"INTERNATIONALITY? WHAT A CHALLENGE!"

Editorial

      "Today a large number of people and of groups in the world are convinced that another world is quite possible." - (Break away from the routine, attain the goals of the millennium for development, Caritas Internationalis, p. 18) - The challenge of interculturality to be lived daily in our communities, would it not be a means of entering into the goals of the millennium, for it calls us in a certain manner to provide a lasting development?
 
      The texts received from four communities of the African province offer some accounts of this interculturality experience to be lived daily by a large number from among ourselves. By reading them, we shall be able to measure the beauties and the difficulties of our mission with its own distinctive dimension, the dispatching as international, apostolic communities (Const. N° 2).  Over and above internationality, let us not assume that intercultural life goes without saying. But according to the sisters themselves, it is moreover "the richness of our heritage", "a mixture of cultures", "a treasure to live and nurtured", which becomes "the strength of an intercultural community". That is really what the content of the "dossier" of this issue expresses. You may have noticed that this number is set along the lines of ongoing formation in interculturality, which the General Council implements following the recommendations of the 2005 Chapter. The theme is so rich that it will be taken up again in a more extensive reflection on interculturality in which the two accounts already received from Euramerica will find their place.

      As was announced in the April issue of Partage Trentaprile (p. 45), we are inaugurating today a form of collaboration between MAFR and SMNDA with a  new heading "In Tandem", a point of focus by our two General Councils, at the time of one of their last meetings and announced in the last April issue (p. 45).  Twice a year, Petit Écho and Sharing Trentaprile will publish the point of view of the MAFR and of the SMNDA, each in their own way, about a theme selected in common. For this first time, the MAFR will explain for us "how they live and pray on a day-by-day basis", while the SMNDA will tell them with what vision they like to look at the Cardinal, our common founder. That's not all. The collaboration between the two Institutes appears through Sharing life. First, an echo of the senior session of the MAFR in which two SMNDA have participated, one as animator and the other as participant. This was a general gathering when the participants "recycled the past". And then, one MAFR from the Congo unexpectedly slipped into our bulletin, relating to us about the celebration of  "Pentecost at Kalemie, RDC 2008". Interculturality has been lived also in another new way, thanks to another initiative of our G.C. - the launching of a "first bilingual juniorate", the participants of which tell us how its unfolding answered their entrance prayer: "Unite us, Lord, by the bonds which cannot be severed".

      One Do you know that? reminds us also that, thanks to a very recent Declaration of the  Pontifical Council for the Interreligious Dialogue (CPDI), that "faithful to its origins, the Congregation  brings to the attention particularly to believers in Islam" (Const. N°. 18) an invitation for "Christians and Moslems together to give testimony to God".
 
      The Communications will inform you about the G.C. movements, about the list of novices admitted to the novitiates of Arusha and Bobo-Dioulasso.  The G. C. also explains why and how to write the notices regarding our sisters, who have entered into Life, which vary according to their destination, the Congregation report, or that of the province or region. Finally, someone among us reminds us that it is important to identify the photos, which we are taking for our different archives. These communications and even others are useful to everyone and unite us in a practical way in our prayer around the same Congregation project: the ones here and the ones there, being real sisters to each other.

      October is for many among us a time to resume activities after the summer rest period to invigorate oneself again in the Spirit of the Lord and for certain ones to make known our specific vocation as SMNDA to our surroundings, "Announce the Good News of salvation to the African peoples" (Const. N° 10). A good resumption to all!

Lucie Pruvost

"INTERNATIONALITY? WHAT A CHALLENGE!"

A TREASURE TO BE LIVED AND TO NURTURED

      For our community in Gitega with four different nationalities, interculturality is a reality. We note especially what enrichment it is. In fact, we are continually invited to open our spirit to new ways of understanding the events of life, social as well as cultural and religious. That however, implies a certain poverty because, to welcome the culture of another, certain values of our own culture must be abandoned.  In other words, it is a detachment for enrichment.

      In the beginning of our missionary life, the intercultural community is an important challenge, which becomes more and more supple over the years. Living with persons of different cultures requires a good dose of mutual welcome and a favourable a priori towards others. Interculturality is a continual apprenticeship lived together, in mutual respect. It is a fragile treasure, which must be nurtured and cared for. It requires, first of all, a deep rootedness in one's own culture. Only then can we recognize and accept the values and counter-values of another. In that sense, the confrontation with another culture helps us to better know our own.

      This way of living calls for continual conversion. It is a dying to self to welcome the other with views differing from our own. When we do not understand, open a space to go beyond our views and make that extra step. It is a paschal passage, which cannot be bypassed.

