Throughout 2007, in response to the General Council's recommendations, Sharing tried to remind us of the "Millennium Development Objectives", which are supposed to be achieved by 2015.
Although the theme of this issue concerns lay missionaries linked to our Congregation and does not relate directly to that subject, we cannot fail to recall it in the editorial. The update published in July 2007 showed that the final outcome remains uncertain. A statistic concerning women expresses it well - in sub-Saharan Africa, the probability of a woman dying during pregnancy or after childbirth is 1 in 16, compared with approximately 1 in 3000 in developed countries.
In 2007, the Church celebrated the 40th anniversary of Populorum Progressio, which was published by Paul VI in 1967. To mark the occasion, Caritas International, along with several animators of Justice, Peace and the Integrity of Creation, produced a 29-page pamphlet entitled Breaking with routine - Achieving the millennium development objectives, which reminded us of those "Objectives" in a very instructive way and clarified them through a few figures.
It is in a similar perspective that the "Economic Partnership Agreements between Europe and Africa (APE)" launched in 2003 should be situated. Although the latter apply more to the field of business, they equally expect to be followed in strict collaboration with Co-operation for Development. It was this aspect of "development" which 2000 people gathered in Dakar on 7 January 2008 wanted to recall.
They were supported by the national Say 'no' to APE coalition and by the government. "Africa needs a true partnership with Europe, based on the creation of genuine, lasting jobs and these agreements do not allow Africa to move towards that goal". (Website: Afrik.com) What can we do at our level as MSOLA? Let us recall a reflection by Kofi Annan, former Secretary General of the UNO, according to whom we must "Break with routine".
In fact, a good number of MSOLA are involved in this fight, both in Africa and in Euramerica. The same goes for some members of the different groups of lay missionaries linked to our Congregation, who are directly involved in development projects inspired by the Lavigerie charism for the African continent. Without all having to leave their own countries, they are all supported by the "Caritas" motto and want to live the "All to all". As the testimonies offered here for you to read amply show, it is this which gives their character to the different dimensions of their involvements, particularly the spiritual dimension.
"Life is shared" among us, who wish to remain in communion with one another, in accordance with the 2005 Chapter's invitation. This is how we are able to feel ourselves in solidarity with the sisters in Kalemie, who tell the story of their departure for new obediences, following the closure of their community. It is a communion, which we wish to live also with those whom the tertianship brought to Rome last autumn.
Again, you will find the theme of this issue in a "Did you know that?": "Spiritual Families" linked to religious institutes met for the first time in Lourdes in October 2007. In the same section, we meet Claire Bélanger as well: in Canada, she remains ever close to Sharing and sends us a short history of the Sisters of Charity in Quebec, in one of whose houses she took up residence last October.
Finally, there are various communications, which also serve to strengthen the communion among us.
Lucie Pruvost
Lay Missionaries
LAY MISSIONARIES OF OUR LADY OF AFRICA (LMOLA or LMNDA)
Since 1985-86 in Canada, some MSOLA were thinking of proposing to some laypersons a project of life according to the charism of Lavigerie. Here is the story of how that has been happening.
In 1985-86 some Christians felt called to nurture an apostolic spirituality, to live from it and to share it with others. It was clear for the MSOLA that there was a road to follow, a response to give. This is what we have wanted to do, starting from a project of participation destined to the laity. We, MSOLA, are in fact, marked and enriched by the many years lived in Africa, in an international setting. That is why we wanted to present a project of affiliation to persons who, being as lay people, want to live Lavigerie's charism in a different way, bringing a new energy into the Church. Here are the essential aspects:
* Deepening of the faith in its universal dimension
* Reflection on this God who comes to "Save humanity"
* Prayer, sacramental life. Sharing the Word of God, favouring contemplation in action
* Special attention to Third World problems and more especially of Africa
Would not affiliation with the Congregation of MSOLA make us enter into this dynamic?
AIM OF AFFILIATION
The affiliation is a personal move into living the baptismal commitment through sharing our apostolic spirituality and our missionary charism, with the goal of also becoming bearers of the Gospel in their own milieu. Animated by the All to all of Cardinal Lavigerie and Mother Marie Salome, the affiliated members live their Christian and apostolic life in the spirit of our founder, Cardinal Lavigerie:
* An international and ecumenical spirit
* Openness to the world
* Commitment to spreading the missionary spirit in their milieu
* Initiation to Ignatian spirituality
* A concrete apostolic commitment
FIRST ACHIEVEMENTS
Bit by bit, some relatives of the sisters and some friends presented themselves and formed groups either in Quebec or in Montreal. Meetings for prayer, exchanges and knowledge of one another enabled them to come to know the Lavigerian spirituality and charism. As a result of deaths of some members and a lack of younger ones to take over in the 90's, the meetings in the Quebec region died out.
In Montreal, however, the group blossomed as described by one of the participants: "In 1994, she writes, a group still existed and was very much alive. There were 7 persons, especially the women: single, married, widowed and ex-religious. On occasion, some men would present themselves, but for only short periods. During the meetings, there was always a spiritual sense nurtured by a reflection on a passage of the Bible. Once a year, we had a day of recollection. Added to that, there was a testimony of a person having lived in Africa, either a MSOLA, or a lay person, sharing their missionary experience" (Mrs. Lapointe).
NEW ORIENTATION, TOWARDS AFRICA
In 1999, several lay persons desired to do a period of service in Africa. The MSOLA Provincial Council decided to launch a formation programme responding to these new requests. This mission was entrusted to a new community at Rue Guy in Montreal. The new lay group was called "Associates".
BEGINNING OF FORMATION
In 2000 the community of Lilongwe, Malawi, welcomed already a first LMNDA after a stage of two months in the Rue Guy community. We joined the MAfr for a short time who were also preparing Lay Missionaries. We also benefited from an Intercommunity Programme of Missionary Formation (PIFM), given at the Fathers of the Foreign Missions (Pères des Missions Étrangères). Formation themes were spread over a two-year period: personal identity, spiritual identity, missionary spirituality, missiology, sociology.
