t he q m from t he c omboni issionaries …comboni mission • summer2013 7 include fr. josimo...

COMBONIMISSIONCOMBONIMISSION

TH E Q U A R T E R L Y M A G A Z I N E F R O M T H E C O M B O N I M I S S I O N A R I E S

Summer 2013

Young peoplego forward !

Pope Francis

2 Comboni Mission • www.comboni.org.uk

COMBONI MISSION ISBN 0962-7154 is a quarterly publica-tion of the Comboni Missionaries (also known as the VeronaFathers), a Catholic Missionary Institute for the evangelisa-tion of peoples, issued free to their friends and supporters.

Current issue: Summer 2013.

Comboni Missionaries are sponsored by freewill donations.Please support the Comboni Missionaries,charity registration numbers 220240(UK), 8653(IRE),(SC 039530) Scotland.

Copyright © 2011 by the Comboni Missionaries

Designed and Printed by Artworks, Dalkey.Telephone: 00 353 1 275 1707.

Our thanks to contributors whose photographs andletters we have used.

COMBONIMISSION

COMBONIMISSION

T H E Q U A R T E R L Y M A G A Z I N E F R O M T H E C O M B O N I M I S S I O N A R I E S

Summer 2013

Young peoplego forward !

COMBONI MISSIONARIESIN BRITAIN AND IRELAND

ENGLAND MISSION OFFICEComboni MissionariesBrownberrie Lane

HorsforthLEEDS LS18 5HETel: 0113 258 2658

e-mail: [email protected]

SCOTLAND MISSION OFFICEComboni Missionaries138 Carmyle AvenueGLASGOW G32 8DLTel: 0141 641 4399

e-mail: [email protected]

IRELAND MISSION OFFICEComboni Missionaries

8 Clontarf Road,DUBLIN 3

Tel: 01 833 0051e-mail: [email protected]

CMS MISSION OFFICEComboni Missionary Sisters

151 Baillieston RoadGLASGOW G32 0TGTel: 0141 771 1773

EDITOR’S OFFICEVerona FathersLondon Road

SUNNINGDALE SL5 OJYBerks, England

Tel: 01344 621 238E-mail

[email protected]

OTHER COMMUNITIES16 Dawson PlaceLONDON W2 4TJTel: 0207 229 7059

Comboni Missionary Sisters2 Chiswick LaneLONDON W4 2JETel: 0208 994 0449

www.comboni.org.uk

COMBONIMISSION

Summer 2013

COMBONIMISSION

From the Editor

Perhaps the front page cover of thissummer edition echoes the hopesof the whole church with the

words of Pope Francis: “Young peoplego forward” as a stark reminder of theneed to confide in youth as the future ofthe whole Church. At the same time, notonly young people have been given thistask of energising the Church, buteveryone is called to give his and herbest to further the Good News of JesusChrist. And the new pope reminded usthat the Church is not just an NGO, butshould be first and foremost, theProclaimer of Jesus Christ and Gospelvalues. Today we need to bemissionaries in our daily lives in ourwitness that society may be more andmore transformed to the image of Godthe Creator. Let us work for this!

In this our period of manifesting ourdevotion to the Sacred Heart we are ableto absorb the thoughts of the lateFr.Pedro Arrupe who encourages to findin that Heart the strength for thechallenges of life. We remember in aspecial way our benefactors and friendswho support constantly our missionarywork – the work of the ComboniMissonaries of the Sacred Heart (VeronaFathers). We offer up the mass duringthe month of June for all who haverequested prayers and spiritual supportfor the many needs presented.

Other needs are placed before us.Prayers in a special way for the Combonimissionary sisters in the war torn area ofthe Nuba\ Mountains and solidarity for

the many missionaries, lay and religious,whose lives are under threat in countriesof persecution towards Christians.

As I said at the start we need a pope whowill not dwell on the past but help us tolook to the future. Joining with thesentiments of Fr. Gerard Moloney, Editorof the monthly publication ‘Reality’, wetoo pray earnestly for this new Churchto be reborn in an age of secularism andindividualism when he writes: “I believein a church that upholds all people’sdignity at every stage of life thatidentifies especially with the poor andfeels more at home alongside thevoiceless, the powerless, the hurt andthe abused.”

May the Sacred Heart of Jesus bless eachone of you and your families!

A Time for Hope

Comboni Mission • Summer 2013 3

A time for hopePAGE 2

In BriefChurch News

PAGE 3

Amadita is back frommission to Bolivia and

EcuadorPAGES 4 - 5

Sr. Dorothy Stang:Fight for justice

PAGES 6 - 7

Option for the EarthPAGES 8 - 9

Provincials in ParisPAGE 10

Comboni missionary Sistersin Nuba mountains

PAGE 11

AEFJNPAGES 12 - 13

Lasting Devotion to theSacred Heart

PAGES 14 - 15

Mexico and MigrantsPAGES 16 - 17

Pope Francis – expectationsfrom around the world

PAGES 18 - 19

The legacy of Pope BenedictXVI for Africa

PAGES 20 - 21

You WritePAGES 22 - 23

Youth PilgrimagePAGE 24

CONTENTSIn Brief CHURCH NEWSTWO POPESIN ONE CITYWhen the Holy Spirit starts toblow…We have two Popes. Francis Iand Benedict XVI. The mould hasdefinitely been broken. It was some600 years ago that a Pope steppeddown. In the 2000 year history of theCatholic Church we have never had aPope from Latin America and a Jesuit atthat.Francis I will be a Pope of the people.

His style is simple and humble. Heknows the plight of the poor to whomhe has always been near as Cardinal ofBuenos Aires, Argentina. Meanwhile,Benedict is making his pilgrim way in aprayerful and silent way. We rememberboth the present and retired Pope inour prayers.

“LET’S GO TOTHE POOR”The Church in Ireland, UK andthroughout the world, is celebratingthe 180th anniversary of the Society ofSt.Vincent de Paul. Only twenty years ofage, Frederic Ozanam (now Blessed)founded the SVP as it popularly knownto assist the poor in 1833. A strong manof faith, an ardent believer ofcompassionate justice, he was adevoted husband and father as well asa professor and journalist. His mottowas: “ let’s go to the poor”. The spirit ofFrederic Ozanam lives on in literallyhundreds of parishes in these isles andhas become so meaningful in thesehard days of current financial crises.

FIRST EVER AMERICANMEETING OF THECOMBONIS ABOUTINDIGENOUS PEOPLESBetween 18th to 23rd February inMexico City, a group of ComboniMissionaries, Fathers, Brothers, Sistersand Lay People held the first assemblyto assess their work with IndigenousPeoples of the Americas. In a finalstatement of the meeting theyemphasised the urgent need to engagemore actively with the “IndigenousCause” by strongly supportingIndigenous Peoples in their campaignsfor justice and human rights.

Brazillian Indians

Blessed Frederic Ozanam

By Fr. John Clark mccj

This time last year, Amadita Garcia, a parishioner of St.Leonard’s church in East Kilbride, was preparing to setoff for Bolivia, where she went on to spend six months

at the Sacred Heart Home near Santa Cruz.This is where 150 girls – who have been abandoned,

orphaned or in some way abused – call home and are cared forby two nuns and a small group of volunteer helpers.

Work in progressAmadita explains that although the orphanage gives thechildren a safe environment, food and education, they arelacking so many other things.“Every single girl has a heartbreaking story”, Amadita says.

