Genesis of the movement “Kizito-Anuarite”
The group Anuarite In the years 1972-1973, youth movements were abolished in Zaire and religion classes were abolished in all schools. Miss TABU Amisa Marguerite, a catechist in Christ the King parish in the diocese of Kalemie-Kirungu, gathered children every Sunday after Mass under the mango trees, to give them a bit of joy and relaxation with dancing, games and instructions. In 1977, she asked Sister Tina Anthonissen, Missionary Sister of Our Lady of Africa, to help her to structure and expand these meetings. Sister Tina, who was had been involved with the Chiro Movement and the Eucharistic Crusade, was able to start the movement, not only for games and dances but especially for the Christian education of children and young girls. Besides the girls of Christ the King parish others joined from Mateo de Kifungo parish, St. Albert parish in Kalemie and from the parishes of Lubuye and Kaseke.…
“Thank you for my baptism”– Emmanuel, from Burkina Faso
One morning at the beginning of the rainy season, Emmanuel, in his fifties, called me through his eldest son. He had been a good catechumen for a long time but had abandoned everything except his Christian name. We knew each other well and I respected his decision taken long before I arrived. That day, he let me know he was dying and wanted baptism before the great departure. I knew he was very ill. Five kilometers separated me from his village, but what a road! The motorbike had to navigate through the mud. Emmanuel was at the end of his strength, and I found his great desire to ask Jesus his true shepherd to lead him to the Father. He himself had been a shepherd from a young age. At our second meeting, we celebrated his baptism with his wife and two sons who…
February 20, the World Day for Social Justice
February 20 is World Day for Social Justice. For the two Institutes founded by Cardinal Lavigerie, it is the Annual Day of prayer and reflection on modern slavery. The theme for 2016 is: “Shine the light on modern slavery.” How to learn about modern slavery? • Find in your city or country organizations working against modern slavery and against human trafficking and get in touch with them to see how you can work together to eradicate modern slavery. There are networks of religious men and women working against human trafficking in 70 countries, linked with Talitha Kum. Do you know those in your country? Could you collaborate with them? • Learn clues to help you identify potential victims of trafficking and see what can be done. • Discover your slavery footprint and check the goods produced by child labor or forced or compulsory labor. • Encourage companies to take…
I am receiving my King.
Gabrieli was one of the first catechists of the country (Zambia). Being old, he now remained in the village. I often went to visit him, to talk and improve the language I was learning. I always found him sitting in his lounge chair made with animal skin, praying the rosary … If he was absent, it meant that even in a village far away … someone was sick, often very ill. So Gabrieli took his stick and went to see him, to help him in his suffering…or dying. He had always kept his Shepherd’s heart. One day I found him lying down, with a high fever … He told me: “Go and tell the Father to bring me communion!” When Father arrived he was kneeling down. Father tried to tell him to stay in bed but … “No, I am receiving my King!” Every day the father came until…
An old Catechist
As for me, I do not have a great devotion for cemeteries, but would go to his tomb each time I returned to Ipusukilo. In 1950, I arrived in Ipusukilo, Northern Rhodesia, Zambia. As a good White Sister, the first thing to do was to learn the Bemba language. My teacher, (at that time there were no language courses), was Sister Séraphine, one of the four Sisters of the first caravan of Sisters to arrive in Northern Rhodesia. In the afternoon, I went to Lubilo village to practice speaking with Gabrieli Kawimbe. Holding the hand of a patient, or of a dying person: this act makes all the difference. Old Gabrieli had understood this.Gabrieli was an elderly man. I found him still seated on his deck-chair made of animal skins and reciting his rosary. He had been one of the first catechists of Bishop (Moto-Moto) Dupont, the Bishop King of…
To give the best of ourselves
We are six sisters in Málaga. Each one, according to our possibilities answers the calls we see in our environment and in line with the charism of the Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Africa. We strive to give the best of ourselves so that the Kingdom of God might grow. Lola and Juanita go to visit the homeless gathered in a Caritas house. They are happy to be able to meet these people and show interest in their lives. Féli gives Spanish lessons to immigrant women in a neighborhood on the outskirts of the city. She is happy to share her faith above all through her witness. Carmen serves in an Oxfam Intermom which struggles for justice and universal rights. Josepha deals with immigrants, with the sick and she participates in the work of Caritas in the parish. As for me I work in the General Services of…
Relations Africa – Europe
Africa Europe Faith and Justice Network (AEFJN) AEFJN is a Christian Network that strives to eliminate injustice and to promote Equity and Economic Justice in the relations between Europe and Africa. We do that by lobbying (working towards promoting just legislation and transforming the laws that cause Injustice and poverty). The members are Catholic International religious Congregations working in Africa and in Europe. About 80,000 persons in Africa and Europe are involved directly or indirectly in the activities of AEFJN. The International Secretariat in Brussels lobbies the European Union while the 11 national antennae in Africa and Europe lobby the national Governments and Parliaments. AEFJN was born in 1988 from two calls The deteriorating of the economic situation in Africa, despite developments efforts, and the call of missionary congregations to transform that situation. The call of Pope John Paul II to the missionaries to be present…
Break down all unjust structures
We join with other women in their aspirations and their struggle to be recognised in their dignity. Today women are called to unite in an effort to bring about the integral liberation of the human person and break down all unjust structures. Let us participate actively in all these efforts to make our world more human. This is also true for the Church. May it give women their rightful place; may it welcome and encourage women’s initiatives. Bishops of Uganda – 1997: “The absence of an adequate education was and still is a big obstacle to the full liberation of women. A community or a Church which ignores the educational promotion of their women will neither grow nor have a positive influence on the population, as it should have.” Mgr Mpundu – 2nd Synod for Africa – 2009: “Denial of equality to women is an affront to…