News archive

Anselme Tarpaga is elected assistant

Posted on by Philippe Docq

Anselme Tarpaga is elected assistant

Today, Thursday, 2nd June 2022, Father Anselme K.A. TARPAGA was elected Assistant General of the Society of the Missionaries of Africa by the General Chapter here in Rome.

Our fraternal congratulations and our best wishes to Anselme for his new service of the Society and of confreres.   

Rome, 2nd June 2022.
André-L. SIMONART,
Secretary General.

Chapter Communication – 1st June 2022

Posted on by Jean Lamonde

Chapter Communication - 1 June 2022

It is not easy to describe everything about the life of the capitulants. There are, of course, the meal times, the common prayer exercises and the various meetings planned for the Chapter. Let us not forget the outings to the restaurant which are also part of the Chapter. Each capitulant continues with his own routine, getting up, going to bed, internet, physical exercises, walking and of course moments of personal prayer. 

The liturgy is prepared by the teams and the language alternates daily between French and English. Lauds and Vespers are prayed either in the chapel or in the chapter auditorium. A member of the General Council decorates an area around the altar in the chapel with pictures and images related to the themes of the day. That initiative serves to keep the focus on the topics of the day and to think about them in the presence of the Lord. Is this not one of the habits of the missionary vocation?  

There is a good understanding between the capitulants. The exchanges during the plenary sessions are good, frank, open and respectful. The questions reveal the quality of the listening and the desire of understanding better the realities being discussed. The ambiance is cordial and fraternal. The elections proceed normally at set times.

The morning plenary was dedicated to the charism with its various aspects. The charism shapes our identity, who we are and the mission entrusted to us. The participants looked at what elements of our charism could be reaffirmed in order to consolidate our commitment, such as our link with God through faith and prayer. They also examine the internal difficulties that may be dangerous for us.

The afternoon was dedicated to primary evangelisation. The awareness that Africa still has many unevangelised places provides us with a good motivation to get off the beaten track and out of our well-established parishes and go to those places where the Gospel has not yet penetrated. Communication and the media occupied the second part of the plenary. We are called to put Jesus in our communications and to improve our use of them. Someone pointed out that some recommendations heard in the afternoon session are already in the last chapter documents of 2016.

MARIA JOSEPH LEO L.
ASSISTANT GENERAL

I am happy to announce the election of a second Assistant General that took place this afternoon. His name is Maria Joseph Leo. He was born in India and came from South Africa to participate in the Chapter. His election to the General Council is a page of history for our society, as he is the first member from India to be elected as Assistant General. We congratulate him and assure him of our prayers and support. May the Holy Spirit guide him in his ministry as Assistant General of the Society of Missionaries of Africa.

Leo Laurence Maria Joseph elected assistant

Posted on by Philippe Docq

Leo Laurence Maria Joseph elected assistant

Today, Wednesday, 1st June 2022, Father Leo Laurence MARIA JOSEPH was elected Assistant General of the Society of the Missionaries of Africa by the General Chapter here in Rome.

Our fraternal congratulations and our best wishes to Leo for his new service of the Mission, the Society and of his confreres.   

Rome, 1st June 2022.
André-L. SIMONART,
Secretary general.

Chapter Communication – 31st May 2022

Posted on by Jean Lamonde

Chapter Communication - 31 May 2022

The first activity of the day was a lecture on the Initial Proclamation by Fr Albert Maravilla (SDB). Fr. Maravilla began by stating that the Church has a desire to foster Christian faith within herself and among the nations. The Christian life is a way of life that encompasses all our lives and activities. He also showed how Jesus himself practiced the initial proclamation, with Nicodemus in need of a greater openness, the Samaritan woman at the well from a human need. The apostles followed Jesus’ example and Fr Maravilla mentioned St Paul who spoke of universal values in Corinth. He also referred to papal documents.

The initial proclamation consists in arousing in the hearts and minds of those around us the desire to hear about Jesus, an interest, a curiosity to know Him more. This interest will lead to an encounter with the Lord who will himself lead to faith through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. The initial proclamation is addressed not only to non-Christians, but also to Christians, Catholics, who have abandoned the faith or are living it out of habit, without being fully aware of it. The initial proclamation is lived out at various levels, for example in the family, where the children receive the initial proclamation. It does not replace catechesis or other teachings to nourish the Christian faith in the hearts of people.

The initial proclamation is carried out through everyday encounters and is not concerned with conversion. It is carried out through our activities done with love for Jesus Christ, no matter what kind of activities they are. It wants to bring about a spiritual experience of an encounter with God. Fr Maravilla used the image of the spark that lights a flame. 

A time for questions followed.