      For the encounter of cultures to become a treasure, there must be a give and take; accept to learn from others. In the community, the group in majority must be attentive not to impose itself on the others. Our life also calls us to a special attentiveness to minorities, especially when faced with timid persons, or with those who will not spontaneously speak of their culture. Accept that the differences might at times lead us to misunderstandings and to cultural shocks. The differences can also be a source of conflict. Recognizing "my sister" in the other is very demanding.

      We must be vigilant to not take the easiest way, the one, which does not complicate life, and then to be quiet so as to avoid confrontation. Faced with incomprehension, there is the danger of becoming silent or even getting into criticism behind the backs of those concerned.

      Day by day, we are invited to face concrete aspects of life, e.g. food, language, liturgy, means of communication as well as the way of exercising hospitality, which differs from one country to another.  Material management also varies from one culture to another. Communication through a language that we do not really master may lead to different understandings on the same realities.

     Community life, lived in an intercultural group, is very specific to our Congregation.  It touches the heart of our Charism and becomes a sign of the new life inaugurated by Christ. Our Constitutions remind us: "We are gathered together by Jesus Christ from many nations, and sent as a community to carry out the mission confided to the Congregation by the Church" (Const. N° 54).

      Our Christian faith is the pillar on which rests our missionary life, lived in intercultural communities. We are all equal in the faith. Jesus has come into the world to teach us that we are all brothers and sisters. He calls and invites us to live together the values of his Gospel.

      We notice that already our family and school education has helped us to be open and respectful of others in their differences of social class or culture. We also notice that living outside of one's country and in intercultural communities from the very beginning of our missionary life in the Congregation, helped us to be open to the differences, and to relativise certain values of our own culture, which we had believed were the best. The fact of sharing our culture with others helps us to better know and accept ourselves in truth.

      The formation, which, we receive in the Congregation, is oriented to openness. It fosters an a priori in favour of differences with other cultures. Foundations are laid for this during the formation period, but we are invited to progressively grow in cultivating the values of our MSOLA family.

      Our life lived in intercultural communities is first of all a fortune. This wants to be in itself a sign of universal fraternity. In countries where ethnic differences are sometimes a source of conflict, our life  may challenge the people who surround us.

      We are children of the same Father. It is He who helps us grow together and who invites us to celebrate and build communion among ourselves.

Community of Gitega, Burundi

A MIXTURE OF CULTURES

      We are six in community and coming from four different nations (Uganda, France, Ghana and Tanzania). This indeed makes it a typical international and intercultural community. Interculturality for us is therefore the existence of two or more different groups of people in a community. In other words it is the mixture of cultures, which could be for instance people of different races, ethnic groups, religions, etc. Our community is a concrete example for that matter.

      Our multicultural life in community is already a PROCLAMATION OF THE KINGDOM (CL June 1994). That is where people from all nations will assemble to adore and to worship the Lord. It is a fulfilment of where the lion and the lamb will pasture and lie together. It is also a fulfilment of the deepest desire of our founder and co-foundress (Cardinal Lavigerie and Mother Marie-Salomé). The fact that our Congregation was started in Africa with women, who were uprooted from their cultural environment to be incarnated in different cultural surroundings till today, is the realization of God's project.

      Concretely, we live this through THE FOLLOWING ASPECTS OF OUR DAILY COMMUNITY LIFE:
First of all, each sister appreciates her own nationality and cultural background. We welcome one another's cultures; we share on them often. We see our cultural differences as a source of enrichment and not a threat. This helps us to live harmoniously together in our differences.

      We sustain each other and listen to one another respecting our differences. In other words, we try to live the respectful way of communication: not generalising when talking, cutting in when a sister has not yet finished talking. We are attentive to each other's cultural expressions, self-acceptance, acculturating to other's culture, as much and best as we can. For instance, through the sharing and self-disclosure, we get to know each other better. Whenever there is a misunderstanding, we sit and clarify it, forgive one another, reconcile and get on with life.

      We learn how TO PREPARE AND EAT EACH OTHER'S NATIVE DISHES. For example, Justine Akampamya, Piala Massawe and Véronique Hégron, who are from different cultural backgrounds, have learnt to eat some Ghanaian dishes: Tz (corn and millet porridge) with okra soup, fufu with palm-nuts soup... The Ghanaian sisters have also learnt to eat the dishes of the others (pan cakes, macaroni in white sauce, matoke...).

      In fact, even the Ghanaians come from DIFFERENT CULTURAL AREAS, and so there are some differences among them. Here in Tamale, we (the sisters) are all 'strangers' since none of us is from here. We all have to learn the language and culture of the Dagombas to enable us to acculturate ourselves better in living with the people. Cardinal Lavigerie wanted our sisters to wear, like the women of the place a long white dress with a veil like the one of the Arab women. We live this aspect as much as we can by dressing like the Ghanaian women, but simple, especially in the case of our expatriate sisters (Véronique, Justine and Piala). The people are often happy to see, especially our European sister Véronique, dress like a Ghana woman.

