SOME SUCCESSFUL EVENTS IN THE HISTORY OF THE M.AFR

Foundation, Apostolate, Formation, Finances

• Soon after his arrival at Algiers, our Founder had secured from the Propaganda Fide the responsibility of what was called the French Sudan. So in 1878: A first group of M.Afr arrived in Equatorial Africa. Their objectives – the Great lakes – were achieved and the dream of the founder realized. This will be the beginning of the Evangelisation of this part of the world.

• The same year another group of M.Afr took charge of the sanctuary of Ste. Anne in Jerusalem. Wanted by Cardinal Lavigerie as a place of prayer for the work of evangelization in Africa, it became a seminary and nowadays a place of renewal for missionaries, priests and religious working in Africa. Somehow, the initial intuition of Lavigerie has also been realised.

• It is in 1888 that Lavigerie joins the fight against slavery. He will commit himself totally in the campaign opening the way for his missionaries to understand the importance of human rights and the struggle for justice.

• 1891: In Uganda, Fr. Streicher sends lay missionaries to contact local chiefs in view of preparing the arrival of the missionaries. They were called the “ambassador – catechists”. Later on some will become “teacher – catechists” and others catechists as we know them today. The influence and impact of these catechists have been enormous. They have been the backbone of the evangelisation.

• At the beginning of the 20^th century, in many countries of Africa, the Society moves into a second phase of evangelization. Time has come to “plant” the church and for this personnel – catechists, clergy and religious – are needed. We see a great involvement of confreres and the Society in the formation of the clergy. Junior and major seminaries are built, lecturers are formed and diocesan structures are put in place.

• In this new development, African culture, studies of languages and music for worship are given a good place in several missions. In 1908, Bishop Streicher (Stensera) started a school of native arts and crafts at Villa Maria Uganda).

• In 1967: An exceptional General Chapter – in two long sessions - looked for the signs of the times following the aggiornamento of Vatican II and the newly independent nations in Africa. An important orientation is taken at that chapter: welcoming African vocations.

• The question of Justice, Peace and Development who had always been in the mind of the founder is now discussed in the global context of mission. The chapters of 1980, 1986 will emphasize the importance of integrating that dimension in our pastoral commitments.

• It is also at that time that we see first phase centres being started in several provinces in Africa. Again the conviction of Cardinal Lavigerie that “Africa will be evangelized by Africans” is put into action.

• At the Chapter of 1992: Another aspect is developed: encounter. This word captures well our vision of mission, not only in Moslem countries but everywhere we work. And in the Chapter of  2010 appointment of a secretary for Justice, Peace Integrity of creation, Encounter and Dialogue (JPICED) and the decision to keep and renovate the Generalate.

• An important step is taken for on-going formation. The chapter decides of a policy of on-going formation for all the confreres and structures and staff are put in place in Rome and in Jerusalem.

• Visitors from Rome, in the 19^th Century, had been surprised by the efficiency of the methods used by the M.Afr to accomplish their apostolate and by their great capacity to adapt to the places where they were working. And a prelate from the Congregation of Propaganda Fide had concluded that this was because the formation given to the M.Afr was done in Africa. In 1998: Most of the formation houses are transferred again in Africa.

• To make sure that members of the Society will have enough resources in the future, a decision was taken at the Plenary Council at Addis Ababa in 2007 to start a pension. 

Gerard Chabanon, M.Afr.