Message from Superior General

To me, it is a symbol of fraternal and inter-province collaboration that strengthens our unity and places it at the service of Christ’s mission. May this second issue build on what has been achieved. May it urge all our confreres working in Africa to share their experiences. May it inspire all its readers in the Congregation to build the missionary climate that will make us always available to the call of the Missions. May its lay- readers rediscover the challenge of the missionary dimension of their baptismal calling and be our partners in one call of Jesus to be His true disciples.

Let me share with you my random personal experiences of Africa from my visitations to the missions in this great continent with vast potential to the Church and to the world community.

Africa welcomes all. Above all it welcomes faith in Jesus. External hospitality is as sincere as the greatness of their hearts. Poverty will not deter them from being hospitable. A stranger is made to feel at home. Dignity and decorum, finesse in indulging in delicate courtesies of attentiveness make one marvel at personalism which is at the heart of African hospitality. Indeed one sees in Africa  the echoes of biblical hospitality as practised by the Israelites at the time of Abraham. Of course there are occasions and times when the traces of such hospitality are lacking due to extraneous factors and wounds of political oppression and inter-tribal rivalries. In these anomalies Africa, like any other continent, shares in human and cultural vulnerability waiting to be redeemed and transformed by the Good News of Jesus.

God’s Spirit has been at work in Africa from the time of creation just as it has been active in any other continent and culture. The visible signs of the presence of God’s Spirit active are to be recognized, affirmed and celebrated. Where goodness abounds, evil too exerts its influence. Social practices that dehumanize the person, exigencies of life that force people to take up to practices in the name of promoting life and joy in fact diminish and destroy life and joy. The interaction of the Gospel with Africa has to bring enlightenment and transformation to build a vibrant and life-sustaining culture and social practices.

African people are celebrating people. They celebrate in song, dance, rhythm and music. Experience is the measure of time. Time is not to restrict experience. This had been a timely value. In the world that is becoming a global village with a need to adapt and at the same time retain one’s identity, a new look at such concepts is necessary. Retention of a healthy balance in rootedness and openness is the key to march along with the world community to a shared vision of progress and prosperity.

Africa, though rich in resources, experiences acute man-made poverty. Along with poverty are the challenges to health and wellbeing. A missionary who dares to preach in Christ’s name has no option but to face this reality. It is amazing to see the Church, through its personnel engaged in so many creative ways, offering the “Gospel of life and wellbeing” to the people in Africa. Education that breaks the cycle of poverty is the main key to the challenges of poverty and health. Teach a child and you have invested in a whole set of generations that will experience the blessings of self-confidence and self-help to a fuller and healthier life.

The people of Africa yearn for the spiritual and mystical experience. God of love and compassion, of forgiveness and communion as revealed to us in Jesus, His Son, is indeed a welcome blessing for them. The people of Africa revere their elders, their ancestors. Christ as the eldest Brother of the human race initiating them into the spiritual and mystical experience of His Father is the hope and honour of this vast continent.

OUT OF AFRICA is a perspective on people, life, cultures and experiences of our Fransalian missionaries in Africa. I thank the editorial team for giving me this opportunity to contribute personal views and reflections, after my missionary journeys to Africa. I pray that this bulletin contributes to our further enlightenment to see the grace, beauty and wisdom of a continent that is ever ready to welcome Jesus and his messengers.   I assure the editorial team of our encouragement, appreciation and congratulations in publishing this second issue of OUT OF AFRICA.   Yours sincerely,   Fr. Agnelo Fernandes MSFS Superior General