      Indeed, this way of living calls for OPENNESS AND RECEPTIVITY, patience and change of attitudes, conversion, self-denial, energy and attention in making choices. In our community, all the sisters are teaching in one school, except Alice Bangnidong. It is a catholic school that we took over last September. All the talking and sharing of the sisters at table and at other moments have helped Alice to understand the life of the school and its surroundings. She does this through active listening. By this listening she pays attention as well as respect to the sister who is talking and to herself. Sometimes she is able to contribute ideas and solutions in her humble and small ways in the running of the school. These enhance the value of collaboration and solidarity and our being true sisters to one another. This confirms that our apostolate and our projects are not an individual affair, but community projects in the true sense. Knowing the culture of the other, we also learn what she is sensitive to, what can hurt her; there is constantly concern and attentiveness to live in freedom and in love.

      This dimension of interculturality is part of the patrimony of our MSOLA family since the beginning of the Congregation. We notice this in our encounters with other congregations that have not been founded neither in Africa nor for Africa. Our international and intercultural communities are a stimulant in this continuous effort of adaptation.

      INTERACTION AND SHARING among us in community have helped us to discover some common cultural values. Values like: life, person, celebration, time, religion, listening, authority, symbol, discipline, endurance, hard work, self control, customs, traditions, loyalty, respect, obedience availability, community, rituals, unity, solidarity, sharing... were instilled in us. Values like discipline, endurance, hard work... were already hammered in our family, society, school, and during formation. We were told that life is a struggle and without endurance and hard work we would not grow into dignified persons. Listening is linked with time, respect is also linked with listening because listening to another person gives value to the one listened to and the one listening. This is common in the cultures that are represented in our community here in Gumo.

      THE COMMUNITY value is very strong in most African cultures. This sense of community controls the social relationships between people in a given community. It governs relationships and determines the behaviour of one individual towards another. This sense of community binds together the entire life of the tribe. In fact almost all the thinking and the whole life of the individual in the society is determined by the community. In our community, we all had the chance to be trained in an intercultural and interracial postulate, noviciate, etc. in the Congregation. The above said formation received and built on at the different stages of our lives is helping us in our daily living.

      All these cultural values mentioned earlier on have been re-enforced and sustained by instructions CATECHISM IN PREPARATION for baptism and confirmation, THEOLOGICAL AND SPIRITUAL FORMATION. In addition to these are spiritual direction, examination of consciousness, spiritual readings and prayers. Thus, we try to integrate all these in our lives. Finally, by the affirming THE VALUES OF CHRIST and in fact placing Him in the centre of our lives, we are indeed sustained in our intercultural community living.

The community of Gumo, Tamale, Ghana

STRENGTH OF THE INTERCULTURAL COMMUNITY

      But I... we live it day in day out. I joined this community for four months ago; we are ten in community, of seven different nationalities. We come from three continents: North America, Africa and Europe. I have to add that we come from ten different cultures, because those of us who share their country of origin come from different parts within their country, or belong to different ethnic groups. Even when they feel they belong to the same group, they find differences which are quite remarkable.

      Besides I want to point out that each one of us comes with her own family culture, her history, her up bringing. Each is a personality that has been shaped by the surroundings in which she grew up. There are also all her experiences of life which have made her to be the one she is today. And here, we are gathered together by Christ to be witnesses of his Love in this culture or mixture of cultures here in Arusha, Tanzania.

      I have personally lived the first step of the Salomé programme in another community. The mutual invitation has been for us an excellent means in our relationships, especially in our meetings and sharing; to put in practice the respectful communication consciously and by decision has helped us also a lot. I am very happy to have lived this phase of the programme in that way. What struck me when I arrived here, is the calm and the harmony in this community. Yet, its members are not on holidays, no, they do work hard. But there are also moments in which we do have disagreements, and yet, there is all the same something not easy to describe which makes me say: "It is good to be here!"

      I discovered something in the programme of prayer that I have not found before in other places. Every Wednesday, we have a prayer based on interculturality, that is to say the one who has the liturgy, prepares her topic and invites us to share her experience, each according to her own culture and life experience. We also have a prayer for peace every week. Surely these topics and these times of prayer help us all to become more aware of our differences and our riches.

      It is THE STRENGTH OF THE INTERCULTURAL COMMUNITY that comes out when each one contributes her part in sharing and feels welcomed and appreciated. This strength manifests itself also through the joy, the responsibility and the sense of belonging of each one as well as the life giving energy, which we experience.

