Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo (April 18-20, 2018)
Participants
Abba Hagos Tewolde, rector of the common theologate of COVIAM in Enugu / Cyril Mbata, Visitor of Nigeria / Memheru Mekonnen, Visitor of Etiopía / Ondoua Clemente, Visitor of Cameroon / Moninga Léon, International Mission in Chad / Alexandre ZR, Visitor of Madagascar / Nestor Gomez, Regional Superior of Rwanda-Burundi / Edwin Mugwe, Representative of Kenya / Ansgar A. Lugomi, Regional Superior of Tanzania / Yout de Bernardin, Visitor de Congo / Zeracristos Yosief, Assistant General, Rome / José Luís Fernandes, Visitor of Mozambique and President of COVIAM. / Justin Eke, econome at Enugu / Emmanuel Typamm, Coordinator of Systemic Change in Africa / Guillermo Campuzano, representative of the Congregation at the United Nations / Cine Inueiua, Secretary COVIAM. (16 Missionaries)
The date
The meeting of COVIAM took place in Kinshasa, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo from April 18-20, 2018 at the Carmelite Center Teresianum.
Objectives
This meeting provides the participants with an opportunity to pray and reflect together on the current situation of the mission of the Congregation in Africa and Madagascar. This process is engaged in by the superiors of the various Provinces, Vice-Provinces, Regions and Missions.
Matters discussed
One of the primary themes was to report on and evaluate the common formation plan at the theologate at Enugu Nigeria (common formation program for Africa and Madagascar). The program is moving forward in a positive manner but there is an urgent need for a French speaking Missionary who can serve as spiritual director. The construction of the second set of rooms has begun and this will create accommodations for a greater number of seminarists. The redaction of the Formation Plan is also moving forward and a commission will complete this task.
In 2019 COVIAM will celebrate its 25thanniversary. COVIAM was born in Kinshasa in 1994 and Fr. Zeracristos was its first secretary. A commission was appointed to organize the celebration of this anniversary. Next year our meeting will be held in Enugu where we will celebrate this anniversary and, if possible, inaugurate the new building.
Father Leon, the new superior at the International Mission in Chad, gave a report on the ministry in that country. The mission is moving forward and two bishops in this country have requested the presence of the Congregation: the archbishop of Djamena requests the presence of the Congregation at a minor seminary and the bishop of Doba requests our presence in order to administer a parish.
The Vice-Province of Mozambique requests the support of Missionaries who are willing to serve in the mission in that country. In the near future it is hoped that the members of this Vice-Province will be able to serve in other countries (young men are in formation) but at the present time, the Vice-Province needs assistance.
Other Information
Father Emmanuel Typamm, Coordinator of the Systemic Change Commission in Africa presented some of its proposals and invited those present to look at the ways in which this methodology can implemented in accord with the lines of action of the 2016 General Assembly. It was suggested that each province follow the lead of Cameroon and Rwanda-Burundi who have established systemic change commissions. Father Emmanuel concluded his presentation by saying: to reject systemic change is to impoverish the church.
Father Guillermo Campuzano, the representative of the Congregation of the Mission at the United Nations, spoke to us about the 2030 development goals of this organization. He also spoke with us about his ministry there and requested each Visitor to appoint a confrere to work with him as a member of the International Vincentian Network for Justice and Peace and the Integrity of Creation (VIN-JIPC). As a conclusion we all committed ourselves to become more knowledgeable about the agenda of the United Nations. It was also noted that many of the UN development goals are closely aligned with proposals put forth by Pope Francis in his encyclical Laudato Si and in the Pope’s own approach to the mission of the Church.
By Nestor GOMEZ, CM, – Regional Superior of Rwanda-Burundi
Translated:
Charles T. Plock, CM – Eastern Province, USA
