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Have an esprit de corps, Lavigerie told us. One of the challenges that faces us in daily life is the mutual sharing of our joys and sorrows. Ah! If were not only united but one; is this not the wish of every human being regarding their social, religious and even civic life? At our level of formation among the Missionaries of Africa, this mutual support was made a reality by a meeting of stagiaires from the Province of Europe and those who accompany them. Six people took part: Georges Jacques (Assistant Provincial with responsibility for stagiaires in the Province of Europe), Bernard Delay (Coordinator for stagiaires in the French Sector) and Jesús Zubiria (Provincial Delegate and Coordinator for stagiaires in the Spanish Sector), Jonas Yamba (2nd year of stage in Spain/Roquetas de Mar), Moses Ariho (1st year of stage in France/Marseille) and Emile Kimembe (1st year of stage in France/Toulouse). The meeting took place in Madrid from the 4th to 6th April 2018.

The meeting took place under three headings; first of all a time for prayer, then a time for sharing, and finally a time for relaxing. Some of the questions we discussed were, what is the impact of the cultures in which we live on our spiritual, social and apostolic life? What have we learnt? How were we welcomed in our Sectors and communities? What are the perspectives for the future? In general, these were the major questions brought up during our meeting. This article will just give a general view. First of all we will speak briefly about our welcome in our communities. Then, we will talk about our discussions and finally we will talk about our time relaxing together.

The welcome in the community

There is a strong and remarkable element when one arrives in the community of Nuestra Senora De Africa: A sense of being welcomed that is almost innate. This warm attitude, this readiness to share missionary experiences, this good sense of humour, this community

joy which was contagious, this esprit de corps during the community services made our stay not only agreeable but also an inspiration on our vocation journey. We could well believe that we were in front of the author of these words, “This is how you will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (Jn 13, 35). Yes, we have seen and have believed. It would be ungracious not to say a big thank you to all the community.

Our meeting began on the morning of the 4th April with a recollection on the theme of “how to manage my liberty.” It was led by Georges Jacques. This time of recollection reminded us of the freedom of Jesus which was inscribed in his obedience to the will of his Father. Since the dawn of humanity, man has had difficulties in managing his freedom. Far from being a poisoned chalice from God to men, it is a big sign of his trust and his love. To be free does not mean doing what I like, but wanting what I do! To be free, is to recognise oneself as a limited being and so make the choice of mutual support while respecting differences. On a personal note, we were reminded that it is at the heart of our limits that we find our liberty. So, recognising them and loving them appears to strengthen us.

PEP stagiaires’ meeting in Madrid with their mentors

The discussions

No time to lose! The afternoon of the same day was dedicated to a general presentation of the French and Spanish Sectors and the European Province and then to sharing about our apostolic experiences which took us up to the afternoon of the 5th April. It was a time of listening to one another, supporting one another and mutual enrichment. This was a very valuable time for us! Is there anything more wonderful that an open, sincere and rich exchanging of views. Does not the time of sharing about the various difficulties due to social, climate and language changes not touch a chord and be an encouragement for some? Certainly we felt very comforted by the sharing our experiences. We also talked about some practical points concerning our formation, for example, the report of the stage, the declaration of intention, the annual retreat, and local holidays.

Our time for relaxation

Down time was not consigned to the dungeons. We had the opportunity to visit Madrid Cathedral, the Royal Palace, Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, home to Real Madrid, and especially the missionary project of Africa Fondación Sur. We gave ourselves a pat on the back for this beautiful time lived together by dining at the Ham Museum!

Visit to the Barnabéu stadium in Madrid

It is said that a joy lived and shared with one’s peers becomes more intense, and a difficulty experienced and shared with one’s contemporaries is softened. This meeting of stagiaires organised by the European Province on our behalf brought us great joy and satisfaction. We will each remember these experiences because of the riches they brought us. We will remember the trust between us. We will remember the advice of those who accompanied us. We will remember the warm welcome of the community. Everything has not been said, but everything remains etched in our hearts. Did not St. John say, “There are many other things that Jesus did, but if these were to be described individually, I do not think the whole world would contain the books that could be written (Jn 21, 25)? .

