2nd & 3rd day of meeting of the General Government with ACLA

Nairobi, Kenya.

The second day of the meeting started with the morning prayer and the celebration of the Holy Eucharist presided by East Nigeria’s Major Superior, Fr. Simeon Nwobi. After breakfast, yesterday’s unfinished presentations of were continued.

At the end of the presentations and after having listened to the general outline of the life and mission in the African continent, Father General prompted the body to reflect on what they feel in their hearts and on the emotions and feelings that surge. The participants responded and voiced out their feelings. Then, Father General invited them to consider the need to concentrate – from a local, continental, congregational perspective – the transformation that is needed to be undergone; the need to change chips – the responsibility to govern is not mainly of the General Government; etc.

Afterwards, Fr Henry Omonisaye divided the group into four (2 in French and 2 in English). They are to pretend as if the General Government is inexistent and what would be their actions to the following:

1. Identify one or two aspects/elements to reinforce in our life and mission pertaining to the 3 processes of transformation.
2. Identify one or two aspects/elements to change in our life and mission pertaining to the 3 processes of transformation. (Numbers 64 – 75 of Missionari Sumus).
3. What are the gifts and resources that you have in order to address the challenges that you face in the life and mission of the Congregation in Africa?
4. What initiatives can the ACLA Conference take to address these challenges?

The Provincial/Delegation Governments, met and discussed their answers and solutions to the abovementioned questions and challenges. After the meetings and feedbacks, Father General presented them some lines of reflection on animation, government, authority, leadership, etc., in the Organisms of Africa. And before the day ended, the General Government met with the two Organisms of Nigeria.

On the third day of the meeting, 22nd of November, they gathered together in the middle of the gardens of the venue for a creative morning prayer with nature and the African culture and a spiritual reflection on the Gospel of Mathew 5: 13-16.

The morning was dedicated on the enlightenment given by a Jesuit priest from Congo, Father and Doctor Toussaint KafarhireMurhula, poet and social scientist, professor of theories of inter-national relations, who in a way helped them to approach in an analytical and descriptive way the reality of the African continent. An ample time was dedicated for questions, clarifications, and comments on the presentation.

The talk was followed by a group work on the following questions:

1. Strategy for evangelization today. Francis Xavier was a zealous apostle who baptized many and brought many converts to the Church. The XIX Century missionary followed the same strategy in Africa. What do we need to do differently given the changes that have happened in the world?
2. Pope Francis has become a symbol of the Gospel beyond the Catholic Church. He inspires what it means to be free, to worship the Father in Spirit and Truth. What changes do we need in our formation centers to prepare the missionaries for the XXI Century? What is the place of the Catholic Social teaching?
3. The young people are sending us a message about what we are not doing well, what we are not getting right. How can we use the globalization context as an opportunity for the youth ministry, especially as an international congregation?

The speaker ended his session with some observations on the reality of the African continent on the international scene, both now and in the future, especially on networking in evangelization.

Moreover, the afternoon was dedicated on a mini-recollection facilitated by the General Prefect of Spirituality, Fr. Gonzalo Fernandez, on the theme “Mary, the woman on the road to Emmaus” (Luke 24: 13-35). Analogizing the journey of ACLA and the two disciples of the Emmaus story, Fr. Gonzalo told the body that there’s a need to digest and illuminate all that they are discussing, and the need to do it by listening to Jesus. The Emmaus itinerary enlightens the reflections on their life and mission that they are to undertake during these days. He then tackled the four key words that leads one to be witnesses and sent to be messengers of the joy of the Gospel: Word of God, Eucharist, Community, Mary.

The mini-recollection was divided into two dynamics. The first was the use of images of the African continent to solicit the responses to “what it is”, “what it supposes”, “what this reality symbolizes” for them. The second was a LectioDivina, a community exercise of listening to the Word of God. After the 6 pm Eucharist presided by Fr Gonzalo, Father General distributed to the Major Superiors and Mission Coordinator respectively, the relics of the recently beatified Claretian Martyrs to be brought and given to their respective Local Communities.

Meanwhile, while the General Government was meeting with the Governments of EquatorialGuineaand the Coordinator of the General Mission of Gabon, the Blessed Sacrament was exposed until 22:00 hours. And its reposition ends the third day of the meeting.