Daniel Comboni
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APDESAM annual meeting in Nairobi
Rome, Friday, February 8, 2013
The meeting of the superiors of circumscriptions of English Speaking Africa and Mozambique (Apdesam) was held from 2 to 8 February in Nairobi, Kenya, in the provincial house. All the superiors were present together with Fr. Tesfaye Tadesse, the Assistant General from Rome. A word of thanks goes to the provincial superior and the confreres of Kenya who have welcomed us and hosted this annual meeting for the last few years.
Following the reading and approval of the minutes of our previous meeting, one of the important points of the agenda was the reports of the different circumscriptions and of the different sectors of our missionary activities.
We remained with an important idea of the social and political and religious reality of the country which was a precious help to understand the life and the work of the Comboni Missionaries in these countries.
The main concern regarding the analysis of the reality of the situation was the instability in Sudan (Khartoum), South Sudan, Egypt and Eritrea. We felt also a certain apprehension as the general elections in Kenya are scheduled for the 4th of March. The other countries of Apdesam (MZ, MO, RSA, ET, U) are quite peaceful, although rapid changes, corruption and injustices are always present in one way or another. The reality of the peoples we are called to serve is an invitation to make common cause with them and to empathise with their sufferings and struggles for a better society and a more committed Church.
Regarding the different sectors of our missionary service, special attention was given to the issues of evangelization, including the fields of R-JPIC (Reconciliation, Justice and Peace and Integrity of Creation), formation with the challenge of vocation promotion and the choice of formators for the different phases of formation. Other sectors discussed were the CLM, the economy, mission promotion and Islam. The new reality of the churches in Africa calls for a commitment for self-reliance, preparation and involvement of local lay people and Comboni lay missionaries in our work.
On the 6th of February the provincial/delegate superiors met with the team of the NPMC (New People Media Centre) in its headquarters. The meeting was a revelation to better understand the world of social communication and to discover the many possibilities offered in the field of mass media for our evangelization and mission promotion.
In this regard, our provinces can offer four missionary magazines, including Vida Nova in Mozambique, more dedicated to the formation of leaders. The circumscriptions are also working in the setting up of their web-pages which become powerful means in information and formation of missionary awareness in the local Church and society at large.
Taking advantage of the presence of Fr. Tesfaye, all the provincials and delegates had the opportunity to share with him some concrete issues concerning the personnel and confreres working in their circumscriptions.
On the 7th of February, in the evening, the group visited the scholasticate of Nairobi which is celebrating the 25th anniversary of its foundation. We are grateful for the many gifts that God has bestowed upon us through the many confreres who did their theological formation in this house.
Other topics were also discussed in the meeting. Last but not least was the Letter – see attachment below – proposed by the sub-continental Assembly of Evangelization in solidarity with and support of our confreres and the people of Central Africa, in this moment of difficulty and suffering.
Fr. Jeremias Martins
From left: Fr. Hategek’Imana Sylvester; Fr. Ocaña Iglesias Julio; and Fr. Dário Balula Chaves.
Fr. Tesfaye Tadesse Gebresilasie (in the foreground); and Fr. Jeremias dos Santos Martins.