Despite
all the negative aspects, there is a spectacular growth
of the ecumenical movement. Though the youth are very perturbed,
among them there are many who commit themselves very seriously
for the sake of justice, solidarity and truth, and a missionary
awareness is growing.
The
great need at the moment is reconciliation
Ecumenism
is a great gateway towards reconciliation. Lately we experienced
a reconciliation service with 12 or 13 different religious
groups. There were thousands of people there and that has
already borne fruits. The day that our late Archbishop Kataliko
was arrested, the Protestants united with us. We were touched
to hear the children and the young people of the Protestant
schools cry out: "return Kataliko to us", or to
see the gesture of solidarity from the Muslims when the
muezzin did not call them to prayer, to enable them to join
the Catholics in their difficulty. Yes, we can live this
struggle together for solidarity, justice and human rights.
This new openness to others is necessary and fills me with
hope.
Our
MSOLA Charisma response to the actual situation
I often
think of Cardinal Lavigerie and I see a parallel between
our situation and, even though very different, that which
he lived. He struggled against slavery, to safeguard the
dignity of the human person and respect for human rights.
I feel that we have an urgent mission in our sector: to
awaken the conscience of those responsible, to create committees
of solidarity, to struggle against injustice, to help one
another in our different religions. There would be so much
to say and especially to do!
I
am strongly bound to the Diocesan Church
As
a woman and as a Missionary Sister of Our Lady of Africa,
I see that my work consists mainly in helping others to
find fulfilment in themselves. I am strongly bound to the
Diocesan Church and this provides me with numerous contacts.
I am involved in the general pastoral programmes where there
is an effort to promote a family spirit at all levels in
the Church: this includes the economy, the catechesis, the
promotion of justice, rather than of structures. In the
present situation, it is difficult to foresee things, for
we are taken up with the immediate needs which mobilise
all our strength, and it is difficult to concentrate on
the general pastoral needs. Thanks to what we are living
as a congregation, I am able to provide a larger vision
of things. I can help others, especially the moderators,
to dare to take risks; I can dialogue with the Archbishop,
I can encourage those who feel like giving up, and all that
seems very important to me. The fact of having someone who
helps to realise plans, makes it possible to achieve something,
even if the results are not always in keeping with my hopes.
We
see the importance of work "on the spot", of this
presence near the people, even when our action remains very
limited: to participate in a 'shirika' (basic community),
to fast with the Christians until our Archbishop returned
to us. Just as it was for Lavigerie, so for us also, it
is this participation from the grass-roots that allows us
to analyse events and to reflect on them in the light of
the Gospel, for arriving at decisions and concerted action
as Church.
Marie-Claude
Berrod, (France)
