Brazil - Mexico - Poland - Philippines - India

Opening up to Continents other than Europe and North America is of rather recent date
in the Society of Missionaries of Africa. This opening up began in the course of the 80s
and continued in the following years.

In this way the communities of Brazil and Mexico started in 1984, followed a year later by Poland,
then by the Philippines in 1991 and India in 1992. This openness is not primarily
for an increase in the numerical membership of the Society by way of recruitment.

Instead, it has in view the possibilities thus afforded for a greater variety in culture and Christian experience
at the heart of the Missionary family.

Brazil: the Curitiba Community .

The house of formation is closed for the moment
the candidates study in Mexico
2 Missionaries of Africa are present in Brazil and have a pastoral ministry

Missionary of Africa communities in Mexico The first house of the Society in Mexico was opened in November, 1984. The first candidates were accepted late in 1987. The first ordination, that of Fidel Salazar del Muro, took place in 1995 and we are 5 Missionaries of Africa Fidel Salazar del Muro, à Beira Province Southern Africa Cristóbal Padilla G. Mexico Promotion Salvador Munoz Ledo Rubalcaba inKisangani, Congo Sergio Villasenor Salinas, Assistant General Oscar Garcia Padilla Superior Delegate du Sector Mexico, Province of Americas We have just completed a process of opening a second community in the country and moving the formation first cycle there. The community in Queretaro, a medium sized city only 200 kilometers from the capital, has our administration and promotion center. Celebration at Queretaro of the Missionaries of Africa 25 years of in Mexico Stationed there are the Superior, Jesus Maria Velasco from Spain. Lee Angelo Quim Hum: Promotion Cristóbal Padilla G: : Promotion In Guadalajara where the formation program was moved in 2005 and where we just moved into a large new house we have four members: Oscar Garcia Padilla Superior Delegate du Sector Mexico, Province of Americas Francis Thibault from Canada: Cougil Gil Odilo from Spain The Blessing of this new house was on the 24th November 2007. . Blessing Day Candidates There are 4 candidates an a candidate associate member (Miguel) in the first cycle in Guadalajara In addition there is a community experience each year in Queretaro where some pre-candidates live in community for four months leading to a final discernment for entry into the first cycle in August. In recent years vacation promotion efforts have been centered on press and mass media efforts especially using our web site which is now the initial contact for perhaps the majority of our vocations. When time permits our promotion man, Cristóbal Padilla G:, participates in traditional meetings and encounters sponsored by the local church. Each member of the two communities assists in the effort to familiarize the public with our mission and bring the project closer to financial self support through publications, African art, raffles, events, and attempts to establish a network of regular donors * 19 Août 2011 Célébration à Guadalajara : 3 nouveaux candidats et renouvellement du contrat de Mr Roland Babin comme membre associé * 06-09-2011 : Bénédiction des nouveaux bâtiments de l'Institut de philosophie à Guadalajara au Mexique For more : website Photos

 

the Community at Lublin : Poland 26 years after the official establishment of the Missionaries of Africa presence In Poland and 8 years after the opening and blessing of a new house of the White Fathers, there is a lot for which to be grateful to Our Lord. First of all, the name of the Society is being made increasingly known, thanks to the Missionary and Vocation Promotion team. During this time, we have witnessed the ordination of 11 Polish confreres. In 2012, a Polish Brother will be called to the Perpetual Oath. The so-called 'Polish project' formerly established in Lublin, is not in fact in Lublin town any more, but at Natalin, just outside the administrative boundary of the town. However, we still belong to the same parish of St. Stanislaus, as before. At present, there are two candidates in our house at Natalin, one in his first year of Formation and the other one doing his second year. Our candidates follow the philosophy or theology study in the Metropolitan Seminary of the Archdiocese of Lublin. The staff of the house, three Poles and one Ugandan confrere, give the candidates a chance to taste the spirituality of our Society and take care of their language study as well as the history of the Society. The candidates have a chance to deepen their concern for the poor and disabled through a voluntary service in one or another charitable organisation. Two members of staff are fully occupied by Missionary and Vocation Promotion, giving the young generation in Poland a chance to reflect on their vocation and spreading the charism of our Society. Two other Polish candidates are at present in the Spiritual Formation Centres at Kasama in Zambia, and Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso. In addition, there are still another two studying theology in Abidjan in Cote d'Ivoire and Merrivale in South Africa. The number of candidates may not be impressive and looks like a drop of water in the ocean of need, but even a drop of water can be salvation in the desert. Besides, we hope and pray for more. A large group of lay collaborators support us in the Missionary and Vocation Promotion activities, mainly through their prayers and taking an interest in spreading a positive image of Africa. These people help us to organise African Art Exhibitions and arrange meetings in schools and parishes where we can go and share our passion and charism for Africa. All who would like to know more about us and who know Polish are invited to visit us at: http://www.ojcowiebiali.org/ Our e-mail - ojcowiebiali@gmail.com and misjonarzeafryki@ojcowiebiali.org To see also * 1st May 2012 Jubilee: 25 years of our presence in Poland. * POLAND : Our friends who like us, work for us and pray for us . Franciszek Szczurek MAfr.