      I sense his strength also in the reflections o the people around us: "Sister, do you ever get angry?" -  "Even if you do not wear a habit, you do keep your simplicity!" - "Your Sister Pierrette is the one who has taught me to visit the sick and the elderly; despite her age, she was always ready to go to the people, a smile on her face."

      This confirms me in the choice and my answer to the call of Christ, which I made some years ago, when entering an international and intercultural community of religious missionaries. Thank you to all my sisters!

Maite Sanz de Pablo, Arusha

THE RICHNESS OF OUR HERITAGE!!!

      Today we want to share with you how we live interculturality in our community and among those to whom we are sent. From the reconstitution of our community in 2004, "interculturality" ceases to be for us a "concept" to study so that we can live it later. It is a reality to be lived daily. Already in our community, we are 7, coming from 5 different countries (Burkina, Congo, Spain, France, Rwanda). Along with this, but in another manner, we are sent into a milieu where several different cultures, notably Arab and Mozabite, often interact with a tendency to confront each other.

     IN COMMUNITY, interculturality is manifest. At all times it calls for an effort to listen, to understand both self and the other; an openness with a healthy curiosity to discover... that the other is indeed "other", and that our differences can be a source of mutual enrichment. A good sense of humour is very necessary. There are many quite novel situations. Here are a few examples:
* Preparation of the liturgy: will Sr. X and Sr. Y have anything in common in what each will draw from a text and have us meditate? Are the song sheets prepared in advance? One will quickly recognise Sr. X or Sr Y.
* We can all lead a reflection on this or that subject but ... how different the approach will be!
* House cleaning or the dishes! What a different approach!
* The kitchen? The menu can be foreseen according to who is in the kitchen. And then just look: is there a potato to be peeled!!! Even the way of holding the potato and the knife are different. That's how it is. Each one has her room. Each one has her style.

      We can multiply the examples to the rhythm of the moments we live together. The challenges may be simple enough to note, but we must train ourselves to this "intercultural" life because things do not always go by themselves. We have met together several times to learn to know each other better, to communicate without violence, to accept one another in respect and gratitude. We have even had a session with Carmen Sammut. But nothing is ever fully acquired in this domain; we must accept that there well be highs and lows, confrontations and reconciliations knowing even there, differences are noticeable according to culture.

      Now let us leave the community. Another place where interculturality will be in play: THE PARISH, 2 lay persons; 5 priests each of a different nationality. And would we be surprised to see the difference of nationality reflected in the way of celebrating the Eucharist! How and with whom will we be called to prepare it?   Even the clocks controlling the time of the services can differ from one culture to another...

      This interculturality is omnipresent in THE MILIEU where we are sent: our cultures are different, and we have much to learn, especially in that which concerns hospitality. Thus we never return an empty platter to the one who has offered us a gift; the benefits of the gift must return to the giver. Always offer at least a glass of water to someone entering the house. Are we going to make a request? Never present it before a long palabre...

      In addition, THE PEOPLE receiving us are "intercultural". These differences, very marked between the Mozabites and the Arabs, are a major challenge facing us and our Church, which wants to be 'bridge' between cultures. Arabs... Mozabites... Chambas... let us not be either for one or the other but let us try to be signs of communion and unity. The composition of our own community and our way of living interculturality is in itself a sign.

      From where do we receive this call to live interculturality in our communities if not first of all from our founder Cardinal Lavigerie who strongly insisted from the very beginning that we be in international apostolic and intercultural communities? From Mother Marie-Salomé whose motto was "Be truly sisters for one another"?  In addition, we have all received our MSOLA religious formation in houses where internationality was sought after. It has always been a treasure for all of us. Interculturality : the richness of our heritage !!!

Your sisters of Ghardaïa: Anne-Christine, Monique Pouyez, Gloria Martinez,
Marie-Christine Rousseau, Speciosa Mukagatare, Appoline Traore and Anastasie Muzinga

SHARING LIFE

RECYCLE THE PAST

      Imagine a road symbolized by three candles of different colours and sizes, a small yellow one: the past; a pink one: the present, and a tall white one for the future, because "We remain with one life to go towards Love".  Thus, you discover what is the Transition Session of the Missionaries of Africa. Each one's desire is certainly to live well the time "to come" because that is all we have left. And for that, it is necessary to "recycle the past" as one participant said.

