He will continue his training in Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire).

Michel was called to meet the young confreres in Tunis and left on May 3rd. And the day before his return to Marseille, he learned of the death of his paternal uncle, whom he considers to be his father. It was this uncle who took responsibility for the family after his father’s death. This uncle, a Muslim, encouraged Michel to follow his path towards the priesthood and mission. Michel therefore left directly from Tunis on May 11th for Ouagadougou, from where he joined his family in mourning. Raphaël participated in the Sector Council from May 7th to 10th. Steve, the new confrere, acclimatized to Marseille. Very handyman, he takes care of the garden and storage in the workshop and store. He strives to improve his French, especially for reading. On Sunday, May 26th, he presided at the Eucharistic celebration and preached.

The month of June will be for Raphael the month of farewells in the parish, in the associations and services of the diocese in which he was involved. At the beginning of July, he will join Fribourg, Switzerland, for a ministry at the service of the confreres. But he will also be able to commit himself once again to the service of Islamic-Christian dialogue.

Guy Vuillemin

Jubilarians in Montreal

Posted on 04/06/201904/06/2019 by Vitus Danaa Abobo

Last weekend, the following Jubilarians were celebrated in Montreal :

Guy Vezeau – 60 years
John Boos – 50 years
Michel Fortin – 50 years
Gilles Barrette – 50 years
Michel Meunier – 50 years
Michel Lavoie – 50 years

Congratulations to all of you.

South Africa at its best

Posted on 04/06/201904/06/2019 by Vitus Danaa Abobo

Since its inception in 2009, the Ndlovu Youth Choir has profoundly affected the lives of the choristers and demonstrates the potential of any human being to achieve excellence no matter their background, education or place of birth. From its humble beginnings as an after-school activity the choir has evolved into a truly outstanding professional ensemble.

PEP/Fra – Sector France: Nouvelles de la Communauté de Toulouse

Posted on 04/06/201904/06/2019 by Vitus Danaa Abobo

Community of Toulouse :

Active Spring at the “Minimes”

Just like Spring, the Toulouse community is waking up with lots of activities to reactivate a flowery life. Perhaps inspired by the Resurrection of the Lord that we have just celebrated with great pomp and circumstance, the memory of the foundation of our Society has reminded us of our spirituality that has enabled us to adhere to the Mission of being All to All. Thus, on May 3, we celebrated in community the end of Emile Kimembe’s internship. He arrived safely in his family in Congo DRC on May 6.

The next day in the evening, we shared a meal with some former White Father students from rue Vélane in Toulouse in the presence of the Provincial Delegate, Patrick Bataille, who trained two of them. There were only three. Together with their spouses and children we were about twenty people.

In their testimonies they expressed the desire for stronger unity among them and close collaboration with the Society of Missionaries of Africa. One of them, Jacques Kampetenga, is a deacon and explained his journey. They are ready to start a group of elders. In any case, their many children are our friends and potential collaborators to support us. It was a very good time.

On Sunday, May 5th, the Church of the Minimes filled up for the installation ceremony of Norbert Mwishabongo as the new parish priest of the Pastoral sector of the Minimes. The Mass was presided over by Hervé Gaignard, the Vicar General, because Bishop Le Gall was unable to attend. Patrick Bataille, our Provincial Delegate, all the collaborating priests of the parish, the Episcopal Vicar of the Deanery, and the National Chaplain of the African and Malagasy Coordination concelebrated Holy Mass.

After the mass there was an aperitif that allowed people to meet each other, then a simple and very convivial meal. The borough mayor was present for the installation and stayed all the time during the meal during which he renewed his commitment as mayor of the district for the responsibility of the Church. He also expressed his desire to collaborate with the new priest and his team.

To close our series of images as part of the organization of activities for our 150th anniversary, Bishop Michael Fitzgerald gave a lecture on “Islamic-Christian Dialogue: the contribution of the Missionaries of Africa and the Sisters of Our Lady of Africa” on May 22 in the Church of the Minims.

Presented by the animator as a man of great openness, Bishop Fitzgerald demonstrated this in welcoming the other. Through his extensive experience in the field of Islamic-Christian dialogue, he has demonstrated that dialogue is possible even in our current context in Toulouse. We thank him for agreeing to come from Liverpool to revive our commitment to ” Encounter and Dialogue “. Go well, my Lord.

