Missionaries of Africa

Towards an ethical discernment of our economic and financial systems

Posted on 12/09/201812/09/2018 by Vitus Danaa Abobo

The Vatican calls for Ethical Discernment in our Economic-Financial Systems.

The problem with our economic and financial systems goes beyond these systems themselves. The real problem lies in our dysfunctional human mind, our skewed understanding of human anthropology and the unconscious consequent infinite value that we have placed on this instrument of exchange called money. According to the Buddhist religion, the human mind in its normal state generates dukkha which can be translated as ‘unsatisfactoriness’ or just plain misery.
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Read on by downloading the PDF of our confrere Wolfgang Schonecke’s article (with Chika Onyejiuwa), or read it on the A.E.F.J.N website.

Interview of Gilles Barette on Radio Canada

Posted on 10/09/201810/09/2018 by Vitus Danaa Abobo

Radio Canada – Sunday 11:45 am – Interview (in French) of our confrere Gilles Barrette by Michel Désautels on the 150 years of presence in Africa.

“Founded in 1868 by the French Cardinal Charles Lavigerie, the Missionaries of Africa community, better known as the White Fathers, sent emissaries to Montreal and Quebec City in 1875 to seek funding. This is the beginning of a great adventure that will see more than 650 Canadian fathers and brothers dressed in white cassocks to carry the ideals of humanist Christianity to Africa. Michel Désautels receives the former provincial superior of the Missionaries of Africa, Father Gilles Barrette.”

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New structured email adresses

Posted on 09/09/201808/09/2018 by Vitus Danaa Abobo

Transition Session Opening Mass – Rome September 2018

Posted on 07/09/201808/09/2018 by Vitus Danaa Abobo

This homily was delivered by Francis Barnes, First Assistant General, at the opening of the Transition Session in Rome on Thursday, September 6, 2018.

Dive into the depths. This is certainly the call of religious life; to go to the depths; to go into the unmarked waters of life. The problem is that we prefer the shallow waters of our proven methods of doing, we prefer the shallow waters of our doctrine and the laws where we are safe, we prefer to stay on the shore with our fears and feelings of apprehension. We all know that when it comes to jumping into the unknown, we are afraid and moving to deeper waters for sure does not excite us. Continue reading “Transition Session Opening Mass – Rome September 2018”

Creation Time, week 2

Posted on 07/09/201808/09/2018 by Vitus Danaa Abobo

From September 1 to the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the Christians give thanks for the gift of creation and reflect on how they can protect it and transmit it to future generations. For Pope Francis, both are important in order to “hear the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor”. Continue reading “Creation Time, week 2”

General Consultation on the vocation of Brother

Posted on 06/09/2018 by Vitus Danaa Abobo

[…] Brother confreres have played an important and vital role in the evangelising Mission that our Society has been carrying out in the Universal Church. All our General Chapters had something to say about the vocation of Brothers in the Society. It is in this perspective that the 28th General Chapter (2016) in its Strategic Plan (4.1 Initial Formation) invited the whole Society ‘to rethink the vocation of the Brother in order to clarify the specific nature of the vocation and make it more attractive for a better service in mission’. […]

Download here the full letter of the General Council (PROT. 18 0963 E)

News from Burundi (Info-Pac Nr. 76)

Posted on 03/09/201808/09/2018 by Vitus Danaa Abobo

Dear confreres who have known, loved and served Burundi by bringing the Good News, Greetings.

We must give thanks to God who made the seed of faith grow well. Our present attitude of gratitude could be defined in the words of Pope Francis: to the past of recognition, to the present of passion and to the future of trust.

Continue reading “News from Burundi (Info-Pac Nr. 76)”

Ululation and Jubilation in Wa: Francis Xavier and Peter Claver Ordained Priests

Posted on 02/09/201808/09/2018 by Vitus Danaa Abobo

Ululation and jubilation ringing through St Andrew’s Cathedral of Wa on Saturday 25^th August 2018 expressed the meaning of the priestly ordination of our two confreres Francis Xavier Angkosaala and Peter Claver Kogh together with five other ordinands for the diocese of Wa. This was the joy of the Christian Community to have these seven men responding joyfully to the call of God to proclaim the Gospel of joy to all nations. It was raining cats and dogs and yet people came in their numbers that the latecomers struggled to find a place to sit.

Continue reading “Ululation and Jubilation in Wa: Francis Xavier and Peter Claver Ordained Priests”

To the Missionnaries of Algiers (1884) (Mini-lien nr. 476)

Posted on 01/09/201808/09/2018 by Vitus Danaa Abobo

Below is the famous preface that Cardinal Lavigerie wrote in March 1884 for the publication of a collection of his pastoral writings. Beyond the style dated by the time and some historical reflections that we know today were obsolete, this text retains an apostolic inspiration and breath that still touches us today. And we will be able to recognize some phrases that remain famous in the living memory of the Society of Missionaries of Africa.

Continue reading “To the Missionnaries of Algiers (1884) (Mini-lien nr. 476)”

Being a civilian prisoner at the Garaison camp (Mini-lien nr. 476)

Posted on 01/09/201808/09/2018 by Vitus Danaa Abobo

During the First World War, France considered the Germans, the Austro-Hungarians, the Ottomans, the Bulgarians present on its soil as enemies: they were concentrated in camps, including that of Garaison (Hautes-Pyrénées), installed in the former convent and school establishment of the Missionaries of the Immaculate Conception.

Continue reading “Being a civilian prisoner at the Garaison camp (Mini-lien nr. 476)”