      The present is lived intensely. Each morning a prayer celebration is followed by a presentation of the theme. This is followed by a substantial time for personal deepening and sharing in small groups. The daily Eucharist in groups or with the brothers of the Generalate is a privileged time of the day. The afternoons are free or spent by sharing testimonies or encounters with the general services, and also by the visit to the tomb of St. Peter. A day of pilgrimage to Assisi is the climax of the session. There are other pleasant moments like the evening at PISAI, the discovery (for the majority) of the MSOLA Generalate and the joy of meeting sisters known in Africa; an evening with the "Family of the Work" and of course "the Serate Romane ". In between all this, each one goes for walks, visits or re-visits Rome.

      It is now already a good number of years that the Missionaires of Africa   (Fathers, Brothers, Sisters) receive this gift of a few weeks of this precious time " of transition ". Usually, the Petit Écho or the Sharing Trentaprile gives news of this with photos or a few lines. This year, we have an innovation... Sr. Hélène Verstappen, Regional of Belgium, joined the group of Fathers and Brothers. The evaluations reveal that the experience is positive. A new way of collaboration between Sons and Daughters of Lavigerie?

 Patricia Massart, Co-animator of the session

FIRST BILINGUAL JUNIORATE

"Bind us together Lord, bind us together with cords that cannot be broken,
Bind us together Lord, bind us together Lord, bind us together in love" (English song)

      By this refrain we can summarise what we have experienced during our juniorate: our deep desire to live communion among ourselves, with all our sisters, with all those who carried us in prayer and whom we carried in our hearts.

      Thanks to the General Council who organised this first bilingual juniorate, we experienced greater openness and understanding of our Mission, as we represented the four regions of the African province and the province of Europe. Before coming to Rome, we had the chance to learn the other language of the Congregation. In this way, we could be enriched by one another's experience. This helped us develop the attitude of being more attentive to the various realities within the Congregation. Our sharing in daily life was marked by deep trust and mutual support. In our diversity, we experienced having the same desire to grow in the spirit of Cardinal Lavigerie and Mother Marie-Salomé and to offer ourselves totally to the Lord for His Mission in Africa.

      Through THE PROGRAMME that was well prepared, we deepened the important aspects of our life as MSOLA: religious life in Africa, our missionary presence in a Moslem context, administration of goods, presented either by one of our sisters or by a person invited from outside.  The session on our Constitutions, with Sr. Suzy Hadermann, renewed in us the sense of belonging to our family and enkindled within us the love for the Constitutions. We committed ourselves to read and reflect on them as an important means to live fully our consecration for Mission. Knowing the history of how they were written deepened our communion with the whole Congregation.

      The input given on our history and the visit to our archives where we have discovered our heritage in so many reports, diaries and letters, was another occasion to deepen our communion with the sisters who have preceded us in the Mission. We became more aware of our role to transmit the richness of our heritage to the next generation.

      We spent one day with the General Council. They shared with us how we need to put ourselves at the intersection of three circles: the Person, the Charism and the Context, so as to discern for the good of all and of the Mission. It helped us to have a wider view of our reality. We take it as a helpful tool for our discernment in daily life.
     
      We have been very much enriched by the way our sisters of the generalate carry out the Mission entrusted to them. Through the sharing of their vocation stories and missionary experience, we felt not only empowered, but also confirmed that we are daughters of the same founder called to the One Mission wherever we are. This communion was strengthened by so many of you, our sisters, who prayed for us and sent us letters. In all these experiences, we felt living to the full the words of Mother Marie-Salomé: "Be truly sisters to one another".

      The pilgrimage in the footsteps of Cardinal Lavigerie was a moment of grace. We have been inspired by his zeal and strong commitment to fight for human rights and the dignity of each person, being totally at the service of the Church. We prayed at his tomb for our two societies and for the Mission. In a special way, we thank our brothers, the Missionaries of Africa, for their warm welcome, availability and generosity, which we have experienced during these three months here.

      Being here in Rome, praying with the Pope and so many pilgrims from all over the world, we were strengthened in our faith and the sense of belonging to the universal Church.
     
      All we can say is THANKS. We are grateful to the Lord who has filled us with so many graces. We thank the General Council for giving us this precious time. We thank our sisters: Carmen Sammut and Bijundi Bashige, who accompanied us during this time of preparation for our final commitment. We thank each one of you, dear sisters.  Now we are ready and energised for the Mission awaiting us, so that we may "be all to all because we have said to the God of all, we are all yours."

Sabine Dakouo, Margreth Kibola, Clémentine Mukampabuka, Celina Natanek,
Hortência Sizalande and Lucile Habimana - Bilingual juniorate, Rome 2008

PENTECOST IN KALEMIE, D.R.C. 2008
      
      I would like to tell you about the feast of Pentecost in Kalemie, lived with two thousand brothers and sisters of the renewal in the Spirit. This city is situated in the east of the R.D. of the Congo, with nine parishes, and the salaries of the people leaving them in famine. The aim of this article is to recognize how the Lord continues to do wonders in the midst of his people, and to give thanks for his surprising action in history.