One aspect of our missionary life consists of a lot of coming and going, of welcoming and saying goodbye. In between the arrivals and departures, we are called on to build a community based on a simple life style, a fraternal and sharing spirit, a communion of prayer and missionary and apostolic collaboration. This experience takes on a special importance when a young confrere arrives in his place of apostolate after taking his Missionary Oath but it also applies to the confreres welcoming him.

The accompaniment of young confreres begins even before they arrive. Right from the announcement of their appointment to a community and place of apostolate, it is important to welcome him and to tell him we are anxious to make his acquaintance. It would be good to briefly describe the members of the community, the place and the type of apostolate carried out. This will allow the young confrere to share this information with his parents and friends. He is already being made to feel welcome and links are being established. He looks forward to going to his new mission and participating in the life of the community and the apostolate. Moreover, this communication serves as the first step in the inclusion of the young confrere in the parish and the community.

Let us remember that the arrival of a young confrere is going to transform the community. He has his own proper qualities, gifts, strengths, as well as his limits and weaknesses. He is not a new spare part and he will not carry out his apostolate in the same way as his predecessor did.

Welcome of young confreres

How should we welcome and support the newcomer? What are the most important aspects?  

First of all, prepare his room and make him feel welcome right from the start. This means spending some time with him. Let each one speak a little about himself, his life, his family and his apostolate. These meetings are crucial in order to establish ties of friendship and the dynamics of missionary collaboration. They also help community members to take stock of their missionary experiences (community life, prayer, apostolate and its priorities, etc.) and to make the necessary adjustments. Therefore, the welcome and accompaniment of a young confrere gives the community a chance to re-examine and renew its missionary commitments.

This approach is demanding, maybe one should not answer a young confrere’s question by saying, “Here, it is not done like that, and you will see why later”. I, too, was welcomed and initiated as a young confrere and often felt the need to ask many questions. And sometimes the answer of the «experienced» confrere was simply, “I do not know. I think that by doing things in this way, our missionary witness will be more fruitful.” A humble and honest answer without pretension.

How to form a community?

This way of doing things does not happen automatically and the community is invited to take the necessary means to put it into practice and to keep it going. Prayer is the first means because it binds us together in the Lord and unites us. The weekly community meetings are also a help because they aid the community to formulate clearly a community project, which takes into account all the dimensions of our missionary charism, personal and community prayer, community life, the apostolate and its own priorities, relaxation, on-going formation etc. The holding of community council meetings facilitates the sharing of information and fosters trust and mutual esteem. Therefore, it is not a question of solving problems but to build a community and a team. Besides, the best community council meetings are those which take place without anything needing urgent attention or any activities needing to be organised. Such meetings allow a deeper conversation to take place on the different fundamentals of the mission, on the mentality and condition of the people that we serve and on the relationships that we enjoy between ourselves and with our collaborators.

Solidarity plays an important part in our simple way of life. It is not limited to topping up the mutual aid fund; it also includes the readiness to be “bothered” by a confrere who wants to check out some words regarding his new language or who wishes to inquire about some aspect of his apostolate. Of course, a friendly support in times of illness is always welcome. And isn’t it nice to hear somebody say, “You look tired, have a rest; I will take your safari?”

My personal reflections

The first years of missionary life often prove to be a foundational experience. They encompass enough information about all dimensions of our life (prayer, contact with people, community life, apostolic life, evangelical counsels, managing solitude, etc.) to allow a good reflection on our missionary experience right from the beginning of our commitment. All the dynamics of commitment and avoidance, of growth and regression are manifested. And as these experiences are still fresh in our minds, it is easier to affirm or to correct them according to personal needs and the needs of the mission. The annual retreat and days of recollection are very beneficial in this personal journey.

Finally, the essential thing is that each one of us be happy in his community as a person and as a missionary so that he may be able to put all his gifts at the service of the mission and that he may grow in fidelity and love with his Lord and the people entrusted to him and with whom he lives.

