Missionaries
of Africa
Ongoing Formation
Bukavu D.R. Congo
Session
of young confreres
Bukavu 30th January - 5th February 2010
After a week's exposure to the influence of the Holy Spirit in spiritual renewal through prayer and meditation at the Bukavu Amani Centre, the young confreres of PAC in their First Term of Mission gathered at the Provincial House for a six-day meeting. This was punctuated by sharing, listening, prayer, outings and guided tours.
From L. to R. .: Christian Mulenga, Alphonse Somda,
Patrice Belem, Pierre Boro et Noel Kindo
Organised by the Province, this meeting of Young Confreres of
PAC was conducted from the 30th January - 5th February 2010 by Fr. Olivier
SOMA, Assistant Provincial. Those taking part in this meeting were Fathers
Patrice BELEM (Buyenzi, BUJUMBURA), Pierre BORO (Kipaka, MANIEMA), Noël
KINDO (Katoy, GOMA), Christian MULENGA (Kimisagara, KIGALI) and Alphonse SOMDA
(Kisenso, KINSHASA). We regretted the absence of Fr. Joseph KIENTEGA who is
still in Nairobi for studies.
The
meeting began on the 30th January with a picnic at Birava, about fifty
kilometres from Bukavu. By the lakeside, we had the opportunity to celebrate
our reunions in a good-natured atmosphere. We returned to Bukavu exhausted
but satisfied with the excursion and the discovery of the beautiful parish
church of Birava damaged in the earthquake of the 3rd January 2008.
The next day took on a more spiritual aspect with two Masses
provided by the Young Confreres in the parish of Burhiba. At midday, we had
an agreeable lunch with the confreres of this parish.
Monday and Tuesday the 1st and 2nd February were devoted to sharing our experiences,
to listening and to reactions linked to the sharing. The sharing of experiences
was to focus on three main issues, namely,
Since ordination, what are my joys?
In a general way, all the Young Confreres appreciated the first experience in the parish as a young priest. If for some the welcome, the language learning and the introduction to parish ministry were met without major difficulties, for others it did not rise to their expectations.
Olivier Soma (animator ) and the young confreres
In addition to other commitments, all the participants at this
meeting were youth chaplains in their respective parishes. The sensitive nature
of this type of pastoral activity was underlined. Here too, some confreres
quite rightly appreciated the many forms of support that enabled them to work
with joy and dedication. Others, as expected, had problems linked to the instability
of youth, but also to the lack of material and financial means for the organisation
of activities.
Community life is a considerable support that all the young priests raised
in their sharing. They hope to continue giving the best of themselves to give
a privileged place to community life in their missionary experience.
Spiritual life was also mentioned as the core of missionary life and everyone
acknowledged its indispensable role in the life of these young missionaries.
Personal and community prayer, monthly recollection, annual retreat, spiritual
direction and spiritual devotions are, amongst others, the tried and tested
royal road that Young Confreres count upon as assets to maintain for their
own spiritual growth.
Wednesday the 3rd February was reserved for deepening the above-mentioned
topics:
After the deepening of topics judged important by the meeting's participants, proposals and recommendations were formulated to the Province and communities that would receive young confreres in the future. On Wednesday evening, the Young Confreres and the Father Assistant Provincial paid a visit to the studies and their elders at 'La Ruzizi', the Formation House. After briefly mentioning their earlier experiences as Missionary of Africa students, the Young Confreres responded to questions that the junior philosophers wanted to ask them. This short interchange was followed by a pleasant evening meal with the community and later a glass of good cheer with the Formation Staff.
. 
On Thursday the 4th, the final day of the meeting, we were treated to a guided tour of the BANDARI Centre under the benevolent eyes of Fr. Freddy Kyombo, Chaplain General of the Xaveri Movement and of his secretary. All the nooks and crannies, the least details of the Centre and its projects were revealed to us. This was an apt occasion for us to admire the highly praiseworthy work of our older brother Fr. Georges DEFOUR. He accomplished so much for the greater good of Congolese youth and well beyond the borders of the Congo.
We shared lunch with the confreres of the Saint Paul community. After the meal, we had yet another opportunity of a guided tour at the 'Kivu Presse' printing presses. Brother Antony Baaladong, Provincial Treasurer, is its Manager. There also, the very welcoming and friendly staff with great pleasure showed us the giant machines for printing that some of us saw only for the first time ever. In the evening of this 4th February, this short but memorable meeting of the Young Confreres of PAC in their First Term of Mission came to an end. We hope that our younger brothers, who will be appointed to our Province, will have the opportunity to access such intense experiences, signs of the richness of our Province.
Father Alphonse SOMDA, M.Afr
Translated by Donald MacLeod
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