      Towards 7 h 45 in the 'Ronds Points' zone, an area on the periphery of the city, a crowd of almost a thousand charismatics were already present and awaiting the signal to begin the pilgrimage which would bring them to the parish church of Kaseke, a walk of about 45 minutes. It really gave the impression of an exodus towards "the holy mountain of the Lord", where we would listen to His Word and ask for His Spirit. Very near the church, canvas sheets had been attached to trees to shelter the people from the sun and provide some shade in this " place of encounter with the Lord ". It reminded me of the camp of the Hebrew tents at the foot of the Sinai, near an oasis with a "wadi" (source). All the benches of both the church and the primary school had been moved outside and arranged to accommodate the crowd.

            Around 9 h 30, the first group arrived singing with brio and some exquisite dancing like the Jews when they went up to Jerusalem for the big feasts of the Passover, the Tents and of Pentecost. All the women were dressed in lovely cloth having the same design, and the men also wore a shirt with the same printed pattern as that of the women. What a beautiful array of colours in the morning glowing with light and happiness!

      The parish groups arrived successively with everyone in uniform. Just like the tribes of Israel, each unit arrived praising God and taking their places under the tents in the midst of the grove becoming the oasis of the Sinai. The vivid colour of the uniforms reflected the new experience of the Exodus with all these men and women who had left their villages to come to the meeting place of the Word of the Lord. The crowd greatly surpassing expectations sprung up in " this desert place " and seemed interminable: approximately 2000 persons... because in the meantime other charismatics had joined them.

      At about 10 o'clock, we prepared for the entrance procession at the beginning of the breaking of the Bread. A dozen priests accompanied the procession and some twenty dancing choir members carried the Word of God in their hands, raising it up very high. A cross was placed in front of the altar. Before the penitential rite, I invited all the people to raise their right arm, with the index finger pointing to the cross: in the cross is our salvation! Imagine two thousand arms under the tents pointing at the one and only Saviour of the world! In the desert the Hebrews turned toward the bronze serpent to be healed, and we gazed as with one look upon the only Lord of History, stripped and crucified! In his total abasement unto death on the cross, he offered to the world peace and the reconciliation with God!

      The Gospel acclamation was followed during some minutes by a liturgical dance of joy to acclaim the Word: all were carried away by the rhythm of the drums and the musical instruments. Brothers and Sisters joined this celebration of the Word! At the foot of the mountain of Sinai, Moses and the Hebrews received the Law of Yahweh. We here received "on the mountain of Kaseke" the new Law of Jesus and his Spirit.

      Proclamation of the Word: three brief messages were drawn from the Gospel of John 20.
* To the men: " May peace be with you! " (v. 19). If you want peace, seek it in the Word of God.
* To the women: " As my Father sent me, so I am sending you " (v. 21). Mary engenders the Word in the heart of her cousin Elisabeth; the prophetess Anna in the heart of Jewish pilgrims having ascended to the Temple of Jerusalem; the Samaritan woman, in the heart of her co-citizens; Mary of Magdala in the hearts of the disciples enclosed in the cenacle. Thus the Lord sends women of the Renewal in the Spirit to engender anew his Word in the parishes and spiritual movements of the diocese of Kalemie by opening ways for more formation and knowledge of his Word.
* To the Priests: "Receive the Holy Spirit" (v.22). Allowing ourselves to be led by the Holy Spirit means becoming and being "pastors" according to the heart of God (Jr 3:15). It is possible if we return to personal prayer and daily meditation on the Word of the Son in which we find the face of the Father and the voice of the Spirit present in fullness.

Towards the end of the offertory, we lighted a big fire in the middle of the assembly which recalled the "column of fire" illuminating the night for the Hebrews in flight from Egypt (Ex: 21).  We, the priests, invoked the Spirit by singing the first verse of the Veni Creator Spiritus; this was followed by the invocation in Swahili sung by the crowd. The charismatic choir Wadi (the source) showed a very high quality in the execution and interpretation of the songs.

      After communion and before the final prayer, it was time to fix our attention on the Word, for it to heal the hearts of each and everyone. Again, I invited all the people to point their right arm and index finger towards the Book of Life and to recognize that our healing, our liberation, our salvation all come from the cross and the Word. There is never one without the other! This unanimous profession of faith made us really touch the meaning of our belonging to the Catholic Church, which is the people assembled around the cross and the Word, and proudly proclaiming that only Jesus is the Lord!      

