Missionaries
of Africa
Ongoing Formation
Session
of confreres in 2nd term of mission
Monday 4th - Tuesday 26th
April 2005,
Bertoni Centre (Pretoria - South Africa)
Report of the participants and appendixes
(Intranet) -
Other Photos
From L.. To R., in front: Didier Sawadogo, Henry
Byamukama, Francis Kangwa, Petro Komba
Behind : James Ngahy, Adam Cytrynowski, George Okwii, Vincent Lubega, Alphonse
Tuzya, Lawrence Musoke, Archbishop Buti Tlhagale, omi, Guy Theunis, Quinbert
Kinunda, Dominic Apee et Alexus Mutasingwa.
Participants :
1. Mutasingwa Alexus ..........Tnz ..SAP ..1962.. 1998 ..Lebombo South Africa
2. Tuzya Alphonse ...............Cgk .PAC ..1963.. 1997 ..Burhiba DRCongo
3. Ngahy James ...................Tnz ..GhNg .1966. 1997 ..Ibadan Nigeria
4. Kinunda Quinbert ............Tnz ..SAP ...1966.. 2000 ..Sussundga Mozambique
5. Okwii George ..................Ugd .Ugd ...1967.. 1998 ..Kampala Uganda
6. Cytrynowski Adam ..........Pol... Tzn ....1967. .1998 ..Manzese Tanzania
7. Sawadogo Didier .............Bkn ..Mali .. 1967.. 1999 ..Gao Mali
8. Musoke Laurence ............Sud ..Tzn ....1968 ..1999 ..Wete Tanzania (Nairobi)
9. Byamukama Henry ..........Ugd ..Zb .....1968.. .2000 ..Namushakende Zambia
10. Lubega Vincent ..............Ugd .GhNg .1969 ..1998 ..Garu Ghana
11. Komba Petro .................Tnz ..PAC .. 1969 ..2000 ..Laybo DRCongo
12. Kangwa Francis .............Zb ...Tzn ..... 1971 . 2000.. Nairobi Kenya
Facilitators:
1. Dominic Apee, Assistant Provincial of PAC, Bukavu (DRCongo)
2. Guy Theunis, Secretary of Ongoing Formation, Rome (Italy)
REPORT
The place was well chosen. It was near the centre of Pretoria North. People could go into town for shopping, for the use of Internet, for jogging, etc. Despite being near the centre of town, the Bertoni Centre is in a residential area, very quiet and appropriate for reflection. The rooms are large enough with all facilities. The food was excellent.
The timetable was quite relaxed:
8:00 Breakfast
9:00 - 10:30 1st Session
10:30 - 11:00 Tea Break
11:00 - 12:30 2nd Session
12:30 Lunch
15:00 - 16:30 3rd Session
16:30 Tea Break
17:00 - 18:00 4th Session (Eucharist)
18:00 Supper
19:00 TV News
19:30 (sometimes) Video
Programme (cf. Appendix 1: Topics proposed by the participants and Appendix 2.)
1st week:
The session was formally opened at 7:30pm in the presence of Louis Blondel,
Provincial of SAP, and Raymond McQuarrie, Superior of Sector. In their welcoming
address, both Louis and Ray expressed their joy at having us in South Africa
and wished the group a fruitful session.
In the days following, we introduced ourselves and spoke about our vocation
during the first years of Mission: our personal orientations, the joys and
sorrows, questions and difficulties met during these 4, 5 or 6 last years.
An evaluation was made at the end of the presentations (cf. appendix 3.)
1st Sunday: Outing to Soweto, Lumko and Edenglen.
We attended Mass in St Michaels in Meadowlands, one of the Township Parishes, from 9:00 to 11:30 and were welcomed by the Christian Community. In Soweto, we visited Hector Peterson Monument, Mandela's House and Regina Mundi Catholic Church (a monument to freedom fighting from 1980 to 1994).
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We visited Lumko Pastoral Institute were we met some members of staff and
bought books. The evening meal was at Edenglen with the Community of confreres.