“The place is built on suffering”. “All the girls have problems,some have lost their parents, some of their mothers andfathers have beaten them or are drug addicts, or they havebeen living on the streets. They have psychological issues butthere is nobody to help them with this. All they really want isto have a mother figure in their lives.”

The tragic story of LizethAmadita recalled one girl in particular, 12-year-old Lizeth, ashaving a particularly harrowing story.


Our readers will remember the stories we heard in previous editions, fromBolivia and Ecuador, told by a Scots girl, Amadita, recounting the harrowingstories of her orphan friends. She is now back in Scotland and studying law atGlasgow University. She now reminisces on her experiences in South America.

Amaditais back from mission toBolivia and Ecuador

St Leonards Church , East Kilbride


“Lizeth’s mum had also been in the orphanage when shewas younger,” Amadita said. “She then got married, but herhusband beat her and left her with her children. She latercontracted cancer and died when Lizeth was just 10 years old.”She explained that Lizeth was then left to look after her little

sister, brother and a young baby but would still find time tovisit her mother when she was in hospital before her death.“It has been incredible what she has been through”, Amaditasays. “All she wanted when I was at the orphanage was amother and somebody to look after her”.

Scottish supportThroughout her time in Bolivia, Amadita was glad to pass onto the orphanage considerable donations from Scottishschools and churches, in addition to her own home parish ofSt. Leonard’s in East Kilbride.“I had such amazing support from my parish and I would

send photos for my mum to show in the parish centre.I got so many emails from people in the parish and teachers

in the schools. People were giving my mum donations all thetime. It was really edifying to witness”.

LegacyAmadita explains that the community is in dire need ofongoing support to bolster the little support the Sistersreceive from the Bolivian government.“As soon as they get any money they have to spend it,

especially on maintenance for the building is very old,” shesays. “They have only four toilets for 150 girls. The building

needs new roofing and the walls are crumbling.“The girls do their best though and clean the building every

day. It is awesome to see how hard they work!”“When I was there, there were four or five older girls, who

had been in the orphanage since they were babies and hadgrown up there,” she says. “They are at University studyinglaw but they have chosen to stay on in the orphanage and lookafter the younger girls as they know what their lives are like.“They have wanted to stay as they see it as their home.”

EcuadorFollowing her time in Bolivia, she then spent time in Ecuador,firstly working with her cousin, a missionary nurse, who livesin a jungle community near Santa Maria, and, secondly, in theshanty town of Nova Prosperina, in the city of Guayaquil.Although experiencing similar levels of poverty to what she

witnessed in Bolivia, Amadita spoke about the role of thefamily, within the Nueva Prosperina community, and how,even when faced with some of the most challenging ofcircumstances, the people ‘still manage to stay happy.’This spirit and the determination to make the most of life is

something that Amadita saw in abundance when working atthe local school.“Just to get through a basic education – with all the

problems these people are subjected to, such as gangs, drugs,knife-crime and living in poverty in a shanty town – is amiracle in itself,” she says “It shows how strong these peopleare.”

No ambulance at the door“The simplest thing for these people is so difficult,” Amaditasays. “I remember a lady there, Anna, who has six children, allof whom are blind and her youngest child she has to carrydown a steep hill to get to a canoe. She would then take heron a two-hour canoe ride, followed by a four-hour bus ride,carrying her daughter throughout, just to get to the nearesthospital.”

Farewell for the momentOn returning to Scotland, Amadita has begun a coursestudying law at Glasgow University. She hopes, however, thatshe will be able to continue supporting the communities thathave shown her such love and care for the past year and,perhaps, have the opportunity to return and help them againin person.

Amadita (centre) with friends.

Amadita with a Sister who runs the orphanage.Guayaquil – Ecuador.


On February 5, 2005, news of theassassination of Sr. DorothyStang reverberated throughout

Brazil. Many Brazilians had begun to payattention to the many battles headed bythis 73 year old nun, softly spoken andgraced with a sunny smile, Thatmorning the assassins had surprised heron her own on a lonely path in themiddle of the Amazon forest. She wascarrying with her a Bible and documentsdealing with a Sustainable DevelopmentProject (Pds); a project of sustainabledevelopment that she was pursuing inconjunction with members of herreligious congregation.As her custom she was on here way to

visit some families who also wereinvolved in working with her on theProject. Sr. Dorothy was well aware ofthe threats to her life because of herwork and when some young armed menapproached she realised she was indanger. She began to speak with theassailants. She had tried to dissuadethem and even quoted texts from herBible manifesting that her weapon wasthe Bible itself. However money was thechief interest of her attackers: six shotsat point blank range hurled her to theground. A tropical storm immediatelybroke out drenching her blood into theland that she had loved and fought foreach day.

There at that spot she was found bythe families that she had set out to visit.It was now complete shock andweeping. Her body lay there at that spotwhere she had fallen until the policearrived in the evening. The local familiesand her community of sisters looked onand prayed. “The Amazon has lost afriend, but has gained the gift of anangel.” Said Felicio Pontes jr. a younglawyer and friend of Sr. Dorothy in the

struggles defending the people of theforest.Why did they murder Sr. Dorothy? Was

she considered a threat? She was killedbecause of the conflict between the livesof the inhabitants of the Amazon and theeconomy of the ranching industry. Inthe State of Para and the Amazon,containing the largest area ofAmazonian forest, there is a violentstruggle. Para, according to Marina Silva,ex-Minister for the Environment ofBrazil, more than any other part of theAmazon, is the front line of the ‘frontierof land grabbing’.

Landowners and landgrabbersThe land grabbers are the business sideof farming with projects that plan theexportation of timber for building,minerals, meat and soya. They have thepower to cut down trees and producesingle crops and breeding of cattlethroughout vast areas. In a globalizedeconomy to export means earning moreand accumulating wealth. All of thismeans harming the environment andthe population who live in the countryside. Sr. Dorothy has not been the onlyvictim of the conflict between opposinggroups. In another area of the forest therubber planter and trade unionist leaderChico Mendes was assassinated. Others

Fight for JusticeSister Dorothy Stang:

Sr. Dorothy Stang.

The Amazon.


include Fr. Josimo Tavares, AdelaideMolinari and Fr. Ezequiel Ramin, aComboni missionary. Many other poorworkers have also been murdered fortheir defiance of greedy land grabbers.The struggle continues to affect the

population. In many areas where theState has not succeeded in imposing lawand order and where there is noguarantee of security many arethreatened with eviction and forced toleave their humble dwellings. On theother hand it is the same landownerswho attract workers from differentregions of Brazil. They continue toincrease the various forms of slavery. Wecan begin to understand the death of

Dorothy amidst the violence andterrorism throughout the land.Dorothy was seen by the people as

another Mother Teresa as sheaccompanied the people migrating fromthe north east of Maranhao, where shelived, to the State of Para.