Simon Gornah, M.Afr. (texte et photos)

PEP/Fra – Sector France: News from the Billère Community

Posted on 04/06/201904/06/2019 by Vitus Danaa Abobo

From the Mini-lien of the French sector, a return to the month of May in Pau-Billère.

Community of Billère Lavigerie :

In May “do as you please” in Billère… (“Fais ce qu’il te plaît” : French proverb)

Several confreres’ outings this month: the first week, a 1800km trip in the Var with a team of Lourdes hospital workers – our photographer made for us a small souvenir image.

On the 19th, at Tournay Abbey, with the Pastoral Care Center for Migrants, and in particular with about a hundred Iraqis and their children (who speak among themselves in Aramaic), we celebrated together the 150 years of the W.F.

On the 8th, of course, we celebrated the martyrs of Algeria with a Eucharist in our little chapel corner; next year we will have our large room on the 3rd floor to celebrate…

The work is nearing completion and the director of Fed’Es, Mr. Didier Debrand, came on the 12th, to announce that he would take over the management of the house himself until all the people from the two EHPAD’s¹ were installed.

1 EHPAD means “Etablissement d’Hébergement pour Personnes Agées Dépendantes” (Accommodation establishment for dependent elderly people). In France, even though the buildings for the Old Folks communities still belong to the Missionaries of Africa, their management is entrusted to an association. Details can be obtained from the Sector house in verlomme.

PEP/Fra – Sector France: News from Bry-sur-Marne Community

Posted on 03/06/201904/06/2019 by Vitus Danaa Abobo

From the Mini-Lien of the France sector, a look back at May in the community of Bry-sur-Marne

Bry Community:

Jean FISSET left us end of April very peaceful, while some members of his family were at his bedside. He, who was very family-minded, was able to leave in peace. The funeral was a family celebration rather than a community celebration because John’s family, including his brother and sister, filled the chapel. The liturgy of the Mass had been prepared by John himself before his death, and his nephews were keen to respect his last wishes. Bernard Lefebvre, who knew him well, came to preside at the Eucharist, and Gérard Demeerseman was able to retrace in his homily John’s attachment to the Muslim world to which he had dedicated his entire missionary life. When we returned from the cemetery, the whole family gathered one last time for a glass of friendship, which made it possible to see how much Jean was appreciated by all his family. He has now joined the great family of confreres who are waiting for the resurrection; may he rest in peace.

A few days later, the entire house was celebrating the 100th anniversary of a resident, Mrs. Berthe LE CAM. The same day it was the “Pierre angulaire” (the residence) that organized the celebration with a bouquet of 101 red rose buds. And the champagne flew freely over a huge cake. Mrs. LE CAM then confessed the secret of her longevity: a glass of red wine every day at noon and an aperitif on Sunday, a diet she intends to follow for many years to come, as she is not yet completely dependent. The following Saturday, it was his family that wanted to celebrate her again. As for us, we can now wait quietly for the celebration of our next centenary at the beginning of next year, our confrere Georges BERGANTZ, who will in turn make it because he is even more fit than Mrs Le CAM, and especially shares with her the same secret of longevity. What is certain is that celebrating centenarians gives a lot of hope and happiness to all. Long live Mrs. Le CAM.

Bishop SANTIER, Bishop of Créteil and therefore our bishop, wanted to visit us a second time this year, which touched us very much. But especially this time he wanted to exchange with us, and for a good hour he presented his diocese to us with passion. Everyone was surprised to see how cosmopolitan this diocese was: many foreigners and a large number of religions, including Judaism and Islam, and even Buddhism. Interreligious dialogue has thus become an obsession for the pastor of our diocese, which sounds familiar to many of us. All this greatly enhances the dynamism of the diocesan Christian community, which is living a true renewal. Finally, we feel a little more at home in this diocese, because we have spent our entire lives in an equally complex environment. It is up to us to remain more White Fathers than ever.

Last Saturday, an orchestra came to enliven our afternoon, the “HARMONIE TUTTI” orchestra, the fruit of Bry’s music school. It was obviously not the Scala of Milan, but it must be acknowledged that their conductor is a virtuoso, both to conduct and to play as a soloist. They now know the code to enter the house.

Finally, at the month’s end, on Ascension Thursday, Jo le NIGEN will renew his contract with the White Fathers in our community for another three years. We will talk more about it in the next Mini-Lien. The park is already looking forward to it, but less than we certainly are. Congratulations, Jo!

