Missionaries of Africa

Pierre Jullien, R.I.P.

Posted on 26/02/201905/03/2019 by Vitus Danaa Abobo

Father Patrick Bataille, Provincial Delegate of the sector of France,
informs you of the return to the Lord of Father

Pierre Jullien

on Tuesday 26th February 2019 at Bry-sur-Marne (France)
at the age of 92 years, of which 66 years of missionary life
in Mali and in France.

Let us pray for him and for his loved ones.

Download here the announcement of Father Pierre Jullien’s death. Continue reading “Pierre Jullien, R.I.P.”

Summit on the protection of minors – Vatican 21-24 February 2019

Posted on 26/02/201926/02/2019 by Vitus Danaa Abobo

From 21 to 24 February, the presidents of the Catholic Bishops’ Conferences around the world responded to Pope Francis’ call to come to Rome to the Vatican to reflect together on how best to respond seriously to this unprecedented crisis facing the Catholic Church today. The sufferings of so many men and women, children and young people call for a determination on the part of the whole Church. During these three days, several speakers followed one another to address different topics based on the three areas of reflection proposed by the organizing committee: Responsibility, Accountability, Transparency.

All the conferences can be found on the VaticanNews YouTube channel. This summit was also punctuated by several testimonies of victims previously recorded in audio or video. These testimonies allowed those among the speakers who had never heard from victims to discover the extent of the suffering they had endured. Participants also worked in language groups.

What should we remember from this summit?

It is possible to read many analyses in different languages in the online press, indeed 450 journalists were accredited, mainly from the English-speaking world. But for us, here is what we can learn that is important.

This meeting is just one step in this immense project which is to respond to the suffering of the victims with compassion and mercy. It is also a step in the process of conversion of hearts necessary for real preventive work to make the Catholic Church a safe home for children and the most vulnerable. In his final speech, Pope Francis set 7 priority axes of work for the whole People of God and more especially for the bishops of the whole world, here they are summarized with his words (Excerpts from the final speech):

“Protection of children: the primary objective of any measure is to protect children and prevent them from being victims of psychological and physical abuse. It is therefore necessary to change attitudes to combat the defensive and reactive attitude aimed at safeguarding the Institution, in favour of a sincere and determined search for the good of the community, giving priority to the victims of abuse in every sense of the word.”
“An irreproachable seriousness: I would like to repeat here that the Church will not spare itself to do all that is necessary to bring to justice anyone who has committed such crimes. The Church will never seek to stifle or underestimate any case.”
“True purification: despite the measures taken and the progress made in preventing abuse, it is necessary to impose a perpetual and renewed commitment to the holiness of pastors whose configuration in Christ the Good Shepherd is a right of God’s people.”
“Formation: in other words, the requirements of the selection and formation of candidates for the priesthood with criteria not only negative, aimed mainly at excluding problematic personalities, but also positive by offering a balanced formation path for suitable candidates, oriented towards holiness including the virtue of chastity.”
“To strengthen and verify the guidelines of the Episcopal Conferences: that is, to reaffirm the requirement of unity of the Bishops in the application of measures that have the value of norms and not only of guidelines. No abuse should ever be covered…”
“Accompanying victims of abuse: The harm they have experienced leaves indelible wounds in them, which are also manifested in resentment and tendencies towards self-destruction. The Church therefore has a duty to offer them all the necessary support by calling on experts in this field.”
“The digital world: the protection of minors must take into account the new forms of sexual abuse and all forms of abuse that threaten them in the environments in which they live and through the new instruments they use.”

These are seven priorities that Pope Francis has set for the bishops and major superiors of consecrated congregations and institutes of consecrated life, but also more broadly for the whole People of God.

To complete this roadmap, other measures will come: produce a Motu proprio on this question; offer a practical guide for bishops and major superiors to help them in their mission; “task forces / teams of experts” may also be created to help local churches that have more difficulty finding material and human resources to fight against this evil that spares no particular church or human community.

Let us make this roadmap our own.

Useful links :

Chaine YouTube de VaticanNews pour voir ou revoir les conférences :
En français – https://www.youtube.com/user/vaticanfr
In English – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxIsefyl9g9A5SGWA4FvGIA
Also exists in other languages
Many interviews and articles on www.vaticannews.va

JPIC Promoters’ meeting in Rome

Posted on 26/02/2019 by Vitus Danaa Abobo

The monthly JPIC promoters meeting was held on the 20th of February 2019 at the headquarter of UISG in Rome. This meeting was organised by the African Working Group and focused on the topic “State of Islam in sub-Saharan Africa: providing keys for better understanding of the expansion of Islam”.

After the opening prayer prepared by Sr. Ignatia Asoh (TSSF) and Sr. Caroline Njah Bongnavti (SUSC), and the presentation of the 20 participants of various Religious congregations and institutes, Fr. Mariano Tibaldo (MCCJ) introduced the speaker. Fr. Felix Phiri is former Director of the Islamic studies in the Tangaza University of Nairobi and former Professor and lecturer at Pontifical Institute for Arabic and Islamology Studies (PISAI). He is at the moment actually in charge of the Southern African Province of the Missionary of Africa.

At the beginning of the conference, Fr Phiri explained the territorial expansion of Islam in its early existence. Next, he focused more on the Islam in sub-Saharan Africa showing how Islam spread in Africa. The speaker then stressed the conceptual frameworks underlying the Islamic expansion. He offered comprehensive explanation about “Da’wah” which refers to Islamic missionary activities in modern period. He stressed the different types of “Jihad”, the inner and outer jihad, and its extremist forms which are actually spreading out in various African Countries such as Nigeria, Mali and Kenya.

The Da’wah movement is encouraged by several agents of Islamic propagation, such as Islamic governments, Muslim International Organizations, Non-Governmental Organizations and individual Muslim Initiatives. The Islamist infrastructure worldwide relies heavily on “zakat”, the mandatory charity demanded by Islam, usually 2.5 percent of one’s annual earnings.

The agents of Islamic propagation explore various strategies such as media, schools and universities, social welfare projects as well as funding of mosques, Islamic centres and madrassas. There are also different ways used to national politics, economy, society, family life, education, language and daily cultural habits.

Fr. Phiri concluded by saying that although a religion with a universal outlook, Islam foresees a coexistence with other religions. In its expansionist thrust, Islam needs no one’s permission, emphasised Fr. Phiri, on the contrary Muslims would gladly see Islam become more accepted in society. (click here for the content of the conference)

During the second part of the conference, the participants asked questions on cohabitation of Muslims and Christians. The answers given by Fr. Phiri were clear and realistic. He encouraged the participants to live their witness through authentic Christian life in coherence to the message of Jesus. To the question about Pope Francis’ landmark visit to the United Arab Emirates, the speaker underscored the important gesture of encounter, the coming as a friend, the importance of collaboration between Muslims and Christians.

At the end of the conference, the moderator, in the name of all participants, expressed deep gratitude to Fr. Felix Phiri for his very interesting and impressive conference on Islam in sub-Saharan Africa.

Before concluding the meeting, Sr Sheila (executive secretary) gave some information about the future events organised by the JPIC commission.

Andreas Göpfert (MAFR) and Mariano Tibaldo (MCCJ)

Discovering Mother Marie-Salome

Posted on 26/02/201926/02/2019 by Vitus Danaa Abobo

Some of you have asked for the written text of this very interesting conference. In the meantime, I have adopted and edited the conference title used in the written version. I also received the Power-Point presentation that I have inserted after the sound file below. For the moment I only have the French versions of those two documents, but the English text of the conference should follow soon.

Gisela Schreyer, archivist of the MSOLA, tells us about the history, little known to the White Fathers, of Mother Marie Salome, considered to be the co-founder of the White Sisters with Cardinal Lavigerie.

Sr. Rita Schrenk (Sr. Regina), R.I.P.

Posted on 25/02/201925/02/2019 by Vitus Danaa Abobo

The Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Africa invite you
to share their hope and pray for

Sr. Rita Schrenk (Sr. Regina)

She entered the fullness of life on February 22, 2019 in Köln Klettenberg.

she was 78 years old and in the 53rd year of her missionary religious life,
spent in the United Kingdom, Tanzania, Kenya and Germany.

Alois Blatz, R.I.P.

Posted on 24/02/201924/02/2019 by Vitus Danaa Abobo

Father Rudi Pint, Provincial Delegate of the sector of Germany,
informs you of the return to the Lord of Brother

Alois Blatz

on Friday 22nd February 2018 at St. Vinzenz’s Hospital in Cologne (Germany)
at the age of 73 years, of which 44 years of missionary life
in Mali, Chad, Tanzania, DR Congo and Germany.

Let us pray for him and for his loved ones.

Download here the announcement of Brother Alois Blatz’s death

Continue reading “Alois Blatz, R.I.P.”

Interviews Gilles Barette & Rita Toutant (in French)

Posted on 21/02/201921/02/2019 by Vitus Danaa Abobo

Born of the spirit of World Youth Day in Canada, “Salt and Light” is a unique instrument of evangelization. It is dedicated to being – and helping to be – the Salt of the Earth and the Light of the world. Our mission is to proclaim Jesus Christ and the joy of the Gospel in Canada and around the world by presenting stories that inspire hope and bring people closer to Christ and the Catholic Faith.

https://seletlumieretv.org/apropos/

This week in the magazine “Église en Sortie”, we are having a conversation with Father Gilles Barette on the history and work of the fathers and brothers of the Society of Missionaries of Africa (White Fathers). (…) In the third part of the program, Francis Denis receives Sister Rita Toutant from the missionary Sisters of Notre-Dame d’Afrique to talk about the history and mission of this community at the time of the celebration of their 150th anniversary.

Interview Gilles Barette : from 0:00 to 11:50
Interview Rita Toutant : from 19:54 to 28:32

Vocation animation together

Posted on 20/02/201920/02/2019 by Vitus Danaa Abobo

Here is a text that comes from Uganda, where the Vocation animators from both institutes of the Lavigerie Family have organised together some vocational activities in the context of the celebrations of our 150th anniversary.

We are very grateful to the Lord for the gift of our two institutes founded by Cardinal Lavigerie. In this line, we acknowledge the different activities that have been taking place in collaboration in the field of Missionary Vocation Animation and awareness to the youth.

Here in Uganda, from 11^th to 17^th January 2919, the vocation teams of MSOLA and M.Afr. organized a “come and see” session in the context of the 150 years of our foundation.

Eight aspirants of the M.Afr. and eight aspirants of the MSOLA participated together with the MSOLA pre-postulants.

On Sunday 13^th January we made a pilgrimage to some important sites linked to our historical background in Uganda. We visited the Rubaga Cathedral, the hospital and the cemetery where the pioneer MSOLA were buried. We also went to Nabulagala where the pioneer M.Afr. were buried and to the Munyonyo Martyrs Shrine where King Mwanga sentenced to death the then future Uganda Martyrs. At all these sites , we stopped and got some historical explanations and prayed with gratitude for all the 150 years .

On Tuesday 15^th January 2019, we all met at the MSOLA house in Bunamwaya for a common session. Sr. Harriet, who came all the way from Rwanda, together with Sr. Theopista Mbabazi animated the session. In the morning, Br. Francis gave an input on Cardinal Lavigerie in the context of 150 years of our foundation. This was followed by some group work and sharing.

We also marked the day with Holy Mass, for which Fr. Otto Katto was the main celebrant. It was nice to see how the young people aspiring to be missionaries were joyful at Mass and during the session. One would imagine how Cardinal Lavigerie must have been happy seeing the future Missionaries working together.

In the afternoon, there was an input presented by Srs. Harriet Kabaije and Theopista Mbabazi concerning our activities today in the context of 150 years especially our struggle against human trafficking. This was also followed by some very enriching group reflection sharing about our present activities in the struggle about human trafficking and slavery.

It was also striking to see how the aspirants were able to identify the current situations where they feel called and how they were connected to our mission today. These were some of the outstanding points that motivated the aspirants in M.Afr. and MSOLA: the legacy of our ancestors in faith , the high influx of refugees, not being materialistic, helping the needy, a desire to promote Justice and Peace, love and unity, the diminishing number of Missionaries in Europe and the inner force to commit to prayer. Indeed God speaks to the hearts of his people. And the question remains: Whom shall I send?

We were grateful to the MSOLA who received us so well. The aspirants were very happy to have lived this beautiful experience of good collaboration between MSOLA and M.Afr. We are planning another common session in May in the context of the 150years.

Summit on the Protection of Minors in the Church

Posted on 19/02/201919/02/2019 by Vitus Danaa Abobo

Please watch the video announcing the Summit on the Protection of Minors in the Church, which will take place from 21st to 24th February at the Vatican.

Do also read the interview of Stéphane Joulain by Vatican News, posted yesterday (restricted to M.Afr. and MSOLA).

Interesting as well, the joint statement of UISG & USG before the Summit.

n.b.: UISG stands for Union of the International Superiors Major (Feminine) and USG stands for Union of the Superiors Major (Masculine).

And finally, do pray for the best outcome possible of this summit and follow the proceedings on http://www.pbc2019.org/home

https://youtu.be/6-uKPF7ibg8

Around the Bakhita day in Poland

Posted on 18/02/201918/02/2019 by Vitus Danaa Abobo

“Together against trafficking in human beings”

An account of the events in Lublin (Poland) around the Day of Prayer and Reflection on Combating Trafficking in Human Beings:

The Vigil, which took place on February 8, 2019 in the Church of the Holy Family in Lublin and was organized by s. Bożena Noge FMM.
Mission Mass and meeting with Mr. Radek Malinowski at the House of the White Fathers in Natalin on February 9, 2019.