‘We plant her in the soil’The Notre Dame Sisters de Namur towhich Sr. Dorothy belonged travelledthroughout various areas of Para untilthey settled in Anapu, Para, a smallvillage with just over 7,000 inhabitants.The Sisters had received the invitationfrom the Bishop Erwin Krautler whohimself had been suffering death threats

for a long period of time. It was in thisterritory that Sr. Dorothy, with thesupport of the Bishop and the nationalinstitution for Agrarian Reform began toimplement the National Plan to renderthe land appropriate for cultivation. Infact the national project had decreedthat 20% of the land had to be set asidefor cultivation, the maintenance of 50%of the forest to be cared for and toreforest, where needed, with local treesproducing fruit. The project began topresent good results and high hopes forthe local population. But it was not longbefore the conflict began: invaders tookthe land with violent means, falsifyingdocuments and forced the localpeasants to go away. The peopletogether with Sr. Dorothy began a battlethrough the courts to resist this violentact. At this point Sr. Dorothy became amarked woman. Hired men received thepaltry sum of 20 dollars to take care ofthe Sister!During the funeral ceremony at

Anapu in the presence of the Minister ofthe Environment, bishops andmourners, one of the Notre DameSisters declared “We are not here to buryDorothy but we are planting her in thesoil.” Her name means ‘gift of the Lord’and she is a gift for the Amazon forestand for the people who live here. Herseed has not ceased to produce fruit:her battles for the integration betweenthe forest and its inhabitants have sincespread throughout Brazil.A ‘Dorothy Committee’ has been set

up in Para to work together with otherpersons of good will: lawyers, religious,academics and many young people. Thismovement has many objectives: to raiseawareness, to start projects and supportaction in favour of the forest and localpeoples.Thanks to all of these initiatives it has

now been decreed by governments lawthat 80% of the forest comes underprotection. This law extends throughoutthe country. Much of this progress infavour of the poor peasants of the landis due in good part to the inspiration ofSr. Dorothy. Her martyrdom has broughtfruits.Sr. Dorothy, in the same way that

Oscar Romero fell, was assassinated not‘because of hatred for the catholic faith’but ‘for hatred of justice’ so desired byGod.Several perpetrators of the

assassination have since beenimprisoned. Illegal logging, murdersand slavery continue in this part of theAmazon.

Anapu.

Protecting children of the Amazon.

From www.Misna


OOppttiioonn ffoorrtthhee EEaarrtthh

Today we are forced to face ecological crises.

The weather patterns in the UK and Ireland are going topsy-turvy.

However, if we weigh the time and attention given to the Church’s teaching about the sacredness

of human life, compared to that afforded to thesacredness of the Earth, the difference is striking and

needs to be seriously addressed. Human life issacred, but should not the environment be equally

considered as sacred?


Caring for the earth

Rice - the staple diet of millions Beyond the time to share the fruits of the earth

We inhabit our Common House, Planet Earth, whosenatural resources are limited. Human beings do notand cannot live without nature. Our dependence on

God’s created realm of natural life is absolute. Are we notmembers of the great human family and of the community ofnatural life?Wide rifts between science, religion, economics and nature

exist. Science and economics explain the order of thingswhere God’s influence is absent. If we are to confrontecological crises, we need to deal with scientists andeconomists where they maintain the natural has very little, ifanything, to teach us. Truth to tell, the stark fact is that to satisfy the voracious

appetite of 1.7 billion who consume 80% of the world’sproducts, we will need from 2-6 more planets like the earth.This is preposterously unsustainable. Capitalism and thedemands of the globalized world are literally devouringplanetary resources. Against such irrational exploitation, the Church calls for a

moral response because billions of lives are at stake and the

environment and nature are being mercilessly raped in anuncontrolled economic frenzy. Christians are called toconstruct a geo-society less materialistic and more spiritualwhere all – especially the poor, can experience, at least, someof the joys of life.Figures like St. Francis of Assisi, more recently, Sister

Dorothy Stang and our own Comboni Father Ezequiel Ramin,and literally scores of other Christian pastoral agents havebeen martyred because of their concern for the naturalenvironment. Nevertheless, life lies within the grasp of humanbeings where much depends on their relationship with theEarth. Should not we Christians attribute to the environmentits rights to be duly respected and cared for with dignity?Should not we Christians be helping people to re-connectwith nature and with God, the fount of life? I believe weChristians can offer this civilizing contribution to the world oftoday which is so urgently needed. To do this, we Christiansneed to undergo a thorough ecological conversion. Yes,indeed, the Church has opted for the Poor, now it is high timeto opt for the Earth.

By Fr. John Clark mccj.


The first meeting of 2013 ofthe European provincialsuperiors took place inParis, France.

The participants were hosted by thelocal missionary community, whichserves as a point of reference for theconfreres who are preparing to workin the French-speaking countries ofAfrica.During the two daylong meeting,

topics common to all the EuropeanComboni provinces were discussed.In particular the coordinator of theEuropean provincials, Fr. Alberto deOliveira Silva (Portugal), presented anagenda with the following topics: a) the three European projects:

namely the house of Limone as aspirituality center,

b) a European Centre for MassMedia and

c) a project of involvement in workwith and for migrants;

The criteria for the participation tothe Social World Forums and theComboni Forum, every two years;and the sharing of information amongthe various sectors of activity.There was also a reflection on the

topic of unification (grouping) of the

Comboni circumscriptions in Europe.In his presentation, Fr. AlbertoPelucchi, vicar general of the Instituteand responsible for the provinces ofEurope, shed light on the strengthsand weaknesses of the possible fusionof provinces. It was decided that thetopic will be revisited at the nextmeeting due to take place inNuremberg, Germany, in July.Finally, Fr. Carmine Curci, director

of the missionary news agency MISNA

(Missionary International ServiceNews Agency – owned by the generaladministrations of the missionaryinstitutes of Consolata, ComboniMissionaries, Xaverians and PIME)was invited to attend. For the last fewmonths, Fr. Carmine has been takingcare ad interim also of the publicationof the English language Comboninewsletter online – SouthWorld.net –while the search is going on for a fulltime replacement.

Friday, March 8, 2013

Provincialsin Paris

From the left the superiors of the Comboni circumscriptions of Europe in Paris: Fr. Gianni Gaiga, (representing Poland); Fr. Martin James Devenish (London

Province – LP); Fr. Alberto Pelucchi (General Council); Fr. Alberto de Oliveira Silva(Portugal – P); Fr. Corrado Masini (Italy –I); Fr. Josef Altenburger (Deutschprachige

Provinz – DSP); Fr. Ramón Eguíluz Eguíluz (Spain – E).


Women and children sheltering in themountains.(Photo: Trevor Snapp) ©

«… Also in this month of Decemberthere have been bombardments.Friday 21st we had the strongestattack of the last months. 29 bombswere launched! Around 8am theystarted flying over us before theyreleased the bombs. It was a terriblemorning. The first plane flew overfour times and at each round bombswere falling. When this one finished,a second plane came and scared us alot because the bombs were fallingvery near to us. It was the first time I entered the

“refuge” together with our cook. Iremained at home that day be-causeI was not feeling well. We entered thehole and we stayed there for about20 minutes, underground, until theplane finished its job... thank Godthere were no casualties. God keepspro-tecting His people. But theshock is real ... it is a feeling ofpanic, terror, thinking that thebombs may fall nearby and shatterour bodies into thousands of piecesas we have seen it happen to otherpeople.On the 24th there was another

bombardment in the afternoon. Wewere preparing ourselves for thecelebrations and maybe they werethinking about blocking us, but wewent ahead all the same. On the 25thall of us were afraid, the

missionaries, the local authorities...because the Christmas celebration isvery much participated. About 4000people gathered here from all thenearby chapels. At the beginning ofthe Eucharist one of the localauthorities briefed the people onhow to behave in case an attackwould occur. The situation was verytense but we continued ourEucharist. At 14:30 a plane passedbut the sound of the songs and thedrums covered the noise and we didnot realize. At the end of the day wethanked the Lord for having grantedus to live this day of feast in peace....but at midnight, when all of us were

in bed, I heard the sound of planes.Since their sound is alreadyregistered in my mind, I thought Iwas dreaming, but it was not adream... almost immediately thebombardments started. I got up andwent to talk with the Sisters. It was00:36. It was very dark but we couldsee the bombs falling. This time oneperson was wounded but notseriously, thank God.The fear that this situation causes

is terrible. From now on we cannotsleep in peace. The people came tocheck during the night if we,because of fear, would not celebratein the morning since last year they

had attacked during the day. In thiscase it would be real ill intentionagainst these simple and poorpeople. Please pray for us! I believe Ihave the sound of the planes fixed inmy mind. Sometimes I hear them inthe wind or in the sound of thedrums! My ears are so trained to itthat this morning I woke up hearingthem coming from afar. All of us arewell but we pray the Prince of Peaceto bless us with this gift.