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2nd week:
The first half of the week was dedicated to our personal life. Sr. Jennifer
Alt, OP, in a very professional and human way, helped us to reflect on our
sexuality and our human growth and all the consequences for personal and community
life (An evaluation is in Appendix 4.) We reflected during the days following
on our community life, especially the art of communication: non-violent communication,
attentive listening, how to respond, different levels of sharing, etc. Guy
Theunis animated this.
We had the visit of Brother Mike Chalmers and Sr. Mary Doyle from the Catholic Bible Foundation. They spoke to us about the Biblical Apostolate in South Africa. It was also the opportunity to have a Gospel Sharing, following one of the Lumko methods, which aptly concluded the week.
2nd Sunday: Outing to Orange Farm (Parish and Cordis).
We had a very lively and prayerful Mass at 10:00 in the Parish (2 even gave a testimony during this Vocation Sunday); some accompanied the Parish Priest to an outstation. After the Mass, Fr. Guido Bourgeois explained to us what he is doing in Orange Farm in relation to HIV/AIDS (patients and also prevention). We had a nice meal. In the afternoon, we went to Cordis Community. Fr. Philippe Docq brought us to see his project with the street children of the Township (Thembalabasha). Back to Cordis, Fr. Jacques Amyot d'Inville shared several of his experiences in SA in relation to Justice, Peace and Reconciliation. We had supper with the confreres and went back to Pretoria North.
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3rd week:
The first day was on Ecumenism and Inter-religious Dialogue with the
Parish Priest of Orange Farm, Fr. Didier Lemaire, member of this Department
in the Southern African Catholic Bishops' Conference (SACBC). He shared his
own experience and how Ecumenism and Inter-religious dialogue are lived in
SA.
The second day, Archbishop Buti Tlhagale came to speak about Inculturation.
Very much convinced himself about the importance of inculturation for the
future of the Church in Africa, he challenged us to be more involved in research,
reflection and experimentation in this area. He even said that it should be
one of the major issues for Missionaries of Africa since we are meant to live
and work in Africa and have the opportunity to compare different cultures.
We were all very much impressed by his simplicity and his personal vision.
He also gave us a copy of an article I wrote several years ago on this subject
(cf. Attachment.)
On the evening of the same day, Archbishop Daniel George of Pretoria spoke
to us about Ecumenism as it is lived in South Africa. He shared his own experience:
he was an Anglican priest and became a Catholic priest, and is now Archbishop
in charge of Ecumenism in Southern Africa.
The third day was devoted to JPIC.
A team of four people from the Johannesburg Diocesan Commission for Justice
and Peace shared with us their working method in the Diocese. It is a simple
but very efficient methodology based on a long experience in the country,
both during the Apartheid and the post-Apartheid periods.
On the fourth day, we reflected on the questions-remarks of Georges
Jacques (cf. Appendix 5) and had the visit of Pastor Evariste Munyabarame
working with the United Bible Societies for English-speaking countries of
Africa. He explained the work of the UBS for the promotion of the Scriptures
in the Christian Churches, making them accessible to all.
The fifth day, Neville Gabriel, the General Secretary of the SACBC
Commission for Justice and Peace, spoke to us about globalisation and NEPAD.
It was a real enlightenment on the problematic of the global economy of our
world and its consequences for Africa's future.
The sixth day, we had a second Gospel Sharing at Morning Prayer.
Then Fr. Guido Stuer (M. Afr. from Zambia) shared his experience and expertise
on alcoholism. He drew our attention to the dangers of alcoholism in our missionary
life and, in a very practical way, gave us some advice.
3rd Sunday: Outing to Siyabuswa Parish.
We
had Mass with the Christian Community and this coincided with the farewell
celebration for Chrispin Vungwa. After a nice meal prepared by the Christian
Community, 7 ladies explained to us the homecare-based apostolate they do
especially with HIV/AIDS patients. Fr. Jan De Groef gave us a short overview
of the parish and Fr. Didier explained the strong Ndebele Culture and this
was followed by a visit to some outstations and to see the Ndebele Cultural
Centre. We had the opportunity to see boys preparing themselves in groups
to go for the initiation which will last two months.