The capitulants then entered into the plenary session where they discussed the themes already worked on in the teams, such as the charism, the prophetic mission, the evangelical counsels and collaboration with the laity. This work will continue tomorrow and will be submitted to the drafting committee.

Finally, the election of an Assistant General, Father Francis Bomansaan, took place. Father Bomansaan was born in Ghana. He was working in Kenya. We congratulate him and wish him a fruitful ministry in his new responsibilities. We also assure him of our prayers and support.

While we are on the subject of praying for the Chapter, let us not forget that the election of the Assistants General will continue over the next few days. May the Holy Spirit inspire the members of the Chapter in their choices. A prayer to this effect will certainly be a leaven of unity for our whole missionary Society.

Fr. Alfred Maravilla is a Salesian Missionary, a member of the General Council in charge of the Missions. You can listen to the conference – in English – that he gave to the Capitulants on this Tuesday 31st May 2022. 

Francis Bomansaan elected assistant

Posted on by Philippe Docq

Francis Bomansaan elected assistant

Today, Tuesday, 31st May 2022, Father Francis BOMANSAAN was elected Assistant General of the Society of the Missionaries of Africa by the General Chapter here in Rome.

Our heartfelt congratulations and our best wishes to Francis for his new service of the Mission, the Society and of his confreres.   

Rome, le 31 mai 2022.
André-L. SIMONART,
Secrétaire général.

Chapter Communication – 30th May 2022

Posted on by Jean Lamonde

Chapter Communication - 30 May 2022

The third week of the Chapter brings us into the second phase, which is that of discernment. The moderators provided practical guidelines for quality work and discernment. For a good discernment, we need to take into account the ecclesial context and our own missionary history, to have good criteria, to remain open to today’s reality and to be clear and precise in our sharing. Prayer is essential to receive the light of the Spirit.

They reminded the Chapter members that they had been selected several topics and gathered them under broader themes, such as mission, charisma, formation, governance. Today the charism is the first to be addressed. Our Superior General stressed that mission is a prophetic witness in which interculturality plays a great prophetic role.

Father Dave Sullivan introduced the theme by talking about mission as prophetic witness, using the meaning of the two words, witness and prophet. To be witness requires that our lives reveal something of the Gospel. He strongly emphasised that a prophet is one who lives what he says and says what he lives. This attitude makes him an authentic prophetic witness. It is crucial that the prophet be able to transmit a message that is relevant to the people who hear him. In concluding, he invited the capitulants to find concrete ways to remain faithful to our mission and charism. We do not become prophetic witnesses with beautiful ideas, but rather by living the components of our missionary oath in a way that is relevant to today’s world.

Among the practical indications, the moderators explained that the chapter will move forward with alternating team and plenary work.  There will also be a drafting committee that will write documents to be presented in plenaries for discussion and improvement. At this point, there is no decision being taken.

During this period, orientation voting will be held to elect future members of the General Council.

The moderators left two questions to start today’s team reflection:

    • What are the hindrances – obstacles – shadows that prevent us from living our mission as prophetic witnesses?
    • What do we need to reaffirm in our charism for our witness to be prophetic?

Bishop Richard Kuuia Baawobr, M.Afr., Bishop of Wa (Ghana), created Cardinal

Posted on by Philippe Docq

Bishop Richard Kuuia Baawobr created Cardinal

Pope Francis announced today, Sunday, 29th May, feast of the Ascension, that he will create 21 new Cardinals at a special Consistory on Saturday, 27th August 2022. Among the 21 new Cardinals is our confrere, Bishop Richard Kuuia Baawobr, Bishop of Wa (Ghana). Pope Francis added: “Let us pray that they will help me in my mission as Bishop of Rome for the good of all God’s people”.

Together with our prayer, the Superior General, Father Stanley Lubungo and his Council, the 40 capitulants gathered here and all the confreres at the Generalate send Bishop Richard Baawobr our fraternal congratulations and best wishes.

Rome, 29th May 2022
Fr. André-L. Simonart, M.Afr.
Secretary General.

Chapter Communication – 28th May 2022

Posted on by Jean Lamonde

Chapter Communication - 28 May 2022

As part of the Chapter, we had the joy of welcoming Cardinal Tagle, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples, to greet and address us. Fr Stanley Lubungo introduced him at the beginning of the meeting and described the capitulants, their composition, countries of origin, etc.

From the beginning, Cardinal Tagle put us at ease and began by describing the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples, which is celebrating its 400th anniversary this year. He also announced that the new dicastery for evangelisation will be officially in operation on Pentecost 5 June. The second section of the new dicastery will correspond very much to the present Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples.

He then gave an overview of the many works of the Congregation throughout the world and its different types of interventions. The Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples is responsible for almost two thousand ecclesial jurisdictions. It deals with the appointment of bishops, missionary institutes, catechists, formation of seminarians, religious, scholarships, etc.