A Sister from the Community of Gidel, (Nuba Mountains) writes of the plight of the people

Comboni Missionary Sistersin the Nuba Mountains


The AEFJN: (Africa Europe Faith &Justice Network) UK antennacelebrated its Jubilee Celebration

in Westminster Cathedral Hall onSaturday April 13th. It was a wonderfulcelebration of enthusiasm andcommitment coming together topromote and transform an exploitedAfrica, through working for peace andgreater equality. The presence of so

many Africans gave real vitality to theevent.The facilitator, Martin Kalungu-Banda,

presented a global picture and theAfrican scene. He was able to getaudience participation throughpowerpoint presentations followed bysmall group discussions “Did you know?What does it mean?” and concludingwith the remarkable Derek Redmondvideo in ‘Necessity4failure.com’ whichhad many of us in tears. The aim was toshow us not to give up when we arelobbying for social change in Africa.The dynamics of participants moving

was seen as we moved from group togroup, listening to brief input byexperts: Martin Palmer of Oxfam (Landgrabbing), Francis Kwaku Poku, retiredminister of security, Ghana (Impact ofsmall arms) and Jenny Brown of


AEFJN(UK Antenna)

Silver Jubilee Celebration

A map of Africa displayed at theconference. Celebrant Archbishop Fitzgerald.

Facilitator Martin Kalungu – Banda.


Christian Aid (Tax Justice). We were ableto get basic information about somejustice and peace issues important toAfrica. Did we know that Africa losesmore revenue to tax avoidance/evasionby foreign companies operating there,than they gain in development aid? Ifthere were stringent tax laws forcingopenness and accountability, thisproblem could start to be addressed. Wehave seen the indignation of peoplehere to some foreign-owned companiesin UK who don’t pay their fair share oftaxes! When this happens in Africa, theimpact is much greater.What about the small group

discussions after the tea break? TheAfrican members of my group expressedopinions from their perspective. Theywere hearing about problems in theirown countries of origin, and perhapssome were activists before settling inUK. But now? Underneath the evidentdesire to lobby is the fear of beingidentified by the Government of theirhome country, and them or theirfamilies back home suffering as aconsequence. Many of participants wereenthused to start (or continue)lobbying, but through AEFJN or otherintermediaries. In fact, these Africans areuniquely placed to exert pressure herein Europe, because they understand andhave experienced the problems firsthand.Yes, there were plenty of pamphlets

around to give further informationabout the topics dealt with, and ofcourse some sign-up cards to formallyjoin AEFJN (UK antenna). People werefilling them in and the cards were thenpresented together with the gifts at theoffertory procession during theconcluding Mass. People wereencouraged to join in the IF campaign(Enough Food for Everyone…IF),spearheaded by CAFOD, Christian Aid,Oxfam and a host of others.The concluding Mass and the

wonderful choir (many Ugandans andGhanaians) and Archbishop Fitzgerald’sevident pleasure at receiving the gifts(fruits) during the offertory procession.And the clapping and waving during theconcluding of the Mass song ‘To God bethe glory’ between the choir in theupstairs balcony, and the congregationin the hall. The main concelebrant wasArchbishop Michael Fitzgerald, formerApostolic Nuncio to Egypt. HisCongregation, Missionaries of Africa,have long been advocates forevangelisation and social change inAfrica. He gave an excellent homily

highlighting how the men and womenwho founded AEFJN were full of faithand courage and decided to struggle forjustice and justice, enlightened by theirfaith. I Cor 13: “love is kind andpatient…doesn’t take offence….” Theorganisation AEFJN is rightly called anetwork: the body of Christ, sharingresources in the spirit of openness.So what is AEFJN? AEFJN has several

antennae in Europe and Africa: who co-operate, share news and feedback: UK,Barcelona, Belgium, Cameroon, Franca,Malta, Madrid and others. AEFJN wasfounded in 1988 by three MissionaryOrders to investigate and redress the

causes of poverty in Africa that had theirsource in the West. Every three yearsthere are Open Days for peopleinterested in this work and a Brusselsmeeting is held twice a year bringingtogether AEFJN staff in Brussels and theAntennae, to establish a plan of action.The quarterly ‘African Action Sheet’ is animportant feature of the UK antenna.The audience was joyful and

enthusiastic, it was a memorableoccasion. Our task now is to work forpeace and justice in the world and withthe cooperation and special input ofAfricans themselves, to effect realchange in Africa.

Bringing the offertory gifts.

Sr. Pat Holloway, Combony Missionary


Ever since the 17th Century, when St. Margaret Mary Alacoquewas granted visions of the Sacred Heart, the Jesuits have playeda pivotal role in spreading this devotion and expounding itsmeaning for Christian life. In the middle decades of thetwentieth century, however, many Jesuits felt called to explorenew applications of the Gospel to Christian life, and the SacredHeart devotion came to feature less prominently than before.In 1981, Fr. Pedro Arrupe, General of the Society of Jesus,spoke to his fellow Jesuits about the Sacred Heart. He fullyappreciated the immense work they had done during hisgeneralship, but he wanted to urge them not to forget theperennial relevance of the Sacred Heart to Jesuit life.This devotion was, he said, “the centre of the Ignatian

experience”. Like so many aspects of the Church’s spiritual life,it was in need of renewal, not abandonment. Let each Jesuit,Fr. Arrupe pleaded, discover in his own heart the enormousstrength which derives from devotion to the Heart of Christ. Fr.Arrupe’s words are valuable for all Christians who wish toacquire that same strength during these days of June, themonth of the Sacred Heart.Since my novitiate, I have always been convinced that what

we call ‘Devotion to the Sacred Heart’ is a symbolic expressionof the very basis of the Ignatian spirit, and an extraordinarilyeffective means – ultra quam speraverint – as much for gainingpersonal perfection as for apostolic success. I still have this

conviction. It may have seemed strange to some of you thatduring my Generalship I should have spoken relatively littleon this theme. I did have a reason for this, which we might calla pastoral reason.

A supreme spiritualityIn recent years the very expression ‘Sacred Heart’ hasconstantly aroused, from some quarters, emotional, almostallergic reactions, perhaps in part as a reaction against certainmeans of presentation and terminologies more suited to thetastes of an earlier time. Therefore it seemed to me to beadvisable to allow a little time to pass, in the certainty that thisattitude, which is emotional rather than rational, should diedown somewhat.I have always entertained the conviction that the high value

of this profound spirituality would not be long in re-

establishing itself in the esteem of all. For it is a spiritualitywhich successive Roman Pontiffs have classed as ‘a supremespirituality’. For this reason, and very much in spite of myself,I have spoken and written relatively little about this theme,although I have often dealt with it in more personalconversations, and in this devotion I myself possess one of thedeepest sources of vitality for my interior life.