Last day: evaluation (cf. Appendix 6), closing liturgy and official closing with Fr. Raymond McQuarrie.
Bertoni Centre, Monday 25 April 2005
Fr. Dominic Apee and Fr. Guy Theunis, facilitators
APPENDIX 1
Topics proposed by the participants
1. At the Chapter an African missionary spirituality was mentioned. Could we have something in this perspective?
2. Renewing and re-living Missionary Oath today in the African Context taking into account: 'Elements of Globalisation and Modernity', Social-Political Situation, Unbalanced Economy and 'Christian and African Traditional Religion'
3. I would like to consider problems of violence engendering structural poverty in Africa. It means considering the challenge of peace in Africa, how to live our commitments to peace in the current context. How can we be missionaries in Africa today and in the African world in the midst of all these endless wars? How can we be apostles for peace in today's Africa?
4. Handling and dealing with 'Turning Points' in the Mission: "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the message of eternal life… You are the Holy One of God" (John 6:67-69)
5. Young confreres are landing in serious problems such as alcoholism and sex scandals and leaving the Society. What are the causes and how can we young confreres face the reality of all this?
6. I am disturbed by the fact that many young confreres are leaving, while many others are depressed. We as young confreres with some experience behind us should try to analyse the reasons and make concrete proposals.
7. Community life: why is it that some of us young confreres complain a lot about community life? What are our contributions to the building of the community life we are living in?
8. Communication at the heart of our African missionary communities; justice at the core of society and of our communities.
9. Communication in communities
10. How to compromise with those of our age and the older confreres?
11. Conflict resolution in communities as well as elsewhere
12. Human development
13. Sexuality
14. Alcoholism
15. Trauma and how to deal with it
16. What are our own contributions to the Society?
17. Pastoral Experience and its challenges.
18. Another proposal is the problem of financing the apostolate. It is a major
cause of concern and the future depends on it. The dioceses are no longer
able to finance the apostolate. Our elders did a lot in this direction, but
the means are scarce. What means and what type of apostolate are intended?
APPENDIX 2
PROGRAMME
Monday 4: Evening: Opening Session with Fr. Louis Blondel, Provincial of
SAP
and Fr.Raymond McQuarrie, Superior of Sector
Tuesday 5: 9:00: Introduction - Personal Reflection - Presentation
Wednesday 6: Presentations
Thursday 7: Presentations
Friday 8: Presentations
Saturday 9: Presentations
Sunday 10: Outing: 9:00 Soweto (Eucharist-lunch) and Johannesburg (Lumko-Edenglen)
Monday 11: Presentations
Tuesday 12: Sr. Jennifer Alt, OP: Sexuality and Human Development
Wednesday 13: Idem
Thursday 14: Idem
Friday 15: Communication in the Community 16:00 Catholic Bible Foundation
Saturday 16: Communication in the Community
Sunday 17: Outing: 10:00 Orange Farm (Eucharist and lunch) and Cordis (supper)
Monday 18: 9:00 Fr. Didier Lemaire, M. Afr
Tuesday 19: 9:00 Archbishop Buti Tlhagale, OMI 16:00 Archbishop Daniel George
Wednesday 20: Sr. Shelagh Mary, HF: Diocesan JPIC Animation (with 3 fieldworkers)
Thursday 21: (Mr. Tom Zukile: Reconciliation Program) 16:00 Pastor Evariste
Munyabarame
Friday 22: Mr. Gabriel Neville: globalisation and NEPAD
Saturday 23: Fr. Guido Stuer, M. Afr.: alcoholism
Sunday 24: Outing: 9:00 Siyabuswa (departure of Chrispin Vungwa)
Monday 25: Evaluation
Tuesday 26: Departure
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