 

Philippines: the Cebu community The first six Filipino confreres took their Missionary Oath from 2001: Father Bernard Monteron (Superior of the Cebu Formation Community, Fr. Armand Galay from Kidapawan/Mindanao now in Ottawa/Canada, Father Luisito Poe Suarez from Davao, now in Serenji/Zambia, Fr. Walter Tubis of the Diocese of Dumaguete/Negros Oriental, Fr. Dioscoro Pancito Mulagao from Tagbilaran/Bohol in Kitwe/Zambia and Br. Lito Garay Doguiles from Maasin Diocese/Leyte. From l. to r. Fathers Emmanuel Lengaigne, Thomas Schwiedessen, Ms. Antoinette Ongvanyo, Frs. Charles Timoney and Fr. Bernard Monteron Fr. Bernard Monteron (Filipino) and Father Thomas Schwiedessen (German) work as a team in vocation and campus ministry. Fr. Bernard has been the national secretary of the Directors of Vocations in the Philippines for Religious (DVP). Fr. Thomas keeps a link with the Association of Campus Ministry (ACM) that facilitates campus ministry in the Archdiocese of Cebu in non-sectarian universities, colleges and high-schools. Both also travel widely to join diocesan campaigns for vocation awareness across the Philippines. There are vocation clubs which help bring young people together, to gather monthly to pray, share and support one another, to awaken interest in Africa and deepen the understanding of the meaning of a missionary vocation. Fr. Bernard and Fr, Thomas visit these clubs to offer accompaniment and facilitate vocational discernment. Cebu Vocation Club, Sept. 2009 .. From left to right: Geovannie Robilla from Tagum/Mindanao (3rd yr), Fhear Brian Redondo from Digos/Mindanao (1st yr), Fr. Emmanuel Lengaigne (France), Clayb Caputolan from Carmen/Cebu (3rd yr), Fr. Charles Timoney (Irish), Br. Lito Doguiles from Plaridel/Leyte (now in Tabora/Tanzania), Fr. Bernard Amplayo Monteron from Cebu, Fr. Thomas Schwiedessen (German), Christopher Rabelas Manzano from Rizal/Manila (2nd year).   Fr. Bernard Monteron, M.Afr. (Vocation Director) bamonteron@yahoo.com.ph and Fr. Thomas Schwiedessen, M.Afr. (Assistant Voc. Director) molafricavoc@yahoo.com or schwiedessen@yahoo.com OUR STUDENTS FIRST PHASE (Cebu) Fhear Brian Redondo , 1st year; Christopher Rabelas Manzano , 2nd year; Caputolan E. Clayb 3rd year; Robilla J. Geovannie 3rd year. SPIRITUAL YEAR Ryan Lungay Contamina PASTORAL EXPERIENCE Julius Maniego de la Cruz (Tanzania) THEOLOGY Jame Jaime de la Cerna (Nairobi) 2nd year ORDAINED Bernard Amplayo Monteron (Cebu) ord. 2002 Armand Galay Origenes (Canada) ord. 2002 Loloy Poe Suarez (Zambia) ord. 2003 Walter Bargasa Tubis (Cebu ) ord. 2005 Coro Pancito Mulagao (Zambia) ord. 2006 BROTHER Lito Garay Doguiles (40) Oath 2008 COMMUNITY AND FATHERS. Emails Addresses missionariesofafricaph@gmail.com Vocation promotor molafricavoc@yahoo.com website: http://www.mafrphil.org/ Bernard Amplayo Monteron bamonteron@yahoo.com.ph Thomas Schwiedessen schwiedessen@yahoo.com To see photos of ordination Fr. Coro Pancito Mulagao Photos of our house of Formation * Missionaries of Africa : Philippines A Pioneer's Perspective : Bernard Monteron Text & Photos : Fr. Thomas Schwiedessen

 

 

India : the Bangaluru Community

Underconstruction

Located in Karnataka State, to the north-east of the better-known State of Kerala, the Bangaluru community numbers 4 confreres, , Fr John Gould

John Gould, is with Kanto Hembram, John Biju, Sabu Puthenpurackal

India amazes all those who discover its richness and diversity in its religions, cultures, traditions and languages. The young men who are interested in our vocation for Africa and who come to join the Bangalore community are therefore already, among themselves, a rich experience of intercultural life. As aspirants, they begin learning English as a language in common, before entering into Formation as such.

They then attend courses in philosophy at Suvidya College, run by the Missionaries of St Francis de Sales, (MSFS). Our candidates meet up there with 330 students from about twenty different Congregations

Lavigerie S.O.L.A. Study House, Postbox 1
P.O. Box 1
Bommasandra Indl.Est. P.O.
Bengaluru - 560 099
Karnataka
Tel : (**91) (80) 284 392 64
E-Mail : solaformation@gmail.com
E-Mail : Aspirants Community : solastudyhouse@yahoo.in

To see the photos

* Missionaries of Africa : The Indian Project Martin Grenier M.Afr.