What the Sacred Heart means todayAt the end of this series of conferences on the charisma ofIgnatius, I could not but explain to the Society the reasons forthis silence, which I hope you will understand. And at the sametime, I have no wish to keep silence about my personal,profound conviction that all of us in this Society of Jesusshould, before our crucifix, meditate and decide exactly whatthis devotion has meant and should mean today for the

Fr Pedro Arrupe on devotion to the Sacred Heart.

THE PAINTING COMMISSIONED ANDDISPLAYED AT PARAY-LE-MONIAL, FRANCEby Louis Caracciolo

This image depicts the Apparition of the Sacred Heart toSt. Margaret Mary:

"Jesus told me that everywhere this holy image (of the Sacred Heart) would be exposed to be honored, He wouldpour forth His graces and blessings. He made me understand that this devotion is like a last effort of His love,which wants to favor men with this loving redemption in these latter times, to withdraw them from the empire ofSatan, which He intends to destroy in order to put us under the sweet freedom of the empire of His love, which Hewants to re-establish in the hearts of all those who will be willing to embrace this devotion."

Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque

The lasting greatness of devotion to the

Sacred Heart


Society. In present circumstances, the world offers uschallenges and opportunities which can only be solved withthe strength of this love for the Heart of Christ.This is the message which I want to share with you. It does

not involve forcing things, nor ordering anything; for it is amatter into which each must enter by means of love. But I dosay: think about it, and ‘reflect on what it might offer’. It wouldbe very sad if, being in possession of such a great treasure forour personal and institutional spirituality, we should ignore itfor unacceptable reasons.

An extraordinary giftIf you want my advice, after fifty-three years as a Jesuit andnearly sixteen as General, I would say to you that in thisdevotion to the Heart of Christ can be found an enormousstrength; it is for each one of us to discover it – if you have notdiscovered it already – and apply it to your personal lives inthe way that our Lord showed and granted it to us. It is anextraordinary gift offered to us by God.The Society has need today of the ‘dynamism’ incorporated

in this symbol and in that reality which helps us to understandit – the love of the Sacred Heart of Christ. Perhaps what weneed is an act of communal humility so that we might acceptwhat the Supreme Pontiffs, the General Congregations and the

Generals of the Society have always told us.However, I am of the belief that there are very few proofs of

the spiritual renewal of the Society of Jesus that could be asclear as an efficacious and general renewal of devotion to theSacred Heart. Our apostolate would receive new courage, andwe would not be long in seeing the effects, as much in ourown personal lives as in our apostolic activities.

Become as little childrenWe must not fall into the trap of deceiving ourselves about adevotion expressed by a symbol or by a graphic representationof that symbol. Let us not join with the clever and learned menof this world from whom our Father hides his mysterioustruths whilst revealing them to those who become as littlechildren. Let us possess that simplicity of heart which is theprime condition for a profound conversion: ‘if you do notbecome as little children…’Those are words of Christ, which could be interpreted thus:

‘If you, as individuals and as a Society, wish to enter theKingdom of Heaven and help to build it with the greatesteffectiveness, you must become like the poor people whomyou wish to serve. How many times do you repeat that thepoor have taught you more than many books? Learn fromthem this simple lesson, learn from my Heart of my Love’.

Fr. Pedro Arrupe at prayer.


José Marti, 25, comes from Matagalpain northern Nicaragua. He has friends inHouston who told him that there hecould make enough money to build adecent house and buy a plot of landback home. José Trinidad is from El Salvador and

he was deported from the United Statesa year ago. Now he is trying to go back.“I want to return to Los Angeles” – hesays – “because I have my children and agood job there. The police thought Ibelonged to a Pandilla (gang), but itwasn’t true. That’s why I was deported”.In the first five months of 2012 alone,over 15,000 Salvadoreans weredeported from the United States.Maria Guadalupe comes from

Nicaragua and dreams of the Floridacoast. There is a large Nicaraguancommunity in Miami. “I have beenoffered a job – she explains – and nowthe important thing is to get there”.

Many people are waiting for the trainin the heat of the sun that reaches 45°C.Frustration, worry, and fear will be theircompanions for the journey. The train draws up and stops. There

is shouting, shoving; eyes meet, handspush, bags fly. Everyone knows that theCemex train will not stop for long. Thatis truly the case; the train starts movingagain and gathers speed. Some makethe sign of the Cross that hasaccompanied them from the day theyset out. It will be a long journey. Theylie down on the wagon roofs. JoséFernando looks for his friend Chico butcannot see him. They had set offtogether from Estoril nel Nord, inNicaragua. Suddenly he spots a face thathe knows by heart at the end of thetrain. He smiles, lies down, and starts todream.Veterans of the journey include Luis

who, like many others, is from El

Salvador. This is the third time he hasclimbed onto the train. “It is importantto hold on, the train can sometimes playdirty tricks,” he says to a group of youngHondurans who are chasing each other.They are playing more to mask theiranxiety than to have fun. “Last year a boyfell from the train and lost both legs,”says Luis. “The next stop is in four hours. Stay still and try not to fall asleep”. Each year nearly half a million Central

Americans cross Mexico in the directionof the United States. In most cases theytravel without documents to avoid beingdeported in the event that they arestopped. Their greatest fear is of beingkidnapped by a criminal gang forransom. Luis nods his head: “Once amigrant is kidnapped he is forced to callhome; if the money does not arrivewithin a couple of days they are killedmercilessly and thrown into mass graves.They must pay between $1,500 and

They call it 'The Beast', the 'Train of Death', or the 'Devourer of Migrants'. There are many namesgiven to the train that carries thousands of Central Americans from southern Mexico towards the

United States and the dream of a better life. Many stories of people that unravel and overlap.

and migrantsMexico

www.Southworld


$5,000 to regain their freedom”. Fernando from El Salvador has this to

say: “We were at the town of Ixtepec ona freight train heading for Veracruz whenfour armed men suddenly climbed downfrom the roof and began to round us up.They then demanded a telephonenumber for our families in order to askfor a ransom before kidnapping nine ofus. A few hours later the police found thebody of one of the nine not far fromwhere the incident had taken place; theothers disappeared without a trace”. The migrants remember clearly what

happened in August 2010, when 72Central Americans were murdered bydrug traffickers from the Zetas cartel inthe state of Tamaulipas and then throwninto a common grave. Over 20,000migrants were kidnapped in 2010 aloneaccording to Mexico’s National HumanRights Commission. “Migrants representa turnover of $50 million a year,”calculates Leticia Gutiérrez, aCommission member. Sometimes the police themselves takeadvantage of the migrants by demandingmoney. “Even then there is no guarantee ofrelease: many are sent back to wherethey came from,” explains Luis. Mexico’s National Institute of

Migration says that roughly 24,500people were repatriated in the last fewmonths of 2012, mostly to Guatemala, ElSalvador and Honduras. Miguel is another migrant on the train.

He is a Mexican from the state of Chapasand is heading for San Antonio in Texas.He has a cousin who returns to Mexicoevery December to celebrate Our Lady ofGuadalupe. Miguel plans to spend a fewyears in Texas in order to put together abit of money and start a small businessin his native village.