I share you some points from his speech:

    • It is not only the world that is changing, but also the missionary world. Now almost every country sends and receives missionaries. We are in the presence of a migrating Church, with many Christians in non-Christian countries (Filipinos in Bahrain) and non-Christians in countries with a Christian majority (Muslims in Europe). There are many African and Asian priests in France. All these realities disturb our fixed concepts of the world, the Church and the mission.
    • He also alluded to the various conflictual movements, such as some aspects of globalisation, tribalism and excessive nationalism. He recalled that the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples continues its work taking into account these difficulties.
    • The importance of evangelisation for the Church itself and the mission.

Some questions followed Cardinal Tagle’s intervention:

    • On the meeting of the bishops of West Africa grappling with extremism sometimes within the Church and Christian communities. The violence has caused a great migratory movement within West Africa. There was a lot of talk about Fratelli Tutti and the importance of the Church’s social doctrine.
    • The image of the Church is suffering a lot because of the abuse of power and sexual abuse. We are in a period where we are invited to humility. The Cardinal also insisted on the importance of the formation of priests and a change in the mentality of seminaries and houses of formation, not forgetting clericalism.
    • Tribalism complicates the appointment of bishops.
    • How to make the Church prophetic in West Africa?  One of the most important elements is inter-religious dialogue, when people of different religious and political confessions collaborate for integral development or the solution of concrete problems for the common good.

After the conference, Cardinal Tagle presided the Eucharist. From the readings, he described how important and vital for missionary witness were the friendship and collaboration between missionaries. He invited us to pray to the Father in Jesus’ name.

Chapter Communication – 26th May 2022

Posted on by Jean Lamonde

Chapter Communication - 26 May 2022

Well, yesterday… …it did not rain. Today the sun has returned to us, this time with a humid heat, which invites us to be patient and reminds us that the Lord is preparing something, or rather someone, for us.

It is difficult to bring news today because everything is happening behind closed doors. I think that the confreres among you who have already participated in a chapter will be able to tell you more than I can on the subject. However, I will venture to give you a detail or two.

During the Eucharist at noon, the main celebrant and preacher opened a small opening for us. He spoke briefly about the preparation for the election of the Superior General, in particular about the words of the Chapter’s spiritual animator, Fr David Sullivan, concerning the qualities of a Superior General. May he be a man of vision, a man of understanding of the realities of today’s world, a person who listens, a leader who is able to put his vision into practice and motivate us in the pursuit of mission today and in living our own missionary charism. Let him also be a man of the Word of God, of prayer, of faith, a man of God.

We observed that the capitulants were more serious and that they took time to share with each other, either in a separate room or somewhere in the garden. The Chapter schedule indicates four ‘election’ times during the day. We have no news about the voting ballots. Yet there is a kind of connivance, a unity between us all in the house.

NOW, AS I WRITE THE INFORMATIONS OF THE DAY, THE NEWS OF THE ELECTION OF THE SUPERIOR GENERAL REACHES ME. THE CAPITULANTS HAVE ELECTED FATHER STANLEY LUBUNGO FOR A SECOND TERM.

STANLEY LUBUNGO IS RE-ELECTED SUPERIOR GENERAL
OF THE MISSIONARIES OF AFRICA
TODAY, AROUND 5PM

WE CONGRATULATE HIM AND ASSURE HIM OF OUR SUPPORT.

Let us offer our prayer of thanksgiving to the Lord and to the Holy Spirit for the election of the Superior General. May our Superior General remain the person the mission needs, the person the Church of Africa needs, the person the universal Church needs and finally the confrere the Society of the Missionaries of Africa needs.

Let us welcome him with joy as a gift from the Lord to us. May the Lord sustain him in the accomplishment of his mission.

Stan, all of us, your confreres, thank you for accepting the responsibility of leading the Missionaries of Africa for a second term. We assure you of our friendship, support and prayer for you. May the Lord accompany you, share his wisdom with you, and guide you in the exercise of your responsibilities. May God Bless you always and grant you peace and joy in your ministry.

“My soul magnifies the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour…

On friday, the day after the election of the Superior General, is a day of relaxation for the capitulants. Work will resume on Monday. I wish you a good weekend.

Chapter Communication – New Superior General

Posted on by Philippe Docq

Chapter Communication - 26 May 2022 - New Superior General

On Thursday, 26th May 2022, the 29th General Chapter of the Society of the Missionaries of Africa re-elected Father Stanley LUBUNGO Superior General.  Our fraternal and heartfelt congratulations and thanks to Stan for accepting to continue to serve the Society and the Church as Superior General for Africa and the African World.

Rome, 26th May 2022
André-L. Simonart,
Secretary General.