In 2001, three women joined our community for a one-month period. Already, a beginning of formation was being born. In the same year, the sisters of Moundou (Tchad), of Nouakchottt, (Mauritania) and of Tunis (Tunisia), accepted to receive an associate in their midst for a set period.
We organised four meetings annually with the goal of making Africa known, the customs, the African woman, defining missionary spirituality and the Lavigerie charism, with an introduction to the Bible. An immersion period of 2 or 3 days in our community was, and still is, mandatory for a better understanding of the Lavigerie charism and of mission.
Some requirements were finalized:
* Go in the name of faith
* Follow the PIFM formation and that of the MSOLA during two years with a weekend each month
* Live missionary spirituality and the Lavigerie charism
* Have some profession or technical formation
* Love of the Africans
* Be involved in some volunteer work here
* Continue an apostolate after return here, in the spirit of Lavigerie
At the end of this formation, the new LMNDA are officially received into our larger Lavigerie family on the occasion of either a departure for Africa, or at an end of year encounter.
Lay Missionaries
SOME REALISATIONS
In 2004, two couples and two single women left with Colette Joubert, MSOLA, to open a house as "pied-à-terre"in Mwanza in Tanzania. This experience supported by the local bishop, Msgr. Mayala, proved to be very successful in the sense that, according to the local bishop, the lay missionaries were a living example of the first MSOLA and MAfr in Tanzania.
In November 2005, at the occasion of a Post-Capitular Chapter of CUM, some representatives of the Affiliates and the Associates were invited to participate in exchanges on "Sharing the Charism". On this occasion, the Affiliates and the Associates sharing the same spirituality and even charism, asked to form a single lay group united to us. It was only in September 2006 that the two groups officially met to become the LMNDA of today.
In 2006 several activities were shared by LMNDA and MSOLA. Thus it is that:
The LMNDA were invited to participate in some intercommunity meetings on "Arrimage" (participation in the mission and charism of the Congregation), a day on Islam and a sharing on the charism of Lavigerie.
The LMNDA with MSOLA prepared the programme for these days of encounter.
The Web site begun by Viviane Lafrenière with a MAfr, was taken over by Mr. Jean-Jacques Allaire.
The responsibility for drafting the newsletter, begun by Danielle Vermette, was handed over to Mrs. Francine Allaire.
An invitation is sometimes extended to the LMNDA on the occasion of family celebrations.
THE LATEST ARRIVAL
At the request of the laypersons, an executive committee of LMNDA was born on September 2007. Mrs. Raymonde Lapointe was elected president of the committee. Two other LMNDA are members of the committee as well as the sisters of our community. This executive committee organises different activities, and the members are delegates in the preparation and the logistics of the following:
* Meetings of LMNDA in the course of the year
* Preparation of a Guide to Life (requested by the LMNDA)
* Preparation for the feast of Our Lady of Africa to which will be invited MSOLA and MAfr
* Preparation of a leaflet for the celebration of 8 September 2008.
THE LAVIGERIE FOUNDATION
No longer able to count on financial aid from organisations here, the LMNDA proposed setting up a Lavigerie Foundation, which was born two years ago. The funds of the foundation are assured by the dues of the members and by gifts. The committee is responsible for fund-raising, and for approaching organisms likely to give financial aid to the LMNDA projects in Africa. In addition, it foresees fund-raising activities, aimed at covering the daily living budget of LMNDA in Africa. Note that the LMNDA leaving for Africa for two years or less must cover their travel expenses before their departure.
Lay Missionaries
A promotion pamphlet is circulated almost everywhere to increase both donations as well as membership in the LMNDA family. Recently, a new logo expressing the identity of the LMNDA appeared, thanks to the collaboration of the children of the Allaire family.
SITUATION IN EARLY 2008
We have a LMNDA couple in Mwanza, Tanzania, and a single woman in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. Another woman is preparing her departure for end January, also for Ouagadougou.
In Canada, three couples and 5 women returning from Africa continue their mission here. Two ladies, former affiliates, are members of LMNDA and very interested in the different regular meetings of the members. Several persons are preparing to follow the formation: a couple and two women are in the first stage, two women and a man for the second stage of formation.
The seed has been sown... and is already germinating!
The community of rue St-Vallier, Montreal Canada
THE ACTUAL CHAIRPERSON OF THE LMNDA
(or LMOLA) WRITES:
One of the participants of the LMNDA group, Mrs. Lapointe, adds some more personal clarifications, and here are extracts:
"I began to participate in the groups of Affiliates in 1994... The aim was to share the charism of the MSOLA by learning first of all more about the founder, Msgr. Lavigerie, his love for Africa and its people. It was an invitation to be in solidarity through membership with this religious family, inspired by its spirit, being involved with the work done today, living the spirituality through communion of prayer and action.
In these encounters there was always a spiritual meaning in reflecting on a Bible passage, and once a year there was a day of recollection. In addition, at each encounter, we heard the testimony of someone who had lived in Africa, religious or lay missionary.
The characteristics of our commitment as members of the group are frequent prayer, service and union with others either through becoming a lay missionary in Africa, or involvement as volunteers in our own milieu, living the "All to all" through our activities and daily tasks. Whatever our involvement, there is no doubt that we came out of it with spiritual and social growth.
Around 1996, as a result of an increasing request from the laity to actually go to Africa, the MSOLA set up a group for "Associates" proposing a two-year formation programme. As of 1999 several persons had the good fortune to leave as lay missionaries either to East Africa or to West Africa.
