Homepage     Newsletters 

Fransalian International

"Be what you are, Be at its best!"      - St. Francis de Sales

Editorial  SFS  Fr. Mermier  General Curia  SFS Publications      News from the Provinces Brazil   East Africa England Franco-Swiss North-east India Nagpur  Pune   South-west India Visakhapatnam     Hearty Congratulations Fr. D. Kuzhupil  Fr. E. Mayoraz Fr. A. Fernandes Fr. A. Mookenthotam Fr. A. Mangatt  New Priests   Vol. 3  May 2001

Fransalian International

We are very much needed here ...

Africa is a continent opened to God, unlike India or the Muslim countries. Although missionaries have been working in Africa for many years, I must say, it is still a virgin land that welcomes missionaries warmly. It is a country when zealous missionaries can work with satisfaction for the spread of the Gospel. The people are indeed hungry for God.

Till recent past most of the countries were under the foreign rule. The country and the people were exploited; in fact they are still being exploited by the developed nations. We must also remember that till recently they were slaves and they had no identity of their own. The African history shows how emotionally they were treated by the foreigners especially the Germans and the Arabs.

And so in order to understand the people and to be in sympathy with the people it is important that the missionaries study the African history, their culture and customs. The African culture is beautiful. The developed countries have much to learn from them, especially the human qualities of love, cooperation and hospitality. One should not go there to change their culture. Missionaries fail when they impose their foreign culture upon them. We must accept them as they are. Our attitude should be brotherly, not the superior race pitying the inferior race.

The witness of the missionary is very important. Many of the missionaries give the impression of possessing much wealth and enjoying themselves. They consider priesthood as a profession, in fact better than any other profession. Unless the missionaries are willing to empty themselves like Christ who emptied Himself and identified Himself with the people whom He came to save, they will fail.

The need of Africa is dedicated missionaries, missionaries who really love the people and are ready to give themselves up for them. There are parishes that had no mass and the sacraments for years. The Lord and the people are waiting for dedicated missionaries. If we do not awake now, if we forgo this chance, in fifty years time, Africa will be a Non-Christian country.

Fr. K. V. Joseph msfs

Our missionary apostolate in Kenya is fast growing. At present we have confreres working in Mlulongo mission in the diocese of Machakose and in Chera, in the diocese of Meru. The initial works of the Vocational Training Center at Mlurongo is progressing. This center can give services to 80 students.

In the Diocese of Meru, we are offering our pastoral services at Chera parish. It is full of faithful and full of vitality. The parish is surrounded by a secondary school, a hospital, a kindergarten and the activities welling out of many pious organizations. There is a plan to build a primary school. It will definitely provide ample educational opportunities to the kids in the parish.

Uganda is one of the three countries of East Africa. It is a land of rich diversity, magnificent culture and strong Christian Traditions. Among the population around 60% are Christians and the Catholics are the highest in number. Uganda has an Agrarian Economy. The staple food of the people is Maize and Cassava.

Charles Lwanga, Matthias Mulumba Kalemba and their twenty companions are the Martyrs of Uganda, solemnly proclaimed saints by Pope Paul VI on Mission Sunday 18th October 1964 in St. Peter's Basilica, Rome. These were the Christian Faithful who were martyred by King Kabaka for their Christian Faith.

The country js divided into 5 provinces, Eastern province, Western province, Northern province, Southern province, and Central province. There are 19 Dioceses, and 4 Archdioceses. Tororo Archdiocese in which we are going to work is in the Eastern province.

The MSFS is entrusted with the parish of OSIA in the Archdiocese of Tororo. Tororo diocese was raised to be an Archdiocese on 2nd of January 1999. Most. Rev. James Odongo is the Archbishop of Tororo. The Parish of Osia is located along side of Tororo-Kampala road. It is 5 kms away from Tororo town, and 18 kms away from the town of Malaba. There are 10,000 Catholics in Osia parish. There are 9 out-stations in the parish. The parish house is rather good and it can accommodate 5 people. They generously cooperate and contribute to the running of the parish.

The Archdiocese of Tororo, is in urgent need of parish mission preaching, youth apostolate and renewal of Christian life. The Province of East Africa has also a great scope for vocations from these mission areas. We joyfully go forward with Apostolic Zeal of our patron St. Francis De Sales and Missionary dynamism of our Founder Fr. Mermier in facing the challenges of learning two languages of Ateso and Lumasaba as we take up the parish of OSIA in April 2001.