Clément Forestier (photos J-Y Chevalier)

PEP/Fra: Sector France: News from the Mours Community

Posted on 03/06/201904/06/2019 by Vitus Danaa Abobo

From the Mini-link of the France sector, a return on May for the community of Mours.

Community of Mours :

Mours: a festive month of May!

We often talk about the month of May, like the month of holidays and long weekends, this year it will have been for us here, a festive month!

The 150th Anniversary Jubilee, organized by the AAPB (Association of the White Fathers’ Friends) of Paris and the Missionaries of Africa of MOURS, was celebrated on Sunday, May 19th. Yves has participated in several preparatory meetings in Paris and Mours. Jean-Louis prepared the park’s walkways to allow visitors to get some fresh air and planned for the lawns to be able to accommodate the 150 people invited for the day. Jean for weeks had been preparing an exhibition to present the Missionaries of Africa and MSOLA and renovated the glass roof space to install the panels brought by Bernard Lefebvre. Everyone on their own side had their hands in the game so that everything could go well. Everything was planned for us to live this day in the heart of nature: mass, conferences, aperitif and meal on the lawn and under the lime trees… But the weather changed our plans at the last minute and the day before we decided to review the program of installation of the festivities!

The tables, benches, sound system and barnum, graciously brought by the municipality and the Mours festival committee, had to be re-planed : the barnum was installed to allow us to have an aperitif outside, but we had to close ranks to enter the chapel for the Eucharist and sit in the glass roof.

Bishop Stanislas Lalanne of Pontoise presided over the Eucharist and gave the homily… One of the participants, not used to listening to a bishop’s homily, had these words : “a message adapted to all the participants”.

Yves Masquelier in his welcoming address pointed out that this celebration of the 150th anniversary of the Missionaries of Africa brought together here: on the one hand White Fathers and MSOLA Sisters from the Paris region, but also Mgr Claude Rault, Bishop Emeritus of the Sahara and Fr. André Ferré from Tunisia, on the other hand the Friends of the White Fathers of the Paris region, but also the diocesan family of Pontoise, priests, religious and lay people, representatives of the town hall and the committee of the Monts festivals as well as a delegation of Burkinabe Christians from the region.

After the aperitif taken outside, we sat in the glass roof to enjoy an excellent meal.

Nous avons réalisé notre projet d’accueillir à Mours pour le 150è anniversaire 150 personnes ! Même si les conversations étaient parfois rendues difﬁciles à cause du nombre, la joie était bien présente et les remerciements se sont multipliés à la ﬁn du repas quand les gâteaux du 150è ont été présentés par le personnel de la cuisine, alors qu’à l’extérieur la pluie tombait.

C’est à nouveau dans la chapelle qu’ont eu lieu deux conférences : l’une concernant l’histoire et le rôle qu’occupent les AAPB dans notre secteur et leur participation à l’aide pour l’Afrique, présentée par M. Bruno Dupuy, président des AAPB de Paris ; et la seconde par François Richard sur l’histoire de Mours avant l’arrivée des PB et surtout ce qui s’est vécu à Mours de 1950 à nos jours.

Si le thème de la 3è année de préparation de ce jubilé était de « regarder l’avenir avec espérance », nous pouvons dire aujourd’hui que « la mission, c’est notre vocation », comme l’indique le titre de la lettre pastorale de notre évêque, Mgr Stanislas Lalanne, et que nous nous y engageons tous avec les forces que nous avons.

C’est à nouveau notre parc et notre verrière qui ont été choisis par les organisateurs de la Fête des Voisins ce 24 mai. Mais ce soir là, l’ambiance était tout autre, car les participants étaient majoritairement d’un autre âge !

Deux structures gonﬂables, un toboggan et un billard ont été installés et ont fait la joie des nombreux enfants durant toute la soirée. Et même certains d’entre nous se sont exercés à jouer au billard avec les pieds pour faire rentrer les balles dans l’une des 6 cases du billard. Un bon moment de partage « avec des voisins » que nous ne connaissions pas ou peu ! Et par chance cela a pu se passer à l’extérieur.

Au cours de ce mois de mai, plusieurs groupes de catéchèse sont venus avec leurs animateurs pour se préparer aux sacrements du baptême, de l’eucharistie ou de la conﬁrmation. Et malgré la présence de plusieurs faisans et le passage d’un vieux sanglier, les scouts viennent toujours occuper le terrain pendant les Weekend.