The Petit Echo asked me to share with the confreres my experience in the accompaniment and integration of young confreres. In this article, in addition to sharing my experience in this area, I will indicate some factors which could help young confreres to be more resilient in the Mission.

When I was appointed as Assistant Provincial of PAC (Province d’Afrique Centrale) from 2009 to 2013, the two Provincials (Emmanuel Ngona and Placide Lubamba, later Bishop of Kasongo) charged me with the task of looking after the accompaniment of young confreres to the Province. As a Provincial team, we had made the support of young confreres a priority. We were aware that the first years of missionary experience after Initial Formation constituted a transition, which certainly presents opportunities to grow on the personal side and in the service of the Mission. However, there are also risks tied to maintaining a proper equilibrium between the demands of pastoral work, community and spiritual life, relaxation and relationships outside of the community. In addition, socio-political tensions, instability and insecurity which prevail in the region (unfortunately, this is still true of the area today) demand that we pay more attention to young confreres arriving in the Province.

When a young confrere is appointed to the PAC, the Provincial or Assistant Provincial visits the community to which he is appointed before he arrives. During this visit, the question of the reception and the integration of the young confrere is discussed. Experience shows that reassessing the community project when the new member arrives and the fact of holding regular community councils are very useful ways of assuring his integration in the community and in pastoral work.

Other methods that we used for supporting the young confreres were a meeting of confreres in “first term of mission,” and the annual formation session for young confreres, visits to the communities and informal contacts. In this article, I will focus on the meeting of the confreres on “first term of mission” and the annual formation session for young confreres.

The meeting of the “confreres on the first term of mission” takes place every three years. It brings together the confreres who are in their first, second and third year of mission. This meeting takes a good week and is organised around four important points.

The first major moment of the meeting is devoted to sharing and listening to the personal experiences of the participants. Each sharing session is followed by Q&A session for clarification or just so that the other confreres can give words of encouragement. Morning and Evening Prayer and the celebration of the Eucharist are privileged moments where the shared experiences are presented to God.

The second big moment is devoted to the deepening of certain themes which have emerged from the sharing and which were judged to be of interest for the whole group.

The third key moment is given over to visits: visiting some inspiring places (parishes or centres where men and women work together to be witnesses of hope among the most marginalised and vulnerable), visits to communities and a visit to the local Bishop if circumstances allow.

The fourth and last important moment is the time given to evaluating the meeting and the whole thing finishes with a relaxing outing.

If the meeting of “confreres on first term of mission” is an important component for their support and integration, it is not confined to this encounter only. Therefore, every year, we organise a formation session for the young confreres of the Province. The confreres who were in their first term of mission and those in their second term of mission take part in this session which often takes place just after the annual retreat. Depending on the theme and the availability of the facilitator, the gathering can last from three to five days. There is a double objective to these sessions. One is an opportunity for some Ongoing Formation and the second is that it allows the young men to meet again, to share their experiences in an informal way, to encourage one another or to challenge one another if that is what is needed. It is a kind of mutual support that the young confreres carry out among themselves. My presence during these sessions and through individual meetings with one or other of them is also an opportunity to accompany them on their journey.

The first term of mission is an occasion of enthusiasm and fervour for the new confreres. They have journeyed for more than ten years and now, at last, has come the moment to fully live the evangelical and missionary values which they have nourished and brought to maturity during their years of training. At the same time, the first years of mission produce their own challenges which, among others, are tied to the fact of having a new role and new responsibilities not only in the Church but in society at large. The fact that they are no longer in a formation house with a well-established rhythm of life and the fact that they find themselves in a new socio-economic and political context, to have to learn to live with new confreres, not to mention learning a new language etc. all these elements present particular challenges. So, what can we do to help a young confrere integrate successfully all these new experiences? It seems to me that building resilience can be the beginning of finding an answer to this question.

What does resilience mean? Resilience is defined as having the human capacity to confront adversity, to overcome it and to learn lessons from it and even better to allow oneself to be transformed by it. Even if we have very varied capacities for resilience, each person can develop his capacity to cope. I suggest that there are five factors which can help develop resilience among the young confreres. (I do not give them in their order of importance).