Remittances to Mexico grew by 6.86%in 2012 to reach a volume of $22.73billion according to the Bank of Mexico.The average money transfer was$326.26. “Remittances are an essential source

of income for many poor families inMexico and a stimulus for domesticdemand,” says Francisco Lopez, alecturer in economics in Mexico City.“They are the second source of foreigncurrency in Mexico after crude oil. Themajority of remittances to Mexico comefrom the United States, which are hometo around 12 million Mexicans and atleast a further nine million Americansborn of Mexican parents”.“Mexico is going through a time of

crisis particularly as a result of theviolence caused by the war on drugtrafficking, but also because ofcorruption within the institutions andthe general culture of impunity,” saysFather Alejandro Solalinde Guerra,founder of the Hermanos en el Caminomigrants’ shelter in the southern stateof Oaxaca, one of the poorest in thecountry. “The migrants bear the brunt ofthe violence in this troubled country.They are extremely tired when theyarrive, they are all poor and most areyoung people who have left their homesand families to study, work or escape theviolence. They often arrive after hoursspent on the roof of a freight train,exposed to the rain, the sun and thecold. They arrive hungry, thirsty,sometimes without clothes, withoutmoney,” continues the priest. In total 11,000 migrants have been

kidnapped for ransom or killed.“Hundreds are buried in mass gravesespecially in Chapas and Veracruz, thecapital of Los Zeta.

The problem is that there is no more

land available for mass graves so thecriminals now dissolve the bodies inacid,” says the priest. “It is simpler andleaves no trace”. How many bodies havebeen disposed of in this way? “No oneknows, they do not exist”. Father Solalinde has received

numerous death threats. “In fact I havebeen threatened all my life,” he says. “Ihave received six death threats in thelast two months alone. But I am notafraid, my life is in the hands of God. Iam not concerned for myself, but for themigrants and for the situation inMexico”. In December Father Solalindereceived the 2012 National HumanRights Award. The border with the United States is

marked by a metal barrier running for3,200 km and is under constantsurveillance by satellite, aerial drones,mobile towers, and infrared cameras.Thousands of border patrol agents,members of the National Guard, andMinutemen volunteers are responsiblefor tracking down the ‘illegals’. The border is porous and

impermeable at the same time: largequantities of drugs make it across by air,sea, overland, or even underground,and so do large quantities of weapons. Operation Fast and Furious of the US

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearmsand Explosives (ATF) led to the arrival inMexico of at least 2,500 illegal weapons,according to Estebàn Fernandez, ahuman rights activist living in MexicoCity. Many of these ended up in thehands of the Sinaloa drug cartel. Drugs, weapons and many other

goods cross the border but, as Estebànstresses, “the passage of people is veryhighly controlled”. The American dreammaintains its lure in spite of theeconomic downturn.


We asked some bishops, localpriests, and missionariesaround Africa, Asia, the Middle

East, and Latin America, about theirexpectations from a Pope coming fromthe world’s south.A struggle for democracy and

freedom, communion with the poorand the defenceless, commitment todialogue among faiths and ethniccommunities: this should be the basis ofPope Francis’s relationship with theAfrican Churches, according to someBishops and religious in this continent.Monsignor Matthew Hassan Kukah,

Bishop of the Nigerian diocese ofSokoto, said that the new Pontiff willhave to guarantee above all “the moralsupport of the Universal Church” to the

Bishops and populations of Africa,which is on a path of growth. “Asemphasized in 2009 by the SecondAfrican Synod, in the continentdemocracy, spaces of freedom, anddialogue among religious and ethniccommunities are primary issues”, saidMonsignor Kukah.

The Bishop expressed hope that thenew Pope will develop a “more criticalview on social injustice and the erosionof human dignity.” This also refers to thecontinuing attacks and repression inNorth Nigeria, today among the mostdifficult areas of the continent. “Thepoor are not only the ones withoutmoney, but also – and maybe above all –those not able to defend themselves”,explained Bishop Kukah.“The choice of the name Francis

draws hope that the Saint of Assisi willbecome the model of a papacy focusedon the poor and destitute,” saidMonsignor Anthony Ireri Makobo,Apostolic Vicar of the Kenyan diocese ofIsiolo. The Apostolic Vicar expressed joyover the choice of Pontiff from theworld’s South, and in particular LatinAmerica. “The Church of South Americais full of life, just like the one in Africa,”stressed Monsignor Makobo.

“We thank the Lord for the newpastor, we pray that he succeeds in hismission, very similar to ours here inIvory Coast: brotherhood and peaceful

coexistence with other faiths require agesture of openness on the part of theuniversal Church” said the Bishop of theArchdiocese of Korhogo Bishop Marie-Daniel Dadiet. “The first words and thefirst acts of Pope Francis areencouraging signs of the path he wantsto follow, being close to all – the greatand the little, the powerful and the weak– and encouraging the faithful to openthemselves to others.”“We expect that the new Pope will

stress Interreligious dialogue, which isan opportunity for the Catholic Churchand all other monotheistic religions toget to know each other in mutualrespect, establishing good relations ofbrotherhood, understanding andfriendliness. These are needed morethan ever in today’s world,” insisted thebishopThis new Pope of the Roman Catholic

Church is the first from Latin America,from the Jesuit order, and the first to

Expectationsfrom aroundthe world

Pope Francis


www. SouthWorld

take the name of Francis.“We’re happy because we have a new

Pope and because the choice of a LatinAmerican shows that the Church isopening, is now focused on the entireworld. It’s not just a church focused onEurope. Pope Francis will revitalize theChurch in its mission of makingdisciples in all nations. We are waitingfor him here in Brazil for the Youth Dayin July.” According to José MaríaAracendo, president of the EpiscopalConference of Argentina, the new Pope“will deepen the space of evangelizingand the nearness of the Church to thepeople and their problems. Pope Franciswill give new strength to a missionaryChurch at the service of mankind”. Thehope of a phase characterized by“fraternal missionary work” wasexpressed also by Monsignor JorgeLozano, Archbishop of the Argentine cityof Gualeguachú.Fr. Benedict Joseph, spokesman for

the Episcopal Conference of Sri Lanka,hopes that Pope Francis will focus onmissionary work. “We are happy forLatin America, but also for Asia and theentire Universal Church, now called toface the world’s challenges with adifferent spirit,” said Fr. Joseph. Theneed to revive the Church, according tothe Episcopal Conference spokesman, ismade more pressing by the uncertaintyof the administration of the Vaticangovernment. “The choice of a non-Italian Cardinal, who doesn’t come fromthe Curia, raises hopes for a pontificateopen to the world like never before.” From Jerusalem, through the site of

the Custody of the Holy Land, theCustodian Pierbattista Pizzaballa OFM,didn’t hide his surprise: “I was verysurprised when I heard the name. Iwasn’t expecting it and I was shocked. Aday earlier, I was speaking about it withthe Apostolic Nuncio in Jordan, whohoped that the new Pope would take a

name such as Joseph or Francis, as aprophetic gesture for the future. And ithappened. I feel that there is a plan inthis name.”The future of Christians in the Middle

East is among the most delicate issuesthat the new Pontiff will have to address.“In this sense, I believe that the electionof the Pope was seen as a sign of peaceand hope in charity. The Pope belongsto everyone, especially those suffering,”said Monsignor Jean Benjamin Sleiman,the Latin Archbishop of Baghdad.In Iraq, the election of Pope Francis

“was an important event for theChaldean Church, Middle EastChristians, and the countries that wentthrough the Arab spring” because hiswitness “will direct and guide peoplefrom the winter to a true spring,” saidHis Beatitude Mar Louis Raphael I Sako,Patriarch of Iraq’s Chaldean Church.According to him, the violence and

hardship endured by Argentina in therecent past, including the years under amurderous military dictatorship, are afundamental part of the new pontiff ’supbringing. “It is a positive aspect,because he personally experiencedthese times and will thus be able toencourage people to believe in change,and not give in to desperation anddiscouragement,” the Patriarchexplained.For Patriarch Sako, the Jesuit pope has

already given new life to mission. “Hehas demonstrated that the Church’suniversality is not limited to onecountry, language, or ethnic group, thatit is open-minded, an evidence of thegreatness of serving the Gospel.”

Catholics in mainland China hopethat Pope Francis will help establishSino-Vatican relations and visit Chinasome day. This wish was not fulfilled by

previous popes, but some – and amongthem a priest in the northern Hebeiprovince – even warned the pontiff notto compromise with atheists andCommunist authorities, hoping that thenew Pope will care about theclandestine Church, especially withregard to the appointment of bishops.The priest also hoped the Pope would

be cautious with those Holy See officialsleaning towards “compromise” withBeijing authorities because such acompromise would deepen the woundsof Catholics in China and widen the riftsbetween them.A nun, who had studied abroad, said

that the Pope will help improve Sino-Vatican relations and the developmentof the Church in China. “Theappointment of bishops can be resolvedin a better way, not an extreme one.Catholics in China might increase theircollaboration and exchange withChurch organizations in differentcountries,” she observed. Therefore, theofficial and clandestine Churchcommunities in China can be graduallyunited.As Pope Francis is well known for his

simple lifestyle, Catholics in China hopehis leadership will help the Church,including the Catholic clergy and sistersin China, not to succumb tosecularization and to strengthen theirspiritual life.“This will help the training of

Catholics in China since the moral life ofsome priests and sisters in China ispoor. The pope’s simplicity of life willinfluence the Church,” a sister said.“I really hope the Holy Father will carefor the little flock in mainland China,” alaywoman in eastern China said, “we arelike a feeble limb of Jesus Christ.


It is that fidelity to Rome, to churchteaching and tradition that gives theimpression that the Church in Africa

is conservative. So, for many AfricanCatholics, news of the resignation ofPope Benedict came as a decision ratherdifficult to be received. However, as soonas it became apparent that the Pope’schoice was without coercion and inconsonance with Church law, thatspontaneous reaction swiftly turned fromdisbelief to sympathetic appreciation andsupport. That support cut across allreligious and social strata. Several newspapers in Nigeria, for

example, have had editorial commentspraising Pope Benedict XVI for hisdecision. In an age in which many leaderswould do everything, including the re-writing of the constitution to cling untopower, said an editorial: “Pope Benedict’svoluntary decision to step down due tohis failing health is profoundly edifyingand a big lesson to all in leadershippositions”. The Daily Trust, a Muslim-based newspaper says ‘it takes humilityand sacrifice to shun the fame andlimelight of exalted office the papacybrings, and concludes that Pope BenedictXVI’s resignation is a good lesson forpoliticians and their acolytes”. Another publication lists African

leaders from Omar Bongo of Gabon,Ghadaffi of Libya, and Emperor HaileSelassie of Ethiopia who ruled for over 40

years to Teodoro Obiang Nguema ofEquatorial Guinea, Robert Mugabe andJose Eduardo dos Santos who have ruledover 30 years each and others like PaulBiya of Cameroon, Blaise Compaoré ofBurkina Faso, Omar al Bashir of Sudan,Idris Deby Itno of Chad who are stillruling after over twenty years in power.The lesson of Pope Benedict’sresignation for the political class in Africais strong largely due to African leaders

desire to cling to power.

Continent of hopeThe political dimension of PopeBenedict’s legacy for Africa may not havebeen intended as he had desired duringhis two visits to Africa to impart on thenumerous African Christians a spiritualpatrimony. In 2009, he visited Cameroonwhere he spoke firmly about theimportant role of Christ’s Lay Faithful in

TThhee LLeeggaaccyy ooff

ffoorr AAffrriiccaaPope Benedict XVIThe announcement of theresignation of Pope BenedictXVI, seems to have come as agreater shock to AfricanCatholics than to many otherChristians in the world. AfricanCatholics are so strongly tiedto Rome and to the Pontiff - intheir fidelity to Christ.

the future of the church in Africa. It wasin Cameroon that he graphically anddramatically insisted that AfricanChristians must never be silent in the faceof corruption and abuses of power”. Thatmessage clearly emboldened the resolveof African Christians in their commitmentand fight for good governance on acontinent whose bright future is beingheld back by corrupt political leadership.Twice on the Cameroonian trip hereferred to Africa as the “continent ofhope”.

In Angola on the second leg of thatsame trip, which was overshadowed byan earlier remark to journalists oncondoms and AIDS, Pope Benedict XVInoted, during that visit to Angola alsotimed to celebrate the 500th anniversaryof evangelization of the Portuguesecolony, of which over 56 percent of thepopulation is Catholic, that the tenaciousfaith of the Angolan society had a greatlesson for all Catholics. He did not fail toremind them that there was a need toconvert the other population of theirnation still attached to witchcraft.Within the Catholic community, Pope

Benedict leaves Africa with a great senseof hope for the future. In his post synodexhortation, Africae Munus, which hepresented in Cotonou, in the Republic ofBenin and home of his late bossomfriend and curia colleague, CardinalBenardin Gantin, Pope Benedict urgedthe church in Africa to work hard toachieve peace and reconciliation as abasis for genuine development. Heoffered encouraging words: “onlyauthentic reconciliation can achievelasting peace in society. This is a taskincumbent on government authoritiesand traditional chiefs but also onordinary citizens.” The Pope’s hope forthe church in Africa was sharp: “thefuture is in your hands, in the hands ofthose who find powerful reasons to liveand to hope. If you want it, the future isin your hands, because the gifts that theLord has bestowed upon each one ofyou, strengthened by your encounter

with Christ, can bring genuine hope tothe entire world”. Those words gavecourage and strength to both theecclesial, civil and the economiccommunities in Africa. The Church wasreinvigorated after that visit in Cotonouin 2011, which was seen to have servedas a launch-pad for new peace andstability initiatives within particularchurches throughout Africa. From that moment, Africa has surged

forward. In attempts to implement therecommendations emanating from thesecond African synod, micro and macroinitiatives have been undertaken inecclesial communities in the promotionof peace and reconciliation. It issignificant to note that since 2000,economic links between Africa and therest of the world have surgedimpressively. Inflation has saggedsignificantly in the past decade andforeign debts have declined, thanks alsoto debt forgiveness which in part hasallowed for more local investments to bemade. Africa now has legitimate and self-made billionaires, whose money has notbeen stolen from their countries coffers.In 2010, six of the world’s ten fastestgrowing economies in the world were inAfrica and economists project that sevenAfrican countries are expected to be inthat bracket for the next five years.

Keeping the faithChurch demographic shifts have alsoraised hope for a Pope from Africa.

Growing from 2 million in 1900 to 160million in 2011.It is estimated that by2025, one-sixth (230 million) of theworld's Catholics or one out of every sixCatholics will be African. At present, theworld's largest seminary is in Nigeria.Generally, Africa currently produces alarge percentage of the world's priests.The number of African cardinals hasgrown significantly, although thatnumber could be more. Today, Africa hasover half a million catechists. It is Africa’s church demographics,

among other factors, that make thecontinent mentionable when the issue ofthe next Pope is discussed. Speculationsabound, but the conclave is a complexarena. More than half of the cardinals, 67of them, are European. Another 22 arefrom South America, 15 from the U.S, 11from Africa, nine from Asia and one fromOceania. The country with the mostcardinals is Italy, which accounts for 30of them. It is followed by the U.S. whichhas 12. Germany and Brazil each have sixcardinals. Spain has five cardinals, whileFrance, Poland, India and Mexico havefour. In Africa, Nigeria has three. The 47remaining cardinals are of differentnationalities. This makes it morepossible for a European to emerge, butthe conclave is guided by the Holy Spiritand the Spirit blows wherever it wills.Pope Benedict’s legacy for the Church

in Africa may not be about who succeedshim, but it is certainly about keeping thefaith of our fathers. His unchangeableposition on abortion and human life,about speaking out the truth in charityand in love, his position on marriage andthe rejection of gay rights does and willcontinue to go down well with Africansand all Catholics. His invitation to allCatholics in Africae Munus is for arenewed recommitment of Africans intheir engagement with the Lord JesusChrist, towards a new evangelization.Africae Munus offers the Church in Africapractical guidance for pastoral activityover the coming decades.Fr. Patrick Tor Alumuku


Mailbag

You Write Comboni Mission8 Clontarf RoadDUBLIN 3IRELANDLetters from readers are most welcome

but we regret we cannot publish them all.Some may be shortened due to lack of space.

You can also email us at: [email protected] OR leeds@[email protected]


Fr. Sean Dempsey writesfrom his mission in Uganda.

Dear Fr. Martin,

Many thanks for your welcomeletter which I received on my wayto say mass in one of our outstations. Thank you for the grantyou sent from the Province to helpwith construction work. There hasbeen a slowdown in building dueto the intense sun and thesubsequent drying up of riversources, making it more difficult tofetch water. I thank especiallyreaders of ‘Comboni Mission’ whogenerously contribute to thesegrants and are an indispensable aidto all missionaries. There is somuch to be accomplished inhuman promotion and pastoralprojects. Our Christians, mostlymigrants, live in a very hostileenvironment but are verydetermined and dedicated in their

pursuit of happiness. Our childrenare doing well in our schools andChristian communities arebecoming more united and poolingtheir meagre resources. They keepyou all in their prayers.

Many, many thanksFr. Sean Dempsey,Rushere, UgandaFr. Sean at a Eucharistic procession

Children dancing and welcoming !

Fr. Sean Dempsey celebrates mass

Comboni Mission8 Clontarf RoadDUBLIN 3IRELAND

Comboni MissionBrownberrie LaneHorsforthLEEDSLS18 5HEENGLAND

Comboni Mission138 Carmyle AvenueGLASGOWG32 8DLSCOTLAND


Remembering a goodhusband, father, grand-father and friend of thefriend of the ComboniMissionaries.Brendan McLarnon{1938 – 8/04/ 2013}

A requiem mass was held tocelebrate the life of Brendan at thechurch of St. Michael Archangel,Anderstown, Belfast. The parishpriest Fr. Murray presided, assistedby several Comboni missionariesand diocesan priests. In his homilythe parish priest spoke ofBrendan’s early calling to thepriesthood when he set out fromhis native Belfast at a very tenderage to face the alien lands ofYorkshire entering the ComboniMissionaries’ Junior Seminary ofStillington. But it proved to be nothis definite calling and after a fewyears Brendan returned to his

home city and later married Mauraand after many years of marriageshe died 24/11/2012 aged 71 years.She had been a fine companionand they raised six children one ofwhom was to die at an early age.Maura was remembered too as agood friend of the ComboniMissionaries and of her localChurch. She paid yearly visits toour house in Sunningdale with hersister Valerie and both loved theirweek-long break away from thehustle and bustle of Belfast. We remember the family of

Brendan and Maura and pray thatthe closeness of the love of theirparents may be always aroundthem.At the end of a beautiful requiem

mass a eulogy to Brendan was readand here we discovered theBrendan so well known to all of us.A Father and grandfather eulogisedby his children as the storyteller, satwith glass of Jamesons in one handand cigarette in the other, thrillingthem with tales of his journeys andpeople he had met in his travels.Brendan was a generous worker forhis local church and also theComboni Missionaries. He hadorganised pilgrimages and eventsto support and encouragemissionaries at home and abroad.He led the pilgrimage that went toRome for the Canonization ofDaniel Comboni. He continued tohave a great devotion to St. DanielComboni. In his last years he madeseveral pilgrimages by car toEurope – one to pray through theintercession of St.Daniel Combonifor his wife Maura who wassuffering from cancer. In others heraised funds for Comboni mission

projects. He became known to many

Combonis in their housesthroughout Europe as he spun hisway around France, Portugal, SpainGermany and most of all Italy. His broad Belfast brogue was not

often (never) understood but hecarried on regardless! It wasrecalled how once lost in thecountryside of Germany he beganto ask directions, from farmers andlocals – at the end he had to returnto his satnav, fuming at how theycould be so ignorant as not tounderstand! No doubt in heaven, there with

Maura and his little daughter, hewill find someone to understandthat Belfast brogue!The Comboni Missionaries offer

their prayers and thanks toBrendan and Maura for theirfriendship and love, May they restin peace.

Brendan on a stop-off in the mountainsat La Salette

ENGLAND & WALES IRELAND SCOTLANDComboni Missionaries Comboni Missionaries Comboni MissionariesBrownberrie Lane 8 Clontarf Road 138 Carmyle AvenueHorsforth, LEEDS LS18 5HE DUBLIN 3 GLASGOW G32 8DL0113 258 2658 01 833 0051 0141 641 4399

Youth Walk Pilgrimage Verona - Limone Sul Garda5th - 13th August 2013

An international walk pilgrimage from Verona to Limone Sul Garda in Italy is being organised by the Comboni Sisters in UK,Portugal, Spain and Italy. Limone Sul Garda is the birth place of St Daniel Comboni, the Founder of the Comboni Missionaries,

who was born in 1831 and canonised in October 2003. His home has become a centre of Pilgrimage and Prayer.

Meeting point on 5th August, 2013 will be atComboni Fathers Mother House:Vicolo Pozzo 137129 VERONA, ITALYTel: + 39 0458092100

Pilgrims must make their own way there.Return journey from Verona: 14th or 15th August.

Walk: 60kmAge group: 18-25

Cost of the pilgrimage: £300 per person.Air ticket to Verona and local expenses must be paid by each pilgrim.

Places are available for 8 people only. First come first served.For more information contact:

Sister Graça Almeida, email: [email protected];Tel: 0208 994 0449; Mob: +44 7787132912

Youth Walk Pilgrimage Verona Limone Sul Garda5th - 13th August 2013

Booking Form

Surname ________________________________________ Name _________________________________________ Age____________

Address _________________________________________ Postcode _______________________________________

Email ___________________________________________ Phone __________________________________________

£300 payment in cash or by cheque.Cheques payable to Comboni Missionary Sisters. Write on the back: Youth PilgrimagePlease return this form to: Sr Graça Almeida

Comboni Missionary Sisters2 Chiswick Lane, London W4 2JF

Closing date: 20th May

t he q m from t he c omboni issionaries …comboni mission • summer2013 7 include fr. josimo...

Documents