      The immense crowd showed a remarkable church communion by bringing the food necessary to feed abundantly two thousand men and women, reminding us of the huge crowd of the Gospels following Jesus, as well as the Christian communion in Jerusalem in the Acts of the Apostles. In the first community of the Acts, all shared and had plenty to eat. For me, it was the first time that I saw "the people" organize themselves, prepare such a large meal and feed all the people including the one hundred fifty invited guests. Is there not here a "miracle of the Spirit" bringing down all the ethnic, cultural, linguistic barriers and gather people coming from the entire socio-cultural horizon of the Congo? How to explain otherwise that these people so materially impoverished and deprived, could succeed in organising the Eucharistic Exodus in the morning, and give the image of a fraternal Church in the afternoon, with so many people?

      The charismatics had put their whole heart and soul in the preparation of hundreds of plates of rice, " fufu ", chicken, beef, sauces, sweet potatoes, manioc leaves, plantain bananas, groundnuts, and the sweet drinks! All was indeed magnificent! Even the twelve baskets filled with leftovers (Jn 6:13)! It is the miracle of the Word, which melts hearts and spirits, fostering communion among persons!

      Each group was overflowing with joy and unanimously witnessed that something had happened during the breaking of the Eucharistic Bread in the morning. Each had received a "new breath", probably impossible to express in words but very real in the smiling faces of this flood of people. How not give thanks to God for so many marvels in his people assembled around the cross and the Word of his Son? Today, our Congo and our Catholic Church need so much more the gift of self than speeches, more experiences of God and of a glowing communion rather than documents and solemn declarations that so often are not followed by action.

       Around 14 h 30, " the people of the Exodus and of the Church  " got up from their tables to return for one last time of praise of the Word. The brothers and sisters gave the impression of being "carried on eagles' wings" (Ex. 19:4) and showed no signs of fatigue or haste to return to their homes... Yes, let us say it openly, proud to proclaim their faith: the Glory of God had that day descended on "the mountain of Kaseke" as the Shekinah of God (the Spirit) had descended on the camp of the Hebrews, when these listened to Moses bringing back the commandments of God (Ex. 20: 18-21). Some brothers and sisters came forward to give personal witnesses, just as Jesus in the synagogue of Nazareth closed all the books of the Old Testament. The Law and the Prophets are fulfilled. Jesus opens his Book, the unique and definitive book that is Himself, the only way to know and go to the mysterious and hidden God (Lk 4: 20-21 Cf. Is 45:15); Mary and John near the cross (Jn 19: 25-27)! Mary and John are the true heirs of Jesus because of their faith and their fidelity up to the end!

      The sunset announced the end of the day, which will long remain engraved in the memory of our brother and sisters. Each took their pack, their pilgrim walking stick of the Word, their sandals and their cooking pot and prepared to return to their homes by a walk of an hour or two hours and for some more. Like the shepherds after having seen Mary, Joseph and the Babe laying in the manger, returned singing the glory and the praises of God, so our charismatic brothers and sisters left in small groups magnifying God for all that they had seen, heard and received as graces on this day of Pentecost 2008, on "the holy mountain of Kaseke".

Giuseppe Locati, MAfr., 11 May 2008

DO YOU KNOW THAT?

Christians and Muslims Witness Together
Meeting of the Islamic-Catholic Liaison Committee

      The Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue (PCID) has released the following statement:
With the help of God, the Islamic Catholic Liaison Committee held its 14th meeting in the Vatican, on 11-13 June 2008. H.E. Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, President of the PCID, Vatican City, headed the Catholic Delegation while the Islamic Delegation was headed by H.E. Prof. Dr. Hamid bin Ahmad Al-Rifâi, President of the International Islamic Forum for Dialogue, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The theme was "Christians and Muslims as Witnesses of the God of Justice, of Peace and of Compassion, in a World Suffering from Violence". The topic was treated from a religious point of view according to the teaching of our two religious traditions. Both sides agreed on the following points:

1. From the inherent dignity of each human being stem fundamental rights and duties.
2. Justice is a priority in our world. It requires, beyond the implementation of the existing legal provisions, the respect of the fundamental needs of individuals and peoples through an attitude of love, fraternity and solidarity. There can be no true and lasting peace without justice.
3. Peace is a gift from God and also requires the commitment of all human beings, and particularly believers, who are called to be vigilant witnesses to peace in a world afflicted by violence in many forms.
4. Christians and Muslims believe that God is compassionate, and therefore they consider it their duty to show compassion towards every human person, especially the needy and the weak.
5. Religions, if authentically practiced, effectively contribute in promoting brotherhood and harmony in the human family.

      The participants were honoured to be received by His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI, who encouraged them to continue their endeavours for the promotion of justice and peace.