A meeting of young confreres on first term of mission from PAC

The first factor which can help develop resilience is to have a positive perception of oneself. This signifies a certain amount of self-confidence, a positive vision of oneself, a capacity to meet and accept setbacks and to overcome them and to learn from mistakes and in the end to have the ability to know how to be grateful.

The second factor is the ability to maintain significant interpersonal relationships. Healthy and sound relationships allow us to share with others what we are currently experiencing (our joys, our sorrows, our fears, and our hopes). Such relationships help grow our sense of belonging, permit us to welcome others and become sensitive to the needs of others. Psychological research shows that when sentiments and strong emotions that we experience are not shared with someone, there is a risk of developing illnesses such as depression, self-destructive behaviour or else sink into dependence on substances such as alcohol. So it is necessary to have a soul friend that one can talk to in order to share such experiences.

Moment of thanksgiving

The third factor which promotes resilience among young confreres is spiritual life. Personal and community prayer, daily meditation, and an openness to give and receive forgiveness are all experiences that help growth in the reassurance of God’s faithfulness, even in the most troubled times.

The fourth factor which helps resilience is hope. Hope is not to be confounded with optimism. Optimism can distort reality to the extent that it makes things look better that what they are; which leads to false hopes that end in deception. On the other hand, hope is based on looking on the reality of the world with a look of love, in the light of faith. Hope allows us to dare to envisage a future with God no matter what the present trials are.

The fifth and final factor to build up resilience is the aptitude to find a sense, a consistency to one’s life. Motivation from external sources such as looking for success, achieving celebrity standing, power, social status, money are all illusory in ministry and do not secure the euphoria and the happiness being looked for. However, a ministry that is based on sincerity, being close to people, the gift of self, a spirit of humility and service is one that can touch the lives of the people to which we are sent. To paraphrase Mother Teresa of Calcutta, “we are not called to succeed, we are called to be faithful.”

Visit to Bishop Kaboy of Goma Diocese

Over and above these factors, which can help a young confrere develop resilience in the Mission, it would not be superfluous to mention the importance of adopting a lifestyle that is healthy which includes the taking of regular exercise, a balanced diet, and exercising restraint regarding the consumption of alcohol and sugary drinks.

As a conclusion, it seems evident to me that the Provincial team and the receiving community have an important role to play in the support and integration of a young confrere. Nevertheless, the young confrere also has the duty to assume responsibility for his life if he wants his missionary vocation to be an significant life giving experience not only for himself but equally for the people to which he is sent. In the face of adversity, the fact of adopting the posture of a victim by blaming superiors, other members of the community and third parties will certainly not help him cope with the situation. In moments of crisis, the ability to assume his share of the responsibility and having the courage to seek appropriate help to bounce back is also part of process of assuming responsibility for one’s life.

Barely two weeks ago, I came back from a trip, which brought me to Niger and Burkina Faso. Over the course of four weeks, I was able to visit nine communities in the company of Luc Kola, Provincial of PAO. I really appreciated the fact that that the members of the Provincial team are on the road a lot and that there is no shortage of work.  In fact and as in other places as well, the distances in our mega-provinces are enormous. At the end of my stay, I got the chance to share my thoughts with all the members of the Provincial team on this rapid overview of the eastern part of the Province. The first words I addressed to them were, “Getting a puncture is not an option!”

What I simply wanted to convey with these few words was that we needed them and that we greatly appreciated their work. It was also evident that they had a heavy assignment and that they should take care of themselves. It is vital that they know when to give themselves a break, take some time to recharge their batteries and, in a very concrete way, allow themselves some self-love.

As we read in Leviticus 19, 18 and in Matthew 19, 19, which echoes the text of Leviticus, love of self is likened to love of one’s neighbour, “you shall love your neighbour as yourself.” So, in paraphrasing this famous verse, I would say, “Take care of your neighbour by taking care of yourself.” And who is my neighbour? The parable of the Good Samaritan comes to mind straight away but in this edition of the Petit Echo of May 2018, we insist that among all our neighbours, we need to pay particular attention to our young confreres.  

