Nairobi, Kenya.
Father General and all the members of the General Government are currently gathered at the Immaculata Monastery and Spirituality Center of the Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing in the suburb of Karen, Nairobi, Kenya to meet up with the members of the different governments of all the ACLA-member-Organisms. The meeting that is being hosted by the Independent Delegation of St. Charles Lwanga started on Monday, 20th of November, and is expected to end on the 27th.
The first day, moderated by Fr. Henry Omonisaye, was dedicated on the presentation of the agenda and of the participants. Host Major Superior, Fr. John Francis delivered the formal welcome address to all the participants and to the members of the General Government. Then Fr. Joseph MbunguMutu, Major Superior of Congo, President of ACLA, presented “The face of Claret in Africa”, a presentation of the Claretian presence and missionary reality in the African continent.
After the break, Father General gave his message, entitled “Encounter of the Governments of Major Organisms and Missions in Africa with the General Government”. It contained basically the whereabouts of the Claretian life and mission in Africa. Then it was followed by small group sharing on the ideas proposed by Father General for reflection.
The morning session of the first day ended with the Solemn Mass presided by Father General himself, with the presence of the novices of the host Organism, St. Charles Lwanga.
In the afternoon, the body elected Fr. Daniel Onyeayana and Fr. Joseph Mbungu as Moderators, and Fr. Jude Thaddeus as the Secretary. The body was asked to divide themselves into Organisms and discuss on the following questions which were later presented in the plenary:
- What are the two or three most important insights/illuminations that you have received as strengths and limitations (in each of the three processes of transformation) from the Canonical Visitation regarding the Claretian life and mission in your Organism?
- What do you consider the most relevant recommendations, which you have received from the letter of the visitor for your missionary growth and what steps have you taken, or do you want to take to implement them? What difficulties do you perceive in the implementation and how would you address them?
- How did your Organism and communities respond to the visit and the letter of the visitor? What suggestions do you have to improve the General Canonical Visitation?
- Present a very brief global vision of the economic situation of your Organism and the economic vision for the future.
- Are there any other matters you want to bring to this encounter with the General Government?
After dinner, before the one-hour group sharing on “Missionary Summus” and on the “Message of Pope Francis for the World Day of the Poor”, Father General motivated first the participants by discussing the congregational dynamics and realities, our missionary going-forth, the transformation processes of the Congregation; and by drawing one’s vision of the future of Congregation. Furthermore, he solicited the participant’s attitudes on the Pope’s invitation in view of the celebration of the aforementioned world day event, as an individual, Organism, as ACLA Conference, and as a Congregation.
Accordingly, Fr Daniel Onyeayana led his council members form the West Nigeria Delegation to the meeting in Nairobi Kenya. They include Fr Matthias Iheonu and Bro Isaiah Olarewaju.