News archive

“… he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him, as he told you.” (Mark 16:7)

We celebrated the Easter season not long ago. Holy Week was a fascinating experience for the Christians. Catechumens were baptised or confirmed in the faith. It was also an intense moment for all Christians to review their Christian commitment and witness. Zambia received the first evangelizing Catholic missionaries 125 years ago. When the Missionaries of Africa (White Fathers) arrived at Mambwe-Mwela in 1891, theirs was an experience of responding to the Easter experience; a journey back to Galilee. Continue reading “Evangelization Today: Acting to Transform (PE nr. 1083)”

Encountering those living
on the existential peripheries
in Brazil:
the case of Salvador de Bahia.

The social facts are enlightening, we are witnessing great changes that are plainly affecting the basic principles that govern the daily life of humans, economic and political life and spirituality. As the Missionary approach is not static because of ever-changing data, the 28th General Chapter, through the Capitular Acts, rightly deals with the issue of our missionary commitments in Africa in the light of the facts as we live and experience them today. Continue reading “Existential peripheries in Brazil (PE nr. 1083)”

When I read the title of the proposed subject for this article, I did not pay much attention to the second part, “Changing Africa.” Yet there is a very clear link between the two terms.

Pope Francis has often hammered home the message, “The Church must come out of herself,” And not to preserve its structures or to live “closed in on itself and looking only to itself.” She must have the courage to move beyond her borders and her customs, and to “go and carry the Gospel” where it is not heard or received. Continue reading ““…This is the first time that someone has come to see us!” (PE nr. 1083)”

Lavigerie Family:
Uniting Forces And Energies
For The Peripheries

Pope Francis’ persistently calls on the Church to go to the peripheries and invites consecrated men and women to return to the roots of their charism and founding experience. This brings memories of our Founder’s bold and courageous action to fight against slavery in Africa. In confronting the horror of slavery, he cried out, “I am a man, and nothing human is foreign to me. Continue reading “Uniting Forces And Energies For The Peripheries (PE nr. 1083)”

My experience
of living with people
on the margins of society:
The Batwa of Burundi 1999-2017.

My apostolate among the Batwa began in 1999 after eight years of studies and parish work. I was to devote the next 18 years of my missionary life to them. The appointment was the result of a decision of the Burundian Sector of the Missionaries of Africa to start a mission among them. It also responded to a deep desire of mine to work as a missionary in this area. The persons who were going to become the centre of my life were considered repugnant, pariahs, people living very much on the margins of society. They did not enjoy any recognition in society and played no part in any of the usual social frameworks such as churches, schools, businesses or administration. Continue reading “Living with people on the margins (PE nr. 1083)”

Going forth from our comfort zone to reach out to the peripheries’ in need of the Gospel

During my eight years of formation with the Missionaries of Africa, the two years of the stage were the ones that marked me the most. First, the stage followed the Spiritual Year which I did in Fribourg in Switzerland. During this time, I had no other choice but to restrict my social activities in order to embrace the silence, to look again at my past life and to give myself body and soul to the spiritual exercises proposed to us. Continue reading “From our comfort zone to the ‘peripheries’ (PE nr. 1083)”