In 2000-2001, sharing in the same charism, the Affiliates asked to become only one group of lay missionaries with the same ties to the MSOLA. It was only in 2007 that the two groups officially became one under the name of LMNDA (Laïques Missionnaires de Notre-Dame d'Afrique) or LMOLA (Lay Missionaries of Our Lady of Africa). Through formation, meetings, recollection days, the LMNDA stay in contact and preserve links with the MSOLA.
Raymonde Lapointe, Montreal, Canada
THE LAVIGERIE FAMILY IN FRANCE
The Lavigerie Family in France is the continuation of a group of about 1500 Affiliates who were committed to saying the prayer to Our Lady of Africa each day, and who received each term a newsletter from Jeanne Calafel and Marcelle Limosin, of Marseille. On the occasion of an MVA meeting in November of 2002, in Mours, five sisters volunteered to reflect on the subject of the Laity: Bernadette Agneray, Élisabeth Bouillard, Florence Jaud, Danièle Follain and Marie-Claude Berrod. Pierrette Coudé later joined the group.
We asked the affiliates to make contact with us if they wanted to continue the journey. We proposed as orientation: "This group wants to become ears,heart and mouth in our relations with you: attentive to what could foster growth of the missionary spirit in you to communicate among yourselves, to support your different missionary endeavours." Some 150 responded, giving their motivations. It was the beginning of the Lavigerie Family in France. Each term we meet in Paris Gay-Lussac to prepare the newsletter.
Actually the team comprises: Marie-Claude Berrod (Fribourg), Florence Jaud, Charlotte Fuin, Suzanne le Gal (Paris Gay-Lussac), Danièle Follain (Marseille), and for the mailings, Jeanne Dollinger and Léontine Beaulieu (Verrières-le-Buisson). We print 200 copies each term. This is sent to some 150 laypersons, plus to 50 communities or priests. Three groups are organised at present, meeting in Carcassonne, Paris and Marseille.
CARCASONNE ENCOUNTERS
The group began with Marinette Grard, initially in the form of a feast (...) and an invitation in the community of sisters. It is accompanied by a working priest known to the sisters. They meet every two or three months. Marie-Claude Berrod has met them three times. The conditions under which these brothers and sisters arrived are similar, allowing sharing and solidarity.
Composition of the group? There are three Rwandans and three Christians of Kabyle origin. Among the Rwandans, a couple of about 60 years obtained political asylum. The woman is a former pupil of the sisters. Fervent and dynamic Christians, they have put together a non-profit Organisation "Le Futur Génie" to help orphaned children. The association brings together some twenty persons at Carcassonne. The bishop asked the husband to be part of the Pastoral for migrants. Both are also members of a charismatic prayer group. The third is a forty-year-old mother with 4 children between 8 and 20 years of age. Her husband, incriminated by the TPI of Arusha is in prison there. This woman who has had administrative responsibilities in her country, now does house cleaning to earn her living.
As to the three Christians of Kabyle origin, it is a family where the mother is a former MSOLA pupil, about 65 years old. Her grandmother had been baptised by Cardinal Lavigerie. He husband is a former orphan, cared for by the Mafr. They are very attached to the Lavigerie Family, not without a bit of nostalgia. They had to leave Algeria and have suffered in the acclimatising in France. Their son has just married a young woman born of a mixed marriage - Algerian Moslem father and French Christian mother.
While the MSOLA were still in Carcassonne, other Rwandans and several French Christians participated in the encounters. But since the departure of the sisters, there are no new entries.
The group comes together five times a year. This year, the bishop included them in the listing of diocesan movements. So it was that they participated at the exhibition of all the diocesan Movements, in the same capacity as the Ministry to Migrants.
PARIS ENCOUNTERS
The Paris group was born as a fruit of the Letter to the Lavigerie Family. Begun in 2003, this group varies from thirteen to twenty persons coming from all over France. Among them we find the parents of our youngest sisters, former teachers and nurses who worked in our schools and hospitals. The average age is relatively high, between 55 and 75 years old. Bonds were created with one or another sister. Now there is true friendship among all of them. Nine persons, who have participated in all the meetings, form a core group. One of them has followed the three-year Lavigerie formation. She is very much involved with the social work for Turks and elderly persons. Another one spends several months each year in Burkina Faso, initially with the Sisters of Our Lady of the Lake (Bam) and now in Ouagadougou. Still another, for several years, has gone to Israel to work among Palestinians. Finally, another one will leave for the eighteenth time for Burkina Faso. The Gay-Lussac community always very warmly welcoming this group makes a big investment in this day.
The study themes vary: "Passing on the Faith", "Moslems", "Justice and solidarity", "African testimonies", "Mauritania - Migrants", "Burkina", "Congo", "All to all".
MARSEILLE ENCOUNTERS
This group was born of an initiative on the part of Marie-Claude Berrod in 2004. They come together twice a year. The members, mostly seniors, are mainly neighbourhood acquaintances. One of these persons, around 70, participated in the preparation of the Letter and in the reformulation of the Lavigerie programme and of the questionnaire for the laity. A Scout leader (50 years) training adults is very committed in the CCFD (Catholic Committee against Hunger and for Development). Responsible for a parish team, she represented the Region at the National. The group questions itself on autonomy and on taking charge of itself. It foresees sending one or two of its members to meet with the Carcassonne group.
Themes studied: "The Mission in Marseille" (starting from a diocesan text), "Marseille, Carrefour of religions and peoples", "Discovery of Islam", "May we pray with Moslems?", "Women in the Gospel and our role as women".
CONCLUSION
It is possible that one part of these groups will die of its own accord. There will remain however a nucleus of convinced and committed persons who will be interested in following the formation and taking initiatives. They are able to go further than we can. For this 'remnant' we can consider a kind of affiliation or association when the time will be ripe and a specific Lavigerian formation be assured. Let us make the most of these few years where we can continue to sow the seed... The Lord will give the growth. Note that, through this group, several have rediscovered the road of faith and call themselves "new-beginners". The groups are very interested in setting up structures and inter-act among themselves.
A Few Numbers
Married: 33 - Singles: 17
Age groups: 30-40 years: 5;
40-50 years: 1;
50-60 years: 3; 60-70: 19;
above: the others.
Commitments: professional services: 6; pastoral: 28 of whom ten are in catechetic; CCFD: 3
Serving in Africa: 3; in Israel: 1
Marie-Claude Berrod and the Lavigerie Family
MEMBERS OF THE "LAVIGERIE FAMILY"
EXPRESS THEMSELVES
Cardinal Lavigerie's charism for Africa is well reflected in the nine testimonies received from members of the "Lavigerie Family" in France. Due to lack of space, it is not possible to reproduce all of them in full and a synthesis would destroy the coherence of each one of them. So a choice had to be made, quoting some extracts regrouped around one important point.
WHAT ATTRACTED ME?
While I was a student, after discernment, I felt called to a celibate life for the Kingdom. The Lavigerie Group confirmed me in my vocation. "I am all yours" is a form of renewal of the baptismal commitment. Aware that God loved me first, I wanted to respond to that love by surrendering myself totally to Him in my lay state, by teaching physics and chemistry to students in state education.
At present, I am trying to live out this baptismal consecration in faithfulness to the demands of the Gospel by living under the gaze of the Father, who sees in secret. I want to love God and make Him loved wherever I find myself - which means in Marseille (...) - in the radiance of our Good Mother ("Notre-Dame de la Garde"), in retirement and with the many limitations brought about by my advanced age.
This is why I am very grateful to Cardinal Lavigerie for having adopted as his symbol of Love the pelican, which gives its very lifeblood for its young. I understand very well that one must be "all things to all" but because of my past - I taught for 18 years in Tunisia - I retain in my heart a special love and concern for Africa and for the Muslims, which provides a springboard for opening up to the whole world and to everyone.
Being a missionary? Because of our incorporation into Christ, "We are charged with the proclamation of the wonders of the One who has called us out of darkness into his wonderful light". (1 P 2:9). So we share in the prophetic work of Christ when we try our best to announce the Good News which is the Gospel, particularly through our lives and sometimes through our words. The Mission also means sharing with those with whom we come in contact what we have received as a treasure and a reason for hope. We must try to express (...) the fact that being a Christian is a source of happiness! As for passing on the faith, I do not think we can pass on faith, which is a gift from God. We have to prepare the ground so that the people can receive it. Because of everything I discovered in Tunisia - another culture, another way of living, another way of praying - I was able to continue, once I returned to France, to exchange with the White Fathers (...) I could study the important texts in the magazine Mission de l'Église on the subjects of "Dialogue and Proclamation " (1992) and "Eucharist and Mission" (1999).
(...) Then the White Sisters invited me to take part in a group (...). We explored Islam and produced documents for the SRI (1) such as "Lent and Ramadan". After a few years' interruption, I was pleased to respond to their invitation to join our current group. In practical terms, I am helping with Bible courses for part of the year in the parish and keep looking for anything to do with the Arab world and Islam. (...)
For the future, I want the Group to continue to structure itself with the aim of "being missionaries together in Marseille, in this multi-racial and multi-faith country, with a special focus on Africa and on solidarity in the world. (...)
(1) Secretariat for Relations with Islam, an organisation set up by the bishops of France in 1974 Mireille Blanc, Marseille
I was trying to draw closer to the Congregation, which my elder sister, Elisabeth Bellais, had chosen. (...) I had first become an affiliated member of the Institute of the Missionaries of Africa: we had an annual meeting, followed by a Eucharist, and committed ourselves to pray every Friday the beautiful prayer to Our Lady of Africa. I had come to know you better, thanks to the periods I spent with my husband and children in Mali: we met the Fathers and Sisters in their mission. My daughters, Carine and Armelle, took part in the missionary journey and in meetings of the Agadès group in Paris.
My links with the Lavigerie Family were formed by the rhythm of offered encounters (...). You can do nothing on your own: it is necessary to be challenged by those who have things to tell you about what they have experienced, here or elsewhere, with brothers and sisters - whether believers or not - but who present a reflection on the meaning to attach to their life.
Being "all things to all" is difficult to explain. Without doubt, thinking of the other, the first being served - "all" from our different continents, peoples and cultures but with a single faith to live in unity in the Universal Church.
Love of Africa and the African peoples stems in the first place from getting to know other people (...). We often come to a halt because of prejudice. We are flooded with television pictures showing us countries at war, people suffering from malnutrition, persons forced to emigrate, countries rich in resources but leaving their population in poverty. Yet there are some great human qualities which are never mentioned but which demand our respect. So many questions! What can we do together? Cardinal Lavigerie and the missionaries who became involved with him responded by loving Africa and the Africans.
Passing on the faith is a huge programme. Through my baptism, I am committed to it through my life; I must bear witness to it. What seems more difficult to me is speaking about one's faith. With young children, it happens through their own questionings. But later? Have we enough knowledge? Do we try to make ourselves better understood and to proclaim the values of the Gospel, which Jesus incarnated in his life?
I should like to say that what is important is not to do extraordinary things but that I try every day to remain in the love of the Most High; that I should open myself up to others so as to love them as much as possible and not judge them without questioning myself about what I do or say.
Béatrice Scantamburlo, Paris
Since the first meeting, I sought to discover, to get to know and to understand the call to this sharing at Maisons-Alfort. The walls were covered with prints - African faces, modest dwellings, which were explained to us by the religious who were present. One of these images impressed me a lot - that young, 27-year-old woman, infected with AIDS, accompanied by her Muslim mother, who agreed to her daughter being baptised, but insisted that her first name should be "Marie", followed by Thérèse, because, she said, "I know Marie and I pray to her every day!" That testimony was unforgettable... Receiving in your home - already for years -the teams of the "Rosary" or "Eucharist", and visits to retirement homes, one cannot forget a mother who was herself also so close to the Christian faith. (...)
What about Africa? On two occasions, I travelled to Morocco. (...) I visited the hospital in Agadir, where every bed was occupied by a mother with tuberculosis, with her baby alongside her and a grandmother sitting under the bed preparing a little meal in a pot for her daughter, who was breast-feeding her baby, who was, presumably, also suffering from tuberculosis. (...)
In 1955, there were five of us nurses, doing home-based care, in Colombes and Nanterre. Those places did not yet exist (...). Only groups of 50 living in huts and using newspapers to plug the gaps and stop the draughts coming through the cracks, with only one tap for 50 people. Officials accompanied us into each of the huts and waited for us, in order to avoid possible problems. Some "rich Arabs" were exploiting the "little ones" (...), until the day when the things were settled and made them disappear, but also expelled the "little ones", who did not know where to go.
A 40-year-old lawyer met a number of people one icy November evening to work out how to improve these situations. Then he raised
some questions on the subject. One young manstood up hesitantly: "Sir, my wife, our baby and I have been living in a tent for three months". This lawyer immediately accompanied him to the tent and found him a place to stay.
We are now in 2007. The same situations are to be found on the banks of the Seine in Paris - little tents, Africans without papers or food.
Colette Billiau, Paris
AN OPENING-UP TO OTHERS -THE JOY OF SERVING
My first contact with the MSOLA Congregation was in the year 1950/1951. I was 18 years of age and was asking myself many questions - what life to choose, how to practise my religion (...), while preparing to take my diploma in special education. I visited the postulate in Caluire and Cuire from time to time. After working for three years in Narbonne, in the first boarding school established in France for profoundly mentally handicapped children, I left to spend a school year at the Maison Lavigerie in Carthage.
I recall from that day:
The joy of serving, far from my family (...)
The welcome from the superior of Maison Lavigerie, Sr. Savine, in Carthage, and her respect for my freedom. When she told me that I could not join the Congregation, she allowed me to break my contract with the House in April or to remain until July as arranged. I remained.
The meeting with Suzanne Le Gal, with whom I have remained in touch for more than 50 years and whom I have followed through correspondence in the different missions of her life in the Congregation (...)
The spiritual accompaniment during that year of Fr. Xavier Henri Mafr. (...)
The years are passing, and I am married and working. We have settled in Dijon. No children came, but we adopted two boys - Bruno aged 5 and Emmannuel 13 months. The exchange of letters with Sr. Savine or Sr. Suzanne - the "cousins" and friends, helped me to cope with a marriage, which quite quickly turned out to be a failure. But the missionary spirit has always lived in me and I joined the diocesan Service for Missionary Co-operation in Dijon. The regional meetings brought me in contact with Sr. Jeanne Dollinger and her community in Clerval.
In the meantime, the divorce went through and I recovered the joy of living. I went to serve a family with two - then, three - children, to provide myself with an income and to meet my needs and those of my younger son (...). After working for them for six years, I joined another family in similar circumstances and remained there for five years until it was time to retire (...). The contacts with the MSOLA continued.
In January 1998, I prepared to leave for Aïn Karem, near Jerusalem. After looking around, I found some voluntary work for two years (...), looking after severely handicapped children whose bodies and minds are profoundly damaged. My exchanges with the Congregation continued through correspondence but I had the opportunity to encounter Cardinal Lavigerie's White Fathers at St Anne's Basilica.
Two years of that service transformed me very deeply, opening me and mind to the world in another way: it gave me a profound respect for the other who was different in language, religion and origin, and taught me patience, love for little people - Jesus' preferred ones. I worked with Israelis, Palestinians and young people from all over the world. I exchanged with Jews, Christians and Muslims. I travelled round Jesus' country and discovered the Bible with a completely unique flavour.
Correspondence enabled me to maintain all my contacts in France and elsewhere. On my return, I dared to involve myself in CCFD (Comité Catholique contre la Faim et pour le Développement) and ACI. I also joined two groups. The first was called "Fasting for Peace in Israel-Palestine"; its Christian members and, from time to time, Jews and/or Muslims met to consider texts or hear testimonies. The second was the "Christian-Muslim Dialogue Group, in which being "all things to all" found its true meaning. (...) Joining the Lavigerie Family in Paris was a quite natural step for me. (...) Claire Galmiche, Paris
A CREATIVE DYNAMISM
It was in staying close to the founding charism that a couple of political refugees from Africa, aged around 60, were able to exercise their initial dynamism. The wife recounts:
"The sadly missed Sr. Marinette was a family friend. It was she who drew me into the foundation of the Lavigerie Family in Carcassonne. As we held more meetings, I discovered the humanity, charity and charisms of Cardinal Lavigerie. I well understood that one does not live for oneself alone, but also for others, that it is necessary to walk in the footsteps of the Cardinal by being attentive to others, particularly to the disadvantaged, and by widening my vision around myself". And our friend, a former teacher, continued: "I feel ready to serve any person who is in need and to continue to involve myself voluntarily in different associations".
Along with her husband, she also created a new association, The Future Centre, whose origin and functioning she explained: "In Africa, we saw children with no roof over their heads, no food, no clothes, no school. We re-read Mt. 25:35-40: "I was hungry... naked... a stranger... in prison... and you helped me". The child deprived of schooling by poverty held our attention. Whatever his/her race, ethnicity or religion, condemned never to be able to study or be sent away from school because of the parents' inability to pay, she can only become an article of commerce or of manipulation. That is why we created Le Futur Génie... All children are born gifted: potential
craftsmen, artists, athletes, scientists, parents, priests, religious, teachers are to be found among mass of abandoned children... In reading the book Vent d'Avenir(1), we were touched to see Lavigerie finding accommodation, food and schooling for so many orphan children found wandering on the roads in search of shelter and food. In him we found a model. It encouraged us to continue this embryonic project. Among the pupils assisted, eight obtained the baccalaureate in 2006. In 2007, Le Future Génie paid all or part of the school fees for 18 pupils, giving all the world's children the chance by sponsoring a poor child to complete his/her schooling".
To the eight pupils who succeeded in obtaining the baccalaureate, the president of the association sent encouraging messages for the future: "If you are thinking of undertaking higher studies, continue to improve your knowledge in preparation for another examination. Obtaining better marks will give you access to a study bursary provided by the State. I wish you happiness wherever you may be. That will depend on your behaviour, your spirit of enquiry and your initiative. Do not neglect the languages you have learned because it is necessary to be able to express oneself in order to make one's ideas understood. I advise you to remain in touch with Le Futur Génie by correspondence. It will be able to advise you".
(1) J. Perrier, Vent d'Avenir Le Cardinal Lavigerie, Karthala, 1992, p. 29, " Père des Orphelins ". L. N., Carcassonne
OPENNESS TO OTHERS
I am not familiar with Africa, except as a tourist (Egypt and Tunisia) and it is pure chance – no doubt, a wink from the Lord – that I got to know the White Sisters in Sceaux. (…) That was how I was able to take a greater interest in the Mission which, through lectures and testimonies, was more familiar to me. Also, as soon as when it was suggested to me, I immediately agreed to join the Lavigerie Family.
Like many women of my generation who come from a Christian family, having practised from an early age, I belonged to some movements within the Church (…), such as associations helping handicapped children. I have the good fortune to have a husband who shares my values. At present, I am only a member of HCR but I maintain my interest in what goes on around me and in the parish.
Belonging to the Lavigerie Family undoubtedly gave me what I was looking for – “a little extra” - and enabled me to discover the Mission and that unknown, or little known Africa which is so full of promise. I can no longer content myself with ready made ideas put together by radio and television, meeting an African without asking myself what difficulties s/he might encounter in adapting and working so far from his/her homeland…
Gabrielle Laurent, Paris
A DYNAMISM WHICH GIVES MEANING TO ACTION
Until February 2005, I knew nothing about the MSOLA. It was then that I crossed the threshold of the community of White Sisters in Marseille for the first time. Being unemployed at the time, I had plenty of free time and the priest in Chartreux, whom I had known for more than 30 years (...), suggested that I should lend a hand to a sister who wanted to launch CCFD in the parish. At the time, I didn't doubt that that was going to change a lot of things in my way of thinking. (...)
Along with Marie-Claude Berrod, I have gradually discovered that CCFD (Comité Catholique contre la Faim et pour le Développement) in which I got more and more involved at parish level, firstly in the local team. (...), then at diocesan level, where, along with other adults, we have been busy since November 2005 in organising the Bouge ta planète among the young people. Through this means, we established in September 2007 a "Young People's Commission" in CCFD, to rejuvenate the troops a little, since the CCFD activists in Marseille were mainly among the older people. (...)
At our working meetings with Marie-Claude, I got to know the sisters of her community. Who could have guessed, on passing in the street these ladies of a respectable age, the extraordinary lives and courage they had as adventurers for the Faith? I always emerged from the conversations I had with some of them, with my optimism restored and in good humour. Deep down, I admired their spirit of tolerance and openness. Above all, it was their simplicity that moved me deeply.
In parallel with all this, I was invited to the Lavigerie meetings. I confess that, on the first occasion, I was somewhat astonished by the advanced age of the participants and seriously wondered if I would attend again. I spoke a little but mainly listened. Many of them had lived in Africa, and the richness of their observations and reflections surprised me. Rather strangely, although I had always been attracted by Africa, it was the only continent on which I had never set foot. The more I attended these meetings, the more did I discover the meaning of Lavigerie's mission and understand more and more deeply the meaning of the motto "All things to all because totally for You", a phrase which I repeated often to myself.
I question myself frequently about the reason for this encounter and asked the Lord to help me in my commitment to CCFD and the MSOLA. I believe that, thanks to the White Sisters, I became aware of the word "missionary". I completely changed my way of thinking about problems to which I had previously been relatively indifferent, such as immigrants and those without papers.
In my work, I train adults in French and I have often had trainees from different cultures and individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds. Certainly, I have always had good exchanges with them, but my encounter with Lavigerie enabled me to strengthen the value of these exchanges. I have many Muslim trainees and I notice that, as a Christian among them, Lavigerie has helped me to affirm my faith to them - there is willingness to listen and profound respect on both sides. A small example occurred recently. Just before the holidays, they wished me a happy Christmas, and I responded quite naturally and, I should say, almost automatically, "Happy Eid!" Our gazes met and I saw in their eyes a feeling of gratitude and agreement. We smiled at one another.
Chantal Mullard, Marseille
IN CONCLUSION
What aspirations for the future? I am getting older and trying, in spite of everything, to keep an eye on the neighbourhood, what is happening in the parish, and maintaining a presence among the sick. I want to remain available to proclaim God, whatever happens. His support has never been denied to me in some very grave situations. May His will be done according to His good pleasure! May He keep me united with the MSOLA and, should I lose my memory, I know He will always be there.
Aliette Mazin, Paris
Sharing life
ONCE UPON A TIME...
THERE WAS KALEMIE YESTERDAY, TODAY
Once upon a time... there was a caravan of MSOLA, 112 years ago, heading beyond the mighty Lake Tanganyika. The sisters settled in the large Apostolic Vicariate of Upper-Congo, Beaudouinville, which, in 1971, became the diocese of Kalemie-Kiringu. In their first mission stations, Kiringu in 1895, Mpala in 1898, and Kalemie in 1921, their main concern was to become well integrated into their milieu by visiting the villagers. They put themselves to learning the language, discover the needs and start proclaiming the Good News.
To facilitate their integration, they opened dispensaries, primary schools, domestic science schools, orphanages and literacy programmes. They gave themselves to integral development of the whole person, especially among the Congolese women. Over the years, their works expanded in response to new needs. Hospitals were created as well as secondary schools, catechesis, Bible courses, tailoring, homes for mothers as well as youth and vocational movements. From 1895 to 2007, a total of 330 sisters have dedicated themselves to the various works: In Kirungu, from 1895 to 1996, 139; in Mpala from 1898 to 1953, 53; in Kalemie from 1921 to 2007, in different communities, 138 sisters.
Today, restructuration calls us to pass on to another shore. We hand over the works, which were entrusted to us to others: the Congolese Sisters of the "Compagnie de Marie Notre-Dame", and to lay persons. Leaving is somehow a dying, for us who leave and for those with whom we have collaborated.
Our last days in Kalemie were intensive moments where gratitude intermingled with sadness. "Why are you leaving?"- "When will you come back?" The farewell festivities followed one upon the other, thanksgiving, prayer, celebrations, letters, flowers and gifts. Receptions were organised at the Sisters of St. Joseph, a congregation at whose origins in 1911 we were present.
At diocesan level, there was a beautiful encounter where Msgr. Kimpinde expressed his gratitude in these words: "Thank you for the tremendous work you have accomplished for more than a century of presence in our diocese. It will be like a mirror that will reflect your long presence among us. You have radiated in different sectors each according to her charism. Thank you for having left your respective families to announce the Gospel in our diocese."
The sisters of the "Compagnie de Marie" joined us on 14 September. What a joy to welcome them, to hand over and leave the keys! Pilar Delgado had already left us on 28 August. On 16 October, the four others, Andrée Bouchard, Amalia Garcia, Montserrat Roset and Tina Anthonissen boarded the plane for Bukavu. From the plane, we contemplated one last time the beautiful Lake Tanganyika with its tremendous treasures. Our charism is to announce the Good News of Jesus Christ in Africa. It is this which all the sisters have given themselves to doing body and soul, through their different commitments in the diocese of Kalemie-Kirungu.
May God keep those we have known - friends, students, patients, enfolded in faith and love. We remember them in our thanksgiving prayers for their collaboration and affection.
Tina Anthonissen, Bukavu
WOMEN APOSTLES IN ROME
"Prisca sends her best wishes in the Lord together
with the Church that meets in her house" (1 Co 16:19).
Rome is laden with many traditions: we, in the English-speaking MSOLA tertianship found ourselves in the tradition of the women apostles of the early Church.
Our outings led us to the churches named after the women apostles Prisca1, Praxedis and Pudentiana. They were leaders in the early Church, friends of Peter and Paul, who welcomed the communities of Christians into their houses for the sharing the Word and the breaking of the Bread.
They had encountered Christ, and as they welcomed him into their lives they gave hospitality to the Christian communities including the "great men" of the early Church. Peter was guest and cared for in the community around Pudentiana, Paul had over many years close contacts with Prisca, in Rome and in Corinth, where she fled from the persecutions in Rome. They even shared the same profession: both were tentmakers. The mosaic in Saint Praxedis depicts the relationship these women had with Peter and Paul: the apostles gently put their arm around the shoulders of the women, a sign of respect and of friendship.
We were proud to discover these "mothers" in faith, women empowered by inner strength to serve the Church and the mission of Christ.
Our tertianship was like one of the early "house churches" around the women apostles of Rome: marked by the personal encounter with Christ, we were called once more by Jesus; he spoke to our hearts as he did to the first women apostles.
The many aspects of the programme encouraged us to build on our inner strength: by the sharing of the Word and the Bread of our daily Life, we brought our riches together and become empowered and strengthened for the service of our sisters and brothers in the Mission as MSOLA.
Our tertianship "house church" had an open door as we welcomed our sisters of the Generalate community, also women apostles in Rome. In turn we were welcomed by the sisters of the General Council to work with them for
Sharing life
the Salomé programme: another occasion to put our riches together for the good of the whole body. We had an open door for other women apostles: Sr. Marie-Angèle Kitewo, of the Sisters of Notre-Dame de Namur, who shared with us her vision of religious life in Africa today; Sr. Véronique-Miriam of the Little Sisters
of Jesus, who did her retreat in the Generalate and shared about her work among the Rome people. We welcomed also our friends, our brothers, Missionaries of Africa, and some family members.
We treasure this formation period, where we could take time to reflect, to discern, to celebrate, make decisions quietly and enjoy the fruit of a process so different from often hastened decisions in our mission contexts.
"Prisca is teacher, leader, missionary,
all of which have emerged where they would be least likely to be found:
in a refugee, a tentmaker, and a woman". (Joan Chittister, The friendship of women, page 22)
Gisela Schreyer, Rita Hieble, Juliana Karomba, Ingrid Hager, Carmen Sammut
MISSIONARY ANIMATION AT THE BEACH
"What a brilliant idea the missionary animators had, to go meet with people on vacation for a day of 'Animation on the beach'! You will surely tell us about it!" (Chantal Vankalck)
For the past few years, I have been curious about such an experience and to live it. So I left with Mariette Vercruysse on Sunday, 15 July 2007 at 7 a.m. to go to Oostduinkerke. At the station of Oostende, we were welcomed by a downpour... An hour on the tram heading for France, and there we were at the end of our trip. There, a glorious sun had already dried the sand, and the beachcombers were increasing in number.
At the edge of the dyke, on the sand, some 20 stands were being put in place. Close to the place allotted us, there was a very readable word "Dunia" (in Swahili = the world). And truly the world was well represented: the Chilean with a refreshing drink, the Surinam with his shimmering fabrics, the Indian whose music accompanied a marvellous dancer, a blind Rwandan shaping clay personalities, etc. And us? Who are 'we'? Two Missionaries of Africa: the two brothers Willy and Godfried Trypsteen, three MSOLA: Cecile Trypsteen, Mariette Vercruysse and myself.
On the outside of our kiosk, a sign read "Alles voor Afrika" (All for Africa). On the front was a magnificent map of Africa measuring 1.9 m by 1.9 m, suspended on slender bamboo stalks, made with 3 Michelin cards. Countries and cities were clearly indicated. A dozen large panels artistically designed, attracted everyone's attention. Each region of Africa was surrounded by beautiful photos of Fathers and Sisters still working there.
Almost all the passers-by stopped to find one or another area known to them, to show them to their children, grandchildren or friends. When one of the vacationers recognized a member of the family or a missionary from their parish or a neighbour, they stopped to comment. The children were attracted by the small Congolese dolls or the wagons, bikes, motorcycles, in short, all the toys made by African children. A small girl came with her purse to buy a doll. Sometimes a parent or grandparent looked for a gift for their children. To the objects bought, we added a leaflet about the Fathers or the Sisters.
There was also an activity suggested to the young ones: two maps of Africa (48 X 37 cm) cut up as puzzles. The first one to put it together won a prize, and the last one received also a small compensation gift.
Many spoke to us of their contacts with one or the other African country, on the occasion of a tourist visit or of a longer stay, such as this Belgian doctor and his Congolese wife who had lived in Walungu in the Kivu (D.R.Congo). Some asked for news about Fathers and Sisters. Others got information on the situation over there...
Time passed quickly, and around 19 h 15, we set about dismantling and carrying the heavy panels to our transport.
What a work of patience and precision, to prepare all this material! We can only congratulate our sister Cecile (80 years old in 2008) and her brother Willy, who dedicated all their energies, their creativity and investing a lot of time to prepare this journey. It is thanks to the relations of Willy, pastor of an Oostduinkerke parish, that the Commune had offered a place to the missionaries. It seems that
Cecile is already on the lookout for another attractive activity for the visitors of next year! Will you be among them? Bienvenue! Welkom! Karibu! Yambi! Welcome!
Patricia Massart, Namur-Salzinnes
Did you know that?
"SPIRITUAL FAMILIES"
MEETING IN LOURDES
A gathering of "Spiritual Families" was held on 20 - 21 October 2007 in Lourdes. Organised by the two Conferences of Major Superiors of France, the feminine Conference and the masculine Conference, whose theme was: "Spiritual Families, a new face of the Church".
This is "a first" gathering, in which some 1500 persons participated: men and women religious with committed laity. The Gathering highlighted modes of alliances and of journeying together of consecrated and laity, according to the charism of each Institute. It was also an occasion to deepen the theological and ecclesial implications of this new form of life in the Church.
As John Paul II noted in his apostolic exhortation Vita Consecrata (1996), "These new experiences of communion and cooperation should be encouraged for various reasons. They can in fact give rise to the spread of a fruitful spirituality beyond the confines of the Institute." This will facilitate "a deeper understanding between consecrated and lay persons in view of the mission..." V.C. n° 55). ( La Croix)
IN TUNISIA, A CHRISTIAN THEOLOGIAN
of the First Centuries Of The Church Is Honoured
An international colloquium on Tertullien was organised in December 1997 in Tunis, thanks to the friendship of two men, a Christian Palestinian, Archbishop Maroun Lahham, Bishop of Tunis since 8 September 2005, and a Tunisian Moslem, Professor Mohamed Fantar, professor of History of Ancient Christianity at the University of Tunis. This Colloquium had been taken care of by the chair Ben Ali for the Dialogue of civilisations and religions, and brought together specialists of diverse origins. It must be said that Tertullien (160-240), a Father of the Western Church, is one of the glories of Tunisia since he came from Carthage where he was born and died. From a family of pagan Berbers, he converted to Christianity at the end of the 2nd century.
The role of opening the Colloquium was given to Archbishop Lahham. He began by situating the spirit of the Colloquium, recalling a phrase of his friend Fr Fantar: "I have a special admiration for Tertullian; why don't we do something on this subject?" And so, explains the Bishop, the project took shape: "an initiative in line with the spirit of openness which characterises our country".
He then picked up a few lines from a recent catechesis of Pope Benedict XVI which speaks of Tertullian as "a witness of the eternal question of faith, who inaugurates Christian literature in the Latin language... The originality of his thought, linked to the incisive afficacy of his language, assures him an outstanding position in ancient Christian literature". (Information from Tunisia)
With the sisters of Charity of Quebec
Since 1995, our sisters are being fraternally welcomed in Beauport, in the big Generalate of the Sisters of Charity of Quebec.
Do you know that the
Sisters of Charity, often known as the Grey Nuns, were founded in Montreal in 1737, around Marguerite d'Youville, for the service of the poor and of women in distress? Over the years, their charitable activities have been diversified and the sisters have formed in Canada and the U.S., six independent congregations distinguished by the names of their city of origin: Montreal, Hyacinthe, Ottawa, Quebec, Pembroke and Philadelphia. In the past, the separations were due to the fear that these foundations outside Montreal would become too heavy for the Mother-House, if they remained attached to it.
In 1849,the Sisters of Charity of Quebec separated from the Congregation of the Grey Nuns of Montreal, becoming in turn an autonomous congregation recognising Mother Marcelle Mallet, spiritual legate of Marguerite d'Youville, as their foundress. Animated by a missionary spirit, the Sisters of Charity of Quebec later opened communities in Japan, in Latin America (Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay) and in Tunisia.
Though distinct one from the other, all these congregations claim the origins from Sr. Marguerite d'Youville and are concerned with keeping a common fraternal spirit and service. In September 2007, at the invitation of the Sisters of Pembroke in Ontario, the General Councils of the six congregations met for a weekend of reflection and sharing. Claire Bélanger, Beauport, Canada
