Pray with us for Vocations!
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MISSIONARY AND VOCATIONAL ANIMATION
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Being witnesses to the universal dimension of the Christian life,
we try to stimulate
missionary awareness, giving particular importance to the awakening of vocations.
Const 20
Missionary and Vocation Animation (MVA) concerns all our communities…
All of us are called to live this aspect of our mission, be it: through our life witness,
through our attitude of welcoming and openness, through our apostolic commitment
Through daring to speak of this gift of God, which is our vocation.
Capitular Acts 2005, page 60 |
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Activities for
youth in 2010
Youth and Mission in Africa – Come and See!
Africa – Short stays in one of the 15 countries where the Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Africa
live and work; alone or in a group; possible the whole year
For more information, contact: jeunes.smnda@orange.fr
or visit www.soeurs-blanches.cef.fr |
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''Go out and preach the Gospel to all nations''
International Missionary Youth camp, Lublin (17th - 24th August 2010)
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The second international missionary youth camp organized by the White Sisters and White Fathers of Poland took place from the 17 to 23 August 2010 in the beautiful house of the Missionaries of Africa in Lublin.
35 young people took part in this camp, the majority came from different parts of Poland. Three others came from other countries: Julien from France, Faiza from Algeria, studying in France, and Josephine from Mali, studying in Germany. Fr. Hans Schrenk MAfr was the spiritual animator of this camp. Together with two other Missionaries of Africa and one White Sister (MSOLA) on holiday as well as the two newly ordained Polish confreres, the White Sisters and White Fathers of Lublin accompanied the youth in view of mission and vocation promotion. The aim was also to encourage the youth to remain steadfast in their faith, to strengthen them in their experience with God, to exhort them to continue loving the church and to encourage them to dare taking important decisions concerning their future. But above all, the camp was aimed at awakening in them the desire to serve God as missionaries in Africa. That is why the theme of the camp was ''Go out and preach the Gospel to all nations''.
This is the second time that we organized the camp. Last year's camp was a very positive experience. Yet, it was a challenge because some young people who came last year came again this year. Hence, we had to imagine new initiatives. Thanks to a thorough preparation of the programme before the beginning of the camp, and thanks to the creativity of the animators, and thanks to the active participation of the youth and to a well dosed combination of activities, there reigned a harmonious atmosphere and nobody seemed to be bored. |
On the first day, we started to build the community spirit by practically building huts in a traditional African style. Finally four beautiful huts stood in our compound to the admiration of the passers-by. In this way, from the first day we started to build friendship among ourselves.
To enhance the team spirit and a lively participation, the youth were divided into four teams corresponding to four mountains in Africa, Mt. Kenya, Mt. Kilimanjaro, Mt. Atlas and Mt. Ruwenzori. It was an invitation to climb to Africa's highest peaks; that is to have some elementary knowledge about Africa and to appreciate the various precious values of Africa.
We also visited various places in Lublin. Among others, the White Sisters house, the Major Seminary (where our two seminarians study), the former concentration camp and the cathedral.
The duration of the missionary camp was adequate and there was a variety of activities proposed, something for every body's liking: input and reflection in groups, Eucharist, adoration and confession. We had various educative conferences about our Founder Cardinal Lavigerie, the missionary vocation, Islam and the decision making process which were interesting to the youth. Group discussions, music, dancing and drama also enriched the participants of this camp. In addition to social entertainments, there were sports, too.
There was also time for personal encounters among the youth themselves and also between them and the animators. The youth appreciated the personal witnesses and testimonies of the missionaries present. Delicious meals prepared by Mrs. Lucina and an African meal prepared by our Nigerian friend, Mr. Wisdom, were highly appreciated. |
Each of the four groups built a hut. Third from left Sr Cecylia
and at thr right Fr Hans Schrenk |
On Sunday we had mass at the local Parish where the parishioners admired the lively African liturgy. In this way, the group had an opportunity to bear witness to mission at the parish.
We extend our thanks to Fr. Hans Schrenk MAfr, who animated the spiritual dimension of this camp in a humorous and story telling manner. His vast and rich missionary experience and insights as well as his positive evaluation of the camp were an encouragement to the youth present and to all of us who endeavor to promote missionary vocations.
It is worth noting that Lublin Television covered “live” part of our camp and that was a chance to make known our mission here in Poland. This will certainly stimulate other young people to come next year.
In conclusion, we thank God who enabled us to live this beautiful experience with the youth. Four young people present at the camp have shown interest to become missionaries and this is in itself is a reason for gratitude to God for the fecundity of this missionary camp. Everybody was enriched, new bonds of friendship were created and the youth requested that this experience be continued next year.
Sr. Cecylia Bachalska, Msola and Fr. Otto Katto, MAfr |
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 IN POLAND |
Name tag :Internet |
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Sr Cecylia Bachalska (second from right) with youth
at the Polish Woodstock Festival in Kostrzyn
Space for faith encounter
The stage for the music festival
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The Woodstock Festival was a music festival,
held at the town of Bethel, New York,
from August 15 to 18, 1969. Bethel, is 69 km southwest of the town of Woodstock, New York.
During the weekend, thirty-two acts
were performed outdoors
in front of 500,000 concert-goers.
It is widely regarded as one
of the greatest and most pivotal moments
in popular music history.
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Woodstock Youth Festival
Kostrzyn is a small town in the western part of Poland at the border with Germany. Each summer it enters the spotlight. Why? The answer is Woodstock Festival (Przystanek Woodstock) in Poland.
The Festival is organized at end of July and the beginning of August in the outskirts of this town with some thirty thousand inhabitants.For a few days Kostrzyn becomes the biggest youth town in Poland.
This year the 16th Woodstock Festival gathered about three hundred thousand youth from all corners of Poland, as well as other parts of Europe. I even bumped into young fans from Liberia. It was amazing to see young people stay together mainly in tents, share food and enjoy various types of music, usually at night.
Woodstock Topography
Huge crowds gather around a big stage in the centre of the festival grounds in order to listen and enjoy various musics. Thick dust rises around the jumping youth. The concert is accompanied by many additional attractions. Little stalls tempt with T-shirts, drums and all kinds of bits and pieces for home. A courtyard is occupied by Hare Krishna believers who can be easily recognised by their Indian robes and a very characteristic music. A number of youth come here to enjoy some of their food like rice with some chips.
The Catholic Church at Woodstock
A field marked by a big white cross is the Catholic youths’ grounds. This is where Catholic youth meet the regular Woodstock fans. It usually takes place during the day or in the evening, before the concerts start. Occasionally some of the Woodstock fans come up to the cross and spit on it. Still, a number of them come looking for someone to talk to about faith and the problems of their young lives.
The Catholic Church has been present at Woodstock Festival since the beginnings of the festival. However, the nature of its presence has evolved over time. At the very beginning the Catholics were a very small group of youth and one priest (currently a bishop), Edward Dajczak. Later on it became evident that a greater commitment and logistics were needed. This year the Catholic youths had a week’s training in how to reach out to their Woodstock peers. At the moment evangelisation is carried out in three ways:
1. There is one team praying before the Blessed Sacrament recognizing in Jesus the ultimate Evangelist.
2. Some pray at the cross and have chats with those who decide to come up to them.
3. Everybody who has time to spare goes out to the main tent field to meet the festival participants.
MSOLA at Woodstock - Sr Cecylia Bachalska
I had heard a lot about the Festival and decided to go there this year in order to experience the togetherness of young people in this multiethnic gathering. And I met so many of them. Some did not want to engage in conversations, did not wish to be disturbed stressing they had come to the concert only. However many did come to talk about their doubts in faith, the generation gap issues and particular problems in their families.
The presence of the Church.
Woodstock Festival is the biggest festival for young people in Poland. The numbers speak for themselves. Five hundred Catholics is only a drop in the ocean of needs, but that little drop is indeed very important. My experience of this year’s festival showed me how many young people are eager to share ‘the pearl’ which they have found and how important it is in their lives. Clearly, it is Jesus.
Sr Cecylia Bachalska |
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