How do we do that? Jean Lamonde and Olivier Soma reply to this question by giving a number of examples based on their own personal experiences. Both of them remind us of the importance of a warm welcome when a new confrere arrives on post. We need to take the time to listen to him, to share, to communicate, in short, to encourage each other and to give the newcomer the space to find his wings but also to provide a safe place to land, where it is good to return at mealtimes, at times of common prayer and at the end of the day knowing that he will be able to chat in community and not find himself alone in his room.

To sum up, this means being happy in our missionary life. During my time of studies in India, I had the opportunity to explore this subject of the joy of living. A joy of living that implies being honest with oneself and having a sense of well-being. From these studies, I remember an article in a book written by two Salesians of Don Bosco, Frs. Jose Parappully and Joe Mannath : “Religious and Priestly Formation and Emotional Health”. They mention three essential elements that everybody should pay attention to if they are to maintain a level of satisfaction in their life no matter what age they are is or what position they hold. These three elements are to have relationships, to be autonomous and to be skilled or creative.  

The first point reminds us of the importance of communication, to express oneself, to listen. Regarding communication, there is no doubt that learning a language plays an important role. This relational aspect can also be understood as something spiritual as it touches on our relationship with God. As for autonomy, it is not a matter of doing what I want on impulse but, while remaining anchored in my missionary ideal, I have the opportunity to take decisions, to be able to choose, to be able to plan, with others for example, the pastoral programme for the month. When it comes to competence, it is obvious that our many years of study have filled us plenty of different kinds of knowledge, but it is important to develop the ability to communicate this knowledge and to put it into practice when the opportunity presents itself. Supporting our young confreres, therefore, involves, among other things, making sure that there is a framework in which these three elements can be nourished.

There is no doubt that by offering young confreres responsibilities, challenges and trust while remaining supportive, will offer them a favourable environment for their well-being. Certainly, pastoral challenges will not be lacking.  Freddy Kyombo shares this with us in his article in this edition. He speaks of the need to allow ourselves be questioned over the proliferation of independent churches, while recognising the vitality that is there in our own parishes.

Of course, it is important that we all look in the same direction, that is to say, to have Christ at heart, to listen to him and to discern collectively the planning of our pastoral commitments. In brief, as the 2016 Capitular Acts state, “Each member of the community should try to be an example to the others by a personal and community-oriented spiritual life in view of mutual enrichment” (p.44). Luc Kola expresses it very well, “no prayer, no accompaniment, smash into the wall.” Yes, the missionary is above all a man of prayer.  

We have many examples of this enrichment in the lives of numerous confreres who gave their all for the mission. One example is that of our first Ugandan Brother, Leon Lwanga, whose life is briefly sketched in this issue. It is a story that should inspire us. May the same zeal that dwelt in Brother Leon, a zeal that was communicated to him by Bishop Livinhac, take hold of us and make us eager to discover Christ more and more so that we can be his witnesses.

Punctures along the way are not an option. Therefore let us allow this zeal, this fire of the Holy Spirit grab hold of us. Then, united with this same Spirit, we may in our communities of three go forward on the road of Christ’s mission with the confidence of being well-equipped with four wheel drive and good tyres!

Safe Journey To All!

“The accompaniment of young confreres” is the subject of this present issue. The Editorial board is interested in the welcome they receive in the communities to where they are appointed. The experiences of the first years of ministry for these young confreres are crucial. It is one of the factors which can stimulate, discourage or turn off a young apostle.

The young confrere is not “a blank sheet of paper.” The Lord has already done some work on him; in his home environment , during his school days, the years of his missionary formation and also by other experiences of life. In welcoming him, we enter into the dynamic of “giving and receiving.” “Every man is a sacred story, man is in the image of God.”

If it happens that a young confrere needs particular attention concerning his life, his health or in his apostolate, then it is up to the members of his community who should be close to him to direct him in the right direction so that he can obtain help.

The Chapter gave us to understand that taking care of our young confreres is the best way to assure the future of our little Society