In conducting the liturgy today, the Sisters of CUM reminded us of the words of Mother Marie Salomé: ‘I wish you Jesus.’ A hymn sung by an international youth choir invited us to acknowledge and accept Jesus present at the heart of each of our lives.

The orientations for the 6 years ahead concerning the various topics addressed during the Chapter were reviewed by the Capitulants.  They will be submitted to the vote of the Assembly later. They deal with reflections made concerning new information technologies, Missionary and Vocation Animation (MVA), Initial Formation, a protocol about cases of sexual or other abuse and collaboration with other Congregations.

In the afternoon, the Capitulants in Provinces considered ways of passing on the Chapter to all the Sisters. Through the dynamics of the Pastoral Circle, they began by reviewing their personal and Congregation experience, allowing it to be enlightened by the presence of God. Further to this rereading, bearing their context in mind, they presented practical proposals for transmitting this Chapter to the Provinces, Regions and communities.

The day ended with a period of integration, during which each one was invited to remain in silence and to welcome the presence of God in her life and in the life of the Congregation.

As the time of parting comes closer, the Moderator encouraged each one to meet, to converse and exchange words of encouragement. These are so many ways of growing in our esprit de corps.

Here, in this Chapter, you represent the Region of Central Africa. You yourself are from the Democratic Republic of Congo. Could you share with us something of the situation in DR Congo at this time?

At this precise time in the history of the Congo, everything is focused around the upcoming elections that will take place in November. Given the context of violence and insecurity around these elections, the Church has set up a programme of civic education for all levels of society.
  
This year, what is special is that politicians have been included in this education programme. We had a meeting with Sister Marie Bernard, a Sister of St Joseph of Moba, at Rima. She is the Secretary General of the Bishops’ Conference of Congo for matters of Justice and Peace. She is in charge of organising this civic education for all Congolese citizens from different social categories.

Why was this approach changed?

They realised that in 2006 they had focused on the grassroots to provide the profile of the candidates, how to vote, democratic values, etc. It was observed throughout the last five years after the elections that the education given bore hardly any fruit because they had not raised awareness among politicians of democratic values, and the values of justice and peace.
 
For this reason, this year, they decided to focus on two categories in society, i.e., the grassroots and the politicians. This input was given to delegates of civil society, a Sister to represent the association of Sisters, priests and Religious. All the bishops followed this training; the Prime Minister was there as well as some members of Parliament.

One had the impression that when the Prime Minister was invited that he trembled, because he would imagine that the Church wanted to try him, assessing his activities. However, after two weeks, everyone was so content they asked for the same training for all those who were unable to take part at this initial training among senators, parliamentarians and other ministers.  

How is the training carried out in other parts of the country?    

In this initial training, delegates were sent to each diocese. The delegates from the dioceses have the mission of multiplying for delegates who come from different parishes, and these delegates from different parishes need to bring this training to the grassroots in vibrant Christian communities.
We hope that all this will promote values of justice, right, etc., the contrary of what we are living today, namely, corruption, theft and embezzlement.

You have just completed studies in Justice and Peace. What led you to do these studies?  

In 2009, during the General Assembly where we were discerning the theme for the Chapter, the Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Network was uppermost. The leadership of the Congregation strongly recommended the uptake of this project. I was asked if I was ready to become involved with it. This is an area that attracts me a great deal.

At that time, I had just attended a very important meeting in Belgium, following on an invitation from Begoña Iñarra at a group meeting. This group was essentially made up of girls, young women and young people. Begoña and I were the oldest in the group. We spoke of situations of injustice and insecurity as well as the policy of western countries in Africa. That day, we spoke of Congo. There were Germans, French, British, Belgians, Italians; several nationalities reflecting on how to influence the decision-making of their countries in Congo.

This touched me because there were no Congolese in the group except me. At the end, I asked Begoña, ‘How come there are no Congolese in such a meeting? They could learn a lot but also contribute greatly too.’
I shared this with the Assembly and we pushed the idea of working in partnership with others who are craving for peace, for justice and the well-being of all.  

At the February 2010 General Assembly, the leadership decided to send me for studies. Acquiring the instruments of analysis and understanding of international structures are required, as these are at the source of the injustices we experience. It is very important to have the tools to understand the foreign policy of states that profit from the ignorance, greed and egotism of African leaders who continue to pillage, if I can use this term, the riches of the continent.

