"Mission departing from Africa" was the theme of the exchanges and reflections that were at the heart of the continental meeting of the Missionary Societies of Apostolic Life that ended on Friday 21 April at the Paul Pellet Center in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire. For four days, the participants discussed the challenges and opportunities that the increase in African vocations in these congregations represents for the Church.
The continental meeting of the Missionary Societies of Apostolic Life (MISAL - SMVA) is held every two years, explained Father Stanley Lubungo, a priest of Zambian origin and Superior General of the Missionaries of Africa, commonly known as White Fathers. It brings together a dozen missionary societies, mainly founded in Europe. Co-organized by the Missionaries of Africa (M.Afr.) and the Society of African Missions (SMA), the 2023 edition brought together 12 superiors and vicar generals of eight of these congregations. They are the leaders of the Pontifical Institute of Foreign Missions (PIME), the Foreign Missions of Paris (MEP), the Society of the Priests of St. James (SPJ), the Mill Hill Missionaries (MHM), the St. Patrick Missionaries (SPS). Representatives of the Missionary Society of Saint Paul, founded by the Nigerian Episcopal Conference, were also present. Others were unable to attend because of administrative problems, said the White Father.
Thinking "mission departing from Africa”
"Mission from Africa" was the theme that animated the exchanges, sharing and reflection during this meeting. The participants wanted to reflect on what the increase in the number of members of African origin in their societies represents and on the opportunity that this represents. Lubungo noted that these congregations began with members primarily from Western countries. Over time, and especially after the Second Vatican Council, they opened their doors to Africans. For the Missionaries of Africa, as for the Society of African Missions, the number of African members has increased, with a significant participation in the mission, said the Zambian missionary. This is why these societies have focused their reflections on what this growth brings and "the contribution of Africans to the universal mission," he said. Photo (Participants in the continental meeting of the Missionary Societies of Apostolic Life visited Cardinal Jean Pierre Kutwa, Archbishop of Abidjan, Ivory Coast).
Challenges and opportunities
For the Superior General of the Missionaries of Africa, the presence of African members in these institutes "represents a great opportunity for the universal Church to grow because the churches of Africa still have many vocations and they are young and dynamic. Another advantage, he stressed, is that Africans have become missionaries themselves and "this offers the opportunity to deepen the work of evangelization begun by our Western confreres. The latter have done an enormous amount of work that is much appreciated, "but they have done it as foreigners". Even though Africans are also "foreigners" in other African countries where they go on mission, they are in a better position to initiate and continue the work of inculturation of the good news, having a better knowledge and closeness to their cultures, he argued.
Among the challenges, Father Lubungo pointed to tribalism, which also affects members of these institutes. He called for going beyond this vice, living a true solidarity, often recognized as one of the qualities of Africans. Another problem, he noted, is the financial issue. The missions in Africa have "remained dependent for a long time on the contributions of Western confreres". Hence the need to work and educate members and collaborators in good management so that the mission can move forward, he said.
Collaboration in formation and solidarity among missionaries
Among the prospects for the future, the general of the White Fathers mentioned collaboration in formation which these missionary societies wish to increase. They especially want to work on a formation program that can truly help Africans to be missionaries in Africa. They are also thinking of promoting "a fraternal solidarity that must be lived on the mission field", because "an isolated missionary is a danger". It is a matter of encouraging "a collaboration on the ground and not only in meetings", said Father Lubungo. He shared the pride of the members of these societies in being missionaries and their hope that the mission will continue, especially with the large number of vocations in Africa and Asia.
By Stanislas Kambashi, SJ