Card. Jean Louis Tauran, President of the PCID
Prof. Dr. Hamid Ahmad Al-Rifâi, President of the International Islamic Forum Dialogue

"IN TANDEM":

Here is a new half-yearly section common to the MSOLA (Sharing Trentaprile) and the MAFR (Petit Écho). Both Councils General voted for it to help us know and appreciate one another more. To begin with, José Maria Cantal writes in Sharing, and Lucie Pruvost in Petit Écho on how the MSOLA see Cardinal Lavigerie. In this way, we will enrich one another with the values and challenges of both our Institutes, since it is the same mission that brings us together in a single family.

The two General Councils of MSOLA and MAFR

HOW THE MAFR LIVE AND PRAY ON A DAY-BY-DAY BASIS

      From amongst all the other matters, my confreres would like to mention, I have chosen two short topics that speak of us to our Sisters.

Community Council meeting

      If there is strength in our communities and an atmosphere of friendship, if our activities are sometimes well coordinated and if the task is not individualistic, it is thanks to this 'short regular meeting.' In some houses, it takes place every week at the same time, elsewhere every fortnight, or again at other intervals (fixed or movable.). The agenda can sometimes resemble an inevitable diary-filling meeting. However, opportunities are not lacking to deal with essential matters: the handing on of a parish or a project, the financial problems of the mission post, conflicts among ourselves, sensitive issues relative to respect for human dignity, courage of risking an action for justice, or going and speaking with someone...

      I believe that in every mission post, we are aware that we do not possess all the truth, nor all the information on what we are asked to live, nor among ourselves or in the country that hosts us. The community council is the opportunity we give ourselves to put the gifts and talents the Lord gave us to be at the service of one another for the common good. On these occasions, we share our experience and knowledge of our surroundings, the language and the people. We seek to be creative and even if it is sometimes irksome, we can let ourselves be converted by our confreres.

      The community council provides us with the regular possibility of being humble and co-responsible. The community council gives us the chance to plan, but also to learn from one another, encouraging each other in our missionary vocation, to say what we hold dear to our hearts, so as to put the Gospel into practice, to catch glimpses of our personal history.
Dear Sisters, help us to speak of our family life!

Personal Prayer

      Like most men, we are very reserved about this private aspect of our lives. We often give the impression of never praying, apart from the breviary! We have an awkward way of expressing ourselves on this point and yet... When living in community, we soon find out the timetables of our confreres and even if we do not say so, we know at what time each confrere prays. Some do so before Morning Prayer, others after breakfast, others again in the evening before Evening Prayer or at midday. In our communities, you will find those who are wholehearted for the Rosary and others faithful to the Office of Readings. There are those who are devotees of Bible reading and others who are fans of spiritual authors, the classics or those in fashion...

      These times of prayer and adoration before Our Lord and Master are the source of our fidelity and the mainstay of our commitment towards the peoples of Africa.

      I would like these times to be visible in our words, in our decisions, in our way of dealing with people. For the sons of the Cardinal, personal prayer has always been a legacy received from our families - for most of us, from our parents - and maintained in our parishes and home groups. It is also an activity that we learn to nurture during the years of formation and that we share with our confreres throughout our lives. We reveal our personal prayer in our commitments, in our way or preaching, in our reactions faced with internal or external stress. You can notice it in the creative dynamism of some of us, or by contrast, you will detect its absence in the weakness of our testimony.
Dear Sisters, help us to speak of our prayer life!

José Maria Cantal Rivas, MAfr., Oran (Algeria)

COMMUNICATIONS

IDENTIFYING THE PHOTOS

      Some months ago, I was searching for photos to illustrate a publication on the "Presence of the MSOLA in Burundi". I was certain that quite a number of sisters had some in their treasurers - I would just have to make an appeal!

      My joy was great to receive, one day, a group photo that reminded me of sisters I had met 50 years ago. Yet, what a disappointment when I didn't find any name on the reverse of the photo! How would I be able to name those 20 sisters without making any error?

      I had the idea to make copies of the photo and to send them to the communities in which I knew sisters who had been in Burundi. This was a success! Thanks to the 10 communities or so, that had been ready to participate in this little game! It allowed me to gather 18 names out of the 20 I had been searching for. Not bad, but a bit long as procedure, I admit!

      Therefore, allow me this little reminder - also in the name of our archivist!  Before ranging photos in an album or before sending them to Rome for the archives, let us make sure that they carry the following information: place, date, event and the name of the persons in the photo.
Thus, these photos could be found "worthy" to appear in an article, a book, one of our publications like "Sharing Trentaprile", etc.   Thanks in advance to all of you, also in the name of Hildegunde Schmidt, our archivist!

                                                      Lucienne Fraipont, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgique