News archive

Towards a balanced budget (PE nr. 1088 – 2018/02)

The process is over! The Sectors, the Provinces, the Financial Council, the General Council… have all examined it attentively, with imagination, generosity and restraint and ended up approving it. Will 2018, the Jubilee Year for our Society, be a jubilee year for balanced budgets as our treasurers are confidently asking us to do?
Continue reading “Towards a balanced budget (PE nr. 1088 – 2018/02)”

May we never be robbed of missionary enthusiasm (PE nr. 1088 – 2018/02)

In our Society, we are talking more and more about “our missionary projects outside Africa.” In order to understand our position better, it might be a good idea to publish the letter of Pope Francis commemorating the centenary of the Apostolic letter of Benedict XV “Maximum Illud” published in 1919. I quote two little phrases so that you may understand why I am saying this:
Continue reading “May we never be robbed of missionary enthusiasm (PE nr. 1088 – 2018/02)”

Ongoing formation, part and parcel of our two Institutes (PE nr. 1088 – 2018/02)

How do you see Ongoing Formation today?

Ongoing formation has become part and parcel of our two Institutes. I do not know much about the formal Ongoing Formation in the M.Afr way of life, but as for MSOLA, we live through the Noviciate before first vows, the Juniorate before final vows and the Tertianship after about ten years of final vows. Continue reading “Ongoing formation, part and parcel of our two Institutes (PE nr. 1088 – 2018/02)”

The Bethesda session (PE nr. 1088 – 2018/02)

Overview

This session began in 2013. It runs for 13 weeks (two are only partial). The aim of the session is to give a general insight into the Bible from a pastoral perspective but based on modern research. Reading lists are given out and our libraries are at the service of the participants if they wish to do some additional reading or do some more personal research. Continue reading “The Bethesda session (PE nr. 1088 – 2018/02)”

Taking time out regularly to look deeper into our life (PE nr. 1088 – 2018/02)

Like other missionaries, I have been engaged for many years in Ongoing Formation programmes for our confreres and for many other individuals and institutions. I would like to thank God because of the wonders I have witnessed by Him among very different kinds of people. On being asked to write on this subject, I realised that I had so much to say…so I will limit myself to some major points. Continue reading “Taking time out regularly to look deeper into our life (PE nr. 1088 – 2018/02)”

To know when to brake when everything is going faster… (PE nr. 1088 – 2018/02)

The future of Ongoing Formation.

“In a modern and changing world, the Chapter invites us to be creative in our missionary approach and commitments, bearing in mind the need to adapt to new realities.”1

Basing myself on this statement of the last Chapter concerning our Mission today, I plan to consider the challenges facing Ongoing Formation in our Society. Continue reading “To know when to brake when everything is going faster… (PE nr. 1088 – 2018/02)”

The necessity of constant renewal (PE nr. 1088 – 2018/02)

Seniors’ Sessions

I was asked to write an article for the Petit Echo. I have already published six articles about IBLA (Institut des belles lettres arabes) in Tunis: in 1972, on its library, in 1977, commemorating the 40 years of the journal, in 1987, celebrating 50 years of the journal, in 2008 an overview of the work of the Institute, and again in 2008 on its 70th anniversary without forgetting an article on my journey to the Sahel in 1991. Continue reading “The necessity of constant renewal (PE nr. 1088 – 2018/02)”

Annual Census (PE nr. 1088 – 2018/02)

Members of the Society on 1st January 2018

To date, the Society counts 1210 members

Total : 1,210, which is 22 members less than in the 1stJanuary 2017 Continue reading “Annual Census (PE nr. 1088 – 2018/02)”

Ongoing formation (PE nr. 1088 – 2018/02)

“The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. And he said to them, ‘Come away by yourselves to a lonely place, and rest a while.’ For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. And they went away in the boat to a lonely place by themselves.” (Mark 6:30-32)

For many years now, our Society has placed great emphasis on the whole question of Ongoing Formation. Very deftly over those years our confreres, Marcel Neels, Guy Theunis,  Continue reading “Ongoing formation (PE nr. 1088 – 2018/02)”

Rencontres : Algiers religious weekly

From our confrere Vincent Kyererezi (Tizi-Ouzou) : This weekly edition of « Rencontres » of February 2018 is almost totally dedicated to our 19 Religious Martyrs, among whom Mgr Claverie, martyred in Oran, the 7 monks of Tibhirine and the 4 White Fathers of Tizi-Ouzou. This newsletter is obviously in French.