How did you find this course?

Thanks to our Sisters at Louvain la Neuve, Maria Alexis, Marie-Paule Schiltz and Lucienne Fraipont, we were able to find a very interesting programme at the Catholic University of Louvain la Neuve. It is an ongoing formation in Political Science for the analysis of international crises. This course is given to regular students in the auditorium. Nevertheless, people who are working can follow the course online in any part of the world.   

The programme is structured in 4 courses: Geopolitics, International Relations, International Security Strategy, and International Negotiations, spread over one academic year. I am really very pleased with it as I have received the tools to understand the foreign policy of the great powers and their vision concerning developing countries
 
The course is not for Africa, it is for the whole world. Students are from the world over: the United States, China, Japan, Congo, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, etc. What helps is that with all that distance, we had forums online. We even had simulations in negotiation, etc. The interaction was good.   
 
Thanks to this course, for example, I discovered the problematic in the Balkans, as well as the problem between China, Japan, Korea and also Tajikistan, Kirghizstan; all these territories that were unknown to me beforehand.
What I find very valuable is that these tools given to us enable us to analyse situations in any corner of the world whatever.

You were involved at Bukavu, during the war, especially with women victims of violence; no doubt you could make the link with your course.  

Yes, I did. We had lots of work to submit to the professors for every course. For each course, there were at least three exercises. Sometimes, themes were proposed and at other times we were asked to choose for ourselves. Out of the 16 exercises I did, three were on the Congo.
 
It was at Pentecost that a realisation came to me, because I was working on the Goma negotiations: it was a piece of theatre and not a real negotiation, since an armed group was on an equal footing with a legitimate government, but excluded other groups.
 
However, what was sickening was that during these same negotiations, the two Presidents, Kagamé and Kabila had secret negotiations, taking decisions that were implemented even while the ‘official’ negotiations were in progress.
 
It is therefore easy to understand that the situation is not going to be resolved. I was very angry, disgusted, and I felt a degree of violence beginning to surface in me, but thanks to the course on security and strategy, I discovered what is known as the ‘regional complex of security’. This means that when several neighbouring states have security problems, it is impossible to think of resolving the problem of the one without reference to the others.

It was Pentecost Sunday! I took this as a gift of the Spirit; that it is impossible to consider the security of Congo if Rwanda, Burundi and Uganda do not ask themselves the same questions, because the rebels operating in Congo also come from Uganda, Burundi, and Rwanda, and it is all interwoven. Therefore, to have an enduring peace in the Great Lakes region, solutions have to be found for the four countries involved.

What call do you distinguish for us MSOLA?

It is to emphasise the aspect of ‘Justice and Peace, Integrity of Creation’ in all our commitments and work for raising awareness at the grassroots, while leading action at the top. If in Congo the people understand that we cannot continue to sharpen swords against Rwanda but need to seek ways to work together to find a solution to the problem of security of these two countries, we will reach a lasting peace.

Therefore, I am convinced that education in the reality of these complex security issues is very important and that we need to begin at the grassroots. Education for solidarity is also necessary since this implies solidarity among peoples. As for me, I cannot devote my energies to politicians, but rather to youth that are growing and will be the leaders of tomorrow.

There must be links between Europe and Africa and working on both sides?  
Yes, that is my conviction today.

How many General Chapters have you attended?
This is my third.

You were present in finding the theme. What affected you most?    

This theme energised me in what I am doing at the moment in my training and in the involvement I see before me. I find that it energises me even more with what we are living in Chapter. I find that since we arrived with this view on the world, seeking challenges for us in the world of today, it corresponds very aptly with this seeking a reconciled creation.

What attitude is closest to you heart at the moment?

Already, since the work of the Preparatory Committee, Sister Christine, our Moderator, told us, ‘You are not here to make a compilation. You need to begin a process of discernment that must go to the Chapter and beyond.’ This is what I hold dear and I find that in the Chapter it is an attitude that the Moderator fosters a great deal and she gives the means to experience it. This is through the integration time at the end of the day; the sessions of privileged listening and the discussions that give me contact with the Spirit of God to the extent that I am able and to see in all that is shared what is for us a call coming from Him. Therefore, in this Chapter, what I give a great deal of priority to is the attitude of discernment.

Thank you, Vicky

DAY BY DAY