Nous attendons le retour prochain de notre confrère Jean Chauvineau, parti « dans les îles » pour un mois d’apostolat et nous espérons que Michel Dubois, actuellement près de Chartres en maison de rééducation après son opération, pourra nous rejoindre dans les prochaines semaines.

Jean Chaptal (Photos J-Y Chevalier et Joseph Foucaud)

PEP/Fra : Sector France: News from Friant

Posted on 03/06/201903/06/2019 by Vitus Danaa Abobo

Taken from the Mini-lien of the France sector, a mini-diary of the Rue Friant community.

Communauty of Rue Friant :

At the beginning of the month, Stan Lubungo and Martin Grenier came to Paris to participate in a meeting of the Societies of Apostolic Life. It was in Morlaix, in the West of France, with the Fathers of Saint-Jacques.

The first (of May) came Father Alexandre BAZIE, the next auxiliary bishop of Koudougou (in view of the foundation of a new diocese) passed through our country on his way to Rome where he will take the “short course” for the new bishops.

Etienne Sion, a confrere from Tanzania, spent the month of May with us where he was able to make some health check-ups.

Emile Bombiri, priest of the diocese of Nouna, came to check on his heart and diabetes….

Matthias Gyato, former confrere, now a priest in his diocese in Ghana, was happy to return to Friant Street and meet one or other confrere he knew; he also wanted to check on his health.

Jean-Marie Vasseur spent a few days with us for family and pastoral meetings… Very valiant, but with a cane all the same.

Father Alexandre Dembélé, who works in the media in Bamako, came to supply his equipment through Amazon….

On Saturday, May 21, 32 children and their caregivers (from the parish of St Jacques de Montrouge) came to make their retreat in preparation for the First Communion in our large hall and garden. A lot of joy and a lot of seriousness…. And plenty of children’s games. Jacques took part in a question-and-answer session with them on Africa, the White Fathers, the vocation…

On that day, we received Bishop AKE (of Ivory Coast) who came for a last check-up following his surgeries… and Bishop Thomas KABORE, former Bishop of Kaya… He was the one who ordained five years ago the priest of Dablo who had just been murdered by terrorists.

On Monday, May 13, we received a Cor Unum group of 12 people who met in our large room; they also had lunch with us.

On May 14, André Ferré arrived from Algeria for a holiday with us. That same day, in the evening, there was also a monthly meeting of the “Relais Lumière Espérance”; on the 15th, it was Father Joseph Nikiema who came to Paris for a funeral.

On Wednesday afternoon, 15th and Thursday 16th, the meeting of the Steering Committee of the Christian Pensioners’ Movement took place in our house. There were 35 of them… They were so pleased with our hospitality that they promised to come back to us….

On Sunday, May 19, it was Bishop Augustin TRAORE of Segou, Mali, who came to visit us.

Saturday, May 25, it was the parish of Vanves with 40 children preparing for the first communion that took place in the garden and the main hall. The animation team (eight adults) has prepared everything perfectly and Jacques intervened with the children as he had done 15 days before with those from Montrouge.

And Norbert Mwishabongo, the new parish priest of Toulouse-Minimes, came to close this month of visits.

Jacques Lacour

PEP/Fra 150th St Martin’s Basilica in Tours

Posted on 02/06/201902/06/2019 by Vitus Danaa Abobo

In the footsteps of Cardinal Lavigerie, on the occasion of the 150th anniversary. Extract from the Mini-Lien of the France Sector.

ST MARTIN's BASILICA IN TOURS, SUNDAY, JULY 7, 2019 at 11:00 am

Why in Tours?

Stan Lubungo wrote in Petit Echo n° 1099: “There is reason to believe that our founder had received a proper gift from the Spirit to be an apostle and missionary in Africa. We can think of this dream, to which he often referred and in which he was transported to an unknown and foreign country where people of dark skin, speaking a foreign language came to him and how very soon afterwards he found himself appointed Archbishop of Algiers.“ And this decisive dream, very Pauline, took place at the tomb of Saint Martin in Tours

When we look at the work that the Cardinal has accomplished, it is indisputable that he did not achieve this without having been called to it and without having been supported by divine grace. This is why we see it fit to celebrate the 150th anniversary where the Cardinal’s history is in line with the main currents of the Church.